Wyze Air Purifire Guide for PC

Wyze is known for offering low-frills smart home devices at affordable prices, and its first air filtration product is no exception—it's one of the least expensive models with Wi-Fi we've tested.

The base model comes with a standard Allergen filter preinstalled, but Wyze also offers this machine with a Wildfire filter for $174.99 or a Formaldehyde filter for $194.99. For this review, the company sent me a unit with a preinstalled Wildfire filter. The circular filters measure 11.3 by 8.1 inches (HD). They're interchangeable in the purifier.

All three filter options combine True HEPA with activated carbon to remove particulate matter (microscopic particles) and gaseous pollutants including bacteria, dust, mold, odors, pet allergens, pollen, tobacco smoke, viruses, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds, or potentially harmful gases from things like cleaning products and paint). To be classified as True HEPA, an air filter must be capable of removing at least 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size.

Wyze says the Allergen filter is sufficient for most common household air pollutants and that the Wildfire filter "is particularly effective against smoke generated from wildfire, industrial processes, and traffic."

The Formaldehyde filter has a manganese catalyst layer to more efficiently remove chemical gases such as VOCs and formaldehyde, which many household items, such as carpets, flooring, furniture, rugs, insulating materials, particleboard, plywood, paint, varnishes, and wallpapers, release. If you smoke or live with someone who does, have a brand new or newly remodeled home, or you're redecorating, you might want to spring for the more expensive Formaldehyde filter.

Measuring 18.5 by 9.5 by 9.4 inches (HWD), the Wyze Air Purifier doesn't take up too much floor space. It weighs around 9 pounds and has a handle on the back, which makes it easy to relocate. The device covers spaces up to 550 square feet, which is impressive considering its size and price. In comparison, the similarly priced Smartmi P1 ($179.99) works only for rooms up to 320 square feet.

The Wyze Air Purifier looks rather utilitarian and is available only in black; it might clash with your decor. However, in light of its price, we can't complain too much. If aesthetics are a primary concern, or you're short on space, we recommend either the Smartmi P1 or the Ikea Starkvind ($259), a side table with a hidden air purifier for rooms up to 215 square feet.

The Wyze Air Purifier has inlets on the front and back, as well as an outlet on top. Room air enters through the inlets, then passes through the filter which scrubs the air clean and then releases it through the outlet. Because the purifier blows clean air straight up, not forward, this device does not double as a cooling fan like pricier competitors. The Dyson TP07, for instance, features a large oscillating fan to cool you and more quickly distribute purified air throughout the room.

The Wyze Air Purifier has four fan speeds: Min, Mid, Max, and Turbo, as well as an Auto Mode, which automatically adjusts the fan speed based on the real-time indoor air quality. The device features a built-in laser particle sensor that measures the density of PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in size).

A small, oblong display on the front shows the real-time indoor Air Quality Index (AQI) rating with a colored ring and a number. Green (0 to 50) means the air quality is good, yellow (51 to 150) indicates a moderate level of air pollution, and red (more than 150) indicates an unhealthy level of air pollution.

The Wyze Air Purifier doesn't come with a remote, but you can control it from your phone, with your voice, or via the buttons on the device. On top, it has four buttons: On/Off, Auto Mode, Fan Speed (lets you cycle from slowest to fastest fan speed), and Sleep (turns the display off and sets the fan to the lowest speed).