New Delhi, May 18 -- Water purifiers at the Rs.15 to Rs.20k price point all look the same on paper. Multi-stage filtration, copper enrichment, UV sterilisation, smart app connectivity. The spec sheets are nearly interchangeable. But the real test comes after.

Most Indian households buy an RO purifier once and live with it for years. The market knows this, and prices accordingly - not just the cost of the product, but through everything you spend after that: filter replacements, service visits, and annual maintenance contracts. A purifier that looks reasonably priced on day one can become an expensive, high-maintenance commitment by year two.

When you buy a premium water purifier at Rs.20,000, the differences between purifiers don't show...