Urban Company Native M2 Pro Review: The Water Purifier That Thinks Like a Smart Gadget

Reviewing technology has a funny way of surprising you. One day you’re testing the latest flagship smartphone, the next you’re benchmarking a gaming laptop or losing sleep over a new video game release. In all my years of reviewing gadgets, appliances and consumer tech, however, I had never been approached to review a water purifier. So when Urban Company reached out with the Native M2 Pro, I did a double-take.

A water purifier? Really? The more I read about it, though, the more I realised that the Native M2 Pro isn’t trying to be just another RO purifier. It’s essentially a smart appliance, complete with app connectivity, predictive maintenance, an in-built battery backup, touch-based controls and software-led ownership features that feel far more like something you’d expect from a connected home device than a traditional water purifier. Curiosity got the better of me, and I had Urban Company send over a review unit. Fifteen days later, here’s what I think.

Design

The Native M2 Pro is, without doubt, one of the best-looking water purifiers I’ve seen. Instead of the glossy, appliance-like aesthetic we’ve grown accustomed to, Urban Company has opted for a clean, minimal design with subtle curves and a premium matte finish. It genuinely looks like a product that belongs in a modern kitchen. The front panel is dominated by touch-sensitive dispensing controls that let you choose different water quantities, making everyday use feel surprisingly intuitive. The buttons are responsive and easy to understand, even for someone using the purifier for the first time.

That said, there’s one compromise. The Native M2 Pro occupies significantly more wall space than the average Eureka Forbes or Kent purifier. During installation, I had to spend considerably more time figuring out where exactly it would fit without making the kitchen feel cramped. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something prospective buyers should account for before placing an order.

Another interesting design element is the retractable dispensing platform. It extends to support bottles and larger containers, but I actually preferred keeping it tucked away. That’s because I attached a small pipe to the outlet, allowing purified water to flow directly into my matka, so that naturally chilled water was available for me throughout the day.

Functionality

This is where the Native M2 Pro begins to justify its premium positioning.

The headline feature for me was the built-in battery backup. I don’t need to keep the product always on, since it’s got an 8-litre tank of its own, which can dispense the purified water already stored inside it. It’s one of those features you don’t think about until you actually need it.

Purification performance itself was consistently excellent. Water tasted clean without developing the flat taste that some RO systems tend to produce. The purifier intelligently adjusts mineralisation based on the incoming water quality, and throughout my testing, I never noticed any inconsistency in taste.

Urban Company’s app is another pleasant surprise. Rather than existing purely for the sake of having an app, it actually serves a purpose. You can monitor filter health, view water quality information, keep track of purifier status and receive maintenance alerts. It removes much of the uncertainty around servicing that traditional RO owners are familiar with.

Speaking of servicing, Urban Company includes a two-year comprehensive warranty with no filter replacement costs during that period, assuming normal usage conditions. Considering how expensive annual maintenance contracts can become on conventional purifiers, this alone significantly improves the ownership experience.

Water wastage remains the one unavoidable downside. Like every RO purifier, the Native M2 Pro rejects a fair amount of water during purification. Urban Company does offer suggestions for reusing this rejected water for cleaning or gardening, but if water conservation is your primary concern, it’s worth keeping in mind before making the purchase.