We’re always on the hunt for the best products in each category, including the best air purifiers on the market. If you’ve been trying to find the right air purifier for your space, you’ll want to keep the PurOxygen P500i Air Purifier in mind. It’s a smaller, more affordable model that I’ve been using for the last four years after originally testing it. From the six-stage filter to its easy-to-adjust settings, it’s a home buy you won’t regret.
I’m admittedly not in need of a purifier that collects pet hair, and I now live in in a roughly 470-square-foot studio apartment. That said, this device has come with me to three apartments of varying sizes, and it’s proved itself worthy in each space. I’m breaking down everything to know about why it’s worth the buy.
PurOxygen's air purifier is competitively priced, functional and reasonably quiet. After using the device for four years, it's become a staple in my home that helps eliminate dust and odors, thanks to its six-stage filter.
What I liked about it
Keeping your home clean goes beyond vacuuming and dusting. Since using the Puro2xygen P500 Air Purifier, I’ve noticed less dust around the house than before. I’ve gone stretches of time without using it followed by a few weeks of consistent use, and the difference is noticeable.
I’m now using the air purifier in a room measuring approximately 400 square feet, though the device is designed to filter through 900 square feet every hour. The fan has three speeds, a Sleep mode and an Auto mode, and it comes with a convenient remote. The newest model also allows for connection to a smartphone app where you can control the machine.
A big reason I haven’t felt it necessary to upgrade to a higher-end model is how quiet the air purifier is. There’s a Night mode, which reduces noise even more, and unless I’m running the purifier on the highest setting, the sound turns into white noise or is drowned out by my TV, speakers or city sounds from outside. I typically run the air purifier on level two of three and haven’t been bothered by excess sound.
The purifier also has a small footprint, which is a major win for my studio apartment. It measures 1 foot wide, 0.5 feet deep and just over 1.5 feet tall. I usually keep it tucked between my media stand and blanket basket, in a zone where it’s not taking away from storage or aesthetics. And if I do feel like moving it around, it’s lightweight with easy-to-hold handles on the side.
I’ve replaced the filter once, which cost me about $40, since the filter was on sale at the time. The device uses a six-stage core purification system, which includes a pre-filter, a HEPA filter and activated carbon filtration system, a cold catalyst filtration system, a negative ion generator and a UV light sanitizer. It was easy to tell the filter needed to be replaced when I noticed it wasn’t collecting as much dust, and when I opened the barrel, it was visually apparent the filter was done.
What I didn’t like about it
The main drawback for me with this air purifier is that it simply isn’t pretty. There are newer, nicer models that blend in better with home decor, offer a less industrial look and do the same job. That said, those tend to be more expensive and the PurOxygen model is small, slim and easy to tuck away.
When you’re running the device on the highest setting, it can also be loud. I imagine if you’re in a home or on a block that’s quieter than mine, you’d likely hear the purifier running throughout the day, comparable to a kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan on a low setting. That said, it’s a rare day I’m running the purifier at full blast. The only time I can recall needing it that high was when wildfire smoke blew over to New York.
Additionally, while the remote was a helpful add-on, it’s hard for me to keep track of. It’s a small, palm-sized thing that doesn’t have an easy attachment to the purifier for quick and easy storage, and it gets lost in my media cabinet fairly quickly. It’s just as easy to walk over and use the soft-touch buttons on the top of the purifier.
The bottom line
The Puro2xygen P500 Air Purifier is a useful device to keep in your home, especially if you’re working with a smaller space. It’s quiet, efficient and compact enough to hide if you don’t want it out in the open. Plus, the filter replacements are affordable, usually on sale and physically replacing the filter is easy. For less than $200, you’re getting a quality air purifier that lasts quite some time. I’ve had the home gadget for four years now, and I have no plan to replace it anytime soon.
