Its intuitive design, whisper-quiet operation and a lights-off mode for sleeping make it a superb choice for large bedrooms as well as open concept rooms. Child-friendly features include a locking control panel and child-safe vent guard make it THE choice for homes with kids or grandchildren. The unit is whisper-quiet at its lowest speed, but in automatic mode I found the unit rather aggressive at ratcheting up the speed, even when particulate levels were low.
The next step was sealing up our 150-square-foot testing room and filling it with smoke by burning paper and other testing materials. We monitored the air with a Dylos air quality monitor; once the room reached our desired level of airborne particulate pollution, we kicked on the BreatheSmart Lasko Box Fan 75i for an hour. After 30 minutes, there were only 16.62% of the original particulates left floating in the air, .003% after 45 minutes, and 0 detectable particulates after an hour. While the odor from the burnt paper wasn’t entirely eliminated, it was severely reduced.
The 75i gets quite loud when things start running at higher levels; I often ended up manually turning it down to quiet the room. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage Lasko Box Fan of the best air purifiers. Long-lasting True HEPA (H13) filters remove 99.99% of airborne contaminants down to 0.1 microns, including allergens and aerosolized viruses.
It runs on average quieter than air purifiers with similar clean performance and is backed with a lifetime warranty as long as you purchase a filter subscription. While the BreatheSmart 75i isn’t too expensive to run for a year in terms of electricity, you will need to replace its combined HEPA and carbon filter once a year. The capacitive control panel allows you to cycle through the settings easily.
This is quite a long lifespan for a HEPA filter, with many other manufacturers suggesting replacing the filter after 6 months or a year if used infrequently. However, as the replacement filters cost up to $119, I hope it proves true. In reality, the power consumed will be much lower as the purifier operates on the lowest setting 99% of the time. Each of Alen’s True HEPA filters can capture 99.99% of airborne contaminants down to 0.1 microns, which are certainly impressive figures and was something we saw for real in our performance tests. However, these results reflect controlled lab testing, so I was keen to see how these figures translate in the real world. Once everything is unwrapped, open the front hatch via the air inlets on the side of the machine and slot in the HEPA filter, with the pre-filter facing towards you.
To you and me, that ranges from a whisper on the lowest level to a box fan on the highest. This was the same time as the Levoit Core 400S and the budget TaoTronics AP-003 but 3 minutes quicker than the Mila Air Purifier. The 45i has great performance for a smaller to a medium-sized room but would not be the best choice for a larger room, which is why the Alen 75i exists, which managed to clean our test room in 24 minutes. The Alen Air mobile app offers all of the onboard features and more, at least once you manage to get to them. The lengthy setup process includes more onerous security than my bank account, but while the process is a hassle, I completed it without any hiccups. This gargantuan purifier is best suited for commercial environments, but it really shines when it comes to power.
Even when set to the turbo, the BreatheSmart 75i produced very little noise. In this setting, it omits a pleasant low hum that our testers found to be noninvasive white noise. When running on medium, it was even quieter, and it was all but unnoticeable when set to low. While the Alen Breathesmart 45i proves to be highly efficient in energy use, filter replacement costs are considerably increased by average running costs.
On Auto mode, a built-in dirt sensor or other inputs will allow the fan to run on a higher fan speed when the air is determined to be dirty and on a lower speed when clean. While the initial purchase price is hefty, the performance offered by the BreatheSmart 75i is outstanding. If you have a large space and need serious performance, this machine is up for the task. If you have a smaller space or are on a budget, other models will likely be better suited. Even if used continuously, running the purifier as recommended, Alen claims the filter will last 12 months.
Alen’s medical-grade filtration is highly effective thanks to powerful yet quiet airflow, ensuring pure air for your entire room. As an added safeguard, Alen’s proprietary antimicrobial treatment kills mold and bacteria. As a light sleeper, I thought utilizing the purifier in the bedroom would be a no-go area. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find on the lowest setting, it is barely noticeable. I also had no issues on the second lowest setting, which may have even helped send me off to sleep with its gentle ASMR pink noise hum. Rather than a mere design feature, this light’s color indicates the air quality in the room.
When we switched on the Alen 45i at full power with the ionizer, it removed all particles in 33 minutes. When purchasing the Alen Breathsmart 45i, you are given a range of filters. Each filter offers a slightly different level of protection, mainly in relation to odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With customizable designer panel colors, the BreatheSmart can be personalized to fit any room and compliment your decor for today or whenever your styles change.