The Honeywell InSight HPA5300B, a large-space model, likely performs well, but after measuring its electricity demands, we dismissed it. Compared with our pick for large spaces, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, the HPA5300B is a power hog, drawing 33, 60, 94, and 117 watts on its four (low to turbo) speeds, respectively. The Blue Pure 211+, in contrast, tops out at 64 watts on its highest setting yet is also a slightly more powerful machine in terms of clean air delivery rate (CADR). The HPA5300B also has a visually imposing presence, with its stark black color and huge size (22 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, by our firsthand measurements). Blueair recommends replacing the filter “every six months or so.” Following that schedule, you spend $80 a year on replacements versus about $50 or less for the Coway AP-1512HH and the Winix machines.
Since I can’t use it in the Apple Home app, I have to open the VeSync app to control it. The final stage of filtration is a high-efficiency activated carbon filter to remove smoke, fumes, and smells from the air. It also filters formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and VOCs. There’s a washable pre-filter first, designed to capture large particles like pet hair, dust, or lint. This pre-filter can be removed every two to four weeks, gently vacuumed with a vacuum hose to remove the dust, and hand-washed with a mild detergent and rinsed.
It’s small enough to fit on the coffee table as you play with Fido or by your bedside while you snooze. Because it’s so small and lightweight, you can bring it with you to every part of your home, which is ideal if you don’t want to cash out for multiple pricey appliances.
This Dyson air purifier and fan goes above and beyond most, even destroying formaldehyde that your furniture may be releasing into the air. This True HEPA air purifier diagnoses your room’s air quality for you as it works and reports back as it cleans.
The three fan stages are quiet, although you’ll get a subtle fan noise at higher speeds. In this Levoit 400S air purifier review, we’ll be giving you the lowdown on this high-performance air purifier, from how easy it is to set up and start using, to how it works to improve your indoor air quality. Plus, we’ll be letting you in on the features we love and what we’re not so keen on.
Auto mode adjusts settings automatically to work efficiently or at your preferred quietest setting, while a sleep mode dims the display and adjusts the purifier to its quietest settings. The timer or schedule function can be used to switch the purifier off at a preset time. There is also a ‘check filter’ indicator that lights up when the filter needs replacing. But the best thing about the control panel is that it features a series of color-coded indicator rings that tell you how clean your air is right now, from blue (very good) right through to red (bad).
The machine keeps running at whatever speed you want, and you get to sleep or watch TV in a nice dark room. The AP-1512HH has also demonstrated the ability to maintain its high performance for years, even as we’ve pushed its filters far beyond their stated one-year lifespan. We ran our original test model for two years without replacing
the filter, and it still performed just as well in our follow-up test as it did on day one. We ran our second test model 24/7 for four years, and again we saw no change in performance, noise output, or reliability. Air pollution from US combustion emissions alone results in 200,000 premature deaths a year, according to a 2013 MIT study.
They may be worth considering if you need to clear the air in a larger room than mine or if you want a dual-function purifier. Granted, it’s not a perfect device — you can only use it for smaller rooms, and I’ve dented the metal construction by accidentally knocking it over. I don’t often use the night light, and am not entirely sure why it exists, unless you leave it in the middle of a walkway and want to avoid tripping over it in the dark. But, ultimately, my Levoit is an affordable HEPA air purifier, and I feel better and breathe better with it in my home. I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quiet, effective and affordable air purifier.
The Levoit 400S air purifier features a HEPA H13 filter, which means it should remove at least 99.95% of airborne particles. We put it to the test with a series of trials, assessing ambient air quality before and after use of the purifier, alongside a match smoke test and an incense smoke test. For all our trials we ran the purifier at a level lower than 50 decibels (level 3) and again at its highest setting (level 4). Level 4 clocks in at around 52 decibels, which is about the same level as a normal conversation. One unique aspect that Levoit prides itself upon is that its purifiers don’t produce ozone, making them safer for you and your family. They have different powerful models to effectively clean air in rooms of all sizes, performing just as well as the more premium air purifiers on the market.
The LV-PUR131S also has a simple capacitive control panel which allows users to operate the unit with minimal fuss. For optimal performance, vacuum, wipe down, or rinse off the prefilter (it looks like a window screen or plastic netting) every month or so. The prefilter catches larger particles, such as pet hair, and keeping it clean helps the HEPA filter work unimpeded on fine particles. The small footprint of 10 by 8 inches belies the fact that it’s 32 inches tall—as tall as a kitchen counter—and so it takes up a huge amount of visual space. At night, for example, you can shut off its display, which features a far-too-bright air-quality indicator lamp. You do so by holding down the Ionizer button for three seconds—something Coway could frankly do a better job of making clear.