Coway’s Airmega 250 is decent air purifier, but only if you need one

Air purifiers have grow to be more and more fashionable lately. There are a couple of the reason why, resembling growing air pollution in some areas, or individuals who, like me, stay involved about COVID-19 for numerous official causes. Air purifiers have emerged as a strategy to fight these items, although I stay skeptical about their efficacy.

So, when Coway reached out to me about testing their Airmega 250 air air purifier, for sure, I used to be intrigued. However after working it basically continuous in my condo for the final month, I’m unsure it actually made a distinction (although there won’t have been a lot of a distinction to make).

Earlier than I get an excessive amount of additional into my expertise with the Airmega 250, I need to rapidly go over a number of the options and specs. It’s value noting that there are two variants, the 250 and the 250S. I examined the 250, however the one distinction with the 250S is that it’s Wi-Fi enabled, permitting you to attach it to a smartphone app. Frankly, I don’t suppose the added price to get this performance is required (hold studying to study why). Past operate, the design and construct high quality are glorious. It feels actually sturdy, the items match collectively nicely, and it even has a woven cable. Plus, it runs very quietly (extra on this beneath).

The sunshine-bar modifications color to point air high quality.

The Airmega covers 930ft² or 86m² and provides three-stage filtration, easy-to-clean filters and extra. First up is the pre-filter for catching mud and hair. Then comes the ‘Max2’ filter, which mixes a ‘Inexperienced True’ excessive effectivity particulate air (HEPA) filter and an activated carbon filter. The previous catches micro organism, mould, viruses and pollen, whereas the latter captures meals smells, cigarette odours, unstable natural compounds (VOCs) and extra.

Coway makes some huge claims on its web site about how nicely the Airmega can take contaminants and viruses, like COVID, out of the air. Though HEPA filters can seize COVID virus particles, all of Coway’s numbers had been primarily based on laboratory exams, which possible gained’t translate into real-world use.

Can my air get any extra clear?

The Airmega 250 with the entrance panel and pre-filter taken off.

Talking of real-world use, it’s tough to quantify how nicely the Airmega labored in my area. I dwell in a glorified basement condo, and whereas I don’t recall the precise sq. footage, it’s solely 200-300ft² greater than the protection boasted by the Airmega 250.

I began by working the Airmega in the principle room of the condo, which additionally contains the kitchen. Later I moved it to my bed room. In each instances, the sensors on the Airmega reported ‘good’ air high quality (a blue line on prime) or generally ‘average’ high quality (a inexperienced line). I by no means noticed it dip into ‘unhealthy’ (yellow) or ‘very unhealthy’ (crimson).

Whereas it was reassuring to see that the air high quality in my condo wasn’t unhealthy, it additionally made it tougher to guage how nicely the Airmega labored, given there was little for it to enhance. Once I ran it in my important room/kitchen space, I didn’t discover any distinction from utilizing the Airmega, although I had hoped it would assist reduce down on odours left over from cooking.

When working the Airmega in my bed room, I did discover a marginal enchancment within the ‘freshness’ of the air in my bed room. It’s not an enormous change, nevertheless it was welcome for the reason that room doesn’t get as a lot airflow within the winter — the remainder of the 12 months I prefer to hold a window open and/or a fan working to maneuver air round. (I’ve additionally acquired an 11-month-old who likes to discover, so we are likely to hold the bed room door closed to restrict the place she will go.)

Quiet as a mouse

The bottom of the air filter.

If working the Airmega in my bed room didn’t clue you in, then let me lay it out: this factor is quiet!

I virtually solely ran the Airmega in ‘Good Mode,’ which robotically adjusts the fan pace primarily based on air high quality. As talked about above, the air high quality in my condo was normally positive, so the Airmega normally stored the fan pace to the bottom of the three ranges. It’s quiet sufficient that you just won’t hear it working even when standing subsequent to it. Sometimes the pace would ramp up when the Airmega moved from ‘good’ to ‘average’ air high quality, nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t that loud. At degree three, it was far more noticeable, however removed from the loudest factor in my condo.

To get extra concrete numbers, I downloaded a sound-measuring app on my telephone and ran a couple of exams. With the Airmega off, my condo ranged within the 30-35dB vary, which is fairly quiet (it’s a lot louder when my daughter isn’t napping, after all). Once I ran the Airmega and degree one or two pace, it barely made a blip on the sound measuring app, whereas degree three pushed it as much as 45-47dB, or the equal of a “quiet library,” in keeping with the app. So even on the loudest, the Airmega was fairly quiet.

It’s additionally value noting that Good Mode robotically makes changes for sleep and vitality conservation. Utilizing a light-weight sensor, the Airmega will robotically flip off to scale back noise and energy when it detects a darkish room and if the air high quality is nice for not less than three minutes. When it detects 5 minutes of sunshine, or if the air high quality turns into average or worse, the Airmega will get up and run.

Likewise, if the Airmega detects good air high quality for over 10 minutes, it’ll flip off the fan till it detects air air pollution once more.

Well worth the buy?

General, my expertise with the Airmega 250 was usually constructive. Nonetheless, I’m unsure I might usually advocate it, or any air air purifier, for that matter. At the very least, to not anybody that doesn’t want one. I’m fortunate sufficient to dwell someplace with usually good air high quality, and albeit, the Airmega hasn’t achieved a lot to enhance it.

So, finally I’d advocate somebody involved in an air air purifier take a look at their indoor air high quality first to see if an air air purifier could be useful. In the event you really want an air air purifier, then the Airmega looks like a strong, if expensive, choice.

Coway prices $549 for the Airmega 250 in Canada. On the time of writing, the 250S wasn’t listed on Coway’s web site, however Amazon Canada had each the 250 and 250S. On the time of writing, each had been on sale; the 250 was available for $447.70 (common $538.02), whereas the Wi-Fi-enabled 250S was listed for $525.39 (common $594.94). It’s not clear how lengthy the sale will final, however if you happen to’re dead-set on the Wi-Fi mannequin, then Amazon is the way in which to go.

For what it’s value, I’d say skip the Wi-Fi mannequin and save your self some cash. For me, the Airmega 250 was a set-and-forget expertise, and after I did need to flip it off or alter the controls, it wasn’t an enormous deal to stroll over to it and press a button.

Sadly, the price of the Airmega is simply a part of the worth dialog. It comes with one Max2 filter, however ultimately, you’ll want to interchange it. Coway advertises that the filters are good for six months to at least one 12 months, but at $109, that’s a major repeating price. (Coway does promote a 20 % low cost on filters if you happen to register your system, nevertheless it’s nonetheless quite a bit).

Furthermore, Coway provides a wide range of air purifiers starting from $269 to $889 with totally different protection areas and options. It’d be value evaluating to see which one would work finest in your area and finances if the Airmega 250 doesn’t match however you continue to want an air air purifier. You may verify these out here.

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