AirFanta 3Pro review

This is the only high-CADR air purifier you can fit in a backpack.
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission (at no extra charge), which we use to fund new product tests. Learn more.

Our verdict

The AirFanta 3Pro is an affordable, high CADR air purifier that is also portable. The design is inspired by the Corsi-Rosenthal box, with filtration across four sides of the cube, a base and fans at the top.

 

The 3Pro combines four low-resistance H11 filters with four powerful PC fans, guaranteeing excellent air cleaning performance at speed. It absolutely blew us away with its particle removal speed in our smoke test, but unfortunately it’s not as quiet and energy-efficient as other PC fan-powered devices available today.

 

That being said, the AirFanta 3Pro will be an excellent budget-friendly choice for most people and in most situations. So, if you can’t stretch your budget beyond $150, then look no further than the 3Pro from AirFanta.

Today, I’m excited to review another PC fan-powered air purifier after the impressive performance we saw with the Nukit Tempest. Introducing the AirFanta 3Pro.

Even though this air purifier must be assembled before you can switch it on, the process is much simpler than other PC fan devices. If you like the idea of a Nukit Tempest but you worry about the process of building it yourself from scratch with multiple PC fans, parts and screws, then this device by AirFanta might be the perfect option for you.

The AirFanta 3Pro is a creation of Adam Wong, someone who is very active on social media platforms — you might recognize him by his handle: @Engineer_Wong. Wong started his journey developing air purifiers in 2022, right after China left the Covid Zero policy. His beginnings involved assembling Corsi-Rosenthal boxes for friends and family, powered by his engineering background. Over time, he started receiving CR box requests from the local Covid Cautious community. This led to him designing and developing a new kind of DIY box that could be assembled and disassembled easily. The AirFanta 3Pro has been available in China for over a year and has recently entered the American, Canadian, and European markets.

As with all the air purifiers we tested, we paid for the AirFanta 3Pro with our own money to experience the entire customer journey, conduct various tests and write an honest (and unbiased) review. If you decide to buy an AirFanta 3Pro after clicking on a link from this review, you will be supporting our work, as we will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How we test air purifiers

Read our full testing methodology.

It’s worth mentioning that we used a platform called Snapklik to buy this device from Amazon.com and get it delivered to the UK (where HouseFresh is based) as it is not currently available to buy in Amazon.co.uk. However, Wong confirmed that AirFanta devices will be available to buy in the UK before the end of 2024.

The lowdown on the AirFanta 3Pro

“This is the only air purifier with a CADR above 400 that you can disassemble and bring along wherever you go inside a backpack or suitcase.

The AirFanta 3Pro blew me away with its air cleaning performance, which is powered by a smart CR box-inspired design and the choice of combining four low-resistance H11 filters with four powerful PC fans.

The market for DIY PC fan air purifiers is booming, and AirFanta has made its mark with a device you can buy for a fraction of the price of all of its competitors ($150).”

— Danny Ashton, HouseFresh Founder & Senior Writer

If you don’t want to read my full review, here are the six things we like about the AirFanta 3Pro and the three things we don’t.

What we really like

The highly affordable price ($149.99).
Its incredible air cleaning performance — it took just 14 minutes to clean our test room, which is two minutes slower than the almighty Smart Air Blast Mini.
It is A LOT easier to put it together than a standard DIY PC fan air purifier kit.
It’s small in size, especially when compared to a Corsi-Rosenthal box.
It can be assembled and disassembled in just a few minutes.
When taken apart, the parts are small enough to fit inside a backpack or small suitcase.

What we think could be better

It is much louder (56.3 dBA) than other PC fan kits we have tested when running at full speed.
It doesn’t use standard HVAC (MERV 13) — you have to use OEM filters.
Energy costs are similar to standard HEPA devices when running at full speed — another thing we didn’t see with other PC fan air purifiers.

HouseFresh rating:★★★★★
Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed):14 minutes
Air purifier technology:True HEPA H11
Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour):671 sq. ft. 
Clean air delivery rate (CADR):Estimated: 430 CFM
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):12.6D x 12.6W x 12.6H inches (32D x 32W X 32H cm)
Weight (in pounds / in kg):7.7 lbs (3.49 kg)
Filter life:6 – 12 months
Noise level in decibels (measured from 3 ft. away with a sound level meter):3.63 volts: 36.1 dB
4.19 volts: 36.9 dB
5.24 volts: 39.7 dB
6.54 volts: 43.3 dB
7.44 volts: 46.7 dB
8.56 volts: 49.1 dB
12.6 volts: 56.3 dB
Electricity consumption in watts (recorded with an electricity usage monitor):43.23 watts
Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement):$125.23 per year
Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by AHAM):$0.35
Manufacturer’s warranty:1 year
Country of manufacture:China

The best feature: it fits inside a carry-on bag 😲

This is the only high-CADR air purifier you can bring with you wherever you go.

Adam Wong designed the AirFanta 3Pro to be not only highly powered but also portable. You will not find any other air purifier with a CADR above 400 that you will be able to fit inside a large backpack or small suitcase.

The 3Pro can be disassembled and reassembled in just a few minutes, making it the best option for those looking for devices they can travel with.

You also get a long piece of cable management Velcro that you can use to wrap all the parts neatly once you have disassembled your AirFanta 3Pro:

A smaller, lighter CR box that looks great

The 3Pro is a CR box-inspired air purifier with a PC fan twist.

The AirFanta 3Pro is basically a box with a base at the bottom, one filter at each side and a fan array on top — much like the design of the Corsi-Rosenthal box.

The thing with the AirFanta 3Pro is that it is A LOT smaller than a CR box:

While this is not a PC fan kit of the likes of the Nukit Tempest or the CleanAirKits Luggable XL, you still need to put the AirFanta 3Pro together. Now, the process is a lot easier than any DIY air purifier I have built: you just need to put the four filters in place on the sides of the base before you can clip the fan array on top. 

The first time I put the 3Pro together, it took me a solid ten minutes to figure out just how much pressure I could apply to each of the parts to clip them in place. 

But after disassembling and reassembling the device a few times, I got much faster at it and can now easily put it together in just a couple of minutes.

As I mentioned briefly above, the AirFanta 3Pro has been designed to be cheap and portable: when you take it apart, you will be able to fit it neatly inside a standard carry-on bag. It even fits snuggly inside Gisele’s Osprey Proxima backpack:

I receive many emails from readers and subscribers looking for a high CADR air purifier they can travel with, so the fact that the 3Pro can be easily packed away to move from one place to another is a huge pro.

AirFanta has created an amazing design that is small and lightweight. Other DIY or PC fan air purifiers we tested are quite bulky (I’m looking at you, CR box!) and can be pretty wide due to the use of 20×20 filters:

Another thing worth mentioning is that your AirFanta 3Pro will come with a 110-220v AC to 3-12v stepless DC power adapter which will allow you to control the speed of the fans and the noise output.

Something that I really appreciate about AirFanta and Adam Wong is how committed they are to keep improving their devices based on customer feedback. A few days after we ordered our 3Pro, I saw a tweet from Wong in which he announced the introduction of a handy Velcro strap in response to an idea from @ParentMishmash:

As mentioned at the top of this review, you can use this very same Velcro strip to strap the filters + fan array + base together once you have disassembled your 3Pro to ensure all parts fit nicely inside your suitcase or backpack. Simple yet effective!

Four HEPA 11 filters with the option of activated carbon

Custom-made filters with an expected life of 6-12 months. Wong stated that, in most cases, they can last a full nine months before they need to be replaced.

Unlike actual DIY air purifier kits, you won’t be able to simply pick up some HVAC filters for your AirFanta 3Pro.

The filter in the 3Pro have been designed to be portable yet powerful. This means that you will need to buy the official AirFanta filters when the time comes to replace the ones in your 3Pro, but I imagine that we will start seeing generic alternatives once the 3Pro becomes more popular.

When buying a 3Pro, you can choose between HEPA 11 filters only or HEPA 11 with activated carbon. We have both because we wanted to test the performance of the 3Pro with and without activated carbon.

When it comes to the HEPA 11 design, AirFanta states they developed a new pleating technology in order to produce powerful filters in such a small package. The 126×11.4“ particle filter material has been pleated eleven times into a much smaller 11.4×11.4×1″ area.

For those needing to tackle odors and gases, the best option is the carbon filter. It is a bonded filter (similar to those we see in Levoit devices) that combines a 15mm thick HEPA 11 filter with a 10mm layer of activated carbon. 

Whether you choose to go with the particle filter only or the particle+gas filter, you will find that AirFanta filters come with an aluminium cover on the outside that protects the air filter and serves as a (sort of) pre-filter for large dust particles.

It has been designed to be small enough to be used in a carry-on bag, so an HVAC-based system would be too big. This means that right now, there are only OEM filters, but if this device becomes popular, I would expect generic options, as other manufacturers will profit from selling filters of this size. 

Tip

Remember to remove the filters from the plastic bag they come in before you switch on your AirFanta 3Pro.

The AirFanta 3Pro cleared our test room in 14 minutes

Yet another excellent PC fan-powered DIY air purifier. The 3Pro is nearly as fast at cleaning the air than the Smart Air Blast Mini.

The AirFanta 3Pro has not been sent to AHAM for a CADR test just yet. Independent tests are particularly important in cases like this to help inform consumers before they buy a device. 

I’ve been really keen to test the AirFanta 3Pro because there has been a lot of hype around it — especially after Rob Wissmann and David Elfstrom completed their own CADR tests:

  • CADR: at 13V: 436 CFM
  • CADR at 12V: 413 CFM 
  • CADR at 9V: 328 CFM 
  • CADR at 6V: 213 CFM 

With a CADR of 436 CFM, the AirFanta 3Pro is one of the most powerful HEPA air purifiers on the market today. When running at its top fan speed, the 3Pro can provide 4.8 air changes per hour in spaces up to 681 sq. ft. This is incredible for a device that costs less than $150. 

I’m happy to report that the hype is completely warranted. Let me walk you through how the 3Pro performed in our tests.

First stop is the particle removal test. We tested the AirFanta 3Pro in the same room, where we tested over 80 air purifier models since 2020. By testing every device in the same room (728 sq. ft.) performing the same job (removing incense smoke), we can quickly compare performance across devices. This year, we improved our air cleaning performance test by introducing a second laser particle sensor (a PurpleAir Zen) to record PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 particle levels in real time while the air purifier is doing its thing.

The AirFanta 3Pro removed all traces of PM1 particles from the air in a swift 14 minutes using the HEPA only filter:

Swapping the filters for the HEPA + activated carbon option added four more minutes to the test, bringing the time to clean all traces of PM1 smoke pollutants in 18 minutes:

This matches the incredible CADR score tests performed by David Elfstrom and Rob Wiss, and compares quite favorably with other air much more expensive air purifiers.

As you can see in the table below, the AirFanta 3Pro is not only affordable but also incredibly fast at cleaning the air:

Our air cleaning performance test showed that at its highest fan speed, the AirFanta 3Pro is as powerful as devices costing upwards of $450:

AIR PURIFIER MODELTIME TO CLEAN OUR TEST ROOMPRICE
Levoit Vital 200S18 minutes$189.99
Smart Air Blast Mini12 minutes$599.00
Levoit EverestAir14 minutes$499.99
AirFanta 3Pro - HEPA only14 minutes$149.99
AirFanta 3Pro - HEPA + carbon 18 minutes$224.00
Air Doctor 300014 minutes$519.00
Winix 5500-220 minutes$249.99
Clean Air Kits Luggable XL-720 minutes$299.00
Corsi-Rosenthal Box25 minutes$85.00
Nukit Tempest31 minutes$300.00

Noise levels, compared

The second most important thing to look at when choosing an air purifier is the amount of sound it generates. A device that is too loud is unlikely to be used regularly or, even worse, is likely to be switched off. That is why we record (from 3 ft. away) the sound levels generated by every air purifier we test running at each fan speed in the same location (our basement). 

The AirFanta 3Pro comes with an AC-to-DC power adapter, which includes a dial for adjusting the voltage and the sound level generated by the air purifier.

VOLTAGESOUND LEVEL (at 3 ft. away)
3.63 v.36.1 dBA
4.19 v.36.9 dBA
5.24 v.39.7 dBA
6.54 v.43.3 dBA
7.44 v.46.7 dBA
8.56 v.49.1 dBA
12.6 v. (top speed)56.3 dBA

You might be wondering how this compares to other devices, especially other PC fan-powered air purifiers. Check out our table below:

The thing with noise levels is that they can be quite subjective, as what one person deems as noisy might not bother the next person. That is why I recorded the sound test so you can listen to the AirFanta 3Pro with your own ears:

Compared to other PC fan devices like the Nukit Tempest and Clean Air Kits Luggable XL-7, the AirFanta 3Pro is much louder at its highest fan speed. However, it’s still in line with the top-speed sound levels of the traditional retail HEPA devices we have tested. 

AIR PURIFIER MODELSOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED (dBA)TIME TO CLEAN OUR TEST ROOMPRICE
Levoit Vital 200S57.7 dB(A)18 minutes$189.99
AirFanta 3Pro56.3 dB(A) 14 minutes$149.99
Smart Air Blast Mini56.3 dB(A)12 minutes$599.00
Clean Air Kits Luggable XL-738.8 dB(A)20 minutes$299.00
Winix 5500-258.9 dB(A)20 minutes$249.99
Levoit EverestAir57.8 dB(A)14 minutes$499.99
Corsi-Rosenthal box60.7 dB(A)25 minutes$85.00
Air Doctor 300063.6 dB(A)14 minutes$519.00

Most people are likely to want to use their AirFanta 3Pro on a lower fan speed as 56.3 dBA can be quite disruptive in situations where noise is an issue (e.g. classrooms, offices, TV rooms, etc.) so we made sure to test the performance of this device at two different voltages. 

At its lowest fan speed (4.84v), the AirFanta 3Pro cleared our test room in 31 minutes while generating 38.1 dBA, which is quieter than a refrigerator humming in the background.

Now, 31 minutes is a long time for such a powerful machine, so I pushed it a little more.

At medium speed (or 8.01v), the 3Pro managed to clean our test room in 17 minutes (only 3 minutes slower than top speed) while generating around 47.2 dBA — a little louder than your average modern fridge.

A few months ago, I started re-testing all our air purifiers to gather performance data for the lowest fan speeds. 

In the table below, you can see how the AirFanta 3Pro running at low and medium fan speeds compares to other devices running at speeds that generate similar levels of noise:

AIR PURIFIER MODELSOUND LEVEL AT LOWEST SPEED (dBA)TIME TO CLEAN OUR TEST ROOM AT LOWEST SPEED
Levoit Vital 200S - Speed 241.9 dB(A)40 minutes
AirFanta 3Pro - 4.84v38.1 dB(A)31 minutes
AirFanta 3Pro - 8.01v47.2 dB(A)17 minutes
Smart Air Blast Mini - Speed 144.9 dB(A)16 minutes
CleanAirKits Luggable XL-738.8 dB(A)20 minutes
Winix 5500-2 - Speed 2 (no ionizer)42.5 dB(A)43 minutes
Levoit EverestAir - Speed 139.1 dB(A)25 minutes
TaoTronics AP-003 - Speed 242.8 dB(A)39 minutes
Air Doctor 3000 - Speed 140.2 dB(A)43 minutes

When we account for sound levels, we see the performance of the AirFanta 3Pro getting beat by the CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7, which manages to clean our test room in 20 minutes even when running at only 38.8 dBA.

However, I need to mention here that the Clean Air Kits Luggable XL-7 costs upwards of $200 (plus filters), so considering the low cost of the AirFanta 3Pro ($149.99 including filters), I am super impressed. 

What impresses me the most is how incredibly well the AirFanta 3Pro compares to the shop-bought HEPA air purifiers I have tested. At its top speed, it is faster and quieter than most of the devices we have reviewed here at HouseFresh.

Tip

If you’re considering getting an AirFanta 3Pro, I suggest experimenting with the voltages to find a sound level that works for you. Personally, I have stuck to having my 3Pro running at the 8-volt mark as I find it offers an excellent performance-to-sound ratio.

The cost to run an AirFanta 3Pro: $125.23 per year

Similar long-term costs as you get with units like the Smart Air SA600 but much higher than other PC fan-powered devices.

As always, I calculated the long-term costs associated with running your AirFanta 3Pro all day, every day at its top high speed for a full year — an unlikely scenario as you’ll probably want to have it running at a lower fan speed, but it’s a good baseline for running costs.

1. Electricity costs = $46.56 per year

When running at 12.6v (its highest fan speed), the 3Pro hit 43.23 watts. 

But we didn’t stop there. We tested the AirFanta 3Pro at different voltages to see how each fan speed affected the energy usage. See for yourself:

VOLTAGEENERGY CONSUMPTION (watts)
Standby0 watts
3.63 v.2.19 watts
5.24 v.5.02 watts
6.45 v.8.98 watts
7.63 v.13.31 watts
8.56 v17.46 watts
12.6 v. (top speed)43.23 watts

If you had to leave this device running 24/7, it would only add $46.56 to your yearly energy bill.

We can compare this with other devices we have tested:

AIR PURIFIER MODELENERGY CONSUMPTION AT TOP SPEED (watts)TIME TO CLEAN OUR TEST ROOM AT TOP SPEED
AirFanta 3Pro43.2 watts14 minutes
PuroAir 24036.2 watts48 minutes
Coway Airmega 15031.5 watts33 minutes
Levoit Vital 200S44.5 watts18 minutes
Smart Air S39.4 watts25 minutes
Winix 5500-2 53.4 watts20 minutes
CleanAirKits Luggable XL-710.5 watts19 minutes
Corsi-Rosenthal box46.7 watts25 minutes
Nukit Tempest8.8 watts31 minutes

At 43.2 watts, the AirFanta 3Pro is more energy-efficient when compared to many popular units such as the Winix 5500-2 or the Levoit Vital 200S. However, compared with other PC fan-powered air purifiers, it’s clear that the 3Pro consumes more electricity at its highest fan speed. 

I thought it would be interesting to see how the 3Pro compares to other devices when running at lower fan speeds, and I was right. You can see in the table below how you will get much higher air cleaning performance than traditional HEPA-style devices running at the below the 15 watts level:

AIR PURIFIER MODELENERGY CONSUMPTION AT LOWEST SPEED (watts)TIME TO CLEAN OUR TEST ROOM AT LOWEST SPEED
AirFanta 3 Pro - 4.84v4.3 watts31 minutes
AirFanta 3 Pro - 8.01v14.8 watts17 minutes
Taotronics AP-003 - Speed 210.5 watts39 minutes
Air Doctor 3000 - Speed 19.6 watts43 minutes
Levoit Vital 200S - Speed 28.0 watts40 minutes
Winix 5500-2 - Speed 2 (no ionizer)6.7 watts43 minutes
CleanAirKits Luggable XL-710.5 watts19 minutes
Nukit Tempest8.8 watts31 minutes

Once again, we see the CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7 smashing it out of the park here as the only air purifier on the list that is more energy-efficient and more powerful than the AirFanta 3Pro.

AirFanta recently launched a new edition of the 3Pro, which is certified by CARB and is the only option if you live in California. 

This new edition has an independent speed controller that allows you to control the speed even when it is connected to a power bank of 12v/3A (or higher current) DC 5.5mm x 2.1 mm port.

2. Filter costs = $78.67 per year

Just as you would with any other air purifier, the filters for the AirFanta 3Pro will need to be replaced every 6-12 months depending on usage.

The 3Pro comes with four filters. The HEPA only filters will set you back $59.00 (set of four) where the HEPA + carbon filters cost $74.99 (set of four).

Adam recommends replacing the filters every nine (9) months, which means that two sets of filters will last you a year and a half. Doing the math, running your AirFanta 3Pro will cost $78.67 per year in HEPA only filters and $99.99 in HEPA + carbon filter replacements.

When combining the low energy usage with these filter prices, the AirFanta 3Pro annual running cost rises to $125.23 assuming you use it at it’s highest fan speed 24/7 every day of the year. 

We can compare this to other devices we have tested:

AIR PURIFIER MODELESTIMATED ELECTRICITY COST (per year) FILTER REPLACEMENT COST (per year)YEARLY MAINTENANCE COST
Nukit Tempest$9.25$40.86$50.11
CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7$11.09$43.64$54.73
Levoit Vital 200S$46.83$49.99$96.82
Corsi-Rosenthal box$50.56$60.32$110.88
AirFanta 3Pro$46.56$78.67$125.23
Winix 5500-2$57.82$79.99$137.81
Smart Air Blast Mini MKII$129.30$149.99$279.29

The running costs for this device running at full speed are similar to those of standard HEPA retail devices, but you do get much higher performance levels especially when you consider the much lower initial purchase cost. 

DIY from Clean Air Kits and the Nukit Tempest, still beat the device thanks to the default low energy usage and the ability to use standardised HVAC filters. 

All AirFanta products come with a 1-year warranty. AirFanta will send you a new 3Pro and you won’t need to return the faulty device.

If you experience issues with your AirFanta 3Pro, all you need to do is email the AirFanta team at airfanta@air-fanta.com.
Make sure to include photos and/or videos of the issue you are experiencing.

Bottom line: Is the AirFanta 3Pro worth it?

Totally worth it. This is the only air purifier with a CADR above 400 you will be able to travel with.

Here’s the thing: if you were to have come to me selling an air purifier with a CADR of 436 cfm for $150, I would have assumed it was some sort of a scam. The sheer power of such a device would surely cost a lot more, right? 

Adam Wong says no.

The AirFanta 3Pro can provide large rooms with multiple air changes for a price that is three times cheaper than what you normally pay for a standard, shop-bought HEPA air purifier. That is an incredible achievement that goes to show how brilliant Wong is and how much he actually cares about creating truly affordable solutions to clean the air. 

While the 3Pro is not totally plug-and-play (as you need to fit the filters and put the fans in place), it is MUCH easier to put together than all the other PC fan-powered DIY air purifier kits I have tested. That said, the 3Pro is also louder than all of them, so that is something to keep in mind.

For those looking for an air purifier they bring along when traveling or to events, there isn’t anything on the market right now that matches the high CADR of the AirFanta 3Pro. You can simply disassemble the device and pack it in your suitcase or backpack just to reassemble it wherever you need it. 

For those wanting a quiet and energy-efficient air purifier they can leave running in the background even when having work calls or meetings at the office, then a PC fan kit like the Luggable XL by CleanAirKits or the Tempest by Nukit will be a better choice — just know that they will both cost over $100 more than the 3Pro.

Now, is sound is a concern but your budget can’t stretch beyond $150, then remember you can run your AirFanta 3Pro at lower fan speeds. It will be much quieter and still outperform the standard retail HEPA air purifier you can find online, costing you less upfront and in the long run.

I really love this device, so I expect you will find it across many of our lists of recommended devices. 

One last thought before I leave you. I believe everyone living outside of the U.S. will really benefit from the AirFanta 3Pro. Especially those living in places like the UK, where finding box fans and HVAC filters to build your own Corsi-Rosenthal box is virtually impossible. As if that wasn’t good enough, the 3Pro has a much smaller footprint than the standard CR box, it is definitely quieter and offers much more adjustable fan speed options.

Do you have any questions about this device that I didn’t cover in my review? Drop a comment below and I’ll reply right away.

SOURCES

We calculated energy consumption costs with the help of the Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator. We calculated yearly costs associated with running an AirFanta 3Pro for 24hs a day for 365 days. We ran this calculation utilizing the U.S. average utility rate of 0.1235/kWh as of September 17, 2024.

Join our newsletter

We’ll send you a nice email every once in a while. No spam.

Support HouseFresh

Buy us a coffee
Your support makes it possible for us to keep doing what de wo.
About the author

Danny Ashton

Danny is the founder of HouseFresh and has been writing about air purifiers since 2010. He is our lead tester and reviewer, and is also the human in front of the camera in our YouTube channel.

Join our newsletter

We’ll send you a nice email every once in a while. No spam.

Support HouseFresh

Buy us a coffee
Your support makes it possible for us to keep doing what we do.