Samsung and LG Electronics compete with each other over the 'air'

The ‘competition over the air’ in the consumer electronics industry has begun. Due to the fine particles in winter and the yellow dust in spring, the ‘air cleaning function’ became a hot issue.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are fiercely competing over filter performance. The air cleaning performance of air-conditioners has improved a lot. An upgraded functional filter is added to the filter, which was installed last year, for a more powerful air cleaning function. Both companies received certification from the Korea Air Cleaning Association, and the convergence product between an air-conditioner and an air cleaner can now be used throughout the year.

SEC completed the ‘PM2.5 filter system’ consisting of ultrafine particles, charcoal deodorization and ultrafine filters. The ‘oil mist filter’ also captures ‘oil’ in the air. It will be useful in homes and restaurants where lots of greasy food is cooked. LGE applies the ‘3MTM ultrafine particle plus filter,’ which removes 0.02㎛ ultrafine particles, and the ‘smog deodorization filter.’

The competition is intense in air cleaners, too. The air cleaner market consists of rental products and retail products. The rental market is bigger. According to Gallup Korea, Coway, the rental service provider, accounts for about 38% of the market, and LGE, selling both rental products and retail products, accounts for about 14%, and SEC, selling only retail products, accounts for about 9%.

“In the retail market, our sales of air cleaners grew by more than 300% from January 2014 through November 2014 over the previous year (excluding December),” said SEC. “Our sales are continuously increasing.” Recently, SEC released a mid-size air cleaner ‘Blue Sky AX7000.’ It’s for a large living room. Its two fans take in air from the front for cleaning. Its biggest feature is that, as its display shows the indoor air numerically, it will be possible to easily see how clean the air is.

LGE also saw its sales of air cleaners increase by 100% in 2014 over the previous year. LGE has a variety of air cleaner lineups. The ‘Mont Blanc,’ which accounts for half of the sales, has a round design and powerful filter performance. The ‘cleanness display lighting’ shows the indoor air pollution status.

“The air-care war has just begun in earnest due to the fine particles in winter and the yellow dust in spring,” said a consumer electronics industry insider. “It seems that there will be more products with the air cleaning function.”