Alen’s BreatheSmart 75i is the company’s largest air purifier, and it’s one of the largest I’ve tested altogether. The 75i is also quite powerful–indeed, maybe too powerful for most residential users, making it a better fit in commercial venues. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Reflects how intuitive and easy the controls are to use, carrying ease, ability to remove the filter, and filter life indicator.
Its smaller brother, the FIT50, shares similar design styles and capabilities and effectively cover medium-sized rooms such as your family room or master bedroom up to 900 sq ft. Onboard controls are basic but functional, including a color-coded ring around the power button that indicates one of five levels of particulates in the air. The front panel pops off to reveal a large HEPA filter (no rating specified) underneath. Air is pulled in from around the sides of the panel, through the filter, and emitted through a large grille on the top of the device. A child-friendly vent guard attachment is also in the box if you’re worried about Junior sticking a hand inside.
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 alen breathesmart 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.
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.
The first was making sure that the CADR (clean air delivery rate) number provided by the manufacturer was verified by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). This ensures that the machine’s efficacy has been verified by a third party; not all air purifiers go through this outside verification. The BreatheSmart 75i has the AHAM stamp of approval and is capable of cleaning 400 cubic feet of air per minute.
Noise is based in instrument measurements with the model running at a low speed. The lowest speed may provide even quieter operation but will not be as effective at cleaning the air. The amount of electricity the device uses and how often you have to replace filters.
And when it’s bedtime, lights-off mode cleans the air without disturbing your sleep. As with the majority of air filters, the BreatheSmart 75i does not come equipped with a remote control. The Alen® BreatheSmart Classic is a great value with coverage up to 1,100 square feet and all the steadfast power, noise reduction and efficiency of its big brother, the 75i. The Classic’s 3-color rings with laser sensor technology continuously monitor your air quality. The Pure filter replacement costs $100; the others are $130 each, with a subscription available that knocks 10 percent off the price. When it comes to quality, performance and customer satisfaction, Alen stands by their air purifiers for life.
Unique to the BreatheSmart line is the availability of six different color schemes for that massive front panel, ranging from a soothing graphite pattern to a brushed stainless steel look to a faux oak grain. SleepScore Validated products have been shown to improve sleep in SleepScore Labs’ extensive studies. This is your alen breathesmart assurance that the product works as described for many people and has been evaluated at a higher level than the rest of the curated products. Upon opening the box to the purifier, you’re met with a simple one-sheet instruction manual, with the header “PREPARE TO CHANGE YOUR AIR” written across the top in large letters.