After seeing Alen BreatheSmart 45i in action and finding how well it performs, I wanted to step up the game and look at one of the higher models from Alen. So for this review, we invested in the highly recommended BreatheSmart 75i.
Boasting a coverage area of 1300 sq.ft, I knew I had to find a larger test area. So, with my huge box in hand, I traveled to my parent’s home to see if the 75i is as good as its recommendations.
My parents had recently replaced all of the soft furnishings, carpets, curtains and just about everything else, and in the process, they unknowingly let loose a whole new set of airborne particles and VOCs. With recent research from the University of Portsmouth revealing that the average person may be inhaling up to 7000 pollutants of up to 10 microns per day, I want to ensure my parents clean the air from all these pollutants that resulted from new materials being introduced into their home.
My initial research revealed that the Alen BreatheSmart 75i captures dust, allergens and airborne pollutants down to a vanishingly small 0.1 microns, so I think this will be the right unit for their living room area. Right, time to test this unit.
| Why You Can Trust This Review We purchased the Alen BreatheSmart 75i with our own money because we don’t accept products in exchange for positive reviews. We also tested the air purifier in our own home to evaluate its performance in real-life situations, whilst also generating reliable data as we don’t like to rely on the specifications provided by manufacturers (and their marketing teams). I run three tests to assess the air cleaning performance and energy consumption of the Alen BreatheSmart 75i, and also the noise levels it generates. This is how I tested this air purifier before writing this review: Stage 1: Air cleaning I lit an incense stick inside our 705 cubic ft testing room and waited for the smoke to fill the room. I then used an air quality monitor to track PM1.0ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10.0 ug/m3 levels while the air purifier ran at its highest speed. Stage 2: Energy consumption I plugged in the air purifier using an electricity usage monitor so that I could record the 75i’s energy consumption in watts when running at its lowest and highest speeds. Stage 3: Noise levels Finally, I used a sound level monitor to record sound levels in decibels when running the Alen BreatheSmart 75i at top and bottom speeds. |
As this is their first time operating an air purifier in their house, I knew the 75i had something to prove. Firstly, if the unit would clean the air in my parents’ living room and secondly if they would notice the difference.
This is how it went.
TL;DR The Lowdown on the Alen 75i
“The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is on the expensive side of air purifiers but it’s worth the high price ticket. Air cleaning performance is excellent and it comes with a large activated charcoal filter, which is crucial for people who are trying to tackle smells and smoke.”
— Danny Ashton, Founder & Senior Writer
What We Really Like:
👍 The simple operation of the touch panel. A light touch of one button is all you need.
👍 Quick and easy replacement of the filter.
👍 The Pre-Filter can be vacuumed.
👍 The download instruction manual is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
What We Think Could Be Better:
👎 You can’t hide it away.
👎 The control panel does get dirty with fingerprints.
The Specifications
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i has a great specs, all the metrics show it’s a powerful unit.
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★★☆ |
|---|---|
| Time to clean our test room: | 24 minutes |
| Air purifier technology: | True HEPA H13 filters with activated carbon pellets |
| Recommended room size: | Up to 1,300 sq. ft. |
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | 347 CFM (589 m³/h) |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 27H x 18.5W x 11.5D inches (68.58H x 46.99W x 29.21D cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 12.2 kg (27 lbs) |
| Noise level (low – high): | 24dB – 49dB |
| Filter life: | 12 – 15 months |
| Warranty: | Lifetime (with product registration & active filter subscription) |
| Estimated energy consumption: | $47.30 per year |
Nice Rounded Edges and Simple Control Panel Operation
There is no getting away from it, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is big. Taking it out of the box reminded me of a large suitcase one would take on a long vacation.
The Alen 75i is not an air purifier that will go unnoticed because of how nice it looks and how big it is. You can see how large it is when compared to other units below (the 75i is the second unit from the right):
Even though it is a large unit, there are wheels at the bottom, which simplifies the process of moving it around different rooms in the house. There is also a handle on the back, but I suggest tending and rolling the Alen instead of lifting it completely.
On the top of the Alen 75i is an easy-to-reach ‘capacitive’ control panel that only requires a light touch. It couldn’t be simpler to operate. The power button is surrounded by a color ring, giving a visual guide to the air quality measured by the particle sensor.
There are five colors, that range from blue (for very low levels of pollutants) to purple (for very significant levels).
My favorite feature available on the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is the smart mode. The 75i uses its SmartSensor to measure the air quality to change its fan speed as necessary to tackle pollutants in the air.
Adding that to a timer button which allows for a pre-set run time of 2, 4, or 12 hours and a child lock, you’ve pretty much got all bases covered.
An ionizer button for enhanced particle attraction can also be switched on/off as desired. The filter’s condition is also displayed on the control panel, green for OK, yellow (time to order a new one), and red (time to install it).
Powerful HEPA + Activated Carbon Filter
If you’re familiar with air purifier technology, you will know that best-performing air purifiers include a combination of HEPA and activated carbon filters. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i also uses this filtration combo, but based on our testing, I can tell you that Alen takes it to the next level.
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i comes with True HEPA (H13) filters, which will remove 99.99% of airborne contaminants down to 0.1 microns. The filter captures the smallest airborne particles you don’t want breathing into your lungs.
But Alen didn’t stop there. In addition to the medical-grade True HEPA H13 filters, the BreatheSmart 75i comes with Odorcell technology with a powerful activated carbon filter. This is Alen’s proprietary nontoxic technology that eliminates bad smells.
Now, even those I just shared two images, I’m not talking about two separate filters here. The filter in the Alen BreatheSmart 75i comes as one unit, which was extremely easy to install and replace.
Remove the front panel (which is held on by magnets, so there is no need to unscrew anything) and insert. Make sure it’s the right way around, as I made that mistake.
For the 75i, you can choose three filters to suit your needs.
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i Cleared Our Test Room in 24 Minutes
We set up a worst-case scenario environment to measure how the Alen BreatheSmart 75i performs to see how fast this air purifier deals with a highly polluted area.
To accurately assess the BreatheSmart 75i performance, we used the Purple Air Indoor sensor to track PM1.0ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10.0 ug/m3 levels during the time it took the 75i to clear smoke generated by incense sticks in our testing room.
The 75i performed as expected, clearing the room in 24 minutes.
Here are the results:
The graph shows a sharp rise as our simulated pollution contaminates the room. Once the room was filled with smoke, I turned on the BreatheSmart 75i to its highest setting (around 15.35hs) and left the room to give us an accurate measurement.
Air Cleaning Performance Test Results
The table below allows you to compare the performance of the Alen BreatheSmart 75i against the top 10 units we have tested:
Noise Levels Test Results
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i produces 24 decibels at its lowest speed, and at its highest, the 75i produces up to 49 decibels which is pretty much the same as a quiet conversation.
These scores guaranteed the Alen 75i a spot in our list of the best-performing quiet air purifiers that we have tested.
To put noise levels into perspective, here is how the Alen BreatheSmart 75i compares against units with a similar air-cleaning performance in regards to noise output:
The dull hum on its lower settings is barely noticeable. The only time you notice it making noise is when it kicks in on the higher settings and even then is easily drowned out and forgotten about with the TV on.
What sets this unit apart from the rest is that it produces pink noise over the usual fan sound, which can contribute to a good night’s sleep.
The Cost to Run the Alen BreatheSmart 75i: $197.30 Per Year
1. Electricity costs = $47.30
I’ll admit, when I first saw the size of the unit, I immediately thought, “Jeez, how much is this gonna cost me to run?”
It turns out I did not need to worry. Ranging from 1.8W-45W (depending on fan speed), this energy-efficient air purifier won’t cost you more than $47.30 a year if you run it at its highest speed all day. Now, of course, you are unlikely ever to need to do this – especially if you use the auto mode to ensure the i75 only kicks in when it’s truly needed.
By the way, I used the Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator to calculate this cost.
2. Filter costs = $150
Of course, the filters don’t last forever. Alen recommends that if you run the 75i continually, filters should last 12 months.
Depending on which replacement to opt for, your overall cost per year shouldn’t exceed $150.
Bottom Line
When the Alen BreatheSmart 75i arrived, I was skeptical about whether this would fit into our home and lives. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. The design of this unit is quite beautiful and brings a modern touch to our living room. The setup couldn’t have been simpler. The magnetic front comes off and attaches easily so the filter can be slipped in/out without using tools or force.
Instructions aren’t needed, as the interface is straightforward and looks impressive when it lights up. Everything is labeled, so getting used to the controls takes no time. The air quality indicator is extremely responsive to slight changes in the air, which gives you the utmost confidence that the unit is actively working hard to clean out any nasty airborne contaminants.
Since it arrived, we haven’t had one day where we haven’t used it. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve the air in their home. Even if this model might seem too big for your home, I would confidently recommend one of Alens’ smaller models that contain the same technology.
And the icing on the cake…no more lingering dog farts.
SOURCES
We used the Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator to calculate the yearly electricity costs associated with running the Alen BreatheSmart 75i for 24hs a day for 365 days. We chose to run this calculation utilizing the US average utility rate, which is $0.12/kWh as of February 1st, 2023.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
