GoKawiilThe Levoit Vital 200S-P Air Purifier cleared smoke and got the air back to a healthy level in four minutes and 15 seconds. Video: Molly Higgins The Coway Airmega Mighty2 cleared smoke and got the air back to a healthy level in four minutes and 10 seconds. Video: Molly Higgins
The IQAir HealthPro Plus XE never even allowed the smoke pellet pollutants to visually cloud the tent. The AQI and PM 2.5 levels were marked as “hazardous,” but within three minutes the levels were back to “good.” Video: Molly Higgins The Shark BreatheClear Max didn’t auto-adjust to the pollutants like others tested, and smoke didn’t visually clear. I had to restart the purifier and it took almost five hours for the monitor to read that it was at a healthy level again. Video: Molly Higgins
Compare Our Picks
Others Tested
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Shark BreatheClear Max for $360: Launched in April (we've previously tested the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier and Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max), this purifier offers intelligent purification that automatically adjusts fan speed in response to the air around it, scanning the air 3,600 times per hour. The filter lasts up to a whopping six years, and it can clean up to 1,650 square feet in an hour. This model has an updated LCD screen that has tons of information about the air around you, including metrics with graphics about air insights; historical graphs on air quality, temperature, and humidity; and pollutant information, including measurements for PM 2.5 and 10, and VOCs. To be honest, though, this air purifier slightly annoyed me. The bottom never seemed to screw in right and often fell out, and the fan auto-detected seemingly any and every potential pollutant on auto mode—something as innocuous as my cat walking by would launch it into its highest level, at about 75 decibels. When I conducted a test with smoke pellets in a sealed tent, the purifier didn’t auto-adjust to the pollutants; I had to manually enter and hit the button to engage it. Then the air quality was at zero percent on the screen for 15 minutes, the smoke didn’t visually clear, and it seemed as if it wasn’t actually purifying. When I went to check on what was happening, I accidentally restarted the purifier and it took almost five hours for the monitor to read that it was at a healthy level again.
Coway Airmega Halo for $230: This is the newest release in Coway's Airmega line: an affordable, lightweight air purifier that aims to deliver whole-room air purification at an accessible price point. It's a lightweight 9.7 pounds and doesn't have Wi-Fi capabilities, an app, or a remote. Inside, there's a cylindrical IEST-certified HEPA three-stage filter and a MegaScan Particle Sensor, which continuously monitors the air in real time to detect smoke, fine dust, and allergens down to PM2.5. As I do with all WIRED-tested air purifiers, I measured the Airmega Halo's efficacy by using a sealed tent and smoke pellets to see how quickly each air purifier clears the pellet smoke and returns the air to healthy quality when on auto mode. After one minute and 45 seconds, the air was no longer clouded and the light shone blue for a healthy level. However, in independent testing with an air quality monitor, I found that it took nearly six minutes for the air to truly return to normal levels again—an alarming, almost-four-minute discrepancy. Still, if you're looking for a purifier for a baby's room or are an especially light sleeper, this purifier offers a Night Sensor feature that could be helpful.
IQAir CG MultiGas XE Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
IQAir GC MultiGas XE for $1,600: This Swiss-made unit is a heavy tower model (55 pounds), but it has wheels for easier rolling, and at its highest setting, it can clean 275 cubic feet per minute (CFM). I appreciate that the air sensor’s indicator light is in accordance with US AQI colors. And the built-in sensor and IQAir app make it easy to use—in fact, the app provides one of the most intuitive user experiences of all I’ve tested. It can also capture toxic gases and vapors, and on auto mode, the fan speeds auto-adjust. It can clean the air of a large space with multiple air exchanges in an hour. I’ve been using it in the main room of an A-frame cabin with double-height ceilings (around 3,000 cubic feet) for the past two months, and it has kept my indoor air quality healthy. But with great power comes great noise. At its highest setting, the CG MultiGas XE runs at a loud 68 decibels—that's just 2 decibels shy of the sound of a consumer vacuum cleaner, though it’s quiet at its lower settings. At $1,600, this workhorse isn’t cheap, but it’s an investment that’s built to last. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
Airthings Renew Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
... continue reading