This filter has a flexible edging that majes it fit snugly into the slot - presumably directing more air through the filter and not around the edges. That's my assumption but not sure how to confirm that as a benefit.
Honestly, I can't install it myself as my ceilings are 10' at least and that's where the filter goes. I have to request maintenace for my apt community and have the guy install it. BUT--I used to buy these when I lived in Florida and they were what I needed with my allergies. I can lterally see the dust blown all over my furniture with the cheap see thru filters that maintenance uses here and they don't get replaced until 4 months of usage. Not acceptable to me. I'll be having my Filter Buy installed in the next day or two. I can barely breathe as it is right now.
If I knew that Filterbuy would just haphazardly cut and tape together two smaller filters into the (admittedly somewhat odd) size I requested, I would have just done this myself. I was under the impression that purchasing a custom size filter would result in receiving one, continuous filter and not two taped-together ones. Plus, it was bent in several sections from poor packaging. I would return the thing, but Filterbuy doesn't make returns easy and it seemed like more trouble than it was worth.