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The IQAir Atem X wouldn’t look out of place in the MoMA, but is one of the most efficient air purifiers I’ve tested
1:00 am | November 4, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

IQAir Atem X: two-minute review

I've had the IQAir Atem X Air Purifier since April 2024 – and it has never once disappointed me. The real standout is the design. This sleek, stylish Swedish air purifier looks like something you'd find in New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It's large, but the fact you can place it flush against the wall means it won't get in the way.

Underneath its fashionable exterior, the IQAir Atem X works harder than the most utilitarian of air purifiers. This is one of the very best air purifiers I've used, and I've tested over 50. The only model that I've been more impressed by is the Levoit EverestAir, and it's a narrow margin.

Since I have a smoking neighbor, I take air purifiers seriously, and often I've wished I had more than 3 or 4 speeds to choose from. The IQAir Atem X has 8 speeds, so I can always find the most effective speed that's not so loud enough that I need to wear ANC headphones. It also boasts much higher-than-average CADRs (clean air delivery rate), which make it suitable for use in large spaces.

The purification uses 'HyperHEPA' filters (ed's note: I'm confirming if this is true HEPA, but will assume not) and 'impactors' (equivalent to pre-filters). I have an open plan home, so there are no walls to separate the living room and kitchen, but the IQAir Atem X removes my neighbor's tobacco smoke, and my occasional kitchen odors, very efficiently. This is even more impressive considering there's no activated charcoal filter. It's really hard to believe that something so beautiful can work like a beast to remove odors so quickly.

You can control the Atem X using the touch controls that sit on the back side of the purifier but are still very easy to access, or via a useful companion app. However, there's no voice assistant support for those who prefer to go completely hands-free.

The main sticking point for many people will be the price. This is a very expensive purifier, and the replacement filters don't come cheap, either. However, if you want something functional and beautiful, and are happy to invest to get it, it's an excellent choice. So, that's the short version – keep reading for my full IQAir Atem X review.

IQAir Atem X with front cover removed

(Image credit: Future)

IQAir Atem X review: price & availability

  • List price: $1,399
  • Available: US online, various other countries via dealers

The IQAir Atem X is available to buy online in the US from the IQAir website or via Amazon. At list price it costs $1,3999. It's also available in various other countries, but typically via dealers.

The air purifier uses three HyperHEPA filters at a time, and the replacement pack is $199, which is among the most expensive filters I've ever encountered. Fortunately, the filter pack only needs to be replaced once a year if you're using the purifier regularly, or maybe less often if it's not being used as much.

In the air purifier market, the IQAir Atem X is considered a premium purchase. It's significantly more expensive than my favorite purifier, the Levoit EverestAir, which has a list price of $499.99 and is comparable in performance. Price-wise, the IQAir Atem X is comparable to the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04, which retails for $1,199.99 at the time of publication.

The IQAir Atem X is an extremely good air purifier, and the various functions, user-friendly features, and quality build help justify the price. However, it is incredibly expensive – and especially if you factor in the ongoing cost of filters – and may not be in everyone's budget.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

IQAir Atem X specs

CADR:

Dust 417; Tobacco smoke 422; Pollen 454

Size (W x H x D):

27.1 x 27.1 x 10in / 68.8 x 68.8 x 25.4cm

Control:

Touchscreen buttons, app

Filters:

Impactors (pre-filter), HyperHEPA

Modes:

1-8 fan speeds, Quiet, Balanced, Max, Smart

Contaminants detected:

PM 2.5, PM10, CO2

IQAir Atem X review: design

  • Stylish, minimalist design with recessed touch controls and smart controls
  • Pre-filters and 'HyperHEPA' filters, but no activated charcoal filter
  • Adjustable airflow

The AQAir Atem X Air Purifier is large, but it doesn't look bulky. That's because it has a slim, minimalist design. In fact, I think this air purifier looks like a work of art; something you'd see at New York's MoMA. I love appliances that aren't easily identifiable, and the Atem X definitely falls in this category. Guests always ask what it is – especially since there are no controls on the front.

IQAir is a Swiss company, and the air purifier is actually made in Germany. The Atem X reflects Swiss design sensibilities in the clean lines and uncluttered look. For example, the power cord is retractable, so any excess can be hidden. Also, the front of the air purifier is completely free of controls – they're located in the back, and also recessed, so even from a back view, they're unobtrusive.

IQAir Atem X air purifier in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

The Atem X comes with a detachable wheel base, which makes it easy to transport, but is the only part of the air purifier that looks clunky. I'll be honest with you here: the wheel base is somewhere in my garage and I couldn't locate it for the review. Because I knew I would only use the air purifier in my living room/kitchen space (it would be overkill in one of the bedrooms), I never bothered installing it.

There's a leather handle on the back of the air purifier that makes it easy to move short distances. However, it weighs 28.7 lbs / 13kg, so if you need to move it frequently or transport more than a few feet, it would probably be a good idea to attach the wheel base.

Back of IQAir Atem X purifier, with stand and strap visible

(Image credit: Future)

Around the circumference of the Atem X, three-quarters of the grilles are for air inlet, and one quarter (at the top) is for air outlet. The direction of the airflow can be changed to flow towards the left or towards the right of the top of the purifier.

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the air purifier is also quite functional and user-friendly. The recessed controls are on the back, directly underneath the outlet grille. I never encounter a problem trying to access them – and honestly, I think that placing them on the back contributes to the beauty of the air purifier and prevents it from looking utilitarian).

They include the power button, smart mode (to switch between the manual fan speed settings and automatic fan speed control), light button (to turn the control panel lighting on or off), Wi-Fi button, filter status, and Ethernet status. There are eight options on the fan speed slider, and this is also where the air quality index color is displayed (when not changing the fan speed).

Controls on IQAir Atem X air purifier

(Image credit: Future)

The air quality indicator colors are as follows: green for good, yellow for moderate, orange for unhealthy or sensitive groups, red for unhealthy, purple for very unhealthy, and flashing purple for hazardous.

The IQAir Atem X can also be controlled via a companion app. Attached to the back of the stand is an ID card that contains the QR code to scan and download the app, the Certification of Performance, and the serial number. In addition, the company recommends using the card to pry off the air purifier's front cover when it's time to replace the filters (and I can confirm the card works much better than a butter knife or flat-head screwdriver, which could damage the panel).

The filtration system includes three 'impactors' – equivalent to pre-filters – which are designed to trap large particles, lint, and fibers. Underneath the impactors are the main filters, called HyperHEPA (editor's note: I'm confirming with IQAir, but assume these are not true HEPA filters). These are designed to capture hair and dander, pollen, dust mites, airborne mold, viruses and bacteria.

IQAir Atem X air purifier with cover removed and one grille taken off to show a filter

(Image credit: Future)

Rather surprisingly at this price point, there's no activated charcoal filter. As a general rule, I'm inclined to dislike air purifiers that don't contain activated charcoal, because that tends to be the 'secret sauce' that removes the odors. For example, my Alen BreathSmart 75i has a big, heavy odor filter and I can actually shake it and hear the activated charcoal inside. However, this doesn't seem to impact the Atem X's ability to clear odors, as I'll get into in the Performance section.

IQAir Atem X with all three filters removed and laid out in front of the purifier

(Image credit: Future)

Fortunately, this isn't one of those air purifiers that needs to be turned upside-down to remove the filters. However, the process is more involved than some competitors. After prying the cover off, you need to unlock the locking levers and rotate the air purifier to remove the grilles and the three filters.

The impactors are on the other side of the grilles, and they should be vacuumed with a brush attachment whenever the air filters are changed. However, I vacuum both the air filters and impactors at least monthly. Depending on how dirty the impactors get, they should be rinsed under running water and then thoroughly dried before reinserting.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

IQAir Atem X review: performance

  • App provides a lot of helpful information
  • 8 speeds and three special modes provide plenty of control
  • Cleans air quickly and is quiet in use

As a general rule, I'm perfectly content to control the IQAir Atem X using the onboard controls – especially since I can easily reach it while sitting at my desk. However, for testing purposes, I downloaded the app to my smartphone and spent some time controlling it from there.

The app is chock-full of helpful information. For example, it shows both the daily and the hourly weather forecast in my area, as well as the humidity level. The app also provides health recommendations based on the local air quality, such as "enjoy outdoor activities", and "open your windows to bring clean, fresh air indoors".

Screenshots from companion app

(Image credit: IQAir)

With the air purifier, the app measures such pollutants as PM2.5 (fine particles), PM10 (larger particles), and carbon dioxide levels, as well as humidity levels, and the temperature in the room.

Inside the app, I can turn the air purifier on and off, and adjust the fan speed, brightness levels, lock the control panel, view remaining filter life, and use smart mode. There are actually three smart modes I can select from in the app – and they're not available on the onboard controls.

Screenshots from companion app

(Image credit: IQAir)

Quiet mode ensures the fan speed does not exceed level 5. Balanced mode ensures the max fan speed does not go higher than level 7. During periods of high pollution, Max mode changes the fan speed accordingly, with no limit on fan speed. In Smart mode, the air purifier's fan will automatically adjust based on pollutants detected.

I love having 8 fan speeds, so I can set the purifier precisely to fit my comfort level. I tend to use level 4 or 5, as this removes polluted air quite well, while still being relatively quiet. (For example, the noise level is around 44dB on the 4th speed, compared to 65dB when it's set on 8).

IQAir Atem X air purifier in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

There's a reason why I can set it at a lower rate and still clean the air. That's because the average air purifier that's considered good (not to be confused with just the average air purifier) has a CADR in the 200 range. However, the IQAir Atem X has CADRs of 417 for dust, 422 for tobacco smoke, and 454 for pollen. This means that it cleans air at a much faster rate. (It's more normal for a purifier to just have one CADR, which would usually either be an average of the rates for dust, tobacco smoke and pollen or the highest of those three.)

For example, when I walk into the living room and my neighbor has been smoking – I set the air purifier fan on 8, it removes the smoke and odors in less than 10 minutes (usually only 7 or 8 minutes). And then I set it back to 4 or 5 to maintain the clean air.

  • Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the IQAir Atem X?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

One of the two most expensive air purifiers I've ever tested, but one of the very best (and best-looking) as well.

3.5 / 5

Design

Stylish, with recessed controls on back and retractable cable. Has both touch and smart controls, and airflow is adjustable.

4.5 / 5

Performance

High CADR means it cleans air super-fast. Eight fan speeds provide precise control.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You like customization options

Most air purifiers give you 3 to 5 speeds, but the IQAir Atem X provides 8, and you can also adjust several other settings as well.

You want to clean a large space quickly

With some of the highest CADRs on the market, the IQAir Atem X is great for use in large spaces.

You want an air purifier that looks good

Some air purifiers look like something you'd find in a hospital, and although the IQAir Atem X is white, it does not have that sterile, clinical look. The Swiss-design is actually quite beautiful.

Don't buy it if...

You want a quick and easy filter replacement process

It's not hard, but there are several steps involved in disassembling the IQAir Atem X, including prying the cover off, unlocking the locking levers, rotating the air purifier to remove the three filters, and pressing down to remove the impactors. Compare this to some air purifiers that only require pulling the magnetic cover forward, and then pulling out only one filter pack.

You're on a budget

You're getting into an arm-and-a-leg territory (possibly a kidney) to purchase the IQAir Atem X Air Purifier. There are certainly less expensive options on the market to choose from, and if you're only cleaning a small space, it's overkill.

You want to use voice assistants

Although there's an app, which is quite easy to use, if you want to be totally hands-free, you may prefer an air purifier that is compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant.

How I tested the IQAir Atem X

I used the IQ Air Atem X in my condo-style apartment (open living room/kitchen, 2 bedrooms, built in 2016, HVAC) for a year and a half. During this time, I used it primarily in the living room/kitchen area, to clear cooking smells and second-hand smoke from my neighbor. I don't need that much power in my bedrooms – and I don't want to push it from room to room.

For this review, I noted how it responds to various pollutants and how quickly it removes them. Since I work from home and sit at my desk at least 8 hours a day – usually more – and my desk is close to the kitchen, I've had plenty of opportunities to test it with various cooking odors, especially when I'm writing and not paying attention to what I'm cooking. As a consumer tech journalist, I've reviewed over 50 different air purifiers, and I drew upon my experience to get a feel for how the IQAir Atem X compares to the wider market and if it is a good value for the money.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed October 2025
I tested the Aqara Camera G100, and it’s an extremely versatile security camera for indoors or out
9:00 pm | November 2, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Aqara Camera G100: two-minute review

Security cameras now come in many different varieties, including those meant solely for indoor use and those meant mainly for outdoors. However, what the Aqara G100 offers is, on the face of it, the best of both worlds

Weatherproof with an IP65 rating, it can be used indoors (to keep an eye on pets and children), or outdoors (to see who is at the front door or in the backyard). It’s small too, perfect for placing on a bookshelf or mounting upside down in a porch using the screw and wall plug provided.

However, what really differentiates the Aqara G100 from many of its competitors is its comprehensive smart home compatibility. Whereas many of the best home security cameras are now compatible with Amazon’s Alexa (including the Amazon-owned Ring and Blink, of course), the Aqara G100 is also compatible with Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and – crucially for those invested in the Apple ecosystem – Apple HomeKit including Home KitSecureVideo (HSV).

Not only can the camera’s built-in motion sensor and spotlight be used within home automation routines, it’s also possible to stream a live feed from the Aqara G100 on Apple TV. The only technical limitation here is that Apple caps the video resolution at 1080p for some reason, despite the camera being capable of a more impressive 2K resolution (2,304 x 1,296 pixels). It’s even possible to hook up your Apple Photos library to the Aqara camera to recognize faces it captures via the motion sensor.

Nor is smart home compatibility the only trick up the Aqara’s sleeve either. It works perfectly well as a standalone security camera too. Indeed that’s how most buyers will probably use it. Mains powered via a USB-C cable, it usefully boasts a MicroSD card slot for storing up to 512Gb of footage. This means you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to store video in the cloud as you do with many cameras, especially some of the cheaper models (Apple users can also use their iCloud storage via HomeKit Secure Video).

Close-up of Aqara Camera G100

(Image credit: Chris Price)

You don’t even have to pay a monthly subscription fee for basic AI functionality. However, if you want the full shebang, including pet and parcel detection, then you will need to pay for Aqara’s HomeGuardian subscription service (see details below).

If you have multiple Aqara cameras, the HomeGuardian Unlimited package also includes an innovative Fire Detection feature based on a flame recognition function. However, this isn’t intended to replace conventional fire-detection systems such as smoke alarms and heat sensors

Finally, the camera offers two-way audio so you can reassure your pets if they seem distressed, or tell your family members when you’ll be home.

Aqara Camera G100

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Aqara Camera G100: subscription options

HomeGuardian Single Camera: £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) per month, or £39.99 (about $50 / AU$80) per year for a single device. Includes: 90 days of video event history, person, animal, vehicle, package, fire detection.

HomeGuardian Unlimited: £7.99 (about $10 / AU$16) per month, or £79.99 (about $100 / AU$160) per year. Supports unlimited cameras in one home, 90 days of video event history, person, face, animal, vehicle, package, fire detection, Premium AI Event Detection, AI Video Summary, AI Video Search.

Aqara Camera G100: price and availability

  • Costs £34.99, $34.99, AU$89
  • Available since July 2025
  • Sold in the US, UK, and Australia

Generally, security cameras are not expensive to buy. Even the most advanced models offering solar power and mobile phone (4G/5G) connectivity tend to cost less than £200. However, many are priced quite cheaply because you need to pay a monthly fee to store video clips in the cloud.

The Aqara G100 is unusual in that not only is it very cheap, it also comes with a built in MicroSD card slot for video storage. Yes, you will have to buy a MicroSD card, but these only cost around $15 / £10 / AU$20 so you soon make your money back from not having to fork out the cost of a subscription. That said, you can pay a monthly fee for storage if you want (Aqara’s HomeGuardian costs from £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) a month) if you want advanced AI functionality, such as the ability to differentiate between different people and objects.

Given its low price tag, it’s also worth noting just how well equipped the Aqara G100 is for the money. One of my criticisms of Aqara’s recently-launched G410 Video Doorbell is that, despite costing over £100, it didn’t incorporate waterproofing – unbelievably remiss for a product that’s going to sit on the outside of your house all year round.

Yet this G100 camera – which is intended for indoor and outdoor use – does feature decent IP65 water resistance. Not only that, but it also comes with other useful features that make it a very versatile piece of kit. These include compatibility with a number of smart home platforms as well as AI functionality.

  • Value score: 5/5

Aqara Camera G100: design

  • Versatile indoor/outdoor mounting
  • Available in black or white
  • Waterproof connectivity

Again, one of my criticisms of the recently reviewed Aqara G410 video doorbell was its design which was extremely big and bulky. In fairness, that’s partly because it is powered by four AA batteries, whereas the G100 only uses mains power. Nevertheless, it’s true to say that its stablemate, the G100, is a much more compact and better-looking piece of kit – similar in looks to a Nest camera, but not quite so sturdy.

Available in black or white (we tested the black), it comes with a simple mount for standing on top of a cupboard or bookshelf. Alternatively, you can do what I did and install it inside a cabinet using the wall plug and screw provided (remembering to change the viewing setting to upside down in the Aqara app). Usefully, the camera can be rotated 360 degrees within the mount to get the perfect angle, while the field of view is a decent 140 degrees.

Side view of Aqara Camera G100

(Image credit: Chris Price)

While most people will probably choose to use the camera indoors, there is the option for mounting it outdoors providing you have access to mains power (it doesn’t have a built-in rechargeable lithium battery). Unusually, the USB-C cable provided connects to the camera via a waterproof sleeve below the camera. This can easily be swapped over to a much longer USB cable if you're running the cable from an indoor power source.

A waterproof cover is also provided for the MicroSD card slot and reset buttons while at the back of the camera is a small speaker. On the front of the camera is the lens itself plus a surprisingly powerful spotlight, blue power light button and a microphone.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Aqara Camera G100: performance

  • 2K image quality
  • Good night vision
  • Slightly complex menus

When it comes to performance it’s fair to say that the Aqara Camera G100 is solid, rather than spectacular. Certainly, the 2K camera won’t win any awards and the field of view isn’t the widest either. However, for the super-low price tag we didn’t have any major complaints – it simply does the job.

Night vision is actually quite good thanks to dual night vision modes that gives you a choice between color night vision (with the built-in spotlight) or black and white night vision which is the default mode. The camera isn’t overly sensitive either which is a good thing as sometimes they are triggered by the slightest movement.

Live video in Aqara Camera G100 app

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Less impressive is the two-way audio through the tinny speaker, but again this isn’t unusual and in reality you probably won’t use it that often (unless you want to have a chat with your dog while you are out!). One unusual feature is the voice disguising option which can turn your voice into that of a robot or clown, or otherwise disguise it.

This feature is also provided on Aqara’s recently launched G410 video doorbell where it makes more sense, especially for women who may want to protect their identity from those ringing the doorbell. However, it probably isn’t that useful on a general camera which is probably going to be used mostly indoors.

Using Aqara Camera G100 to speak with people

(Image credit: Chris Price)

One small gripe is around the onscreen menus within the app which take a little bit of getting used to, partly because there are so many different options. For example, as well as being able to see a Live View from the camera, you can view a Video Event history divided into different categories (person, motion etc). You can also program different actions, such as turning on the lights in the house when the motion sensor is triggered or opening and closing the curtains.

Face-recognition in Aqara Camera G100 app

(Image credit: Chris Price)

For advanced users, these are all useful perhaps, but if you want a simple plug and play solution, then there are easier cameras to use. That said, it's not difficult to set the camera up in the first place thanks to voice-based instructions, and we didn’t have any issues with broadband connectivity between the camera and router despite the device only working on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency, not 5GHz. It was also straightforward adding the Aqara camera to Apple HomeKit, although as previously noted, picture resolution is restricted to 1080p.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Aqara Camera G100?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Put simply, the Aqara is unbelievably good value for money. Featuring a MicroSD card slot you don’t even have to pay a monthly subscription for storing video clips.

5/5

Design

Available in black or white, the Aqara is a compact circular shaped camera with a versatile mount and waterproofing for installation either indoors or outdoors.

4.5/5

Performance

Offering 2K video quality, the Aqara Camera G100 provides reasonable quality images although sound quality from the built-in speaker isn’t the best.

3.5/5

Overall

An extremely versatile security camera with a very competitive price tag. Can be used indoors or outdoors and with multiple smart home platforms - including Apple Home.

4.5/5

Buy it if

You need a versatile home security solution

Undoubtedly this is one of the most versatile security cameras on the market, suitable for either an indoor or outdoor installation and compatible with multiple smart home platforms.

You have a limited budget

It’s difficult to imagine a security camera offering better value for money, especially when you consider you can store video clips on a MicroSD card rather than having to pay a monthly subscription.

Don't buy it if

You want to install outdoors but don’t have mains power nearby

The Aqara can certainly be used outdoors but will need to be connected to the mains as it doesn’t offer battery power. At the very least, you will probably need to invest in a new USB-C lead for outdoor use.

You want the highest sound and video quality available

Don’t get me wrong, the Aqara’s sound and video quality is OK, but there are much better performing security cameras around if you have a bigger budget.

Aqara Camera G100: also consider

Product

Aqara Camera G100

Blink Outdoor 4

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery)

Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera

Subscription price

From £3.99 a month

From £2.50 a month

From £4.99 a month

None

Viewing angle

140 degrees horizontal

143 degrees horizontal

140 degrees horizontal

360 degree view

Network connection

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4G/5Hz)

Wi-Fi/4G

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

2,304 x 1,296 pixels

1080p

1080p Full HD resolution

4K video resolution

Power

Mains

Battery

Battery

Battery, solar

Hardware price

£34.99

£69

£199 (battery model only)

£189 (with solar panel)

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (battery)

Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera boasts two 3000°K spotlights. You can also buy a mains-powered version as well as a separate solar panel.

Read our full Ring Spotlight Cam Pro review

Eufy 4K S330 security camera

An extremely innovative battery and solar-powered camera, the Eufy 4K S330 can be used with the supplied 4G Sim card to capture recordings - ideal for those who live in areas with poor Wi-Fi/broadband.

Read our full Eufy 4K Security Camera review

How I tested the Aqara Camera G100

  • I used the camera indoors
  • I installed it myself
  • The camera was connected to Apple Home

As is clear from the review, the Aqara Camera is a very versatile piece of kit, so I installed it in several places around the home – including the kitchen and my home office. However, it wasn’t installed outside because I didn’t have a suitable mains power connection outdoors.

Using the wall plug and screw provided I mounted the camera inside a cabinet to focus on a small balcony. I also adjusted the mount to focus on the door and other areas of the room to see how sensitive the lens was to movement (it is quite sensitive).

The camera was used over a period of seven days mostly via the Aqara app. However, I also connected it to Apple Home, where I was also able to control the camera’s functionality including switching the spotlight on and off, testing two-way audio and viewing live footage.

First reviewed October 2025

This vacuum is ultra lightweight and comes with a useful auto-empty base – but it’s its impeccable edge cleaning that really impressed in my tests
11:00 pm | October 29, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: | Comments: Off

Levoit Aero: two-minute review

The Levoit Aero is a lightweight, nimble stick vacuum that comes with a convenient auto-empty charging base. It's one of the most lightweight vacuums I've used, and comes with a smaller-than-usual floorhead that tucks easily into tight spaces. I also appreciated the clear display, which tells you which suction level you're in and how much battery you have left.

While it's not the most outright powerful cordless vacuum I've used, it's great for everyday cleaning and especially good when it comes to edge cleaning. I found that even in the Minimum power mode it lifted most dirt from my floors, although I did need to bump up to Med or even Max mode to clear chunkier debris. The edge cleaning was outstanding, however.

Battery life is good but not great – while the Max mode lasts an impressive 15 minutes, in Min mode it only runs for 40 mins, which is short for a lowest-power option. I missed having a battery-maximizing Auto mode, where the power adjusts intelligently based on dirt levels or floor type.

The auto-empty base is a big effort-saver and works well, although there does seem to be a flaw that means the dustbin flap on the vacuum itself doesn't always close securely afterwards, which meant some cleaning sessions began rather messily.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into what the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to offer, and how it compares to the rest of the best cordless vacuums on the market.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

Levoit Aero review: price & availability

  • List price: $499
  • Available: October 2025
  • Availability: US

The Levoit Aero Vacuum Cleaner launched in October 2025, with a list price of $499. It's available in the US on the Levoit website. This price includes the self-standing stick vacuum, charging dock that doubles as an auto-empty base, four accessories, and an extra dust bag.

In the wider market, this vacuum sits on the cusp between mid-range and premium. I'd usually expect better battery life and some smart features for this price, although the inclusion of the auto-empty dock does help justify the higher price somewhat. It's perhaps worth keeping an eye out for any deals over Black Friday.

Other auto-empty vacuum options include the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Clean&Empty, which is cheaper and better value at $429.99, and the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra which is pricier and worse value at $599.99.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero specs

Weight:

4.4 lbs / 2kg

Bin size (vacuum):

Not stated

Bin size (dock):

3.5L

Max runtime:

40 mins

Charge time:

< 4hrs

Size (H x W x L):

43.3 x 9.8 x 7.7in / 110 x 25 x 19.5cm

Filter:

HEPA

Max suction:

180AW

Modes:

Min, Med, Max, Turbo

Levoit Aero review: design

  • A lightweight, streamlined stick vacuum that can stand up on its own
  • Display screen shows battery life and suction power
  • Auto-empty station that doubles as a charger

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick vacuum that can stand on its own when the head and shaft are locked in place. At only 4.4 lbs / 2kg, it's incredibly lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver on the floor or use to grab dust on high ceilings.

The vacuum cleaner is black and white, and looks sleek and modern. It differs from some other vacuums in that the 0.45L dust bin is positioned on the front of the vacuum, rather than the back. Above the dustbin is a small display screen and the power button.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Upon pressing the power button, the suction level and battery countdown timer appear on the display screen. If I want to move between the different suction level options, I have to hit the four-square button below the power button to scroll through them. My pre-launch test model had three suction modes: Min, Med and Max. Now the vacuum is on sale, there seems to have been a fourth mode added, called Turbo. The Max suction power hasn't changed, though – it's still 180AW.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Like pretty much every stick vacuum, the design is modular and can be reconfigured for use as a handheld by removing the main wand. Four accessories are provided, including a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair and such from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose. There's also an attachment clip that can be added to the vacuum wand for easy detail tool storage.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

The charging station is slim with a round base and a hidden dust bag with a generous 3.5L capacity. When you dock the vacuum, the charging station pulls the dirt and debris from its dustbin into the larger dust bag, so you don't need to worry about emptying it manually.

In terms of noise, the vacuum cleaner has an average sound rating. When the Min suction level is being used, it emits a sound rating of 79 dB. On Med and Max suction level powers, the rating is 81 and 83 dB respectively.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: performance

  • Easy to maneuver with helpful accessories
  • Superb edge cleaning
  • Little maintenance required on a day-to-day basis

Upon powering on the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner, it automatically begins running on the Med suction level. Most of the time when vacuuming my house, I used this suction level, no matter the floor type, as it resulted in top-notch cleaning. The vacuum is very lightweight, and the vacuum head swivels easily, allowing me to vacuum around furniture without having to move it. I also noticed that the vacuum head is smaller in width than some of the other vacuums I've tested, which allows me to vacuum in tighter spaces. Better yet, the vacuum can flatten to 180 degrees, so I'm able to reach further under furniture, as long as I squat down to the ground.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

To see just how well the vacuum works, I ran the same test on two different floor types. I sprinkled dry tea and oats on my hard floor and on one of my thickest rugs, then I turned the vacuum on the lowest suction level – Min – to see how well it picked up the different materials.

I was really impressed by how well the Levoit Aero vacuumed both the tea and the oats from the rug on the lowest power level. It only took one pass, in a forward or reverse direction, for the vacuum to pick up the dried tea. Similarly, the vacuum picked up the oats perfectly when pushing the vacuum in a forward motion. When reverse cleaning over the oats, some pieces got stuck behind the wheels. This didn't surprise me as I've seen this happen with other vacuum cleaners I've tested.

Image 1 of 2

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)

The results were a bit different when running the same test on my hard floors. When vacuuming over the dry tea in a forward direction with Min suction power, all the tea was picked up. However, I was surprised when I vacuumed over the dried tea in reverse because a lot of tea got caught behind the wheels. I did not expect this.

Unfortunately, the Levoit Aero struggled with vacuuming the oats no matter if I was vacuuming forward or in reverse. Most of the time, the vacuum head pushed the oats away from the vacuum, unless I went very slowly over them. The Min suction level didn't seem to be powerful enough to suck up the oats, so I adjusted the power to Med and Max. It's perhaps no surprise that on the Max suction level, the oats were more easily suctioned into the vacuum.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

To test the edge cleaning, I poured some dry tea along the edge of a wall. The vacuum only needs to rest against an edge for all the debris to be picked up in a single pass, no matter the suction level. You won't need a crevice or edge cleaning tool to clean along the bottom of walls, cabinets, or appliances.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

Four accessories come with the purchase of this vacuum: a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose.

I used the 2-in-1 crevice tool to vacuum windowsills, blinds, baseboards, and the corners of ceilings. It worked wonderfully, though I did notice that it worked best on the Med or Max suction level. My only complaint is that when I was using the tool as a brush, it would sometimes snap down to a crevice tool when I didn't want it to.

This is because the button that transforms the tool between a brush and a crevice tool is located on the top of the brush. If I barely hit the button or tapped the edge of the tool against the edge of a windowsill, it would transition to a crevice tool. I'd then have to stop cleaning and re-click the brush tool into place. This happened a lot, which makes me think the button needs to be placed along the sides of the tool instead, or that the mechanism that holds the brush in place needs to be stronger.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode lying on a sofa

(Image credit: Future)

The 2-in-1 combination tool did a pretty decent job suctioning hair from my furniture. I think this had to do with the fact that there is a little rough strip of material in the middle of the brush that catches hair and helps pull it up from the fabric. That said, I found that I had the best results when using this tool with max power.

The mini motorized brush is essentially a vacuum head that is about half the size of the regular vacuum head on the Levoit Aero. I used it to clean around my toilet and between my oven and the wall, spaces where I usually can't reach with a regular vacuum head. This was definitely my favorite accessory, and it did a fantastic job cleaning those tricky areas. I wish, however, that the mini motorized brush had the ability to swivel, to make it easier to vacuum in tight spaces. (I haven't come across a mini motorized tool that can swivel, but I think vacuum makers are missing a trick here.)

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

It's unlikely that you'll use the extension hose often, except perhaps to clean your car. In that case, you'd probably connect the extension hose to the handheld portion of the Levoit Aero and then add the mini motorized brush to the end.

I tried seeing if there was any practical use for the extension hose in the cleaning of my house and didn't really find one. To be fair, I was able to connect the hose between the handheld and the shaft, which enabled me to swing the vacuum under the bed to vacuum hard to reach spots. This sort-of worked, but I didn't have much control over the direction of the vacuum head. Since the Levoit IQ can flatten to the ground, it's probably better to just squat and vacuum under furniture rather than use the extension hose in this manner.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

After using the vacuum, I set it on the charging base and let the base automatically pull the debris and dirt from the dust bin into the dust bag. This meant that on a day-to-day basis, I wasn't really doing any maintenance. When the dust bag fills, the vacuum will inform me on the display, and I'll have to replace the dust bag. The foam, felt, and station filters need to be washed at least once a month and replaced every three months. The HEPA filter has to be washed every two months and replaced every 6 months.

My biggest gripe with the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to do with the dust bin. Half the time when I removed the vacuum from the base, the dust bin flap would be open. I didn't always realize this until I started to clean and noticed that the dirt and debris falling back to the floor. Sometimes, the dustbin opened when I was cleaning. I'm not sure how it opened on its own or why, but it was frustrating to have to re-clean an area twice in a row.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode being used to clean baseboards

(Image credit: Future)

It's increasingly common for a premium vacuum to have automation features that enables it to adjust suction based on floor type or dirt detected. I have come to appreciate when a vacuum has the ability to read the cleanliness of a floor, because even though the Levoit Aero Vacuum has a headlight on the front of the vacuum head, I can't always see when there is dirt or not. At this kind of price, I'd expect some kind of automation features.

That said, the Aero is still a solid vacuum cleaner with phenomenal edge cleaning and the capability to pick up most all debris with the Min suction level (most large debris can be picked up on the Med power level). It's a good option for those who have mostly hard floors and like the convenience of an auto-empty charging base.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: battery life

  • Lasts up to 40 mins in Min mode with main floorhead attached
  • A decent 15 mins in Max mode, and 30 mins in Med mode
  • Takes three hours to recharge on charging base

One of the great things about the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is that it displays the battery life on the screen, so you don't have to wonder how much time you have left to vacuum your house. The battery life depends solely on the suction level you're using, so if you're using the Max suction level, you only get 15 minutes of battery life. The Med suction level results in a 30 minutes of battery life, while the battery lasts 40 minutes when using the Min mode.

15 minutes for a Max suction level is pretty decent, and 30 minutes is very acceptable in Med mode. However, most vacuums these days will last longer than 40 minutes on their lowest suction level. My house is 1,600 square feet, and I was able to vacuum everything in 40 minutes, though I had to rush slightly.

Close up of info screen on Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Couple of notes here: Levoit quotes a Max of 70 minutes' cleaning per charge, but if you read the fine print, that's with the Crevice tool attached, rather than the main floorhead. On the current version of the vacuum, Levoit also seems to have added a fourth mode – Turbo, which sits above Max. The brand promises 6 minutes of cleaning per charge in Turbo with the main floorhead attached. I wasn't able to test this mode as it didn't exist on my review model.

It takes three hours for the base to fully recharge the battery, which is fairly speedy. If you can't clean your house completely before needing to recharge, it might be helpful to know that the battery recharges to 20% after 30 minutes.

  • Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit Aero?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

On the cusp between mid-range and premium. Decent value when you factor in the auto-empty base, although I'd usually expect auto features at that price.

3.5 / 5

Design

A super lightweight stick vacuum cleaner with four suction levels, a screen displaying the battery countdown, and an auto-empty station.

4 / 5

Performance

Smaller floorhead can tuck into tight spaces, and edge cleaning is excellent. Not the most powerful vacuum I've tested, but great for everyday light cleans.

3.5 / 5

Battery life

15 mins in Max mode is good, but 40 in Min is rather short. Recharge is speedy at 3 hours.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a lightweight vacuum

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner barely weighs more than 4 lbs, making it easy to maneuver and clean your home. Most people will be able to lift the vacuum cleaner above their head or reach far under beds without tiring.

You like vacuums with little maintenance

This vacuum comes with a charging base that doubles as an auto-empty station, meaning it automatically empties the dustbin each time you place it on the base to charge. Filters and dust bags will need to be cleaned or replaced but such tasks aren't a weekly occurrence.

You like knowing how much battery you have left

Some vacuum cleaners indicate battery life by bars or pie charts, which can be confusing. The Levoit Aero lets you know the exact amount of time left before the battery dies thanks to a countdown on the display screen.

Don't buy it if...

You have a lot of carpets

While the Levoit Aero is well-equipped to vacuum some rugs and low pile carpet, those whose houses are half or mostly covered in carpet would do better with an upright vacuum or a heavier, more powerful cordless stick vacuum – check TechRadar's best vacuum for carpet guide for our top recommendations.

You need more than 40 minutes to vacuum your house

Despite Levoit claiming that this vacuum offers up to 70 minutes of battery life, it only lasts 15-40 minutes depending on the suction level you use. If your house is particularly large or requires a lot of complicated cleaning maneuvers or use of different accessories, the battery might not last.

You want a vacuum with smart features.

This vacuum lacks any smart features. On the one hand, this makes it easier for everyone to use (not just the technologically-savvy), however, if you're looking for a vacuum that can detect dirt on the ground or provide cleaning stats, this isn't the product for you. View Deal

How I tested the Levoit Aero

I tested the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner in my 1,600-square foot home. As someone who has laminate and wood flooring – as well as some thick rugs – I was able to get a sense of how well the vacuum suctions fine and large materials through a series of tests. I also utilized the various accessories on my baseboards, windowpanes, blinds, and furniture to provide thorough insight into the value of this vacuum cleaner.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • Tested May 2025 (launch delayed to October 2025)
This vacuum is ultra lightweight and comes with a useful auto-empty base – but it’s its impeccable edge cleaning that really impressed in my tests
11:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: | Comments: Off

Levoit Aero: two-minute review

The Levoit Aero is a lightweight, nimble stick vacuum that comes with a convenient auto-empty charging base. It's one of the most lightweight vacuums I've used, and comes with a smaller-than-usual floorhead that tucks easily into tight spaces. I also appreciated the clear display, which tells you which suction level you're in and how much battery you have left.

While it's not the most outright powerful cordless vacuum I've used, it's great for everyday cleaning and especially good when it comes to edge cleaning. I found that even in the Minimum power mode it lifted most dirt from my floors, although I did need to bump up to Med or even Max mode to clear chunkier debris. The edge cleaning was outstanding, however.

Battery life is good but not great – while the Max mode lasts an impressive 15 minutes, in Min mode it only runs for 40 mins, which is short for a lowest-power option. I missed having a battery-maximizing Auto mode, where the power adjusts intelligently based on dirt levels or floor type.

The auto-empty base is a big effort-saver and works well, although there does seem to be a flaw that means the dustbin flap on the vacuum itself doesn't always close securely afterwards, which meant some cleaning sessions began rather messily.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into what the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to offer, and how it compares to the rest of the best cordless vacuums on the market.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

Levoit Aero review: price & availability

  • List price: $499
  • Available: October 2025
  • Availability: US

The Levoit Aero Vacuum Cleaner launched in October 2025, with a list price of $499. It's available in the US on the Levoit website. This price includes the self-standing stick vacuum, charging dock that doubles as an auto-empty base, four accessories, and an extra dust bag.

In the wider market, this vacuum sits on the cusp between mid-range and premium. I'd usually expect better battery life and some smart features for this price, although the inclusion of the auto-empty dock does help justify the higher price somewhat. It's perhaps worth keeping an eye out for any deals over Black Friday.

Other auto-empty vacuum options include the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Clean&Empty, which is cheaper and better value at $429.99, and the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra which is pricier and worse value at $599.99.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero specs

Weight:

4.4 lbs / 2kg

Bin size (vacuum):

Not stated

Bin size (dock):

3.5L

Max runtime:

40 mins

Charge time:

< 4hrs

Size (H x W x L):

43.3 x 9.8 x 7.7in / 110 x 25 x 19.5cm

Filter:

HEPA

Max suction:

180AW

Modes:

Min, Med, Max, Turbo

Levoit Aero review: design

  • A lightweight, streamlined stick vacuum that can stand up on its own
  • Display screen shows battery life and suction power
  • Auto-empty station that doubles as a charger

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick vacuum that can stand on its own when the head and shaft are locked in place. At only 4.4 lbs / 2kg, it's incredibly lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver on the floor or use to grab dust on high ceilings.

The vacuum cleaner is black and white, and looks sleek and modern. It differs from some other vacuums in that the 0.45L dust bin is positioned on the front of the vacuum, rather than the back. Above the dustbin is a small display screen and the power button.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Upon pressing the power button, the suction level and battery countdown timer appear on the display screen. If I want to move between the different suction level options, I have to hit the four-square button below the power button to scroll through them. My pre-launch test model had three suction modes: Min, Med and Max. Now the vacuum is on sale, there seems to have been a fourth mode added, called Turbo. The Max suction power hasn't changed, though – it's still 180AW.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Like pretty much every stick vacuum, the design is modular and can be reconfigured for use as a handheld by removing the main wand. Four accessories are provided, including a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair and such from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose. There's also an attachment clip that can be added to the vacuum wand for easy detail tool storage.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

The charging station is slim with a round base and a hidden dust bag with a generous 3.5L capacity. When you dock the vacuum, the charging station pulls the dirt and debris from its dustbin into the larger dust bag, so you don't need to worry about emptying it manually.

In terms of noise, the vacuum cleaner has an average sound rating. When the Min suction level is being used, it emits a sound rating of 79 dB. On Med and Max suction level powers, the rating is 81 and 83 dB respectively.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: performance

  • Easy to maneuver with helpful accessories
  • Superb edge cleaning
  • Little maintenance required on a day-to-day basis

Upon powering on the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner, it automatically begins running on the Med suction level. Most of the time when vacuuming my house, I used this suction level, no matter the floor type, as it resulted in top-notch cleaning. The vacuum is very lightweight, and the vacuum head swivels easily, allowing me to vacuum around furniture without having to move it. I also noticed that the vacuum head is smaller in width than some of the other vacuums I've tested, which allows me to vacuum in tighter spaces. Better yet, the vacuum can flatten to 180 degrees, so I'm able to reach further under furniture, as long as I squat down to the ground.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

To see just how well the vacuum works, I ran the same test on two different floor types. I sprinkled dry tea and oats on my hard floor and on one of my thickest rugs, then I turned the vacuum on the lowest suction level – Min – to see how well it picked up the different materials.

I was really impressed by how well the Levoit Aero vacuumed both the tea and the oats from the rug on the lowest power level. It only took one pass, in a forward or reverse direction, for the vacuum to pick up the dried tea. Similarly, the vacuum picked up the oats perfectly when pushing the vacuum in a forward motion. When reverse cleaning over the oats, some pieces got stuck behind the wheels. This didn't surprise me as I've seen this happen with other vacuum cleaners I've tested.

Image 1 of 2

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)

The results were a bit different when running the same test on my hard floors. When vacuuming over the dry tea in a forward direction with Min suction power, all the tea was picked up. However, I was surprised when I vacuumed over the dried tea in reverse because a lot of tea got caught behind the wheels. I did not expect this.

Unfortunately, the Levoit Aero struggled with vacuuming the oats no matter if I was vacuuming forward or in reverse. Most of the time, the vacuum head pushed the oats away from the vacuum, unless I went very slowly over them. The Min suction level didn't seem to be powerful enough to suck up the oats, so I adjusted the power to Med and Max. It's perhaps no surprise that on the Max suction level, the oats were more easily suctioned into the vacuum.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

To test the edge cleaning, I poured some dry tea along the edge of a wall. The vacuum only needs to rest against an edge for all the debris to be picked up in a single pass, no matter the suction level. You won't need a crevice or edge cleaning tool to clean along the bottom of walls, cabinets, or appliances.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

Four accessories come with the purchase of this vacuum: a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose.

I used the 2-in-1 crevice tool to vacuum windowsills, blinds, baseboards, and the corners of ceilings. It worked wonderfully, though I did notice that it worked best on the Med or Max suction level. My only complaint is that when I was using the tool as a brush, it would sometimes snap down to a crevice tool when I didn't want it to.

This is because the button that transforms the tool between a brush and a crevice tool is located on the top of the brush. If I barely hit the button or tapped the edge of the tool against the edge of a windowsill, it would transition to a crevice tool. I'd then have to stop cleaning and re-click the brush tool into place. This happened a lot, which makes me think the button needs to be placed along the sides of the tool instead, or that the mechanism that holds the brush in place needs to be stronger.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode lying on a sofa

(Image credit: Future)

The 2-in-1 combination tool did a pretty decent job suctioning hair from my furniture. I think this had to do with the fact that there is a little rough strip of material in the middle of the brush that catches hair and helps pull it up from the fabric. That said, I found that I had the best results when using this tool with max power.

The mini motorized brush is essentially a vacuum head that is about half the size of the regular vacuum head on the Levoit Aero. I used it to clean around my toilet and between my oven and the wall, spaces where I usually can't reach with a regular vacuum head. This was definitely my favorite accessory, and it did a fantastic job cleaning those tricky areas. I wish, however, that the mini motorized brush had the ability to swivel, to make it easier to vacuum in tight spaces. (I haven't come across a mini motorized tool that can swivel, but I think vacuum makers are missing a trick here.)

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

It's unlikely that you'll use the extension hose often, except perhaps to clean your car. In that case, you'd probably connect the extension hose to the handheld portion of the Levoit Aero and then add the mini motorized brush to the end.

I tried seeing if there was any practical use for the extension hose in the cleaning of my house and didn't really find one. To be fair, I was able to connect the hose between the handheld and the shaft, which enabled me to swing the vacuum under the bed to vacuum hard to reach spots. This sort-of worked, but I didn't have much control over the direction of the vacuum head. Since the Levoit IQ can flatten to the ground, it's probably better to just squat and vacuum under furniture rather than use the extension hose in this manner.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

After using the vacuum, I set it on the charging base and let the base automatically pull the debris and dirt from the dust bin into the dust bag. This meant that on a day-to-day basis, I wasn't really doing any maintenance. When the dust bag fills, the vacuum will inform me on the display, and I'll have to replace the dust bag. The foam, felt, and station filters need to be washed at least once a month and replaced every three months. The HEPA filter has to be washed every two months and replaced every 6 months.

My biggest gripe with the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to do with the dust bin. Half the time when I removed the vacuum from the base, the dust bin flap would be open. I didn't always realize this until I started to clean and noticed that the dirt and debris falling back to the floor. Sometimes, the dustbin opened when I was cleaning. I'm not sure how it opened on its own or why, but it was frustrating to have to re-clean an area twice in a row.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode being used to clean baseboards

(Image credit: Future)

It's increasingly common for a premium vacuum to have automation features that enables it to adjust suction based on floor type or dirt detected. I have come to appreciate when a vacuum has the ability to read the cleanliness of a floor, because even though the Levoit Aero Vacuum has a headlight on the front of the vacuum head, I can't always see when there is dirt or not. At this kind of price, I'd expect some kind of automation features.

That said, the Aero is still a solid vacuum cleaner with phenomenal edge cleaning and the capability to pick up most all debris with the Min suction level (most large debris can be picked up on the Med power level). It's a good option for those who have mostly hard floors and like the convenience of an auto-empty charging base.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: battery life

  • Lasts up to 40 mins in Min mode with main floorhead attached
  • A decent 15 mins in Max mode, and 30 mins in Med mode
  • Takes three hours to recharge on charging base

One of the great things about the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is that it displays the battery life on the screen, so you don't have to wonder how much time you have left to vacuum your house. The battery life depends solely on the suction level you're using, so if you're using the Max suction level, you only get 15 minutes of battery life. The Med suction level results in a 30 minutes of battery life, while the battery lasts 40 minutes when using the Min mode.

15 minutes for a Max suction level is pretty decent, and 30 minutes is very acceptable in Med mode. However, most vacuums these days will last longer than 40 minutes on their lowest suction level. My house is 1,600 square feet, and I was able to vacuum everything in 40 minutes, though I had to rush slightly.

Close up of info screen on Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Couple of notes here: Levoit quotes a Max of 70 minutes' cleaning per charge, but if you read the fine print, that's with the Crevice tool attached, rather than the main floorhead. On the current version of the vacuum, Levoit also seems to have added a fourth mode – Turbo, which sits above Max. The brand promises 6 minutes of cleaning per charge in Turbo with the main floorhead attached. I wasn't able to test this mode as it didn't exist on my review model.

It takes three hours for the base to fully recharge the battery, which is fairly speedy. If you can't clean your house completely before needing to recharge, it might be helpful to know that the battery recharges to 20% after 30 minutes.

  • Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit Aero?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

On the cusp between mid-range and premium. Decent value when you factor in the auto-empty base, although I'd usually expect auto features at that price.

3.5 / 5

Design

A super lightweight stick vacuum cleaner with four suction levels, a screen displaying the battery countdown, and an auto-empty station.

4 / 5

Performance

Smaller floorhead can tuck into tight spaces, and edge cleaning is excellent. Not the most powerful vacuum I've tested, but great for everyday light cleans.

3.5 / 5

Battery life

15 mins in Max mode is good, but 40 in Min is rather short. Recharge is speedy at 3 hours.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a lightweight vacuum

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner barely weighs more than 4 lbs, making it easy to maneuver and clean your home. Most people will be able to lift the vacuum cleaner above their head or reach far under beds without tiring.

You like vacuums with little maintenance

This vacuum comes with a charging base that doubles as an auto-empty station, meaning it automatically empties the dustbin each time you place it on the base to charge. Filters and dust bags will need to be cleaned or replaced but such tasks aren't a weekly occurrence.

You like knowing how much battery you have left

Some vacuum cleaners indicate battery life by bars or pie charts, which can be confusing. The Levoit Aero lets you know the exact amount of time left before the battery dies thanks to a countdown on the display screen.

Don't buy it if...

You have a lot of carpets

While the Levoit Aero is well-equipped to vacuum some rugs and low pile carpet, those whose houses are half or mostly covered in carpet would do better with an upright vacuum or a heavier, more powerful cordless stick vacuum – check TechRadar's best vacuum for carpet guide for our top recommendations.

You need more than 40 minutes to vacuum your house

Despite Levoit claiming that this vacuum offers up to 70 minutes of battery life, it only lasts 15-40 minutes depending on the suction level you use. If your house is particularly large or requires a lot of complicated cleaning maneuvers or use of different accessories, the battery might not last.

You want a vacuum with smart features.

This vacuum lacks any smart features. On the one hand, this makes it easier for everyone to use (not just the technologically-savvy), however, if you're looking for a vacuum that can detect dirt on the ground or provide cleaning stats, this isn't the product for you. View Deal

How I tested the Levoit Aero

I tested the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner in my 1,600-square foot home. As someone who has laminate and wood flooring – as well as some thick rugs – I was able to get a sense of how well the vacuum suctions fine and large materials through a series of tests. I also utilized the various accessories on my baseboards, windowpanes, blinds, and furniture to provide thorough insight into the value of this vacuum cleaner.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • Tested May 2025 (launch delayed to October 2025)
Withings U-Scan brought my urine analysis home and I need a drink – of water
7:05 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

I'm dehydrated. How do I know? Withings U-Scan told me so, and it's based on what may be the best source for this information: my own urine.

I know. Blech. But also, wow; home urine analysis in about the time it takes you to, well, use the bathroom.

I first learned about the Withings U-Scan home urine analysis system back in January at CES 2025. It sounded kind of incredible. The device could take the lab-style analysis that usually requires you to go to a doctor's office, pee into a cup, and hand it over to a lab technician who would then send it to a lab for analysis, and transform it into a compact system that fits in any toilet.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

That's more or less what we got here, a $379.95 / £319 rechargeable device that does all of that in one... er... sitting.

It's not perfect. It might require that you change your bathroom habit, it uses replaceable cartridges that'll cost you $99.95 / £89.95 every three months, and it cannot yet, as was promised earlier this year, recognize different people's pee. Essentially, it's a urine analysis system for one and can only be activated through the Withings app on your phone.

Even so. I'm impressed.

Withings U-Scan Review: Design and setup

Withing's U-Scan is a large white puck that you press between your palms to twist and open so you can install the carousel of measurement tabs. There are a total of 44 of these tiny, chemically sensitive strips in each carousel. Every test takes two strips for a total of 22 urine tests. Most people will only test once a week. The circuit board and algorithm live inside U-Scan, so that all analysis is done there.

Twisting the device open and closed is not easy, but in some ways, this gives you confidence that it is fully water-tight.

When it's open, you set up your app and connect it via Bluetooth to the U-Scan by pressing a button on the inside. It also connects to your home network's Wi-Fi. This process is pretty painless, as is installing the carousel of test tabs. The app, by the way, can connect to Apple Health to gather all your relevant health data and to share Withings' insights with Apple Health.

Image 1 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

U-Scan also ships with three sizes of toilet clips and guides you on which one to use based on your toilet's style. There's also a charge tank, which doubles as a bath to wash the device after the first three months of use (the charge is rated to last three months, too). It even ships with gloves so you don't have to touch a device you've spent the last three months peeing on.

U-Scan can, depending on which carousels you use, test for either nutrition or kidney health. In the latter, the system keeps track of calcium levels, an excess of which can lead to the development of painful kidney stones.

My test unit, though, arrived with the nutrition carousel, which looks at acidity, vitamin C, ketones, and hydrostatus.

Image 1 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
Image 2 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
Image 3 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Withings U-Scan: Getting started

Proper placement of the Withings U-Scan in your toilet is critical, and this is where I learned that, if I wanted to measure my urine, I'd have to sit down to pee.

You see, the puck and its attachment hanger are placed dead-center at the front of the toilet; the clip hangs over that front lip.

The smooth back of the U-Scan faces you and, if you pee on it, the other side is designed to capture and direct that pee into a reservoir that pulls the liquid inside.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Since the system does not know when it's being peed on, you have to first open the Withings App and then select measurement. After that, you have two minutes to pee.

I went through this process three times before I successfully got a reading. The first time, there was an unidentified error, and the second time, the system accused me of not peeing sufficiently. Fortunately, it didn't waste any test strips in either case.

Finally, I peed long enough to get a reading. I knew the system was doing its work because there are somewhat noisy motors that make the urine collection and the tiny internal lab work possible.

Within minutes, I had my first reading. If you don't see it, you can quickly sync your phone app to the device.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I was pleased to see that my pH or bio-acidity was "In Target", as were my vitamin C and ketone levels. The only thing that didn't look right was my hydrostatus, which came in low. When I opened that reading for details, the app told me, "Your hydration level is lower than optimal. Increase your water intake to reach a better balance."

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Withings U-Scan: Verdict

As my wife said to me, somewhat sarcastically, when I told her about my reading, "Oh, good, I guess you don't have to go to the doctor."

I'd like to think that, but this is not an FDA-cleared device and is not intended as a medical substitute. Instead, it's a wellness product that gives you indicators but not the final word.

Still, it's nice to get some early warning signals on nutritional issues and, yes, I would love to avoid painful kidney stones in my lifetime.

I do not look forward to the cleaning process and think it's a shame that it's not yet useful for all the people peeing into that toilet in my home. Withings told me that the feature is coming, but did not provide a timeline.

The price is not terrible for what it does, but I'm not thrilled about paying another $99 every three months to check my urine. That's the one area that will likely give many people pause and may relegate this for use with people who really need frequent urine analysis. I'm probably not one of them.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to drink a big glass of water.

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I tested this budget 10.1-inch digital photo frame, and it’s impressively precise for its affordable price
1:00 pm | October 26, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame: review

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is an affordable digital photo frame built on the Uhale platform. At 1280 x 800 pixels, it’s not the highest resolution photo frame on the market, but it’s capable of pretty credible sharpness and is far easier to use than other affordable frames I’ve tested.

I’ve used quite a few different digital photo frame apps now, and they vary widely from the full-featured, bespoke marketplace of the Netgear Meural Canvas II to Frameo, the third-party, one-size-fits-all app used by many digital photo frames, including the alternate version of this device. But there’s something novel about the Eptusmey’s user interface that I find particularly smooth and intuitive.

Setting up the frame is straightforward enough. Once you’ve selected its language and logged in to your Wi-Fi, you can start getting friends and family set up to send photos directly to the frame. Just download the Uhale app, scan the QR code, or enter the displayed code, and you’re good to go. You’re then ready to start selecting photos from your phone and firing them over.

If you’ve read many of my reviews of the best digital photo frames, you’ll know a pet peeve of mine is how some devices handle image orientation, often opting for a universal size that rarely fits every photo well. Instead, the Uhale app and Eptusmey photo frame allow you to scale images to fit and adjust the vertical or horizontal alignment to precisely frame the elements you choose. Being able to adjust this on a per-picture basis on the screen made it far easier to tweak specific images that didn’t look right, rather than having to delete and reupload them.

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame in vertical orientation, showing a closeup of pink rhododendrons.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Odd issues did crop up now and then, though. First, despite the fact that I could set the scaling and position of images in the app, this didn’t seem to be saved for the uploaded images, meaning I’d have to set it again once they were on the frame. I also found that while scrolling through my phone’s photo library, it was far too easy to accidentally drag and select a bunch of images or, worse, deselect all of the ones I’d already picked out.

While colors are decent, they’re not quite as vibrant as I’ve come to expect from the best digital photo frames. Hues are accurate – there aren’t necessarily any specific missteps in terms of the color profile – but the frame pulls its punches when it comes to saturation. Rhododendrons that are a fireworks display of pinks, oranges and yellows even on the relatively conservative screen of my iPhone 16 Pro look more pastel than I’d expect, making the overall effect much more subdued.

By contrast – if you’ll excuse the pun – black and white photography really pops. Capable of both impressive brightness and relatively deep blacks, the Eptusmey shows off monochrome shots with an expansive dynamic range. Whether it was displaying shots of lichen-covered cliffsides in the Scottish Highlands or neo-gothic buildings in Budapest, grayscale photos always looked both bold and bright.

A closeup image of a frog on a stone displayed on the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame, in front of a pink background. The frog has visible grains of sand on its back.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Despite the frame’s relatively meager 1280 x 800 resolution – hitting a pixel density of 149ppi – detail is also very decent. Whether it’s the individual hairs of a bumblebee’s fuzzy butt or the grains of sand clinging to a frog’s back, fine detail is crisply rendered. Unfortunately, though, the Eptusmey fares less well with images shot at shorter focal lengths. The iPhone 16 Pro’s artificial bokeh occasionally appeared over-sharpened, making those images look much weaker by comparison.

Another regrettable blind spot of the Eptusmey is how reflective its glass is. I tested this digital photo frame during a British autumn – I can barely remember the last time I even saw the sun, let alone had it shining on this frame. But, even so, this photo frame’s screen is swamped by reflections of our modestly lit testing space, meaning it’s not going to be a good choice for anywhere particularly bright or with a lot of furnishings to reflect.

Outside of the screen, the Eptusmey’s design is similarly mixed. In the plus column, its rear leg is very sturdy and makes switching orientation simple: pop it out and pop it back in rotated at 90 degrees, and you’re good to go. It also offers decent aesthetics, with the painted wood frame and modest white mount around the screen looking classy enough for a frame at this price range, and the two color options providing a decent choice to match the frame to your decor.

A hand adjusts the stand on the rear of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame to change its orientation.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s not perfect, though, by any stretch. The mount is very plasticky to the touch – I’ve definitely been spoiled by the beautiful paper-like texture of the Aura Aspen here, though, so I won’t hold that too much against it.

Perhaps a more significant minus is the fact the paint on the exterior frame has started to wear off in a few places. Picking at the edge of the frame with my thumbnail, I was easily able to replicate this damage, which makes me worry a little about its durability.

OK, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame definitely isn’t flawless: its colors are a little duller than they should be, while the screen shows up way too many reflections even under artificial light.

But this needs to be viewed in the context of its price: you can get it for as little as $55.99 / £49.99, putting it right down at the cheapest end of the market. Given the price, it’s impressive: not only is it surprisingly crisp, it makes it really easy to frame your photos and get them looking their best. It’s definitely worth a look if you want to save on a frame.

A closeup of the corner of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame; on screen is a slightly dull photo of a European peacock butterfly.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: price & release date

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is available now and has a list price of £79.99. Cheap though this is, you can actually get it for even less if you shop around, with Amazon UK selling it from just £49.99. It’s also available from Amazon in the US for $55.99, although only the version compatible with the third-party Frameo app, which offers a great user experience but is different from that outlined in this review.

While the US market is restricted to the Black Oak Wood colorway tested here, those in the UK have more options available. You can pick up the White Oak Wood colorway for £49.99, the Walnut Wood colorway for £59.99 and the Black Oak Wood colorway for £79.99, giving you more options to ensure your frame complements your decor.

A closeup of the ports on the rear of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame. It shows and SD card port, headphones jack, USB port, USB-C port and DC in.

(Image credit: Future)

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: specs

Dimensions

11.3 x 8.1 x 1 inches (287 x 206 x 25mm)

Display size

10.1-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

A closeup of the lower right corner of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame, showing the temperature and time.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Should I buy the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

4/5

Design

Glass too reflective and wood easily scuffed

3.5/5

Performance

4/5

Value

5/5

Buy it if…

You want a super affordable digital photo frame
Available from as little as $55.99 / £49.99, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is nearly as affordable as our pick for the best budget digital photo frame, Aeezo Portrait 01, yet with a more premium feeling frame.

You love a simple user experience
Using the Eptusmey’s on-screen controls, bespoke app or even the third-party Frameo app with relevant versions makes it straightforward to transfer your shots and even allow your friends and family to do the same.

Don’t buy it if…

You love vibrant colors
While the Eptusmey’s doesn’t seem to make major missteps in the way it represents hues, it’s not quite vivid enough to be true to life, making your snaps feel a little undersaturated.

You want to use it in a bright room
There’s no anti-reflection coating on the Eptusmey’s display, meaning that it’s not great for bright spaces. Even without much direct light, it mirrors bright objects in the room far too readily.

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: also consider

Aura Walden

Aeezo Portrait 01

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame

Display size

10.1-inch

10.1-inch

11-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

2000 x 1200, 212 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

16:10

5:3

Touch Screen

Yes

Yes

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Portrait or landscape

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

32GB

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C

Aeezo Portrait 01
One of the Eptusmey’s closest rivals in terms of cost, the Aeezo Portrait 01 offers decent image quality and an even better price. It’s built on the Frameo app like some versions of the Eptusmey, meaning you can trust it’ll be just as easy to use. We did criticize its build quality in our Aeezo Portrat 01 review, though, with its cheaper frame and stand drawing particular ire.

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
OK, the Pexar 11-inch is a fair bit pricier than the Eptusmey, costing $169.99 / £149. But it also offers a whole load of things the latter doesn’t. That includes an impressive reflection-free screen, vibrant hues and one of the best pixel densities I’ve ever seen from a digital photo frame at 212-ppi for super crisp images. Read my full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review.

How I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame

  • Tested it over two weeks
  • Uploaded a wide variety of photos
  • Tried it in multiple locations and orientations

I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame over a period of several weeks. First, I set it up, then I used the Uhale app to transfer photos I’ve taken, making sure to split the balance between brightly colored shots and more subdued detail-focused ones. Next, I used the frame to tweak the cropping and alignment of photos.

I then tried using the frame in both horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as moving it to a variety of locations in my home and the TechRadar office to see how it coped with reflections and ambient light conditions.

I’m an experienced photographer, having taken more than 40,000 shots over the years on my Canon DSLR and iPhone 16 Pro. On top of this, I spent many years working in print publishing, meaning I know how to assess the nuances of how images can differ between the source device and the final product.

  • First reviewed: October 2025
  • Read more about how we test
The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso
6:00 pm | October 24, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Smeg ECF03: one-minute review

The Smeg ECF03 is a stylish espresso machine that’s a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Smeg ECF02. The key difference is a new cold-extraction feature, which takes around two minutes to produce smooth, sweet-tasting espresso that makes an ideal base for an iced americano, cappuccino, or cocktail.

Another important upgrade is the addition of a pressure gauge that helps you see if your espresso shot is properly extracted before it’s finished pouring. It’s surprising that this doesn’t show the exact pressure in bars, but it’s nevertheless a useful guide.

When you want to brew traditional hot espresso, the machine heats quickly, and its pump produces consistent pressure, so you get reliably well-extracted coffee once you’ve dialled in the grinder correctly. During my tests, the pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which isn’t as quiet as the noise-shielded BCC13, but it isn’t excessive.

Like all Smeg’s coffee machines, the ECF03 is controlled via a small set of buttons labelled with icons, which illuminate in different colors to show the machine’s status. Solid white means the machine is ready to brew hot, solid blue means it’s ready for cold-brewing. Flashing or orange lights mean the machine is either still heating or requires maintenance. You'll need to keep the manual handy for reference when you first start using it, but you'll soon learn what the different combinations signify.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine with espresso cup, portafilter, and tamper

(Image credit: Future)

The Smeg ECF03 is easy to maintain, and unlike most home espresso machines, it comes with a blank disc for backwashing the grouphead and water circuit. This makes it easy to clear out coffee oils and residue that might affect the taste of your drinks.

Overall, the ECF03 is an absolute pleasure to use, and during my testing, I found it difficult to fault. The only real drawback is the price, but it is justified by the quality and style. There’s a chance you can get a deal if you wait for the Black Friday sales, or if you’re not likely to use the cold-brew function, you could opt for the ECF02 instead.

Smeg ECF03: specifications

Name

Smeg ECF03

Type

Manual espresso machine

Dimensions (H x W x D)

14.3 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches / 36.4 x 20.5 x 29.5cm

Weight

24lb 11oz / 11.2kg

Water tank capacity

1.5qt / 1.4l

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Max pressure

15 bar

User profiles

1

Smeg ECF03: price and availability

  • Only available in Europe at the time of writing (October 2025)
  • Smeg ECF02, which lacks cold brew mode, costs considerably less

At the time of writing, the Smeg ECF03 is only available in Europe. It launched in the UK in September 2025 at a list price of £499.96. That works out at about $670 / AU$1,000, but official release dates and prices for the US and Australia have yet to be announced.

For comparison, the Smeg ECF02, which lacks a cold-brew function, has a list price of $600 / £399.95 / AU$699, but can sometimes be found at a significant discount. In the UK, for example, it's currently reduced to £299.95 in Smeg’s online store.

You’ll find today’s best deals on both machines below, with prices updated daily.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Smeg ECF03: design

  • Chic 1950s-inspired design
  • Well-made, solid-feeling accessories
  • Cleverly concealed storage compartment

The ECF03 is part of Smeg’s line of 1950s-inspired appliances, with smooth curved lines, stainless steel accents, and a choice of glossy retro colors: pastel blue, cream (shown here), white, and black. It’s a new sibling for the Smeg ECF02, with the biggest difference being the ECF03's ability to brew cold-extracted espresso as well as hot.

It also has a slightly different shape, with convex sides rather than concave, and a gauge on the front that helps you see if you’ve achieved the optimum pressure for extracting a shot (a feature I always appreciate).

Inserting portafilter into Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

You’ll find a power switch on the left-hand side of the ECF03’s case, and its functions are controlled with a set of four buttons on the stainless steel top (for single shot, double shot, steam, and switching between hot and cold brewing).

The 58mm portafilter feels reassuringly solid in the hand, weighing about 240z / 676g with a basket fitted, and the tamper is a hefty 16z / 448g. This weight doesn’t just make it satisfying to use, it also helps you apply even pressure to produce an evenly compressed puck without fissures, resulting in more consistently extracted coffee.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine accessories including filter baskets

(Image credit: Future)

Like all other Smeg espresso machines I’ve tested, the ECF03 comes with four filter baskets, including pressurized and single-walled options for single and double shots. Pressurized (double-walled) baskets are more forgiving if your technique isn’t quite perfect, producing reliably thick crema, while the single-walled baskets give you finer control over extraction.

The steam wand pivots out from the machine, with a good range of movement and an angle that’s ideal for creating a ‘whirlpool’ in your milk pitcher. It has a cool-touch silicone handle and is operated using a stainless steel knob on the machine’s right-hand side. Pull it towards you for steam, and push it away for hot water.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine steam wand lever

(Image credit: Future)

Pull out the drip tray and you’ll find a handy storage compartment, which holds the filter baskets you use less frequently, a stiff-bristled cleaning brush, a needle tool for clearing the steam wand if it becomes blocked, and a blank disc that you can place in the portafilter handle to backwash the machine using a cleaning tablet. That last item is a particularly nice addition that’s used daily in a commercial setting, but rarely included with home espresso machines.

The only item notable by its absence is a milk pitcher, which is a little surprising for an espresso machine in this price bracket.

  • Design score: 5/5

Smeg ECF03: performance

  • Brews consistently good hot and cold espresso
  • Pressure gauge is useful, though the lack of numbers is surprising
  • Easy to clean and care for

I found the ECF03 a joy to use, whether brewing hot or cold, and Smeg’s usual attention to detail and build quality are evident right from the start.

The machine’s water tank is robust, with a built-in handle that makes it easy and comfortable to carry. You’re given a water hardness testing strip so you can pick the correct water hardness setting to use (‘hard water’ is the default). Although no water filter is provided, compatible filters are available to buy from Smeg’s website, and they easily twist into place in the bottom of the tank.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The 58mm portafilter seems identical to the one supplied with the ECF02, which is fine with me; it’s excellent. The tamper, however, is a big upgrade. The base model ECF02 came with a plastic measuring scoop with a tamper on the end. It was fit for purpose, but its light weight meant it could be tricky to apply consistent pressure each time you used it. The ECF03’s tamper is much weightier, which gives it a more premium feeling and makes it easier to create a consistently well-formed puck.

As you’d expect from a premium home espresso machine, the ECF03 is an excellent performer. Once you’ve got your grinder dialled in, you can be confident that your shots will be perfectly extracted time after time. (If you’re in need of a grinder, the Smeg CGF03 matches the ECF03 in style and choice of colors.)

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine pressure gauge

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03’s pressure gauge is a particularly useful feature, letting you see whether your espresso is likely to be extracted properly before it’s finished pouring. However, it’s not labelled with the exact pressure in bars; instead, you just aim for the needle to be positioned in the black section marked on the dial. It’s a bit of a strange choice; there are markers around the edge of the dial, but no indication of what measurements they represent.

During brewing, the ECF03’s pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which is roughly equivalent to a vacuum cleaner. It’s noticeably noisier than the fully automatic Smeg BCC13, which has sound shielding and is QuietMark certified, but isn’t excessively loud and is about average for a manual espresso machine.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machined dispensing espresso

(Image credit: Future)

Most of the buttons on the machine’s top are labelled with icons, except for the one that switches between hot and cold brewing modes. When the machine is primed and ready to brew hot, the double-shot, single-shot, and steam buttons are all illuminated white. In cold-brewing mode, the first two are blue instead.

Cold-brewing is quick, taking around two minutes to extract a shot. Part of this time is taken up with an extended pre-infusion, which gives the ground coffee extra time to bloom. After that, the ECF03 will send pulses of cold water through the puck (in groups of three) until the shot is ready.

Cold brew coffee made using Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The result is a mellow-tasting and well-rounded drink that you can enjoy by itself or as the base of an iced americano. If you prefer chilled lattes or cappuccinos, take a look at the Smeg Mini Milk Frother, which matches the style of the ECF03 and can produce thick or thin cold foam.

Holding down one of the coffee-brewing buttons will let you customize its properties. If the buttons illuminate in orange or start to flash, it’s a sign that there’s a fault, or (more likely) it’s time for some routine maintenance.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine control panel

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03 is a piece of cake to clean and care for. You can keep the case and exterior of the milk wand looking pristine by wiping with a damp cloth. Purge the wand with a blast of steam after each use, and you’ll be unlikely to need the needle-like cleaning tool.

As I mentioned above, the inclusion of a blank disc is excellent when it’s time to give the machine’s grouphead and circuit a thorough clean to remove old coffee residue. To use it, insert the single-walled single-shot basket and place the disc in the bottom. Smeg doesn’t sell its own cleaning tablets, but you can use any detergent tabs recommended for home coffee machines. Press and hold the single and double shot buttons to pulse water through the machine, then empty the drip tray and repeat the process. For descaling, the company recommends its own-brand Anti-Kalk liquid.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The drip tray’s cup holder seems to resist scratches well (unlike some, which are easily scuffed by ceramic mugs), and the tray is nice and deep, so you’re unlikely to spill anything during emptying.

I’ve tested a lot of hot- and cold-brew espresso machines this year, but the Smeg ECF03 is easily one of the most refined. It’s a pleasure to use, looks great, and is extremely consistent. If your budget will stretch to it, you won’t be disappointed.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Smeg ECF03

Smeg ECF03 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

A premium espresso machine with a price tag to match, though it's justified by the design and build quality.

4.5/5

Design

Smeg's signature '50s style looks as chic as ever, and there are some significant upgrades from the ECF02.

5/5

Performance

Generates consistent pressure for reliably well-extracted hot and cold drinks, and is a piece of cake to clean and care for.

5/5

Buy it if

You want a showpiece for your kitchen

Smeg’s '50s-style appliances are real lookers, and the ECF03 is no exception. It’s a guaranteed conversation-starter when you have guests.View Deal

You have a generous budget

Smeg’s signature style comes at a price. Hot- and cold-brew espresso machines are available for less if you’re not particular about looks.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You’re not into cold brew

The Smeg ECF02 is an equally good-looking machine that heats fast and delivers consistent pressure, but costs considerably less.View Deal

Smeg ECF03: also consider

Smeg ECF02

If you don't care for cold brew, the ECF02 is an equally chic and more affordable alternative. You don't get the handy pressure gauge, though, and the base model has a less sturdy tamper than the ECF03.

Read our full Smeg ECF02 reviewView Deal

Smeg BCC13

If you like the sound of the ECF03 but want an espresso machine that will handle all the hard work for you, the BCC13 is a beautifully designed super-automatic machine that would look perfect on your kitchen counter.

Read our full Smeg BCC13 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Smeg ECF03

I used the Smeg ECF03 for two weeks in place of my usual Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I used it on the hard water setting, with fresh single-origin Honduran Swiss water decaf beans from a local coffee roaster, ground using my Sage Precision burr grinder.

I used the steam wand with full-fat dairy milk and barista oat milk, both of which were freshly bought and chilled.

I followed the directions in the instruction manual to set up and maintain the machine, and brewed a mix of single and double shots using both filter baskets, and used both the hot- and cold-brew options.

For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

I used the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series for two weeks and found it produced excellent coffee, but its milk foaming could use improvement
4:20 am |
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine that’s a great option for smaller households or anyone making their first venture into the world of one-touch coffee machines. It’s very similar to the LatteGo 5500 Series that my UK-based colleague, Cat Ellis, has previously reviewed, and just misses out on a few preset drink recipes.

Otherwise, the two machines adopt the exact same dimensions, meaning their bean hopper and water tanks are the same size at 275g and 1.8L respectively, and, as the name implies, the 4400 Series on review here also uses Philips’ LatteGo milk-foaming system. This sees a milk carafe clip onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, with the idea being that you fill it with just enough milk for your chosen drink(s) once it’s attached.

Given the two machines make coffee in the exact same way, you’d expect the review of the 4400 Series to read largely the same, then, wouldn’t you? Well, while I do agree with much of Cat’s review of the 5500 Series, and that the Philips espresso machine does produce good-tasting coffee, I picked up on a few niggles during my time using the 4400. These mainly relate to the LatteGo system and the steps required to brew a coffee. I’ll explain more about both in the performance section of this review.

Ultimately, the Philips 4400 LatteGo coffee machine is incredibly simple to use and offers everything you need to make a great coffee, whether it be a simple espresso or ristretto shot, a larger latte, cappuccino or even a few iced drinks.

As with the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series doesn’t offer cold coffee extraction. If you want to make an iced drink, you’ll need to add ice cubes to a glass or mug for the machine to then pour on a hot shot of espresso. This machine can’t make iced lattes, so if you do want a milk-based iced drink, you’ll need to make do with pouring cold milk directly into your glass or mug.

If you like cold coffee, then you may not like the flavor profile delivered by the 4400 Series, and, as Cat found in her review, once the ice melts it can make the coffee taste weaker. Personally, I enjoyed making iced drinks using the Philips 4400 Series, but it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference.

Furthermore, having previously reviewed the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next automatic espresso machine, I found myself preferring the taste of the coffee produced by the Philips machine instead, and I appreciated the smaller footprint it took up on my kitchen counter.

However, as a plant milk drinker, I did prefer the level of milk foam produced by the De’Longhi’s LatteCrema system compared to the LatteGo milk-foaming system used by the Philips machine.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Price and availability

  • List price $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199
  • Available globally
  • Often discounted

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is available globally with a list price of $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199. At the time of writing, however, I was able to find it discounted to £499.99 in the UK and below AU$1,000 in Australia.

The 4400 Series sits one step down from the flagship 5500 Series, offering 12 hot and cold drink recipes compared to the 20 options found on its higher-spec sibling.

Its list price places it in a similar category to the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next fully automatic coffee machine that I’ve previously reviewed.

The two machines are similarly specced, although the De’Longhi unit is much larger. The Philips 4400 Series would therefore be my recommendation if your kitchen is on the smaller side.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series coffee machine

(Image credit: Future)
  • Value score: 4 / 5

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Specs

Name

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

User profiles

2 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Design

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo control panel

(Image credit: Future)
  • Compact, ideal for smaller kitchens
  • Intuitive, button-based navigation
  • Easy to clean and maintain but cleaning agents sold separately

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a relatively compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, coming in at 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide and 17 inches / 43.3cm long.

As a result, it makes placing it on a kitchen countertop quite easy, as it can be placed in a corner, for example and up against the wall, since the water tank slides out from the front. The brewing group head is accessed via the side behind the water tank, making maintenance just as simple.

The machine is controlled via a series of touch buttons on the front, which flank a 2.3-inch color display. A selection of popular coffee-based drinks have dedicated buttons on the front – including espresso, long black, cappuccino and flat white – while the remaining hot and cold drinks are accessed via a ‘More Drinks’ button.

You’ll also find a ‘Profile’ button on the front, which is used to cycle through two main profiles – Yellow and Blue – and a third guest profile to ensure your saved presets aren’t overridden.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The non-removable bean hopper is accessed at the top. All you need to do is remove the tinted plastic lid – by being tinted, it helps to prevent light from degrading the flavor of the beans – which is also airtight to maintain freshness. If you want to adjust grind settings, that’s done via a control dial set inside the bean hopper.

It’s not particularly large with a capacity up to 275g of beans, but this makes it a good option for single-person or couple households. Plus, the fact it’s airtight means you can leave beans in between uses and not worry about them spoiling, as opposed to pouring in just the right amount of beans for the drink you want to make.

As is the case with the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next I’ve previously reviewed, Philips says to only operate the grind adjustment whilst beans are being ground. It took me a little while to figure out how to actually use the dial, and after consulting the user manual, I realized you have to first press down on it before rotating.

There are 12 grind settings to choose from, with the halfway point setting 6 being the default. Philips says this should be ideal for most users, and recommends not adjusting it until you’ve made 100 to 150 drinks. I found during my review period that I did have to adjust to a finer setting – I settled on 4 – to achieve a thicker crema and a more flavorful coffee.

The Philips 4400’s LatteGo milk-frothing system comprises a small carafe that attaches to a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. It’s designed to be filled with just enough milk for whatever drink you want to make, as opposed to being stored in the fridge with leftover milk between uses. You can still store the milk in the fridge if you wish, but just note the lid isn’t airtight.

I liked the idea of this, but in reality I came across a couple of slight niggles.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The carafe has markings on the side for a single cappuccino, a single latte macchiato or two cappuccinos. I filled the carafe with oat milk to the line for the single cappuccino and poured one, and found it didn’t use all the milk.

Plus, when you’re selecting a coffee to make, you can adjust the volume of coffee and milk that goes in. If you adjust the volume of milk, for example, then you’ll need to ensure enough is in the carafe, making the markings somewhat redundant.

I’ll speak about it more in the performance section, but I also wasn’t overly happy with the level of (or lack of) milk foam produced by the system. Full-fat dairy milk did fare a lot better than plant milk during my tests though.

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series does have some other design features that I found useful, including a deep grounds container bin and a decently sized drip tray. The machine will let you know when the ground container needs emptying, but this won’t be that regular since it’s capable of storing a good amount of waste.

Another positive I noticed was how well-packaged the machine was, and that Philips used predominantly recyclable cardboard.

One thing worth noting is that you aren’t supplied with any cleaning tablets or descaling solution. Having reviewed coffee machines from De’Longhi and Australian brand Sunbeam, both of which do supply some cleaning products with their machines, I had expected the same from Philips.

Cleaning tablets can be bought online from stores such as Amazon, but it’s an extra cost you’ll need to consider. While the AquaClean filter should last some time – it will cease working once 95 liters (around 625 coffees) of water has flowed through it – it will also be an additional expense to replace.

As long as you keep replacing the filters on time, then you won’t need to descale the machines for 5000 coffees – 8 filters worth. At $20 / £12 / AU$29 per filter, that’s about $160 / £96 / AU$232 to delay the need to descale, but slightly less if buying in bulk.

In comparison (depending on your water hardness), without the filters, you would typically need to descale up to about 10 times for 5000 cups, with the total cost around half of buying new filters.

Finally, another thing I noticed was when removing a sticker on the front of the machine referencing the fact it can make 12 different coffee-based drinks, it left some adhesive behind (the white part to the right of the coffee spout in the pictures).

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo with water tank removed

(Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 4.5 / 5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series review: Performance

  • Great-tasting coffee with some grinder adjustment
  • Good level of personalization
  • LatteGo milk-foaming system not without fault

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is an incredibly easy espresso machine to use. Once you’ve got it set up – this involves testing your water for hardness and installing the supplied AquaClean filter if required – you’ll be brewing a coffee in seconds. The central color display provides information clearly, and buttons are logically laid out to navigate through menus and drinks to adjust settings.

There are 12 drinks to choose from:

  • Espresso
  • Coffee
  • Long black
  • Cappuccino
  • Latte macchiato
  • Caffè crema
  • Caffè latte
  • Ristretto
  • Flat white
  • Iced espresso
  • Iced long black
  • Iced coffee

Once you’ve selected a drink to make, a secondary screen allows you to adjust the strength and volume. In some cases, increasing the volume of coffee will mean the machine will have to grind beans twice, which can increase the speed you go through a bag. I increased the volume of my daily flat white from the default 80ml to 100ml, for example, and I had to wait for the machine to grind a second dose of beans before it was finished.

If you tweak the settings for a drink, whether it be strength or volume, the machine will save them for the next time. Each time you make an adjustment, it overrides the previous settings. If two people in the same household want the same drink but with different settings, I would recommend taking advantage of the two individual profiles to store personal drink preferences. Switching between profiles is simple thanks to a dedicated button on the front panel.

If there are more than two people in your home and each has their own preference, you’ll be better served by stepping up to the 5500 Series model, which has 4 profiles plus a separate guest profile.

The machine doesn’t provide feedback regarding grind size or whether it’s ideal for the beans you’ve used – something you will find on De’Longhi machines that have BeanAdapt technology such as the Rivelia – but you can manually adjust the grind setting to produce a well-extracted espresso. The default setting of 6 should be fine for most use cases, although I did find for the beans I used, the crema wasn’t as thick as I would like, and it dissipated relatively quickly. As mentioned previously, I was much happier with the result once I adjusted the grinder to setting 4 for a finer grind.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo bean container with lid off

(Image credit: Future)

Where I experienced a bit more of an issue was when using the LatteGo milk-foaming system. Having read about it on the Philips website and in my colleague Cat’s review of the more feature-packed 5500 Series model, I was expecting great results from the company’s take on automatic milk frothing. I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance, although I think some leniency should be applied.

Firstly, the milk carafe is a little awkward to attach to the steam nozzle. Not frustratingly so, but it requires a more steady hand compared to the approach taken by De’Longhi, whose LatteCrema milk carafe easily inserts into a cutout on the front of its machines.

Secondly, there are markings on the side of the carafe to indicate how much is required for a particular drink. In practice, I found these to be inaccurate, and I always had some leftover milk in the carafe. Because the lid isn’t airtight, I had to pour this away if I knew I wasn’t going to have another coffee soon after the first.

Finally, despite using a barista-level brand of oat milk, which has a higher protein content to assist with producing a thicker foam, the milk pushed out into my coffee mug lacked any real resemblance to proper foam. It was certainly foamier than if I just poured milk from the carton, but when I compared the results to using my Nespresso Aeroccino 3 milk frother, it was a clear win for Nespresso. I also tested the LatteGo system with full-fat dairy milk and it did produce a much thicker foam.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Where I want to give some leniency is the fact that I wasn’t super satisfied with the results of the De’Longhi LatteCrema system when I reviewed the Magnifica Evo Next automatic coffee machine. I’ve yet to try similar systems from the likes of KitchenAid or Smeg, but I do wonder if the way they – creating steam and mixing with milk to aerate it – is that effective on the whole. In my mind, if you enjoy cafe-quality levels of milk foam, then you’ll be better served by an espresso machine with a steam wand.

I also experimented with iced drinks using the 4400 Series, although as Cat discovered in her review of the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series machine doesn’t actually produce cold coffee. Instead, you’re instructed to put ice cubes into a mug or glass, which then cools the coffee down. Philips does say water and coffee produced for iced drinks is “warm” rather than hot, so it will cool down quicker when poured over ice. I didn’t necessarily mind this approach, but it did make me wonder why there are iced drink recipes in the first place. I could just as easily place ice in a mug and run a regular espresso shot, rather than select iced espresso.

The 4400 Series only has three iced drink presets: iced espresso, iced coffee and iced long black. I like an iced latte and so poured cold milk into a glass with ice cubes and ran an iced espresso shot. For my tastes, the result was superb, and my partner enjoyed his iced long black. The 5500 Series does have a preset for iced latte, which pours cold milk via the LatteGo system.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo side view

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, the Philips 4400 LatteGo uses what the company calls SilentBrew technology to keep noise levels to a minimum. It’s also Quiet Mark certified, meaning it’s among the quietest in its product class. Knowing this, I assumed I’d hear near-silence from the machine during use, but in reality it was louder than I had expected. Using the Decibel X app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine, I recorded a measurement of 69dB when the machine was grinding beans and around 60dB when espresso was being poured. That’s louder than the KitchenAid KF8, which is also Quiet Mark certified. We recorded a measurement of 66dB when grinding and an average volume of just 44dB in our KitchenAid KF8 review.

  • Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series?

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Affordable and often discounted, although other great options can be picked up for less during sales.

4 / 5

Design

Compact size will suit most kitchens, easy to clean and intuitive interface

4.5 / 5

Performance

Great results across all drinks, just don’t set your expectations too high for the LatteGo system

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You have limited kitchen space

The Philips LatteGo 4400 is a compact, narrow machine and only needs side access to remove the water tank and brewing group head. You can push it into a corner no problem.

You’re new to automatic coffee machines

This machine is incredibly easy to master, with clear and intuitive drinks, menus and settings. You’ll be brewing coffee after coffee in no time.

Don't buy it if...

You have a large household

The 4400 Series only has 2 selectable profiles. If you have multiple coffee drinkers with different preferences, you’ll likely end up overriding each other’s settings.

You like cold-brewed coffee

While you can make good iced drinks with the 4400 Series, it doesn’t produce authentic cold-brew coffee. It also can’t make iced lattes.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

KitchenAid KF6

It’s a little bit more expensive, but the KitchenAid KF6 has the looks to back it up and it produces a superb shot of espresso. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 review

Ninja Luxe Cafe

You’ll need more space in your kitchen to accommodate it, but this bean-to-cup machine from Ninja produces fantastic espresso and is packed with features, including grind size suggestion, weight-based dosage system and an automatic milk frother.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe review

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series over a period of two weeks with some coffee beans from a local supermarket that I had used before. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box and fitted the water tank using the instructions provided.

I tested the LatteGo system of the 4400 Series coffee machine using fridge-cold full-fat dairy and a barista oat milk. I tested the machine's ability to produce a variety of hot and cold drinks.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

I spent two weeks with the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System, and espresso and drip coffee don’t get easier than this
8:00 pm | October 19, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: one-minute review

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (which is almost identical to the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System solid in the US) is a Swiss army knife of a coffee maker, with a drip brewer on one side, a single-serve pod machine for espresso on the other, a measuring scoop embedded in one side, and a milk whisk that flips out from the back. Its price is around upper-mid level for a drip coffee maker, but when you consider that you’re getting a Nespresso machine thrown in, too, it’s great value.

It’s a sizeable machine so you’ll need a decent amount of countertop space to accommodate it, but it’s well designed and full of thoughtful little touches. Highlights include a height-adjustable drip tray for the Nespresso pod brewer (with a grippy surface to prevent your cup slipping and avoid scratches), a bin for used capsules that has its own mini-drip tray so they can dry out ready for recycling, and a fold-out platform so you can brew a single portion of drip coffee straight into your favorite cup or travel mug.

The DualBrew System uses a hotplate to keep your fresh drip coffee warm rather than an insulated carafe, which won’t be to everyone’s taste; many people prefer to avoid hotplates for fear of stewing their coffee and spoiling the taste. However, this one is more gentle than most, with a choice of heat settings and times so you don’t overheat your morning brew.

Image 1 of 2

Coffee filter in Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System's basket, with ground coffee

The drip coffee maker comes with one basket, and a two-ended measuring scoop to help with dosing (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System dispensing drip coffee

You can brew drip coffee into a carafe, or directly into a cup or travel mug (Image credit: Future)

Unlike a double-walled carafe, this glass pitcher is dishwasher-safe, as are the machine’s other removable components – and the DualBrew System will alert you when it’s time to run its cleaning program.

Ninja suggests the Prestige DualBrew System is a good option for entertaining, letting you cater to the whims of different guests – and it is, but personally I love it as a way to get coffee into my system as quickly as possible in the morning. Set the timer and wake to a freshly brewed, nicely extracted jug of drip coffee, or pick a pod and have a tasty espresso in your hand within two minutes.

Espresso purists will prefer the Ninja Luxe Café, which combines a drip coffee maker with a semi-automatic espresso machine, and has a proper steam wand rather than a little electric whisk, but for sheer convenience, the DualBrew System is hard to beat.

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: specifications

Dimensions (H x W x D)

5.5 x 10.8 x 12.8 inches / 41.1 x 27.4 x 32.6cm

Weight

13.6lbs / 6.18kg

Water tank capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Filter baskets

One (cone)

Brewing modes

Drip and espresso (from capsules)

Timer

Yes

Insulated carafe

No

Hotplate

Yes

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: price and availability

  • Sold in the UK, and almost identical model available in US
  • Not yet sold in Australia
  • Costs $279.99 / £249.99

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is sold in the UK for £249.99, and an almost identical model called the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System is available in the US for $279.99. As far as I can see, the only differences between the two are the style of the display, and the color of the plastic panel on the right-hand side. Their features seem to be exactly the same.

Both variants carry an upper-mid range price tag for a drip coffee maker, but when you factor in the extra single-serve capsule coffee maker, they suddenly become very good value for money. You'll find today's best deals on both versions below.

Neither machine is available in Australia at the time of writing, but the Ninja Luxe Café is a good alternative if you want a two-in-one drip coffee and espresso machine.

  • Value score: 5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: design

  • Thoughtfully designed by people who clearly love coffee
  • Milk frother isn’t perfect, but it's a nice extra
  • Dishwasher-safe components

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is quite a large unit, measuring 5.5 x 10.8 x 12.8 inches / 41.1 x 27.4 x 32.6cm (H x W x D), but there isn't an inch of wasted space.

Both the drip coffee maker and single-serve pod machine use the same water tank, which slots into the back of the machine. It’s easy to lift out for filling, and measurements are clearly marked on the side, although a handle would have been a nice extra touch for a more secure grip. There’s no water filter supplied with the machine, either.

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System water tank removed

The water tank is easy to remove, although it has no handle (Image credit: Future)

Both parts of the DualBrew System are controlled using a simple set of physical buttons on the machine’s face, plus a dial that has a pleasingly solid feeling when rotated and pressed. Information is conveyed via a monochrome LCD panel, which is clear and bright, and shows the current time when the machine is in standby mode.

The drip coffee part of the DualBrew (on the left-hand side) features a filter basket assembly that stands taller than the rest of the machine, so you may need to slide it forward to open the lid if you’re planning to keep it on a counter underneath a cabinet. It comes with a single cone-shaped filter basket, and a set of filter papers to get you started.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System controls

Choose your brew size and strength, then set the timer or start brewing immediately (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some drip coffee makers (such as the Sage Luxe Thermal Brewer and Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker) there’s no flat-bottomed basket for large, strong brews. However, unlike these two premium machines, the DualBrew System has a handy drip-stop function that prevents coffee leaking out of the basket when the machine has finished brewing.

The carafe itself is a traditional-style glass pitcher rather than the insulated ones used by the Sage and Fellow machines, and unlike them, has a hotplate underneath to keep your freshly brewed coffee warm. A small LED on the bottom left of the machine warns you if it’s hot, for safety.

If you only want to brew a single serving, there’s a small fold-down drip tray behind the carafe, which is just the right size for a coffee mug.

Coffee capsule in Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System

The DualBrew System takes Nespresso Original style capsules (Image credit: Future)

Moving to the right-hand side of the machine, you’ll find a slot in the top that accepts Nespresso Original style capsules (not the dome-shaped Vertuo pods). Nestlé no longer owns the patent to these top-hat-shaped capsules, so there’s a huge range available from big brands and indie coffee roasters alike.

Below this is a drip tray, which you can unhook and reposition to accommodate different-sized cups (anything from a tall mug to a tiny espresso cup). The tray has a rubberized surface to prevent your cup slipping, and although the sets of holes for repositioning it doesn’t look particularly stylish (it feels like a sliding system would look more sleek), it’s understandable that Ninja’s designers have taken a minimalist approach considering the waste bin for used pods is directly behind it.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System dispensing espresso

Adjust the height of the drip tray to suit your cup (Image credit: Future)

That isn't all the DualBrew has hidden away. On the left-hand side you’ll find a two-ended coffee scoop with markings for brewing different quantities of drip coffee. There’s also a fold-out milk frother, which is activated by pressing a button on top. Unlike a steam wand, this doesn’t heat the milk, but it’s a nice addition if you want to use a coffee capsule as the basis for an espresso, and the machine has a sticker on the side providing estimated microwave and whisking times for different drinks.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: performance

  • Extremely simple to use and maintain
  • Drip-stop is a particularly helpful feature
  • Excellent adjustable hotplate

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is a particularly great option if you’re looking for a coffee machine that will help give you a boost in the morning. Its drip machine has a timer so you can wake to a freshly brewed mug or jug of coffee, and its single-serve capsule machine will have you sipping an espresso within a minute. They’re the two most convenient forms of coffee-making rolled into one easy-to-use machine.

Setup is straightforward: just use the dial to set the current time (necessary for scheduling the drip coffee maker), then "prime" the DualBrew System following Ninja’s instructions. For the drip brewer, this means running a brew cycle using a full tank of water, without coffee in the basket, and for the single-serve coffee maker it means running the "lungo" program three times without a capsule.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System with coffee capsule and cup of espresso

Your espresso will be ready to drink in about a minute (Image credit: Future)

As you use the DualBrew System, you’ll start to appreciate the various thoughtful touches Ninja’s designers have implemented. For example, used coffee pods drop into a bin with its own mini-drip tray underneath, which catches any mess from used capsules so they’re dry and ready to recycle.

The drip-stop function is particularly handy if you’re in a rush first thing in the morning, since it allows you to remove the carafe as soon as the machine has finished brewing without drips falling onto the hotplate (and making a mess). The machine will also display a warning icon and refuse to start if you try to begin brewing while the drip-stop is closed.

Person using Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System drip-stop control

The drip-stop helps avoid mess when you've brewed a carafe or mug of coffee (Image credit: Future)

Another of my favorite features is the hotplate. Sometimes, drip coffee maker hotplates tend to become very warm and stew your freshly brewed coffee. However, this DualBrew System avoids this by offering a choice of temperatures (low, medium, or high), and can keep your coffee warm for up to four hours, which is the same performance you could expect from a coffee maker with an insulated carafe.

The glass carafe has a couple of key advantages: you can see how much coffee is left, and it’s dishwasher-safe, which isn’t true of double-walled pitchers. When you’re loading the dishwasher, you can also add the water reservoir and its lid, the brew basket, the cup tray and its base, and the milk frother, too, so you won’t need to spend time scrubbing by hand.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System milk frother in jug of milk

The milk frother is nice to have, but can't compare with a steam wand (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned above, the frother is just an electric whisk (similar to the hand-held type that can be bought for $10 at Amazon), but it’s a nice extra, and adding a steam wand to the DualBrew System would have been impractical. During testing, the whisk worked better with dairy milk than plant-based alternatives, and I found that it took longer than suggested by the guide to achieve a thick foam. Nevertheless, the recommended heating times for milk were handy as a guide. The whisk tucks away out of sight when not in use.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

A reasonable price for a drip coffee maker, and even better when there's also a Nespresso machine attached.

5/5

Design

Large, but thoughtfully designed and easy to maintain. The only weak point is the milk frother, which is nice to have but not amazing.

4.5/5

Performance

Makes brewing great coffee as close to effortless as possible, whether you're entertaining guests or just trying to jump-start your morning.

5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: also consider

If you're not quite sure whether the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider:

Ninja Luxe Café

Another two-in-one coffee maker, the Luxe Café swaps the single-serve pods for a semi-automatic espresso machine. It also has a steam wand with automatic and manual settings for creating proper cappuccinos and lattes, and is still great value.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Café review

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

If you only want to brew drip coffee, the Luxe Thermal Brewer is my number-one pick right now. It has a small footprint, it's easy to use, and its thermal carafe keeps coffee piping hot for an amazingly long time (much longer than any others I've tested).

Read our full Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal review

How I tested the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

I used the Ninja DualBrew system for two weeks in place of my usual espresso machine and V60 coffee dripper. I used the drip coffee maker with light roasted Honduras Swiss water decaf coffee (freshly ground using my Sage burr grinder). I used the single-serve brewer with the same coffee in alumnium capsules. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

I welcomed this Blueair for extra-large rooms into my home, and it’s the most attractive air purifier I’ve ever seen
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Blueair Blue Signature: two-minute review

The Blueair Blue Signature is a furniture-inspired air purifier for extra-large rooms, available from Blueair, Amazon, and other third-party retailers.

You can purchase the Blueair Blue Signature for a list price of $449.99 / £369, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for discounts to maximize the value. I’ve not spotted any in the UK so far, but at the time of writing, US customers can get a $50 discount at Blueair, bringing the price down to an even more reasonable $399.99.

A woman has just pressed the power button on the top of the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

While the mid-gray Light model is more to my preference, the navy blue Dark model I’ve been testing does a great job of blending into the room, rather than standing out like other white plastic air purifiers often do.

Like many of Blueair’s purifiers, the Blue Signature features an easy-to-clean fabric pre-filter, which is available in a range of colors to help it blend in with your decor.

At 15.5 inches / 39.4cm in diameter, there’s plenty of room to plonk down the remote or a magazine, but as I learned from my experience, you’ll need to be mindful about placing anything that could scratch the tabletop.

The Blue Signature is satisfyingly lightweight considering its size, making it easy to unbox and set up. I found it to be a little low for my liking, but this may well be down to personal preference.

The filter has been removed and has been placed next to the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

There are two bases that can be purchased separately, a chrome ring or some wooden legs, that’ll increase its height and enhance its furniture-style aesthetic. Their prices are a hard pill to swallow, however, at a cost of $99.99 / £99.99 and $79.99 / £79.99, respectively.

The motion-activated controls on the top of the Blue Signature are responsive and easy to use, and remote controlling the purifier is straightforward on the well-designed Blueair app.

The app contains a host of useful features, including controls, automations, settings, and color-coded air quality graphs for up to a month of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 readings.

In addition to the four fan speeds, there are three modes available. These are Auto mode, which sets the Blue Signature to purify at speed one until contamination is detected, Eco mode, which operates the same as Auto, but the purifier remains idle, and Night mode, which lowers the purifier to its lowest speed and turns off most of the lights.

There’s a useful AirSense automation that provides a quick freshen up twice a day when the Blue Signature is in Auto or Eco mode, which runs regardless of the ambient air quality, though it can be turned off if desired.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display reads

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, I was very pleased with the Blue Signature’s efforts. It promptly detected and cleared the contamination caused as a result of my spraying dry shampoo from a couple of feet away, and displayed the readings in the graphs on the app.

It appears that the Blue Signature does a better job of tackling odors than other purifiers I’ve tested, as it made short work of removing the fragrance from the dry shampoo following my testing.

The Blue Signature operates satisfyingly quietly despite its power, maxing out at just 55dB at top speed, and giving readings as low as 27dB on speed one, which is quieter than a whisper.

As the brand makes some of the best air purifiers, it hasn’t come as a surprise that there’s so much to love about the Blueair Blue Signature. It has many useful features and performs well at a pleasingly low volume for the price, making it the perfect choice for larger spaces, without being conspicuous.

Blueair Blue Signature review: price & availability

  • List price: $449.99 / £369
  • Launch date: Mid 2025
  • Available now in the US and UK

The Blueair Blue Signature has a list price of $449.99 / £369, and is available to purchase directly from Blueair or at Amazon.

This is a pretty good price considering it’s designed for large rooms, supports WiFi connectivity, and can detect and react to PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, meaning it’ll jump into action whether ultra-fine or coarse particles are present.

What’s more, I’m already seeing some great deals appearing in the US, with Blueair offering a $50 off the price at the time of writing, so you can pick the Blue Signature up for just $399.99. I’m yet to spot a deal in the UK just yet, but you never know.

Blue Signature 4.0 replacement filters look a little pricey at $99.99 / £99.99 each, but Blueair states that these filters can last up to a year, and their RealTrack algorithm calculates the lifetime left on your filter based on the fan speed, usage time, and pollution levels, meaning it should offer a more accurate expiry date compared to other models.

It’s worth noting that while the all-singing-all-dancing 7-stage filter uses Blueair’s HEPASilent technology, it’s not a true HEPA filter, though Blueair has insisted that their filters are actually more effective and operate at lower volumes.

A woman is removing the filter from the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Blueair Blue Signature without any accessories, but there’s the option of two different stand formats if you want to make it look more like a piece of furniture.

These don’t come cheap, however, with the wooden legs, referred to as the Leg Base in Wood, costing $79.99 / £79.99, and the Ring Base in Chrome costing an eye-watering $99.99 / £99.99. As nice an addition as these would make, I must admit that I consider these grossly overpriced, which is a shame, as they would greatly improve the aesthetic.

Accessories aside, considering the Blue Signature’s reliable performance, easy filter replacement, and simple controls, this Blueair purifier offers plenty of bang for your buck, even at the full list price, making it well worth your consideration.

  • Value score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: specs

Type

Air purifier table

Fan speeds

1-4

CADR (Clean air delivery rate)

Pollen 450 cfm

Dust 434 cfm

Smoke 455 cfm

Air changes per hour (ACH)

4.8

Filter

Multi-layered HEPASilent filter with activated carbon

Particle sizes detected

PM1, PM2.5, PM10

Dimensions

15.5 x 15.5 x 17.2 inches / 39.4 x 39.4 43.7cm

Weight

13.2lb / 6kg

Control

Touch controls / App

Timer

Yes

Additional modes

Auto, Night, Eco

Extra features

Tabletop, machine-washable pre-filters

Blueair Blue Signature review: design and features

  • Pleasantly lightweight for the size
  • Four fan speeds, three purifying modes
  • The material of the tabletop surface could be better

The furniture-inspired design of the Blueair Blue Signature makes it pleasingly subtle for an extra-large room air purifier.

The Blue Signature comes in a choice of Light and Dark models, the former being a mid-gray color, and the latter being a navy blue, which is the model I’ve tested.

Both models come with a color-coordinated machine-washable pre-filter, a Nordic Fog with the Light, and a Midnight for the dark. At the time of writing, the Blue Signature Light model doesn’t appear to be available at Blueair in the UK, but it can be purchased from Amazon.

If you feel like mixing things up, there are four other pre-filter colors to choose from, which include a couple of neutral colors, a blue, and a green. Each pre-filter has a list price of $24.99 / £24.99, so it’s not too much of an outlay if you want to change up the color, or have a spare to put on while the other is in the wash.

The fabric pre-filter of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier has been partially rolled down.

(Image credit: Future)

Although rather large, at 15.5 inches / 39.4cm in diameter, the Blue Signature is surprisingly easy to maneuver, as it weighs only 13.2lb / 6kg, and I could use the gap between the pre-filter and the top section to carry it about.

The Blue Signature’s 17.2 inches / 43.7cm height might prove a little low to use as a side table for some, but it’s not inconveniently short. The wooden legs would definitely prove beneficial here, but I think I’d rather prop it up on something than pay that price for the four-legged base.

The smooth matte plastic on the top of the air purifier makes it look like what it is, the top of an appliance, rather than an item of furniture. I would have liked to have seen a slightly more premium finish, but it offers plenty of surface area for placing mugs, books, and remote controls.

Speaking of controls, the touch controls on the top of the Blue Signature are pretty nifty, as the motion-activation means they disappear along with the display. They’re pleasingly simple to use, and include buttons for power, Auto mode, night mode, a display lock, and cycling through the four fan speeds. It’s quick and easy to change the settings on the app, too, so I could switch modes without needing to move out of my comfy spot on the sofa.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display shows a reading of PM2.5.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a steady blue light under the top surface of the air purifier when the air quality is rated as excellent. It changes color depending on the level of contamination, and is automatically dimmed when the Blue Signature is put into Night mode.

When Auto mode is enabled, the Blue Signature fan runs at speed one consistently, increasing the speed to suit whenever the Blue Signature detects PM1, PM2.5, or PM10 contamination.

I appreciate that the air purifier continues to purify at a low speed despite the air quality registering at a good level, as many air purifiers simply idle on Auto mode, so they fail to react and purify the surrounding air of contaminants they aren’t capable of detecting, such as VOCs.

Lastly, there’s an Eco mode, which works much the same as Auto mode, except it sits dormant until contamination is detected, thereby conserving energy.

  • Design & features score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: app

  • Quick and easy device syncing
  • Simple and straightforward interface
  • Provides access to air quality graphs, settings, and automations

Adding a new device can be a headache in some cases, but as the Blueair app detected the Blue Signature straight away, I simply needed to select it and follow the instructions to connect it to my WiFi, which it did with no issues.

The Blueair app is simple to navigate, and the settings are easy to access and adjust on the dashboard for the Blue Signature. For day-to-day control, there’s a simple slider to amend the fan speed, buttons to enable each of the three modes, and the display lock function.

Three phone display screenshots from the Blueair app.

(Image credit: Blueair / Future)

There’s a useful feature linked to the Auto and Eco modes called AirSense, which means that my air purifier would stir into action for ten minutes at 10am and 6pm every day, though it can run for as long as twenty-five minutes if the air quality is a little lower.

This is particularly helpful if you plan to keep your air purifier set to Eco mode, as the air will still get a little freshen up twice a day. If you’d rather it didn’t embark on these mini cleaning sprees, it’s easy to turn off in the device settings.

There’s also a schedule feature, which can be used to set the air purifier to power on in a chosen mode at set times on your choice of days, before turning off at an allotted time.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display shows a leaf alongside the word Eco.

(Image credit: Future)

Another nifty automation is the Welcome Home feature, which powers on the Blue Signature when you’re approximately fifteen minutes away from home, based on your location and specified transport method.

A color-coded graph makes it easy to review the collected air quality data on the Blueair app. There’s a different graph for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, with the option to view the readings over the course of a day, week, or month.

Overall, the app provides all the essentials in an easy-to-navigate interface, and all functions appeared responsive, bar the few moments it can take for the graph to update and reflect the real-time air quality readings.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: performance

  • Quick and easy setup
  • Prompt detection and contamination clearing
  • The dark tabletop appears to scratch easily

Getting the Blueair Blue Signature setup was a quick and simple process, as it was just a case of plugging it in and setting it up on the Blueair app.

I didn’t feel quite as comfortable using the Blue Signature as a side table as I did with the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table, as it felt a bit wrong putting things down directly on top of an air purifier, and the material looks like it’d mark and scratch easily.

While the dark blue table top collected fingerprints easily, they wiped off without much effort. This was a relief, as some darker-colored matte surfaces can prove notoriously difficult to remove fingerprints from.

Some books and a pair of headphones have been placed on top of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier.

(Image credit: Future)

Sadly, it got a bit scratched not long into my testing. Presumably, this was from me balancing the plug on it as I pulled it out of the box, though it was only the plastic part of the plug in contact with the surface, which is a concern considering it’s meant to be used as a tabletop.

These scratches were only really visible when caught in the light however, and likely more noticeable due to the dark coloring of the plastic. Either way, I’d definitely recommend enforcing the coaster rule in your house if you plan to use it as a table.

The UK plug is pictured on top of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier, with the EU plug adapter sitting alongside.

(Image credit: Future)

All of the modes worked as expected. Night mode reduced the fan to its lowest speed and extinguished the indicator light, the display, and most of the touch controls, though curiously, the Night mode and power button remain illuminated.

In terms of purifying performance, I was pleased to find that the Blue Signature only took around sixteen seconds to detect the dry shampoo I’d sprayed around two feet away.

After detecting the contamination, the air quality rating was updated to “very polluted”, and so the Blue Signature ramped up the fan speed. The air quality returned to “good” levels around twenty seconds from detection, and was back to “excellent” after a further minute, at which point the fan speed was reduced back to its lowest setting.

The power and Night mode icons are still illuminated while the Blueair Blue Signature is in Night mode.

(Image credit: Future)

The Blue Signature appeared to clear odors better than other air purifiers I’ve tested. While the strong smell of the dry shampoo usually lingers long after the air purifier I’m testing has dealt with the particulate contamination, it was cleared fairly quickly by the Blue Signature.

This may well be down to the fact that the Blue Signature runs at its lowest fan speed in Auto mode, rather than simply idling, meaning it could prove a good option if reducing ambient odors is on your list of priorities.

I was impressed by the Blue Signature’s low volume too, finding that it operated quieter overall than the majority of the air purifiers I’ve tested to date. The loudest reading I recorded was 55dB when it was running at top speed, making it no louder than a conversation, and it operated at just 27dB on fan speed one, which is quieter than a whisper.

The Blueair Blue Signature air purifier is pictured without its fabric pre-filter.

(Image credit: Future)

While the tabletop may leave a little to be desired, all in all, the Blueair Blue Signature performed really well. Its capacity to purify an extra-large room's worth of air, in-app features, quick detection, and contamination tackling make this a great air purifier for the price, and, ignoring my personal preferences on its suitability as a table, it looks a whole lot more attractive than any large-scale air purifier I’ve come across to date.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Blueair Blue Signature?

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

The Blue Signature offers great performance, an attractive design, and a pleasant user experience for the price. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive to buy the base accessories to complete the look.

4.5/5

Design & Features

This furniture-inspired air purifier manages to stand out from the crowd without disrupting the decor. It’s easy to use, pleasingly lightweight, and has a large surface area for placing items.

4.5/5

App

The Blueair app makes it super simple to operate the Blue Signature. Its interface is attractive and easy to understand, making it easy to access the features and air quality graphs.

4.5/5

Performance

The Blue Signature reacted quickly during testing and made quick work of clearing the contamination. It also did a better job of clearing the strong fragrance of the dry shampoo than other air purifiers I’ve tested.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You don’t want a typical-looking air purifier
With a choice of fabric colors and optional bases, this air purifier is your best bet if you’re looking for something that’ll look more like a piece of furniture than an appliance.

You want constant purification
Many air purifiers simply idle quietly in the background when the air quality is considered good based on what they can detect. It’s nice to have the option of constant purifying here, especially as it seems to aid in odor removal.

You appreciate nifty automations
The Blue Signature offers some useful automations, including scheduling, powering on when you’re 15 minutes from home, and twice-daily ramped up purifying with AirSense.

Don't buy it if...

You want VOC detection
While the Blueair does a great job of detecting particulates, it doesn't register the presence of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), like some more premium options do. However, the good news is that the filter is still capable of filtering them, which is another reason why the consistent purifying in Auto mode is beneficial.

You don’t like lingering lights
Although not glaringly bright, it’s a shame the power and Night mode icons aren’t extinguished when said mode is triggered. This may only be a minor niggle for some, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you can’t stand any light at bedtime.

You don’t want to pay a premium for a pretty base
The Blue Signature looks good as-is, but the furniture aesthetic would be nicely enhanced when teamed with one of the bases on offer. I just wish that these extras weren’t so eye-wateringly expensive.

Blueair Blue Signature review: Also consider

Blueair Blue Signature

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09

Type

Air purifier table

Air purifier table

Purifying tower fan

Price

$449.99 / £369

$269.99 / £299.99

$749.99 / £549.99

Fan speeds

4

3

10

Modes

Auto, Eco, Night

Auto, Sleep, Pet

Auto, Night mode, Diffused mode

Filter

Pre-filter, 7-stage HEPASilent with activated carbon

Pre-filter, HEPA and activated carbon

HEPA H13 and activated carbon

App support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dimensions

15.5 x 15.5 x 17.2 inches / 39.4 x 39.4 43.7cm

11.4 x 11.4 x 16.5 inches / 29 x 29 x 42cm

8.7 x 8.7 x 41.3 inches / 22 x 22 x 105cm

Weight

13.2lb / 6kg

10.7lb / 4.9kg

10.4 lbs / 4.7kg

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table
If you love the idea of a multi-functional air purifier but haven’t got the budget spare for the Blue Signature, then this SwitchBot alternative might be for you. Its wood-effect tabletop offers plenty of space for a mug and remote, and comes with the bonus of an integrated wireless phone charger. It only detects and reacts to PM2.5 or smaller, but it operates just as quietly as the Blueair, and makes for a great lower-cost alternative. If you’d like to learn more, have a read of my full SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09
This Dyson air purifier requires a lot more investment, but it’s a fantastic choice if you want to get a clearer view of your air quality data. I love the attractive gold and white coloring, and can’t help but be impressed by its ability to detect and react to more than the standard PM contaminants, namely, VOCs, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. And, while it can’t be used as a table, it does operate as a bladeless fan. To find out more about this 4.5-star rated purifier, check out my full Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 review.

How I tested the Blueair Blue Signature

  • I tested the Blueair Blue Signature over a few weeks
  • I explored the Blueair app and tested the modes and features
  • I tested the purifier's detection and reaction speeds

After assembling the Blueair Blue Signature and syncing it to the Blueair app, I tried out the onboard touch controls and app-based controls before having a good explore of the different settings and features.

Along with using the Blueair Blue Signature passively in my home, I also conducted our standard testing procedure of spraying dry shampoo from around two feet away to assess its performance. I then assessed the air quality readings on the app to ensure they were aligned.

I measured the sound levels emitted from different fan speeds and modes, and compared these readings to the measurements I’ve taken from other air purifiers.

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