With its reasonable price and impressive performance in our tests, it earned the top spot in our guide to the best air purifiers. The Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA Air Purifier (model HPA3300) is the only air purifier we’ve tested that does a great job of removing both particulate matter and VOCs. To test how well an air purifier cleans the air, we burn incense in a closed (not sealed) 200-square-foot room and run the unit on Auto mode.
The Molekule Air Mini+ is designed for small spaces, like a bedroom or home office. In our testing, it performed far worse than our pick for those scenarios, the Clorox Medium Room—which costs about $100, versus the Air Mini+’s typical $350 or more. On its medium setting (speed three, out of five), the Air Mini+ reduced smoke levels by just 58.7%, versus the Levoit’s 92.6%. And even on its highest setting, at which it emitted an intolerable 66 decibels, the Air Mini+ reduced the smoke only by 91%; the Levoit captured 97.4% on high, while emitting 54 decibels. That’s a bit too loud for continuous use, but it’s less than half as loud (in terms of human perception) as the Air Mini+. The Levoit Vital 200S is another excellent purifier and is similar to the Coway Mighty in both capability and livability.
Certified HEPA filters captures up to 99.97% of microscopic allergens, 0.3 microns or larger. Once you’ve changed your filter, the “Check Filter or “Check Pre-Filter” light will remain on until it’s reset. While the air purifier is powered on, press the lighted button and honeywell purifier hold for approximately 2 seconds until the light turns off. Want to learn more about air purifiers and how to select the right air purifier for you needs? With thoughtful extra features, the Honeywell air purifier includes a True HEPA filter to help you breathe easy.
They’re excellent, and if you own one of them, there’s no need to replace them. The 311i Max and 211i Max that now hold these spots are slightly higher performing and have improved energy efficiency and liveability features, but the older models are truly excellent in their own right. In addition to the following models, we have reviewed and dismissed hundreds of purifiers since 2013 based on their specs, features (or lack thereof), livability, and price. Some well-known brands that have never made our cut include Alen, Bissell, IQAir, Rabbit Air, and TruSens, generally based on their elevated up-front and running costs relative to those of our picks. If you try this hack, carefully seal the filter around its entire perimeter with clear, pro-strength packing tape—any gap would have let unfiltered air pass through, the same as on dedicated air purifiers. Doing all this may damage the fan’s motor, and we wouldn’t consider it to be a long-term solution for air-quality issues.
One version adds Alexa compatibility for remote control and monitoring, although this feature bumps the price up by a bit. You can manually dim or completely shut off the entire display when you want a dark room. A child lock function keeps young ones from altering the settings (or that’s the intent, anyway). Most important, the Vital 200S has a display shutoff that’s independent of the fan settings, so you can darken it at night while still keeping your air well cleaned. And our long-term test unit is performing without any issues, making us confident in its durability. Whether you want to get rid of odors from cooking, tobacco smoke or pets, the right air purifier can make a room a more enjoyable place to be.
In a 35-minute test, we run the machine on its absolute highest setting. In a separate test, we use the highest setting the machine can run while keeping the noise below 50 decibels; this is around the upper limit of what would be tolerable for normal conversation, watching TV, or sleeping. The problem is that many manufacturers dramatically overstate their machines’ abilities. A lot of “living room” purifiers are barely powerful enough to keep a walk-in closet clear.
The machine measures actual filter usage, not simply the elapsed time since the last filter was installed, so if you don’t run your machine all the time, you’ll get more life out of them. In the long term, though, filter replacements will likely give the 311i Max slightly higher running costs. Remember, the fan motor is the only actual moving component or powered part of an air purifier. Anyone that suffers from allergy and asthma symptoms would benefit from using a Honeywell air purifier in their home. Air purifiers guard and protect you and your family against harmful, unseen airborne allergens. When utilizing the Honeywell QuietCare or the Enviracaire air purifier, you can feel confident that your family is protected and breathing safe, clean air in your home.