Purifiers work best in a contiguous space; if you want to clean the air in both the living room and a bedroom, for example, it’s best to get a purifier for each room or to move a single purifier around with you. Finally, because the 211i Max is likely to be used in a living room or other public space, it’s gratifying that Blueair put some real care into its appearance and upkeep. The tweed-like cover (which also acts as a prefilter) is washable and, when the time comes, replaceable. A pretty, silvery gray one comes standard with the machine, and three other soft, natural colors are available. One standout test finding was that the 211i Max is remarkably quiet, particularly for a machine of its capability. On the high setting, it barely broke our 50-decibel limit for comfortable conversation, sleep, or TV watching.
Visually, the 200M differs from the Mighty in that it has a square grille instead of a round aperture; like the Mighty, it’s available in both black and white versions. 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.
To change the pre-filter for the Honeywell QuietCare Air Purifier, first disconnect the unit from the power supply to ensure safety. Second, unscrew the locking mechanism by turning it counter-clockwise. Next, remove the end-cap, filter assembly, velcro fasteners, and used pre-filter from the unit. To install the new pre-filter, secure it around the HEPA filter with the fasteners provided. The pre-filter for this model comes in a large, universally-sized sheet. Depending on your preferences, you can either tear or cut it along the perforations to ensure it’s the right fit for your machine.
Models that have the Energy Star rating will use less energy than comparable products.
And it’s a tall, garish device that won’t blend into any decor outside of an Alien set. But both of those models have been retired, so in January 2023 we purchased and tested the company’s current models, the Molekule Air Pro and the Molekule Air Mini+. For optimal performance, vacuum, wipe down, or rinse off the prefilter (it looks like a window screen or plastic netting) every month or so. The prefilter catches larger particles, such as pet hair, and keeping it clean helps the HEPA filter work unimpeded on fine particles.
Most air purifiers arrive with the filters installed—but they are also sealed in plastic wrappers. The HEPA filters should have an arrow or other honeywell humidifier marking to indicate the correct orientation. We appreciated some practical and user-friendly features we wouldn’t expect at this price.