Buying a kitchen chimney has usually meant drilling a big hole in the wall, followed by a duct pipe, dust and a lot of waiting. So a chimney from Beyond Appliances that needs no hole and no pipe sounds almost too easy. Does it really work? Where does the smoke go? Can it handle Indian cooking? This piece breaks down the ductless chimney pros & cons using Beyond Appliances’ Plug ’N’ Play range, from the everyday Cube BLDC 60 to the high-suction Axis 60.
First, what is a ductless chimney?
A regular chimney sucks up smoke and pushes it outside through a pipe. A ductless chimney does something different. It sucks up the smoke, cleans it inside the chimney itself, and sends fresh air back into your kitchen.
Think of it like a water purifier, but for kitchen air. The dirty stuff gets trapped inside. The clean stuff comes out.
Every chimney in Beyond Appliances’ Plug ’N’ Play range, whether it’s the Axis 60, the Cube BLDC 75 or the Cube BLDC 60 variants, does this using a 5-stage activated charcoal filter. The smoke from your cooking passes through these layers one by one. Oil, grease and smells get caught along the way. What comes out the other side is cleaner air. The brand puts it simply: the chimney captures the smoke, removes the oil, grease and odour, and then releases fresh air back into the room.
And this isn’t a brand new player experimenting with an idea. Beyond Appliances has spent 15 years automating appliances for restaurant kitchens, including names like Taj, Haldiram’s and ITC. The Plug ’N’ Play range takes that experience and brings it into home kitchens.
What you gain with a ductless chimney
The good stuff comes first, and there’s quite a lot of it.
1. No drilling. No pipe. No mess.
This is the big one. Across the Plug ’N’ Play range, there’s no core cutting and no ducting. Your walls stay as they are. Your tiles stay as they are. Your cabinets stay as they are. No dust settling on everything for days, and no workers in your kitchen for hours.
2. Up and running in about 10 minutes
Take the Axis 60, which Beyond Appliances calls India’s first Plug ’N’ Play chimney. The brand says it can be installed, and even uninstalled, in about 10 minutes, and the same goes for the Cube models. You hang it on the wall, plug it in, and you’re ready to cook. The box comes with everything you need, including the chimney, a hanging plate, an installation kit, an oil tray, the carbon filter, a user manual and a warranty card.
3. You can take it with you
This is something most people don’t think about. A regular chimney is stuck to one wall forever. A Plug ’N’ Play chimney isn’t. Since there’s no pipe to remove, you can take it down and carry it to your next home. Moving cities for work? Shifting to a new flat? Your Cube BLDC 75 or Cube BLDC 60 BG goes with you. That’s the way they are designed by the company and also one of their key factors.
4. Your kitchen, your design
With no pipe to worry about, you’re not tied to placing the chimney near a window or an outside wall. It goes right above your stove, wherever that is. Also, no ugly ducting and no paint-destroying. The Cube range comes in different finishes, so your chimney can actually match your kitchen instead of sticking out. The Cube BLDC 60 (Black) suits most modular setups. Wooden cabinets? The Cube BLDC 60 in Veneer blends right in. Want a pop of colour? Take a look at the Cube BLDC 60 BG.
5. Quiet and bill-saving BLDC motor
All five models in this range use a BLDC motor. In simple terms, this is a newer kind of motor that runs quieter and uses less electricity. Beyond Appliances says its BLDC motors use up to 50% less power than regular AC motors. The Cube BLDC 75 runs at about 46 dB, while the more powerful Axis 60 stays at around 46 dB. That’s quiet enough to chat with family or play music while you cook.
6. Long filter life and easy cleaning
A common worry with ductless chimneys is the filter. How often will it need changing? Beyond Appliances says the filter on its Plug ’N’ Play range lasts up to four years. On top of that, every model comes with dry heat auto-clean. The chimney heats up, melts the oil stuck inside, and drains it into a removable tray. On the Cube BLDC 75, for instance, you simply pull out the tray and empty it from time to time.
Charcoal filters don’t last forever. After a point, they get full and stop trapping smells as well. With a four-year filter life, this isn’t something you’ll deal with often. But it’s good to keep it in mind. But again compare that to the regular hassle of cleaning and service of the regular chimney.
So, can it handle Indian cooking?
This is the question everyone asks. Indian cooking is not gentle. There’s tadka, frying, roasting, and plenty of smoke and oil in the air. So a chimney needs strong suction and good filters.
The Cube BLDC 60 variants and the Cube BLDC 75 offer 1600 CMH suction, which is plenty for everyday Indian cooking. The Axis 60 goes up to 1800 CMH for heavier frying. All of them use 3-way suction, which means they pull air in from more than one side. This helps catch the smoke that usually escapes from the edges of the stove. Add the 5-stage filter, and you’ve got a setup built with Indian kitchens in mind. In fact, these chimneys are designed for Indian kitchens and cooking needs. So, whether you cook fried items or regular daily cooking, all these chimneys are designed to handle the workload.
Who will enjoy a Plug ’N’ Play chimney the most?
A ductless chimney is a lifestyle choice as much as a kitchen one. You’ll probably love it if you live on rent and want a chimney you can take along when you move. And if you’ve been living in your home for a while, waiting for the next renovation to finally get a chimney, you don’t have to wait anymore. It’s also a great fit if you’ve just done up your kitchen and don’t want to cut into new tiles, or if you like a clean look without a pipe running across the wall. If you want a chimney installed today and not next week, or you cook in an AC kitchen and want to keep the cool air in, this one’s for you. And if quiet operation and easy upkeep matter to you, it ticks those boxes too.
Beyond Appliances’ Plug ’N’ Play models to consider
Here’s a quick look at five models from the range.
Beyond Appliances Cube BLDC 60 (Black)
This is the easiest place to begin. The Cube BLDC 60 offers 1600 CMH suction from a 130W BLDC motor. It has a 3-sided vent, dry heat auto-clean and a 3W LED light. The 60 cm size works with 2, 3 and 4 burner stoves, cooktops and hobs. The filter is rated to last four years, and the black finish fits into almost any modular kitchen.
Beyond Appliances Cube BLDC 60 (Veneer)
Same Cube BLDC inside, but with a wood-style veneer finish outside. If your kitchen has warm wooden tones, this one blends right in. You still get the 1600 CMH suction, the BLDC motor, auto-clean, the 5-stage filter and the quick 10-minute setup.
Beyond Appliances Axis 60
The Axis 60 is the most powerful of the lot, with 1800 CMH suction. Beyond Appliances calls it India’s first Plug ’N’ Play chimney. It comes with a BLDC motor, 5-stage activated charcoal filter, 3-way suction, touch controls and auto-clean. It runs at about 46 dB, and like the rest of the range, it can be installed and removed in about 10 minutes. If you fry a lot or cook big meals often, the extra suction is a nice bonus.
Beyond Appliances Cube BLDC 75
Got a wider stove? The Cube BLDC 75 gives you a broader 75 cm body with 1600 CMH suction. It runs at about 45 dB, has touch controls and LED lighting, and uses 3-way suction. Auto-clean sends the oil into a removable tray, so cleaning stays simple.
Beyond Appliances Cube BLDC 60 BG
This is the Cube BLDC 60 in another designer finish. Everything that makes the Cube work is still here: 1600 CMH suction, the BLDC motor, 5-stage filter, dry heat auto-clean and Plug ’N’ Play setup. Pick this one if you want your chimney to add a bit of colour to your kitchen.
A few tips before you buy
Measure your stove. Your chimney should be as wide as your stove, or a little wider. The 60 cm Cube models and the Axis 60 suit most homes. For bigger stoves, the Cube BLDC 75 gives you more coverage.
Mind the height. Chimneys work best when placed about 24 to 30 inches above the stove. Too high and suction drops. Too low and it gets in your way.
Think about how you cook. If you fry often, the Axis 60 with 1800 CMH is a good choice. For daily home cooking, the 1600 CMH Cube models do the job nicely.
Pick a finish you’ll love. Whether it’s Black, Veneer or BG, the Cube BLDC 60 lets you choose the look without changing what’s inside.
Keep a cleaning habit. Empty the oil tray and run auto-clean as the manual suggests. It only takes a few minutes, and it keeps your chimney working well for years.
Ductless vs Ducted: what it really comes down to
At the end of the day, ductless vs ducted is about what matters to you. A ducted chimney sends air outside and needs a pipe planned into your kitchen. A ductless one cleans the air right there, needs no drilling, sets up in minutes and moves with you when you move.
If you want a neat kitchen, a quiet chimney, easy cleaning and the freedom to take your appliance wherever life takes you, Beyond Appliances’ Plug ’N’ Play range is well worth a look. Now that you know both the good and the not-so-good, you can choose with confidence, whether it’s the Cube BLDC 60, the Cube BLDC 75 or the Axis 60.
Disclaimer: This is a brand story, so views and opinions expressed here are of the sponsor and not of the editorial team.
Axis 60 looks premium