It claims the ro membrane are source from Dow or GE. PP filter from Japan /korea. Activated carbon from Philippines / Sri Lanka.

http://m.tb.cn/h.3Xcq9Qh

Ya. Must buy from China xiaomi website or taobao.
I'm planning to buy one though. So wanna ask for some opinion from u all.

Please buy one and give us your user review You are buying counter top? If so, how are you going to discard the reject water ?
Remember to buy and piggyback your shipping a TDS tester pen to test your RO water.

This post has been edited by aeiou228: Jul 14 2018, 10:50 PM

but the parts will be troublesome to order right?

The system itself come with tds meter and will show u the reading through app. It will remind u when to change the cartridge through app too. The reject water if counter top can just direct the tube to basin. Under counter even better, the water tap come with it got indicator when ur water tds less than 10 for u to drink. But Iunder counter one need to connect the waste water tube to basin hose I think. Need plumber to install probably.

Wall of text to follow

This is quite an old product (meaning not brand new revolution), was introduced in 2015 or so. It looks pretty, very slick. The system was discussed over and over on one of the Russian forums, it really seems that only Chinese and Russians got real experience with the system. In short, yes, it is real and yes, pretty much anyone can assemble a system with 400GPD nowadays for this kind of money if you buy all no-name made in China parts (you can even do the math yourself from Taobao). About Mi Purifier:

1. It is absolutely no way they are using Dow or GE membrane. First of all, GE is not in water business anymore, it is sold to Suez. Second, distributor price for 300-500GPD consumer grade, non-encapsulated membrane from Dow/Suez/Axion and similar reputable US companies is over 100 USD now. Few years back, these were close to 200 USD. This is distributor, not re-seller price, meaning you need to buy like a huge load to get this price. Moreover, both Dow and especially Suez do not have 400GPD membranes of this size. If you assume membrane is local Chinese, then math makes sense, Xiaomi has enough margin to buy it, encapsulate (or ask manufacturer to encapsulate it) and sell with profit.

2. 1:1 ratio... With 24 months of service life and with rejection ratio of 98%, 400GPD, 300RM? If any company had this technology, they would reign the RO membrane market, both residential and commercial. Russian forum says that ratio is more 1:2, which brings us to the next point...

3. Membrane life. There was a report (again, on Russian forum), that TDS meter shows: 1st month 200 to 3 TDS, 2 months later - 25 TDS. Which means it starts from 99% rejection, down to 90% rejection. Not surprised, it is membrane degradation because of:

4. Inferior pre-filters. Highly doubt these are from Japan/Korea (why always 2 options?), most probably local, but doesn't matter really, because you need more than melt blown+granular carbon (GAC) to protect the membrane. Their goal is to protect membrane from chlorine and metals and 1 GAC is absolutely, definitely not enough for that, especially at this flow rate. Membrane is usually protected by 1 or 2 carbon blocks (not GAC, but blocks)

5. Post filter. Now this is interesting. Why would you need a post filter in a tankless RO system? Xiaomi, unlike some companies out there, are not stupid, I'm sure they did not just include it for fun or because of lack of knowledge, not to brag about "36 steps of filtration", it must have a purpose. What could it be? Removing bad taste from RO membrane? Why would there be bad taste? Possible lack of membrane wash, i.e. result of reduced waste/clean water ratio?


Let's just do the math together. Let's say Xiaomi somehow got a super deal and special design from Dow and pays 350RM for the membrane (which is pretty much impossible, but let's say. Chinese pre-filters that do not last long? Dirt cheap, say 40RM for all 4 with special proprietary design. So give it or take, 400RM only for cartridges is their cost. Then, you need special housing, software, hardware, some research, updates, etc. You need to design all that. Then distributors need to make some profit, shipping, packaging etc.. So maybe what's left is 50-100RM of profit left to pay your staff etc, but you do not sell it by millions like cellphones. Ok, let's pretend they are still ok with 100RM difference between cost and sales price. Some may even suggest they are making net loss to make up on cartridges, but how do you sell a membrane for 300RM when it costs you 350? Answer is, membrane is not Dow.

In fact you can be your own Xiaomi, even better. Let's do the math: 2 highest quality USA made carbon blocks and 1 USA made sediment filter - roughly 220RM. Absolutely cheapest housings, fittings etc on Taobao, roughly 100RM for all. That gives you 580+RM for membranes (Mi is 900RM without shipping)! For 600-700, can even try and get real Dow 500 GPD. And in that case, for same price as Mi you have a system with real Dow, real Omnipure, real Harmsco, all made in USA cartridges, all standard size, easy to repair etc. And with this setup, you will need to change cartridges once a year and membrane... probably in 5-6 years, because it will be protected, so no need the app and wifi connectivity. If you go for in-series 200GPD 2 membranes setup, then you can have real 1:1 as suggested by aeiou228.

I'm not saying that it's a good way to go and everyone should do it. It is probably not a good idea to cheap out on RO components (housings, etc). But the fact that it is theoretically possible to build superior system based on retail pricing of the highest quality cartridges and membrane is a fact.

My main point is not that Mi is bad, it is probably worth the price and Xiaomi is known to make surprisingly cheap products, but when simple bill of material is very close or more expensive than the final retail price, there must be some tricks to it.

This post has been edited by hestati: Jul 15 2018, 02:08 AM

Read this is you're planning to install PoE

PoE - you probably do not need it, it is very often an unnecessary expense. Strange to hear it from someone who sells filters, Let me explain:

Malaysia has some strange obsession with PoE. PoE systems are usually very popular in areas where water is hard and it is normally not just a sediment PoE, but water softener, water in these areas is so hard, that excess limescale blocks or degrades shower heads, faucets and even toilets in the matter of few weeks in extreme cases (I remember San Diego with 1000 TDS, it was bad, very bad...)

But in Malaysia, water is soft. We rarely see even 100 TDS here. PoE will normally filter out only sediment (let's not consider these "fake UF crazy 0.1 micron" filters, they are even of less use). But if the problem with sediment is not significant AND if you have quality PoU, then why would you care?. Occasional clay that gets in your water it just goes down the drain, you do not drink this water, you have PoU for that.

Don't get me wrong, there are cases when PoE is useful:

- Your water is not municipal, but well water or surface water and it is fed straight to your home (0.1% of population or so?)
- You live in a condo with neglected water tank (lizards and frogs live and die inside, it is full of rust, bird guano etc). I've seen that...
- Your area has very old, rusty pipes BUT pipes inside your house are not rusty and dirty and you know it for a fact
- You're getting really a lot of sediment for some reason, so much that it blocks your shower head for example
- You want to also filter chlorine and heavy metals (then you need dual stage PoE)

So if you're in a condo with neglected water tank, then yes, please go ahead and install PoE (or multiple small pre-filters which is much cheaper) and go ahead start the petition to fix water tank issue.

If you want to remove chlorine and heavy metals for the whole house, you better have tankless setup, removing chlorine from a water that is later stored in a tank is not such a good idea.

But what about last case? How do you determine which pipes to blame, yours' internal or main? There is no sure way to know, but there are 2 tests you can do:

1. Take 2 large glass jars. Fill one up at the meter and fill the other at your shower. Let them sit for 48 hours and check the deposits on the bottom to compare. If the jar at the shower is worse than jar at the meter, then piping inside your house is an issue and no PoE will help you. If it is the opposite, or they are the same, then assume your pipes are as good/bad as the main (unless your house is new)

2. Ultimate test that can save you 100s if not 1000s of RM. Just install the cheapest 10" melt blown filter in the cheapest housing at your kitchen or washroom sink. This usually should cost less than 100RM and can be DIY installed within just few minutes. You then monitor this cartridge. I've seen cases when after 6 months it looks brand new and also cases when it is completely clogged within 1-2 months. You can see what kind of sediment you get, is it sand, stones, rust, dead animal body parts etc etc. Then you can make a decision to install PoE, few pre-filters here and there, or leave it as is.


And the worst reason to install PoE is because of... irresponsible PoU sellers. "Bro, my PoU system is good, it got clogged in 3 months because you must have PoE to remove large particles lah". Then the customer goes and spends 1000RM for PoE to protect his PoU. My answer to these sellers is "no bro, you must design your system in such a way, that it has a built in pre-filter OR offer a cheap pre-filter option instead of PoE". Any PoU must be able to handle sediment without aid of a monster outside.


P.S. Fresca PoE is now officially available, Link to Lowyat Thread but I encourage you to read above if you're planning to install PoE

This post has been edited by hestati: Jul 16 2018, 11:09 PM

This is why best is to shop online. Physical shop will always have either rude or unprofessional salesman who would not care.

But what kind of help are you looking for and what do they consider "cheap" purifier?

For apartment with small family of 3, what kind of setup that you recommended? at least from your product line. I'm looking to have clean and safe water for drinking, milk for babies, cooking etc.

and yes, what is consider as `cheap' purifier?

Thank you

If you need to drink direct then you must get a filter that would be able to remove bacteria. Surprisingly, if you drop off all gimmicks like "alkaline" and all that, there are not many quality systems on the market able to do that. The one from 3M for example, will cost you way over 2K. Many consider Aquasana to be an alternative, but it is not, since it does not remove bacteria, it is basically just a carbon filter.

From what we offer, anything except 3M Easy Complete will satisfy your requirements, so it basically depends on your budget, Fresca Lite for example is 850RM and it is able to satisfy all the criteria you listed, while having relatively low maintenance cost. Aquaphor is more expensive and has slower flow, but changing cartridges is very easy.

If you're thinking PoE also, unless your water quality is really bad so that you can see the dirt/mud with your naked eyes, you can skip PoE for now, rather get quality PoU.

Dispenser story continued:


So we got the tankless dispenser and tested it inside out. It works like magic for hot water, with various temperature levels (25/50/80/100 degrees). Maintenance free, amazing overall. It does not work for cold water though, tankless has not enough power to cool water. So for those who want hot water, now can have a dispenser too.

As for cold, we're thinking about making possible to convert any bottle dispenser to bottleless. This could be great for people who already have a dispenser, just convert it and use it with your PoU.

Any recommendation for quality bottled dispenser? I really want to find a quality one, easy to mantain, since I believe that dispenser with tank is critical to be made of good materials, otherwise it will leach bad things into water

Thank you for the clarification and explanations.

Spritzer has this dispenser... This is what I have right now



This has no cold water function.

I think they have 3 types iirc

Yes, can be converted, but is that any good? They do not make it right, just sourcing it.

Since you have it already, how is maintenance, easy to do?

I not sure if they make it or source it.

It's wasted for me though. I bought it but didn't use. I use first bottle then it sort of just stay in store room. I thinking to do something with it when I move into my new house but so far not really have any specific idea yet how to convert it. I saw last time my old office did it once with diamond water filter n a float. But I doubt I will do it la.

The hot water is ok to make hot drinks but not hot enough to cook Maggie cup.

Now can convert to PoU connected dispenser, we have a kit, just gotta test it.

If you do not use the dispenser, what water do you use, not from the bottle?

Temporarily I am using this at my rented condo... while waiting my new house to be done with the defects rectification from the developer side. My current condo has a POE also that serve the whole condo water supply. And they do water tank cleaning every few months. So the condo water is generally quite clean coming in. The POU just need to filter out any remaining from the old piping as the condo is quite old.



Once my house done will need to find a more permanent POE and POU for it.

This post has been edited by WhitE LighteR: Jul 25 2018, 10:42 AM

Whatever POU you want to instal in your new house, make very sure that you pull a power point underneath the sink/kitchen counter.

POU need electricity ?

Just in case you want to install an under sink RO system, induction cooker, instant hot water faucet, food waste grinder or any future kitchen new invention that requires power under the counter.
May cost you Rm100+ now but it will be one the best RM100 investment for your home.