Air purifiers have emerged as an essential household appliance due to a range of environmental challenges, including pandemics and wildfires. Even modern buildings and households often allow the entry of various harmful elements such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and vaporous chemicals.
Indoor items like plastics, furniture, paint, and flooring emit noxious fumes. Moreover, research suggests that air filters can effectively eliminate virus particles, including those responsible for spreading Covid-19, from the indoor atmosphere.
Our expert sources carefully reviewed these products in June 2023 and continue to stand by our top-rated picks.
1.
BEST OVERALL AIR PURIFIER
Blueair Blue Pure 311i+ Max
Max takes over the top spot thanks to its advanced multi-level protection against contaminants of all sizes — not just dander and pet hair, but also cooking fumes, dust mites and pollen. "It was exceptionally fast at clearing the air in our test chamber, plus it was among the quietest models, even on its higher fan speeds.
The 311i+ Max's washable fabric pre-filter that encases the device (available in five colors) snags fur, dust and other large particles. Once air is pulled inside the device, it passes through a true HEPA filter that's designed to capture smaller particles down to .1 micron, the smallest of all tested air purifiers. That's enough to clear up to 99.97% of pet-generated pollutants across 465 square feet in under 13 minutes.
2.
BEST VALUE AIR PURIFIER
Dreo Macro Pro
Chances are, you'll need more than one air purifier to manage the air quality throughout your whole house. If you're on a budget, you could buy three or four of these Dreos for the price of a single model from other top brands, without giving up much in the way of performance.
Like the top-rated Blueair, the Dreo uses three-stage filtration — a fabric pre-filter, a True HEPA filter and an odor-neutralizing carbon filter (though it's certified to capture particles down to .3 microns, compared with the .1 micron rating of the Blueair). In extensive home testing that took place over several weeks, the Dreo effectively vanquished odors and stale air. “It seems to have really freshened up the air in our basement apartment where we have a dog and lots of dust,” noted one tester. Another plus is the compact design won’t get in the way in smaller spaces.
3.
BEST AIR PURIFIER FOR ALLERGIES
Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover Air Purifier
This air purifier from Honeywell, another established brand in the home comfort space, uses a pre-filter and True HEPA filter to capture contaminants down to .3 microns.
The model line comes in five different sizes that target rooms ranging from small (75 square feet) to extra large (500 square feet). This mid-sized model, previously the brand's largest, claims to clean the air as often as five times an hour and remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including viruses.
4.
MOST INNOVATIVE AIR PURIFIER
Levoit Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
This Levoit air purifier stood out to our testers for its combination of value, performance and intelligent smart design. The unit’s three-stage filtration, including a True HEPA filter, helps it capture airborne pollutants down to .3 microns in rooms up to approximately 400 square feet.
"We also liked its built-in precision laser sensor, which accurately monitors particles in the room and auto-adjusts fan speeds as needed," says Greenwald. The purifier is incredibly quiet, operating at just 24 dB, which you’ll appreciate if it’s stationed in your bedroom. (One of our testers has been running the unit for several months in her home and says the light hum is quite peaceful at night.)
5.
MOST SPLURGE-WORTHY AIR PURIFIERS
Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde
Close to $1,000 is a lot to spend on an air purifier, especially if you need multiple units throughout the home. But Dyson has proven itself splurge-worthy in other product categories, from cordless vacuums to hair dryers, and that’s what our experts found with its latest air purifier, the Dyson Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde.
Its unique catalytic filter combines with True HEPA filtration to vanquish contaminants down to .3 microns. It was one of the fastest models at reducing particulate matter in our test chamber. And beyond that, it even has humidifying and cooling capabilities to help keep spaces dry and comfortable too.
6.
BEST VALUE AIR PURIFIERS
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Global Version
All-day protection for those who suffer from rhinitis and allergies. Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 protects your respiratory health by keeping the air in your home clean and safe to breathe.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 has a Particle CADR of up to 400m³/h*, able to deliver 6660L of purified air per minute*, and with 360° all-round air intake, whole-room air purification is effortless.
7.
BEST VALUE AIR PURIFIERS
Crane True Hepa Smart Air Purifier
Crane Air purifiers are available in both portable and fixed variants. Some can clean a whole house, while others are made to fit in small spaces like bedrooms or workplaces. It can clean up to 80 square meters of rooms. To make the HEPA filter last longer, the pre-filter will help remove big airborne particles. Up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, and mold spores, are captured by the H13 Hepa Filter.
Smoke, rubbish, and cooking aromas are all often found in homes and are absorbed by the activated carbon filter. Germs, bacteria, viruses, and mildew will all be helped to get rid of by the germicidal UV light.
8.
MEDICAL GRADE AIR PURIFIERS
UV Care Super Plasma Air Pro
Classified by the US Food and drug Administration (FDA) as Class II Medical Device for Air Cleaning Biodegradable Medical-Grade H14 HEPA Filter Traps 99.998% of all particles that are 0.1 microns in diameter. UV Care ViruX® Technology A US FDA Patented Technology that is scientifically proven to instantly kill SARS-CoV-2 upon contact Superior UV-C Engineering and Technology UV Care is your trusted brand of choice because UV Care is the leader in UV-C germicidal technology.
Eliminates Up to 99.9% Airborne Pathogens Including colds, influenza, chickenpox, mumps, measles, & tuberculosis Plasma Ion Technology Emits both positive and negative ions that effectively break down suspending viruses, bacteria, mold, and odors Excellent Minimum Efficient Reporting Value (MERV) Rating.
9.
WITH HUMIDIFYING SYSTEM
Sharp KC-WS65P-W 50sqm PCI Air Purifier
7,000 High Density Plasmacluster Ions & Fan Air Purification. Emits high density ions of 7,000 ions/cm3 to powerfully deactivate airborne molds and bad odors. Maintain humidity temperature to keep the sinus and throat moisturized and healthy. Provides energy saving when left running over a long period of time. Automatically monitors the dust and odor pollution in the air through clean sign indicator with 3-color level monitoring.
10.
LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION
PHILIPS Compact Air Purifier [AC0850/20] 800i Series
The air purifier filters invisible viruses, allergens, and pollutants in your house at the push of a button, keeping it clean and safe.
Its clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 190 m3/h allows it to purify swiftly and effectively. Philips brand is one of the best air purifiers in the Philippines.
How to choose the best air purifier for your home
To zero in on the ideal air purifier for your needs, weigh the following factors:
✔️ Coverage area. Manufacturers typically list how much square footage a purifier is designed to cover. You might see multiple areas listed, say, one for the coverage provided in one hour and another for the coverage provided in five hours. We recommend paying attention to the lower number since you'll likely want a device that delivers quick purification.
✔️ Filtration. Most top-performing air purifiers use mechanical filters with a dense web of fine fibers that trap particles from the air as it is pushed through by a fan.
True HEPA filters use a very fine mesh certified to capture 99.97% of particles measuring at least 0.3 microns (and in some cases down to 0.1 microns) in diameter. Our bottom-line advice is that the best cleaning power comes from a True HEPA filter.
"HEPA-like" filters have not been certified to meet that standard. Some air purifiers also have a pre-filter designed to capture dust and other larger particulates.
✔️ Operating costs. The main consideration here is the price of replacement filters. Since you might need to replace the filters a few times a year, depending on your home's air quality, the expense can add up. Some air purifiers also have special cleaning kits designed to eliminate mineral build-up inside the machine, adding further to the operating costs.
References:
Good Housekeeping: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/appliances/air-purifier-reviews/g22866172/best-air-purifiers/
