Some features are more nice-to-have extras than absolute requirements. In general, pricier purifiers come with more features, such as filter indicator lights, dimmable lights and programmable timers. Plasma Ion Technology and Triple Protection Filtration removes 99.97% of ultrafine airborne impurities, including allergens and pollen, and 99.9% of virus, bacteria and mould particles from treated air¹ CLEAN AIR IN MINUTES: Filters up to 1,140 SQFT per hour, to exchange 228 SQFT 5 times per hour, allowing you to breathe cleaner air in minutes, based on 3rd party testing.

Night mode senses room lighting and turns off display lights, turns off plasma ion generator and reduces noise to whisper quiet levels 4 Eco mode turns the fan on and off every 10 minutes, if the air quality is detected as good for 30 minutes, saving 50% energy (Energy Star certified) ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY : HEPA-13 and activated carbon work together to help you breathe easier and purify the air in your home: filters up to 1,850 square meters per hour, or 388 square meters 5 times per hour, based on AHAM verified clean air free of pollen, tobacco, smoke, and dust

Eco mode cycles the fan on and off every 10 minutes, if air quality is detected as good for 30 minutes Dust, pollen, smoke removal is how well a model cleared air of fine clay dust and cigarette smoke when operating at a low speed that was typically one setting above the lowest speed. Many models have multiple speeds and the lowest is not as effective at cleaning the air. A model that scores well for dust removal should perform comparably for pollen. You don’t need to suffer from allergies to take advantage of an air purifier though. Air purifiers can improve the air quality at home in general, reducing the level of pollutants you breathe. Instant™ Air Purifier uses sophisticated technology to deliver cleaner air, giving you peace of mind. It pairs an advanced filtration system with plasma ion technology to remove 99.9% of the virus that causes COVID-19 from treated air. 1 Plus it works to remove 99.9% of other bacteria, virus and mold in treated air. 2 And the built-in sensors monitor the air quality and adjust the fan speed automatically, to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 3 With Instant Air Purifier, you’ll inhale cleaner air, and exhale peace of mind. Some modern air purifiers, such as the Blueair Health Protect 7470i, can be connected to the Wi-Fi and linked to an app on your smartphone. In doing this, you can control the air purifier remotely, including changing the fan speed or setting a schedule. For some air purifiers, the app will also breakdown the quality of the air and let you monitor it more precisely.

Performance claims are calculated based on testing of a single particulate, A. Niger (mold) E. Coli (bacteria), S. Epidermidis (bacteria) or Phi-X174, under laboratory conditions following 1 hour of air purifier operation at the maximum fan speed and with plasma ion technology on. Actual results may vary, depending on usage environment (temperature, humidity, room size and shape, nature and number of particulates in air, etc.), placement of the unit, and product usage (operation duration, operation mode, etc.). Best results with continuous use. Using Plasma Ion Technology to project positive and negative ions. These target and neutralise airborne impurities and pollutants for cleaner air. Equipped with intelligent sensors that monitor air quality and automatically adjust the fan speed .The Honeywell HPA300 might not be the prettiest to look at, but it’s straightforward to operate and will get the job done. Just keep in mind there’s no auto mode, and it’s not ideal in terms of noise or energy consumption. Eco mode cycles the fan on and off every 10 minutes, if air quality is detected as good for 30 minutes, allowing 50% energy reduction (Energy Star certified) Design:The Winix 5500-2 comes with several settings, including an auto setting, a night mode and four fan speeds as well as an air quality indicator. There’s also a timer with one, four or eight hour options. The air quality indicator shines blue for good, amber for fair and red for poor, and when the auto function is selected it will adjust its fan speed accordingly. The remote control lets you adjust the fan speed from afar, however you can’t select the Plasmawave function, timer or night mode. This air purifier comes with a pre-filter and carbon filter layer, both of which are washable, and a HEPA filter. It’s worth flagging that it’s quite a heavy design, weighing 15 pounds, so you won't want to move it often. What you need to know: Throughout these tests, one cube-shaped air purifier stood out above the rest. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto dominated the competition. This medium-sized air purifier will suit rooms up to 550 sq ft. It features an upright cuboid design, with a plastic upper section and a skirt fitted around the base, which acts as a pre-filter and comes in several colors. A HEPASilent filter is included, which uses both a carbon and particle layer. For me, it looked like a futuristic robot, which has a quality appearance compared to the competition. There are three fan speeds on offer as well as an auto function, plus a night mode is included for dimming the lights.

This involves sealing the air purifier into a dedicated test chamber and then administering tobacco smoke, dust or pollen particulate into the atmosphere at a controlled rate. Each particle test would be conducted two times — once with the air purifier switched on and once where it’s powered off. The natural decay rate from external elements, such as gravity, can then be accounted for and subtracted from the air purifier’s performance to give a final accurate reading. Electronic particle-counting devices are used to monitor the condition of the air quality, breaking down what sizes of particles remain in the atmosphere, as well as how frequent they are. However, the AP300 will continue working in the dark—just not produce distracting light that can interfere with your beauty sleep. Instant Air Purifier AP300 Cylindrical 360° Design The AP300 is suited for larger spaces like living and dining rooms. While the AP200 model is suited for medium-sized spaces like kitchen, offices or larger bedrooms.If you’re thinking about buying an air purifier, bear in mind that this does mean it will be on open display in your room. You might want to opt for a design which is aesthetically pleasing or matches your décor as a consequence. For instance, you can replace the color of the exterior skirt on the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto to suit your taste. Don’t buy a design that’s bigger than necessary for the same reason. If it’s only a small room, you don’t want a chunky design out in the open, taking up valuable space. While looks are important, don’t forget that performance always comes first, which is where our tests can help. There’s no point in buying an attractive air purifier if it makes little difference to the quality of the air. Should I get a smart air purifier? Sensors monitor air quality and automatically adjust fan speed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (3)

Smoke, dust and pollen all represent alternate particle sizes and can help assess where the air purifier may excel or struggle. Smoke represents the smaller particles, accounting for 0.09-1.0 microns, while dust sits in the middle, from 0.5-3.0 microns. And pollen has a larger particle size of 0.5-11.0 microns.Performance:A truly powerful device, the HPA300 scored second to the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ auto on the CADR test. With an average CADR score of 300, 320 and 300, it performed slightly better on dust versus pollen and smoke and would suit rooms of up to 465 sq ft. However, that performance comes at a price, because it consumed more energy than any other air purifier I tested, at 1.002 kWh over 24 hours, and it was on the noisier end of the spectrum, producing 59.6 dB on its loudest setting. The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i produced just 48dB on its highest fan speed by comparison. The sensors have a margin of error of +/- 20 micrograms per cubic meter in detecting changes in air quality.