I’ve been there The rhythm of air quality During the wired period, I often make the argument that consumers should change significantly in terms of indoor air, as larger fan and filter surface areas will produce quieter, more powerful air purifiers. But if there was ever an interesting air purifier that exceeded its weight (all 5 pounds), it was the latest purifier from the Airmega 50’s Air Powerhouse Coway.
Standing a foot tall, the Airmega 50 just launched in June, is complemented by the growing desktop air purifier space, the mini I of the brand’s Airmega 100. The Airmega50 has many features of Coway’s larger and more expensive model, and is one of the cheapest Coway Air Purifiers in under $80. I understand the desire to have a desktop-sized air purifier that is easy to carry, but can they really clean the air effectively? For many, those prophetic purifiers create a paradise for fools. I tested the Airmega 50 with an air quality monitor to see if it works to purify the air in my 100 square foot bedroom.
Small package
Photo: Lisa Wood Shapiro
When purchasing an air cleaning device with small footprints, you need to know that the area of the room will be cleaned. This means you are measuring the length and multiplying by the width. Coway claims that the Airmega 50 can exchange air in a 500 square foot room per hour. According to the CDC, consumers should target five or more Change air every hour (ach). Following the CDC’s recommendations, Airmega can effectively clean the air in 100 square feet of space five times an hour. This is about half the room in the average university dormitory. Living in New York City, I’ve seen nurseries, home and corporate offices, Harry Potter’s bedroom-sized bedrooms, and walk-in closets that turn into about 100 square feet of bedside. If any of these descriptions match the space at your home or at work, the Airmega 50 is an inexpensive solution to alleviate poor air.
The Airmega 50’s cylindrical design attracts air from all sides. For ideal air exchange per hour, the small air purifier shakes the fan. And, generally, smaller ones don’t mean quieter, although for the Airmega 50, its highest setting is in 60 decibels on my Toptes sound meter, similar to the buzz of the refrigerator. Although most white noise machines are between 50 and 70 decibels, I find that the highest setting of the Airmega 50 is too big at night. Its sleep mode turns off the indicator lights and reduces the fan to the lowest, quietest setting. The sleep mode of the air purifier is when the purifier becomes its own inefficient version, and the Airmega 50 is no exception. The user can choose to turn off the indicator light and turn on the night light mode. I prefer to turn off the lights, but when my kids are young I use night light mode.
Size is important
Photo: Lisa Wood Shapiro
The Airmega 50 has many features that make the Coway air purifier a long-term wired favorite. For those with pets and kids, a control panel lock is required. There is also a highly acclaimed filter replacement indicator light, and an eight-month filter life. Unlike some of the larger Coway models with a variety of custom air filters, including models made specifically for pet owners, allergic patients and intense smoke, the Airmega 50 currently has only a $30 option.
