Our expert air purifier review includes almost 50 models from brands including Dyson, Kogan, Ikea, Breville, Philips, Ionmax and more
We score how well they remove dust, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air; how energy-efficient and quiet they are; and how easy they are to use
Consider joining CHOICE to see our full air purifier reviews and best performers, as well as expert reviews and advice on hundreds of products and services
Since the pandemic and the rise in extreme weather events, many more of us have become concerned about the quality of the air we’re breathing in our homes, schools and workplaces.
Many of us have also become more aware of how pollutants in the air, such as those caused by gas appliances in our homes or smoke from backyard firepits or wood-fired heaters, can affect our health.
And with the onset of spring, many people with allergies, asthma or respiratory issues rely on air purifiers to improve their quality of life by filtering out dust, pollen, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home.
Others are also turning to air purifiers as a way to help keep the air in their homes, schools or workplaces clear of germs associated with viruses such as influenza or COVID-19 (a job air purifiers can indeed do, although with limitations – find out more about how effective air purifiers are against viruses and germs).
We’ve encountered some models that performed so poorly you may as well be watching your cash disappear into thin (non-purified) air
So it’s not surprising that the number of air purifiers on the market continues to grow, with more and more models becoming available as brands release new air-purifying appliances in an attempt to meet consumer demand.
Unfortunately, while CHOICE experts have seen plenty of good air purifiers, we’ve also encountered some models that performed so poorly in our tests you may as well be watching your cash disappear into thin (non-purified) air.
The worst performing air purifiers in CHOICE testing
Our CHOICE air purifiers review looks at around 50 different models. We score each air purifier based on how well it removes dust, smoke and VOCs from the air.
Our review also tells you which models are the most energy-efficient, the quietest and the easiest to use.
Our results show that the air purifiers in the list below definitely won’t blow you away.
And while a couple come in under the $250 mark, they’re anything but a bargain.
Size matters
Bear in mind that cheaper air purifiers (including a couple in this list) tend to be smaller, which means they may struggle to deliver the same air-purifying power as a larger model.
And because we test all air purifiers in the same room, bigger models usually perform better.
If you’re looking for an air purifier for a very small room, one of these smaller models may perform more effectively there, so could still be worth considering.
Cheap models
Some cheaper models may perform OK in certain aspects of our testing rather than across the board – for example, they may be OK at removing dust or smoke, but not particularly effective at removing VOCs.
There’s no guarantee that buying a bigger or more expensive air purifier will give you better performance
This means they could be worth buying if they perform well for the particular aspect that’s important to you.
But there’s no guarantee that buying a bigger or more expensive air purifier will give you better performance, so check our detailed CHOICE air purifier reviews before you buy.
Below are a few models our experts definitely recommend that you steer clear of.
The Sunbeam On-the-Go Fresh Portable SAP0800WH air purifier.
We rarely see air purifiers this small perform well in our testing, and although this Sunbeam model sells itself as being compact, rechargeable and lightweight, its poor air-purifying capabilities aren’t likely to leave you feeling fresh.
It promises to purify your “personal air”, however our results show that it probably won’t do much to purify any air, personal or otherwise.
Our experts gave it a performance score of just 10%, with a dust removal score of 9% and smoke removal score of 7% – the lowest scores for these tests of all the air purifiers in our review.
It performed marginally better against VOCs, with a score of 30%, but the effect is likely minimal unless you’re using it in a very small, confined space (the product says it is recommended for spaces up to 10m2, which is equivalent to a very small bedroom).
If you have a larger space, it’s worth investing in a better-performing purifier that has a larger capacity.
The Breville The Easy Air Connect Purifier LAP158.
Breville The Easy Air Connect Purifier LAP158
CHOICE Expert Rating: 42%
Price: $249
This is another small model that doesn’t perform well against bigger, more powerful air purifiers, as it simply can’t process as much air.
Breville claims this model is suitable for rooms up to 25m2; however, there are other models in our review that claim to work in similar-sized rooms and they perform better.
The Ionmax Selah is compact, but a poor performer.
CHOICE Expert Rating: 43%
Price: $249
Ionmax is a brand that specialises in air purifiers, and we have several of their models in our current CHOICE review.
This tabletop air purifier is definitely compact, but it didn’t perform well in our testing as compared to larger, more powerful air purifiers. Despite Ionmax claiming the Selah is suitable for rooms up to 27m², its relatively low Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 102m³/h suggests it has limited capacity to clean the air in a room of this size (for reference, another model that claims it is suitable for rooms up to 27m² has a CADR of 323m³/h).
In our testing, it scored poorly for dust removal and smoke removal and was rated very poor for VOC removal.
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
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