The Alen BreatheSmart is one of the best HEPA air purifiers for large and extra-large rooms.
This powerful unit can clean the air in rooms as large as 1,100 square feet - making it perfect for small apartments and extra-large open-plan spaces.
But the most surprising thing about the BreatheSmart air purifier is not that it covers that much space, but how quietly it operates despite the amount of cleaning power it provides. We've reviewed plenty of smaller air purifiers on this site that make significantly more noise than the Alen BreatheSmart.
As you might expect from an air purifier this powerful, the Alen BreatheSmart is rather big. But that’s not a problem because it looks great.
The front of this unit is completely smooth and bare. To fit it into your decor you can select from over 10 finishes including oak, Rosewood, white, brushed bronze and others.
You can also select which HEPA filter you want. There are filter options available for mold & bacteria, allergies & dust, pet dander & odor and smoke & chemicals.
Essentially, you can customize your Alen BreatheSmart for any decor and specific needs you have.
Keep reading this review to learn all about the Alen BreatheSmart's best features, limitations and drawbacks.
If you are looking for a less expensive or a smaller HEPA air purifier, then check out our best HEPA air purifier guide for a list of other top-rated/recommended options.
Pros
- High performance air purification
- Large room coverage
- Air quality indicator
- Customizable HEPA filter options
- Customizable design options
- Quiet operation
- Ozone-free ionizer
Cons
- Takes up a lot of space
- Expensive (but worth it)
Best Features
1. 1100 sq. ft. Coverage
The Alen BreatheSmart has one of the highest coverage of any HEPA air purifier.
If you are looking for an air purifier that will cover a large bedroom, an open basement or an open concept living area, this is a great choice.
Note that this coverage only applies when the air purifier is at max speed. If you set a lower speed, it can still cover the same area but it will work slower.
The ideal coverage at the second-speed setting is 690 square feet, which is still pretty big.
2. Customizable HEPA Filter
You can select which filter you want depending on the kind of pollutants and allergens that bother you most.
There are four types of HEPA filters.
HEPA Pure: For dust, pollen, dander and other allergens.
HEPA Silver: For dust, mold, mildew, bacteria and light odors.
HEPA Fresh Plus: For fumes and smells from VOCs. These include bleach, air fresheners, perfumes, and aerosol sprays. Also good for strong odors from wildfires, cooking, and tobacco.
HEPA Odorcell: Best for strong odors from pets, litter and stinky teenager rooms.
3. Large but Stylish with Customizable Finishes
As I mentioned, the Alen BreatheSmart is larger than your typical air purifier.
Large boxy machines aren’t generally the most stylish. This one is an exception thanks to the wide range of customizable finishes.
If you want a warm traditional style, you can go with oak, Rosewood, weathered gray or brushed bronze. For a more modern style, there is white, graphite and primer.
You can even select a color that matches your room décor.
4. Quiet Operation
The air purifier is quieter than you would expect from something of its size and power. It uses WhisperMax technology to stay quiet even when operating at a high fan speed.
Of course, it’s a bit loud at the highest Turbo fan speed. But it’s more of a relaxing white noise sound. In a large room, it’s barely noticeable.
The lower speeds are even quieter and are perfect for bedtime.
5. Auto Mode and Air Quality Indicator
When you select auto mode, the air purifier will automatically select the ideal fan speed based on the current air quality.
If someone starts cooking or some dust blows in, it kicks up the fan speed to circulate air faster through the filter.
A light indicator tells you how dirty or clean your air is by changing color.
When you first install it, it will stay on red meaning your indoor air is dirty. After a few hours or a couple of days, it will switch to yellow (medium air quality) then blue (clean air).
For most of the time, it will switch between yellow and blue and occasionally to red when there is a spike in air pollutants.Limitations
The main downside is the price. The Alen BreatheSmart costs about double the price of mid-range air purifiers.
But it is arguably worth the price.
It’s more powerful than most other air purifiers, has more features and looks significantly better than most.
The other minor issue is the size - although I don’t think this is a problem for the size of rooms it’s meant to be used in.
Specs
Dimensions: 17.75" x 26.75" x 10"
Weight: 21 lbs
Coverage: 1100 square feet
Number of filters: 3 or 4 depending on the type of HEPA filter you select
Ionizer: yes
Filter change reminder: yes
Auto mode: yes
Fan speeds: 4
Air quality indicator: yes
Summary
Expensive - but worth it. That’s our bottom line on the Alen BreatheSmart air purifier.
The Alen BreatheSmart a great choice for families looking for a powerful and quiet air purifier that can easily clean a large room. It's also a great choice to clean an entire studio or 1-BR apartment.
