An effective air cleaner or air purifier can clean air and improve its quality. It does it by removing contaminants in the air which can cause allergies and trigger the asthma of some individuals. Some can also remove unwanted odors in the air and this all depends on the type of air purifier you are using.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are four basic types of air purifiers in the market: high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), activated carbon, ultraviolet light (UV), and negative ion. Of all of them, HEPA is the technology most commonly used in lots of models. It works by using a fiber-like material that is folded repeatedly. This design creates layers and layers of fiber where the air is sucked in. As the air passes through these layers, airborne particles will be filtered and trapped. However, it can’t eradicate the smell of smoke, fumes, and other unwanted odors in the air. In this case, activated carbon technology is what you need. It has numerous molecular-sized pores that are very absorbent. Due to its effectiveness, it is considered a vital material in the production of gas masks due to its capability to also filter chemical emissions and gases.
Can Air Purifiers Trap Viruses?
Nowadays, as we become health conscious due to the condition of the world where you can catch diseases by inhaling air, air purifiers are getting more and more attention.. especially HEPA types. With this, the demand for such a type has become outrageously high as people believe that it can effectively trap viruses. But is it even true? Well, yes and no.
It depends on the HEPA filter you are using. H10 - H12 HEPA filters can only catch airborne particles that are at least 0.3 microns in size. Since viruses are smaller than that (20 nm to 500 nm), they can’t be filtered. Thankfully, that is the case when they are airborne. According to studies, when viruses are trapped in droplets or attached to a larger particle, such grades of HEPA filters can trap them and reduce the circulation of viruses in the air. Even better, there is H13, a medical-grade HEPA filter, which can trap particles in 0.1 microns!
In relation to this, some information is circulating on how ‘efficient’ UV air purifiers are in eliminating the virus. However, there is a problem here. Though the UVC (a type of UV light that is used in UV disinfecting materials) is proven to have an effect on Sars, there are still no other studies on its effect on other coronaviruses - including the CoViD-19. In one recent study where UVC is used to clean PPE, it is said that some viruses tested can be killed only if they are given the highest UVC exposure. The problem? Air purifiers with UV features can’t deliver such performance. Even worse, we’re still clueless about how long it will take to kill viruses with the said technology. One minute? 15 minutes? We’re clueless.
Our Choices
That being said, despite the extravagance of air purifiers with UV light capabilities, we chose not to include them on our list. We also didn’t include those employing negative ions. They basically do not filter the air but just add weight to the airborne particles in order for them to drop to the ground. This means the particles are still in your room which basically contradicts the concept of “air cleaning.”
In this regard, we will stick with models employing the technologies we deem effective. To give you the best options possible, we picked models utilizing a mixture of the said efficient technologies above that can literally filter and catch particles in their system. We also considered some additional features which could give you the best experience possible as we believe everyone wants a convenient model.
To know more about them, let’s have a look at things we discovered during our yearly review of the best products in the market. Aided by a group of professionals that make up our SolidSmack Household Appliance and Tool Research Team, we weighed the quality and value of each model. We also rated them based on these factors and we offer you our collective thoughts about each of them. Without further ado, let’s have a look at each of them:
Best Air Purifiers Comparison & Rating
Air Purifiers | Features |
| |
2. Medify MA-40 
| |
3. Winix 5500-2 
| |
| |
|
1. Levoit LV-PUR131S
Brand | Levoit |
Filter Technology | HEPA & activated carbon |
Fan Speed | 3 |
Alexa/Google Assistant Connectivity | Yes |
The LEVOIT LV-PUR131S is designed for big rooms with a busy family. It can handle a room with up to 900 sq. ft space and clean air within an hour. But besides its huge capacity, its smart features are what make it a superstar as it manages the air quality for you wherever you are.
LV-PUR131S employs an app called VeSync that you can download on your phone. This allows you to set things up even when you’re not at home. The app also shows you all the important information you need to know about the unit including the air quality and filter life. What even charmed us when we took a look at the app is how intuitive it is. No complexities of controls and icons. Everything is well labeled. As if that’s not enough, Levoit also armed it with Alexa and Google Assistant connectivity. That being said, with the right third-party tool, you can use voice controls to give orders. We personally love the automatic mode of the LV-PUR131S which uses infrared technology to determine the status of the air and adjust the fan settings needed to eradicate the particles sensed. Truly brilliant. When we tested its sensitivity in a kitchen room, we were astonished that in a matter of a minute, the light indicating the air quality turned to red and the fan noise became louder which meant it really works to manage the air quality.
As for its performance, it doesn’t disappoint. We love how it is integrating two of the well-known filtering systems in the market: HEPA and activated carbon. With this, you can be sure that besides the particles lingering in the air, unwanted odors can also be eliminated. It is also very thoughtful of Levoit to add another before the said ones. In this first layer, bigger particles like hair and dander will be trapped instantly. What’s more impressive is that LV-PUR131S comes with an H13-grade HEPA filter which means it can directly trap particles that are 0.1 microns in diameter!
When we tried it and set the fan at full speed (which, by the way, increased its noise level), we realized how great its power is as it had managed to pull smoke that is 9 feet away. Just wow. With all that, it is undeniably the best pick you could ever get on this list. It is smart. It is efficient. Most of all, it offers a great bang for your buck.
2. Medify MA-40
Brand | Medify |
Filter Technology | HEPA & activated carbon |
Fan Speed | 3 |
Alexa/Google Assistant Connectivity | No |
If you have a bigger space to clean and you are not a fan of modern smart features, the Medify MA-40 is a practical choice. It can handle up to 1,600 sq. ft. of space and clean the air within an hour. Compared to Levoit LV-PUR131S that cleans the air of a 900 sq. ft. room in an hour, it can manage almost the same size of space in just 30 minutes! However, there are trade-offs made.
While it is truly effective when we tested it (its power in drawing air was so powerful!), it is hard to deny that its fan is much louder than the one you find in Levoit LV-PUR131S. As a comparison, when we tested the two using a decibel meter and set their fans at the maximum speed, the Levoit LV-PUR131S produced a maximum of 55 dB while the Medify MA-40 had 66 dB. Nonetheless, the latter’s performance was a reflection of how powerful it is in drawing air toward the filters.
It also employs a three-filter system that is composed of pre-filter, H13 HEPA, and an activated carbon filter. That being said, just with the HEPA H13 filter alone, you know you have the best system as it is of medical grade that can handle particles down to 0.1 microns.
We also love its controls as it is very compact. Though it is 22 inches in height, it leaves a small floor footprint (10.5 x 11 inches). As for the controls, it is fairly intuitive. The buttons are labeled pretty well from the Child Lock button to Timer and Fan Speed. There is also an option Ionizer button that you can activate. While we really don’t suggest it due to the things we mentioned before, it is still certainly a feature some buyers would love to have and it’s really up to you whether to use it or not.
3. Winix 5500-2
Brand | Winix |
Filter Technology | HEPA, activated carbon, & PlasmaWave |
Fan Speed | 4 |
Alexa/Google Assistant Connectivity | No |
For a medium-sized room, Winix 5500-2 is the best. It can clean the air within a 360 sq. ft. space. Further, its use is even simpler than the other models we have reviewed but it doesn’t lack in the other essential features you need to clean the air efficiently.
Compared to Levoit LV-PUR131S and Medify MA-40, we were really impressed when we scrutinized its internals. What we saw was a 4-layer air-cleaning system. It comes with a washable fine mesh pre-filter, a washable carbon filter, a HEPA filter, and the last layer that is applying the brand’s so-called PlasmaWave technology. The last layer produces hydroxyls which neutralize bacteria and the Influenza A virus in the air. Most of all, it acts as an additional deodorizer to further remove the odor in the air. However, we were a bit dismayed realizing that its HEPA filter just falls within H10 - H12. This means it can only trap particles that are 0.3 microns small.
On a positive note, we were overjoyed at how user-friendly this unit is. Even better, some features are automated! The buttons are labeled perfectly and the remote control that comes with it is as easy to use as the buttons of the unit itself. Just like the Levoit LV-PUR131S, it has an automatic feature that can activate the sensors to monitor the quality of the air. This will adjust the fan speed setting based on the situation that needs to be handled. When tested, it also worked like magic! The sensor lights changed into red and the fan speed was increased automatically!
The Sleep Mode is also amazing which drops the noise level to 27.8 dB. The thing we adore about this mode is that it will be activated automatically when you turn off or dim the lights. It will also automatically dim its panel light for your comfort. Sweet!
4. Levoit Core 200S
Brand | Levoit |
Filter Technology | HEPA & activated carbon |
Fan Speed | 3 |
Alexa/Google Assistant Connectivity | Yes |
Core 200S is another masterpiece from Levoit that will perfectly fit your bedroom setup. It will complement the needs of those who have severe problems in asthma and allergy who need a portable unit. Besides its size, its performance is notable, as well. It is like the mini-version of LV-PUR131S so you will experience the same smart features we love about it.
It starts with the build of the unit. Despite its size (12 inches in height), its system works in 360-degree which means the entirety of its body is working when sucking the air in. This is why despite its size, it can cover a 183 sq. ft. room. You also get the same filter layer components: a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and most of all, an H13 HEPA filter! To make it more effective, Core 200S is programmed to clean the air 5 times every hour.
It has 3 fan speed and although it isn’t as aggressive as the air-drawing power of its bigger sibling, we understand it since it is specifically just designed for a bedroom setup. Also, 24 dB noise level under Sleep Mode is something to love when you’re tired after a long day. You also have the option to turn off the panel lights to make yourself more comfortable when it is placed near your bed. The cherry on top of all these things? You can access all these settings using the VeSync app of Levoit! Fan settings, air quality, modes, filter life, timer. Name it! You can even set the specific dates you want it to work and purchase a new filter just by using the app itself! It also supports Alexa and Google Assistant so with the right third-party device, you can use it hands-free!
5. Aurora Portable Air Purifier
Brand | Aurora |
Filter Technology | HEPA |
Fan Speed | 3 |
Alexa/Google Assistant Connectivity | No |
Our homes make us feel that they are the safest place to breathe fresh air, especially if you have an air purifier unit in the place. However, venturing outside is inevitable. That is true especially for workers who need to go to the office on weekdays. Unfortunately, bringing an air purifier is almost impossible. Well, this portable air purifier from Aurora breaks that rule.
This Aurora unit is an extremely portable and wearable air purifier model that works in the same principle as other models. It sucks in air and cleans it. However, in this model, you get a small ventilator-like purifier machine that sends air into the tube and into your mask. This lessens your struggle in breathing whenever wearing a tight and thick mask that often deprives you of a continuous flow of air. Further, despite the size of the purifier, it utilizes an H13 HEPA filter which means you can still expect a medical-grade filtration system that is needed in blocking tremendously small particles.
It also has 3 fan speed settings which we honestly didn’t expect since it seems unnecessary. Nonetheless, it’s still a good addition as a feature. When we tested it, there was really no difference between the speed of 1 and 2. On the other hand, its third speed setting showed a very favorable performance. As for the noise, and as expected, our test received a result of 20 dB which was just right since it is a very compact machine.
However, there is a caveat here that we just noticed. While it is true that it will supply you with filtered air, the masks that we received are not really designed for the purpose of securing air leakage. While our model was wearing it, we set the fan at the maximum speed. Then, we noticed that whenever he was exhaling a huge amount of air, the portions of the masks without metal frames slightly lifted. That being said, we won’t really suggest it as a piece of effective “viral protection equipment.” This can also mean additional risk to those around since it will cause air leakage when you breathe the air out. Nonetheless, if your sole purpose is just to use it to trap pollen and dust, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Best Air Purifiers - Buyer's Guide
Check the size of the place where you will use the unit. If you have a huge area to purify such as multiple rooms with no divisions, you might want to consider a bigger unit. Choosing a small one will just frustrate you as it will be inefficient in its job. It will also mean that the machine will take a long time to clean the air.
As stated above, we intentionally didn’t include some purifying technologies on our list due to their inefficacy in achieving the purpose of “cleaning” the air. This leaves you with the HEPA and activated carbon system which we can confidently suggest to you. We picked together the models employing both to assure that besides the particles, you will also get a system that can eliminate odor. However, to give an additional piece of advice, we suggest picking a HEPA system using an H13-grade filter that can trap 0.1-micron particles. This is the type of filter being used in the medical field and if you want a unit that can also handle bacteria and viruses, this is the one you should opt for.
You don’t need a unit that has all the bells and whistles. As long as it can do its job, it is fine. However, if you want something that can be very convenient for you, look for those with additional smart features such as app connectivity and hands-free controls.
We also considered this when we selected the test units we got from Amazon. Again, as long as the machine serves its purpose appropriately, it is fine. However, it is up to you if you want some additional features that will make things more straightforward and convenient for you. However, keep in mind that every feature comes with a price. And if you don’t have the intention of using the full potential of these features and additional technologies, we say just stick to a basic model.
Best Air Purifiers - FAQs
It depends on the technology being used by the air purifier. HEPA is the most effective technology that can filter the air and trap viruses and bacteria. Nonetheless, this also depends on the type of HEPA filter being used. Since viruses are very small with sizes ranging from 20 nm to 500 nm, you need H13 HEPA filters that can block as small as 0.1-micron particles. Also, when the viruses or bacteria are attached to a particle that is bigger (such as droplets), it will be easier for the HEPA filter to catch them.
There are still no studies that can prove this. However, in one experiment related to this, it is said that the experts had had to give the “highest exposure” possible to the hundreds of viruses observed before they were able to kill them.
Basically, the negative ions are just making the particles in the air heavier. This will cause them to fall onto the ground or attach themselves to a bigger object. This means the particles are just there around you and they can still circulate when they get disturbed.
