Dyson

Dyson is a major player in the air quality appliance space. With a revenue of over $8 billion, they are a goliath compared to other air purifier manufacturers. 

Most of Dyson’s business is from its vacuum cleaner range, but in March 2015, the company entered the air purification space, releasing its first air purifier: the Dyson Pure Cool Link.

Over the years, Dyson has focused on developing multifunctional appliances, with the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 being the latest iteration of their air purifier and fan combo. We have already reviewed the Dyson PH03 and Dyson HP04, which offer humidifier and heating features but failed to wow us with their pure air cleaning power ratio to the high unit price. 

At first glance, the Dyson Cool TP07 ticks a lot of boxes, providing a fan and air purifier feature with third-party lab-approved HEPA H13 filters, odor-adsorbing activated charcoal, app support and auto-mode. But question marks remain over Dyson’s air cleaning power, so I will be super keen to see how it performs in our PM1 particle removal test. 

Dyson doesn’t value CADR (clean air delivery rate), so they don’t list it on their site, but based on my experience with Dyson vacuum cleaners, they have a habit of improving performance with each new model so I’m keen to see how the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 performs in our tests.

How we test air purifiers

Read our full testing methodology.

The lowdown on the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07

“Dyson does what Dyson does, and the TP07 shows major improvements in air cleaning performance and fan speed compared to earlier models. It is a high-priced device, considering its air cleaning capabilities when compared to other cheaper air cleaners.

But if you need a fan AND an air purifier with best-in-class smart features, then the Dyson TP07 is worth considering.”

— Danny Ashton, HouseFresh Founder & Senior Writer

We cover a lot of detail in our review, so if you are short on time, these are the key takeaways that you need to know about the Dyson TP07.

Eye-catching Dyson design

A small footprint with a design style that looks as good as any other Dyson appliance

The TP07 has a modern white and silver design that looks great. Plus, there is the option to get a nickel and black colored — unit only if you buy directly from Dyson. The main body contains the filter units, while the tall top section is the bladeless fan. 

The main design feature I like is that the device can rotate up to 350 degrees to circulate clean air all around the room. 

Compared to previous generations and variants, you can see that the Dyson TP07 is the tallest Dyson model we have reviewed. Yet it has the smallest floor space due to its smaller base compared to the variants offering heating or humidification. 

Even though there is a simple power button on the front of the unit, you will use either the remote control or the app to operate the purifier and adjust its settings. 

The remote provides options to change fan speed, degree of rotation, auto mode, night mode, change air flow direction and even check air quality and filter life. 

With all Dyson units, the remote control can attach magnetically to the top of your Dyson Cool TP07. This is super convenient as it gives you a clear (and handy) spot where to keep the remote, guaranteeing you won’t lose it around the house.

The Dysol Cool TP07 comes with onboard air quality sensors, which make it possible for the air purifier to detect pollutants in the air and get to work automatically when set to Auto mode.

When on Auto mode, the TP07 will intelligently adjust the settings according to the air quality in the room, increasing airflow speed until the target air quality has been reached. At that point, the TP07 switches the fan to low speed, running in the background until the time comes to switch on to full speed again when the air quality levels drop.

The LCD display screen on the Dyson Cool TP07 shows information about air quality, temperature, humidity, function modes and filter levels:

There’s a lot of info in there, so it’s handy to see a simple and clear explainer as part of the manual of the TP07:

When it comes to smartphone connectivity, the Dyson TP07 uses the same MyDyson app you get for managing all your Dyson devices.

The MyDyson app is super simple to set up and, after a minute or so, I could check my space’s air quality levels and adjust all the same features as the remote control.

Many apps from other air purifier brands are a little clunky to set up, and you can tell that Dyson invested a lot of thought into making the app user-friendly. 

Currently, the Dyson Link app is the best app we have used for any air-quality appliance we have reviewed. 

A medical grade and HEPA-certified air filter

The same H13 HEPA filter we have seen in other Dyson combo air purifiers

I like that Dyson utilizes the same filter across its air purifier product range, unlike some brands that continually introduce new filters. When manufacturers continue to launch new filters, each new filter increases the probability that filters you need for your particular unit will become obsolete in the future.

Dyson calls its filter the 360 Combi Glass HEPA+Carbon Air, which uses a medical grade  HEPA H13 independently tested in a lab to confirm it’s up to the required quality.

It’s reassuring that Dyson publishes their third-party lab test result, making it available for anyone to see. Especially as Dyson was behind the recent complaint against Levoit, forcing them to remove HEPA H13 in the marketing for several different models.

Filter grade is just one element, but I appreciate that Dyson uses its power to improve the industry as a whole – no manufacturer should mislead consumers when it comes to harmful air quality.

Dyson’s filter also contains activated charcoal designed to remove gas pollutants like chemical fumes or odor.  However, it contains a relatively small amount of carbon and will struggle to remove strong odors. If you have this issue, you should look at devices that list their carbon in lbs, such as the air purifiers we recommend for VOCs.

The Dyson TP07 has a button on each side of the device that you push down to release the filter case and filter. The filter is then removed from the casing with a push of a button and swapped out for a new one when needed. 

I’ve also given the unit design marks for encasing the filter in a rubber seal; this prevents air from escaping and increases cleaning efficiency. 

However, I don’t like that so much plastic and rubber is thrown away with each filter replacement. It would be good to reduce the waste to only the filter material. Dyson seems aware of this issue and states that the material used on the filter is recycled. But for future versions, I hope Dyson could improve the design so that less waste is created when you replace the filter.

The Dyson TP07 cleared our test room in 62 minutes

This is slower than devices that cost a fraction of its price, such as the $99 Core 300 (54 minutes) or the $150 AirFanta 3Pro (17 minutes).

As part of this review, I checked out the current ENERGY STAR certificate for the TP07 and the older generation the Dyson TP04, and I was surprised to see that both devices had the same CADR figures. 

CADR is a lab test that provides a figure for the removal of Smoke, Dust and Pollen and helps you to get the right-sized air purifier for your space. 

I was surprised that both devices had the same CADR, as my experience with Dyson is that they tend to improve with each new generation. 

Based on these CADR figures, we expect the Dyson TP07 to perform as well as the Dyson HP04 that we tested last year, which took 92 minutes to clear our test room of 728 cubic feet of particles sized 1 micron or more. 

Unlike most air purifier reviews you read, we test all our devices in the same room doing the same job. This means we can compare models, brands and even DIY options. 

We first fill our test room with incense smoke and then switch on the Dyson TP07 to its highest fan speed (10) and track the levels of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 to see how long it takes the air purifier to remove these tiny pollutants from the air. 

The Dyson TP07 took 62 minutes to clean our test room, 30 minutes quicker than the previous generation Dyson HP04:

It’s worth noting that whilst the performance is much better than the previous generation, it still took eight minutes more than the Levoit 300 – a $99 device – so it’s still not a purifier that I would recommend if you want the best bang for your buck. 

I am looking forward to finding out if Dyson can keep on improving performance with future generations as they have done with their other range of appliances, from vacuum cleaners to hair dryers. 

Noise levels test results

The reported sound levels for the Dyson TP07 at the lowest speed using air purification was 35.5 dB and went up to  54.4 dB at speed 10.  When compared with similarly powered air purifiers, this device runs considerably quiet, particularly considering its fan function. 

We know that sound levels can be personal, so we included a video of the Dyson TP07 running at its lowest and highest fan speed: 

Fan performance test results

As part of this review, we used the Testo 410i anemometer, and we compared it to one of our favorite air purifier fan combos from last year, the Blueair Pure Fan Auto.

In comparison, the Dyson Cool TP07 has a much more powerful fan function, moving more than 3 times the amount of air. 

Although it still performs worse at air cleaning, taking 49 minutes to clear our test lab compared to the 26 minutes it took for the Blueair Pure Fan Auto to do the same job.

The cost to run a Dyson Cool TP07: $124.07 per year

1. Electricity costs = $44.08 per year

When using an energy meter, we saw that the Dyson pulled a maximum of 28.9 watts on its top speed setting, which is low compared to other brands on the market. Assuming we left it running at high speed 24/7 every day of the year, it would add just under $50 to your annual electricity bill.

2. Filter costs = $79.99 per year

Dyson recommends changing the filters every 12 months, but this will depend on your particular air quality situation. The genuine filters are more expensive than other models, but we were pleased to see that Amazon now has many generic filters to choose from, bringing the price down. These generic filters may not be third-party lab tested, but as we saw with non-HEPA grade Levoit filters, they will likely still do a good job of removing particles from the air at a lower cost than going with genuine filters. 

Choosing non-genuine filters will bring the yearly filter cost down to $35-40.

Sale

Dyson TP07 Replacement Filter (2-Pack )

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• 【HIGH EFFICIENCY TRUE HEPA FILTER】- Our TP04 DP04 filter replacements come with Dual-Layer Filtra-tion. This HEPA replacement filter helps for attaching 99.7% of the airborne particels as small as 0.3 microns, and the activated carbon filter helps you solve the problem of unpleasant odors and gases.

$59.39

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Bottom line: Is the Dyson TP07 worth it?

A big upgrade over previous generations of Dyson fan air purifiers but still lacking in air quality performance

Dyson has managed to upgrade the air cleaning performance over the previous generation, shaving off 30 minutes in our air cleaning performance test. Yet this device is still only as good at removing tiny particles as a $99 air purifier. 

If you want a good-looking fan that can clean the air in a smaller space, this is likely the best option, but it comes with a high price tag. 

I am excited to see if Dyson can continue making big improvements with future generations of the air purifier to justify the costly purchase price. 

Unless you’re only in the market for a combo unit, for the same price as the Dyson Cool TP07, you can get a much more powerful air purifier such as the Levoit EverestAir — and you would still have $150 left over to spend on a separate fan. 

SOURCES

We calculated yearly costs associated with running the Dyson TP07 24 hours a day, 365 days per year utilizing the latest average energy prices as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of $0.174/kWh as of April 2024.

Dyson was founded in England in 1991, and it has quickly grown to become a powerful brand with over $6.63 billion in revenue and 14,000 employees around the world. They are famous for their bagless cyclonic vacuum cleaner, conceived by founder and inventor James Dyson after he became frustrated with his Hoover vacuum continuously clogging.

Since then, Dyson has been regularly introducing their latest inventions to many different categories of household appliances – and the Dyson PH03 is no exception. The “Air Multiplier” was Dyson’s approach to a fan with no blades. Since then, there have been multiple upgrades to this bladeless fan, such as the Dyson HP04 that included a fan, an air purifier and a heater. The Dyson PH03 is a combination of a bladeless fan, humidifier and air purifier. 

In the current market, there is nothing quite like this unit. Whilst there are a handful of humidifiers with air purifiers, there are no units that can also work as a bladeless fan. This new technology doesn’t come cheap, however, as this particular unit is sold on average for $819.99, which is the same price range as the IQAir Healthpro Plus.

One thing I really dislike about Dyson is that they don’t reveal the CADR score for their air purifiers. They suggest that it’s unfair to their units, which have a different way of cleaning the air, but I think they want to keep consumers in the dark. 

When I reviewed the Dyson HP04, I was able to find the CADR score (169.6 m3/h or 88 CFM) on the Chinese website, as they have strict rules when selling in PRC. Thanks to Google Translate, I could get both the gaseous and particulate scores for the Dyson PH03:

When we convert this to CFM we have a particulate CADR score of 99.8 CFM, which is higher than the HP04 but is the same level of cleaning performance as the Blueair Blue Pure 411 which has 120 CFM but costs $110.

Manufacturers have been known to fib about CADR scores and while I don’t think Dyson would lie to the Chinese government, we want to know how well this air purifier can clean air in a real-world situation. That is why we tested this unit in our own home test lab. 

How we test air purifiers

Read our full testing methodology.

Hopefully, the findings of our testing and our insight will come in handy to help you decide if this unit is right for you.

The lowdown on the Dyson PH03 Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo Unit

“A premium combination unit that includes a humidifier, fan and air purifier. The design, intelligent features and app are world-class but the Dyson PH03 has the same cleaning power of a $100 air purifier with a much higher price tag.”

— Danny Ashton, HouseFresh Founder & Senior Writer

If you don’t fancy reading my 3000+ word review (how dare you!) then here are my key findings:

This is a fairly low-powered air purifier that can operate as a humidifier and provide cooling through an oscillating fan. It is currently the only appliance available in the world that can do this.

Mediocre air cleaning power

At nearly $900 the amount of cleaning power is similar to an air purifier in the $100 range, but this unit does have the functionality of a humidifier and a fan, so it’s not a totally fair comparison. 

It is, however, something to consider if you are primarily looking for a gadget to clean your home air.

The Dyson PH03 looks like $900!

If we were hosting a beauty competition, the Dyson PH03 would win hands down. When we finish testing our units, I have no problems finding a home for these Dyson units and I don’t think this is just because my family wants to sell them on eBay. 

They look great, and you can easily see them adding to your home decor – air purifiers used to be beige units that looked more like photocopier machines than something you would want in your living room.

If you have a Dyson vacuum cleaner and you’re honest with yourself, you like it for its design as much as its ability to clean – and you’re happy to pay a premium for this.

The first thing I noticed that was different with the Dyson PH03 compared to the HP04 that we had tested previously, was the quality of the screen. It’s like a miniature monitor that has full color and can show little animations on how to remove filters or fix something rather than just showing an error code.

This screen also shows the exact level of pollutants to the nearest ug/m3, as well as a color code from green to purple. The additional VOC sensor is something you never see on an air purifier and whilst it takes a little longer to give a reading, it’s good to see that in the future this might roll out to more affordable units.

As soon as I took this air purifier/humidifier combo out of the box, I noticed how much chunkier it was than the HP04.

This makes sense considering it has a water reservoir with a cleaning function. Unlike the HP04, the whole unit doesn’t move to provide oscillation. Instead, small slits on each side adjust the fan flow.

Adding a water reservoir could be problematic if the whole base unit rotated, so it makes sense that they have adjusted this feature. However, it does mean that the unit has a maxim oscillation of 90 degrees versus the 350 degrees you get with the Dyson HP04.

The same filter as other Dyson Combo Units

The HEPA filter used with this unit is rated as HEPA H13, and it also contains activated charcoal. When looking at the filter, you can see that the activated charcoal is impregnated into the HEPA filter, so this unit doesn’t come with a separate filter filled with activated charcoal pellets you often see in other air purifiers.

Impregnated charcoal will still work, but it is not as effective as using large pellets, which you often see in higher-end units or even the budget Taotronics AP-003 we tested recently. 

When comparing the filter size with the HP04, it seems that Dyson has decided to make a few changes. While the HP04 has a separate activated charcoal filter with pellets, the newer model has an integrated system with the charcoal filter being a part of the HEPA.

With activated charcoal, more surface area means more cleaning power for odors and VOCs, so this update to the filter seems like a step back for those looking for odor-cleaning power. I would prefer a separate charcoal filter vs a combination like we see with the PH03.

As with the HP04, the PH03 filter looks well-made, and the seals do a good job of ensuring no air can bypass the filter. The prefilters make removing the lint and dust that will build up over time easy. 

The Dyson approach to customer information is top-notch, with very clear labels that no one could miss, informing them to remove the plastic from the filter before using the unit.

The Dyson best in class app

The Dyson PH03 has only 2 buttons on the unit itself – a power-on button and a cleaning mode to clean the humidifier unit.

Handily, you also receive a remote control that is highly intuitive. As I first saw with the HP04, it sticks to the top of the unit magnetically – very cool.

The remote is small, light, and simple to use without referencing the manual. You can adjust the humidification, fan speed, and oscillation – and even request current pollutant levels from the onboard screen!

Similar to Apple TV, the Dyson remote control nearly makes you forget that you’re paying $900 for $100 air cleaning power as it just feels good to use.

I got to test the Android App and similar to my experience with the Dyson PH03, the experience was sublime.If you have read any of my other air purifier reviews, you will know I am not normally a fan of apps, as most are usually poorly made and don’t have any real value.

If only all air purifiers had an App like MyDyson, then it would be worth paying more for app-supported features. Pairing my unit took less than 10 seconds and only required me to enter my home Wi-Fi password.

The app was ready to go within one minute. What I like the most is that the app gives me all the abilities of the remote as well as continuous updates on air quality for both particulates and VOCs. I could even receive air quality details for my local area.

Using the app, I could also easily switch between both machines I have in the house – if you love technology, then you will also love the MyDyson app. Don’t just take my word for it; the app has 4.1 stars on Google Play (over 1M downloads) and 4.5 stars on Apple across 7.6K ratings.

The Dyson PH03 cleared our test room in 1 hour and 10 minutes

I love the look and smart features of the Dyson PH03, but let’s get to the core issue: how well it cleans the air in our home. 

Many air purifier reviews you will read won’t put effort into finding out how well an air purifier cleans the air in the room, so we have made this our main focus here at HouseFresh. Painting the real picture is especially important with brands like Dyson, who don’t share their CADR scores outside of China. We hope our reviews will inform consumers who are about to get caught up in jargon and marketing speak without knowing how well the unit they are about to buy does the job it was designed to do. 

Our testing process at HouseFresh is simple. We use the same room with all the air purifiers we test (728 cubic feet), the same size as an average small bedroom or office. We then create indoor pollution using an incense stick before putting the air purifier on full power and tracking how quickly it can bring the particulate matter down to zero. 

For testing, we use the Purple Air indoor sensor, which provides regular updates of the level of PM1.0ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3, and PM10.0ug/m3 at regular intervals. With this information, we can visualize the room cleaning and reach a number we can compare with other air purifiers from different brands. 

Based on the CADR data from the Chinese store, we would expect this unit to be on par with the Blueair Blue Pure 411 or Levoit Core 200S – and it should be slightly quicker than the Dyson HP04.

So, enough about our process… How did the Dyson PH03 do? Have a look below at the results:

Here’s how it did:

• It took 70 minutes to remove all particulate pollutants from the air in our test room lab.
• This matched up with the CADR scores we saw in China: quicker than the Dyson HP04 which managed 84 minutes.
• The Blue Pure 411 was quicker at 68 minutes which makes sense considering its CADR was 120 CFM vs 99.8 CFM.
• Compared to the air purifiers we tested, the PH03 is at the lower end but is still much better than the Honeywell Air Genius 5 HFD320 (93 minutes) and the Germguardian AC4825e (104 minutes).

Air cleaning performance test results 

When you compare the cost to CADR score, it’s one of the most expensive units, although it is still better than the Aroeve MK01.

Noise levels test results

Sound-wise, the Dyson PH03 is not overly quiet, but at its highest, it doesn’t hit more than 54.3 dB. This is less than the IQAir Healthpro Plus (61.2 dB), but higher than what we saw from the Alen BreatheSmart Flex (51 dB.) Some of this will be because this unit also works as a fan, naturally louder than just a pure air purifier.

But sounds can be super subjective, so feel free to listen to the different speeds in our video below:

The cost to run a Dyson PH03: $93.6 per year

1. Electricity costs = $63.60

A cost that many consumers forget when looking at air purifiers is the amount of electricity required to run it in the long term. If you have a continuous issue with outdoor pollution, you will likely use your air purifier 24 hours per day – electricity costs can add up with power-hungry units. 

Luckily, the Dyson PH03 is efficient, especially considering it does three jobs in one. When we tested it at its highest speed, it only pulled 41.7 watts which is much better than units with less cleaning power, such as the GermGuardian AC4825e that pulled 44.25 watts on full power. 

This level of energy consumption would cost you around $63.60 per year, according to the average energy prices in the U.S. as reported by the Bureu of Labour Statistics.

2. Filter costs = $30

Filter costs are another thing that air purifier customers can forget, and they can add up over time. HEPA and activated charcoal are mechanical filtration technology, which means that they will need to be replaced over time as pollutants get lodged in the filter. 

Dyson says that the filters will need replacing every 12 months, which is better than many smaller units that need to be replaced every 6 months. For reference, the genuine filters cost $79.99 each. This is on the higher end, as the filters for most units with this cleaning power cost less than $50 on average. 

However, this won’t be too bad if they only need replacing every 12 months. I will update this review to see how long we can get with our current filters. 

You should also be aware that non-genuine filters exist for this air purifier, with a pack of 2 available for $59.99. A cost of $30 per filter is a lot more palatable. While genuine filters are priced higher than the competition, the availability of generic filters means long-term costs should align with other units with this cleaning power.

Fette Filter - Premium Air Purifier Filter Replacement Compatible with Dyson HP06, HP09, TP06, TP09, PH01, PH02, PH03, PH04, HP07, TP07 (Part No.970341-01 & 965432-01) - Pack of 2

• Enhanced Air Quality: Keep your Dyson HP06 TP06 HP07 TP07 TP7A HP09 TP09 HP09 TP09 PH01 PH02 PH03 PH04 systems performing at their best with this premium 2 pack of filter replacements. Enjoy cleaner and fresher air in your home.
• Compatibility: Designed to be fully compatible with Dyson models HP06 TP06 HP07 TP07 TP7A HP09 TP09 HP09 TP09 PH01 PH02 PH03 PH04 these replacement filters are a perfect fit for your system. Part numbers 970341-01 or 965432-01.
• True HEPA Filtration: Our replacement filter uses high-quality True HEPA technology to capture and remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, pet dander, and even fine smoke particles, providing you with the purest air.
• Long-Lasting Performance: With a long filter lifespan, you won't have to worry about frequent replacements. These filters are built to last, ensuring cost-effective and reliable air purification for your home.
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Bottom Line

This is normally an easy section to write up, with most air purifiers falling into the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ camps. However, it’s much trickier with the Dyson PH03 humidifier, fan and air purifier combo. 

Just looking at pure value for air cleaning power, it could seem that you are seriously overpaying with the Dyson PH03. But, this unit has a ton of extra features, its design is attractive, and it comes with top-end smart features that are unique across the whole air purifier industry.

Like Apple, Dyson has made design a key focus with these gadgets. For those people happy to pay the “Dyson tax” you will be pleased with a great fan humidifier combo that can also keep your bedroom air clean of particles, VOCs and gasses. It truly feels like an Apple device with the tech.

If you want to get the best bang for your cleaning buck, you are much better off investing in the reigning best budget air purifier in our rankings, which is less than $100 and has twice the cleaning power of this Dyson fan and humidifier combo. Be sure to check out the latest air purifier prime day deals and Black Friday air purifier deals, as often, the Dyson units have some of the biggest discounts during these sales.

I don’t think this unit is aimed at these customers. Dyson, as it does with all its appliances, is promoting high-end units that are 100% focused on the customer experience – from the design of the unit, the use of the remote, the weight of the remote, and all the smart app-supported features. 

They offer a two-year warranty and if you have ever had other Dyson gadgets, you will know they do everything in their power to keep you happy if anything goes wrong.

The reality is that there is no other gadget on the market that does everything the Dyson PH03 can do, so it makes sense that the team at Dyson is charging a premium for it. 

If you are happy to pay a premium for a “Dyson” and need a unit capable of humidification with an oscillating fan and an air purifier suitable for a small to medium-sized bedroom, this is the unit you should go for. 

If it’s just the air cleaning power you are after, there are much better air purifiers that perform just as well, but you will give up the technology and design that the Dyson unit brings. 

Most people should pass on this unit, but I am pleased to see the improvements in cleaning power and features as Dyson keeps innovating in this sector. I hope they stick around to develop more units like this.

SOURCES

We calculated yearly costs associated with running the Dyson Pure PH03 24 hours a day, 365 days per year utilizing the latest average energy prices as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of $0.174/kWh as of April 2024.

Dyson was started in 1991 by James Dyson in the UK who originally brought the cyclonic vacuum technology or bagless vacuum cleaner to the mainstream. I personally have the Dyson Outsize Absolute and we are super happy with it.  

Since then, Dyson has released several products, including the Dyson bladeless fan in 2009 and then their first air purifier in 2015. Air purifiers are just fans connected to filters. Hence, with indoor pollution becoming more and more of an issue around the world it makes total sense that Dyson would make the move into air purifier manufacturing.

This particular model that I am reviewing is the Dyson HP04 Hot + Cool, which is priced at $690*, not cheap when you compare it with other air purifiers on the market. But then again, no other devices offer fan cooling and heating. 

In general, the technological improvements in the air purifier world relate to the filter types. Still, Dyson is bringing something very new with its bladeless fan, and I’m excited to see how this unit compares with other air purifiers.

As with all the air purifiers we review here at HouseFresh, we bought the Dyson HP04 Pure Hot + Cool with our own money to ensure we can share our unbiased opinion. We also performed a series of tests on this unit that allow us to compare it like for like against all the other air purifiers we have reviewed over the years.

How we test air purifiers

Read our full testing methodology.

Right, let’s get into it.

The lowdown on the Dyson HP04 Pure Hot + Cool

“Unless you really need a combo unit with a fan, heater, and air purifier, then we would suggest passing on the Dyson HP04 as the air cleaning performance doesn’t match the large price tag.”

— Danny Ashton, HouseFresh Founder & Senior Writer

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here are the key points we found when reviewing the Dyson HP04. 

The specifications

At $745, the Dyson HP04 doesn’t come cheap. For around this price, you could look to buy the Alen BreathSmart 75i with a CADR rating of 347 ($636.65) or the Mila Air Purifier with a CADR score of 263 CFM ($408). As the Dyson only scores a lowly 89 CFM, it’s fair to say that on paper, it doesn’t cut the mustard. But let’s see how it got on in our real-world review. 

Futuristic design fit for modern homes

Intuitive controls, high-tech features and smart capabilities

Air purifiers these days can come in all shapes and sizes, but for the most part, they are usually a box-type design that pulls in air from either the front and back or the sides. Dyson is known for their innovative designs, and the HP04 is no different. 

This has to be one of the best-looking air purifiers I have ever encountered. It would fit perfectly with the interior design of the modern home without taking up too much space as you would find with a box unit like the Coway Airmega 300.

The top half of this air purifier combo is the fan whilst the bottom section is where the filters sit. Simply put, it pulls air from the bottom through the two filters and then blows it out via the air outlets at the top. 

The bladeless fan is great for homes with curious kids who like to put their fingers into anything (as mine tend to do) and whilst it’s tall, it doesn’t feel intrusive to the room. 

When comparing the Dyson HP04 to the Smart Air S, you notice the contrast in design styles. Although the Smart Air S is still a cute-looking unit with its own charming features, the HP04 takes on a futuristic aesthetic that challenges the everyday design of household appliances. 

As we’ve come to expect from Dyson products, the HP04 comes well-packaged in a branded box. There’s still a little too much plastic for my liking, but they’re getting better at reducing their carbon footprint with their packaging. 

If you have used a Dyson before, you’ll know that they provide a great user experience; the same is true of the HP04. 

It has a digital display on the front that tells you the quality of the air in the room and which fan speed it’s currently set to. Using the remote control, you have ten different speeds to use, allowing you to harmonize the unit with the air quality or temperature.

In older models, you could only use both functions simultaneously. If you wanted to clean the air, you would also have to put up with the fan cooling/heating the room. With the HP04 you can set the unit to purify the air and not use the fan, which is certainly useful for those living in colder climates. 

The fan can turn at varying degrees from 90 to a maximum of 350 which I would use during the summer to get as much cool air around me as possible. 

Auto mode allows the unit to only come on when it detects pollutants in the air and is a useful feature for those who have occasional issues with air pollutants like rush hour traffic on the adjacent road or dinner-time cooking odors.

The remote comes in its own box with the function of each button printed on it, making it so much easier to learn what each one does without spending time surveying the manual. However, you still do receive a physical manual with the unit. Like a lot of people now, I instantly lose any manual because I know everything I need is online. With a progressive company like Dyson, I expected them to not waste paper.

The remote is pretty small but very functional. You can control each function of the unit including fan speed, heating or cool mode, sleep timer, and the direction you want the air to flow. It even has a magnetic element so it can easily be stored on the top of the air purifier without it falling and being lost. 

The next step is to set up the app which is super simple once you’ve downloaded it from the Android or Apple app store.

Not only can you control the unit’s functions, but you can also monitor the air quality of your room, the air quality outside, see your unit’s activity, and get reports on temperature, humidity, and filter life. 

Once it’s set up you get a big tick and the air purifier is ready to work its magic.

Small filters leave question marks over purifying capability

A round filter comprised of two separate halves that clip together in place, similar to other Dyson air purifiers

The one thing I was surprised about was the size of the filters. They are a lot smaller than I expected for such a big machine. This probably goes to explain why the CADR scores are so low when compared to other smaller units with bigger filters.

The activated carbon filters are fairly narrow, and I just can’t imagine that this amount of activated charcoal is going to be able to remove much beyond minor odors in small rooms. In comparison, the Austin Air Healthmate Pro comes with 15 lbs of activated carbon – this unit weighs 12.36 lbs in total.

A lot of new units come with a washable pre-filter. These act as the first line of defense as they are able to stop bigger particles before they hit the HEPA filter. Being washable prolongs the life of the other filters, saving you from having to replace them more often. 

However, there is no pre-filter here, which is disappointing as you’ll notice decreased performance relatively soon once hair, lint, and fur start to clog up your HEPA.

When it comes to changing the filter, the first thing you need to do with this unit is take off the covers and attach the charcoal filters. There is a big warning sign on the unit so you’re not going to forget. The activated charcoal filters clip in easily and you can see that the seal is airtight thanks to the rubber elements around both filters.

The filters then clip into the unit in two halves. Once you’ve removed the outer panels of the purifier section of the unit, they fit in as two semi-circles that make up the 360-degree air intake. 

The Dyson HP04 cleared our test room in 1 hour and 24 minutes

That’s 14 minutes longer than the Dyson PH03 and more than double the time than the Dyson Cool TP07

To test this unit I used our home office and generated smoke using an incense stick. I used the Purple Air Indoor Sensor to evaluate the change in air quality over time.

I wanted to know how quickly the Dyson HP04 could reduce the amount of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the air. These tiny particles are the most important to remove as they can get deep into the lungs and cause long-term health issues.

The room was 728 cubic ft. I started the air purifier once 50% of the incense had burned, and my air quality sensor showed 500 PM10 and 500 PM2.5.

Air cleaning performance compared

While this unit does have way more features than the Levoit 300 (such as a fan, heating element and a smartphone app), I still expected this unit to perform a lot better than the Levoit 300 during our tests.

Noise levels test results

A concern for many with air purifiers is the amount of sound generated. In our tests, it clocked up to 54.5 dB on its highest setting, which is fairly low when compared to other units. It even matches some SilentHEPA Blueair units, such as the Blue Pure 411.

But I know that sound can be very subjective, so I created a video to show the sound at each speed level from 1-10.

The cost to run a HP04 Pure Hot + Cool: $81.88 per year

1. Electricity costs = $38.89

The running costs of an air purifier are something you should always consider, both in the costs of electricity usage and the required amount of filter replacements. 

This unit has a recorded power consumption of 36-44 watts, but when I tested it using a power meter, I found that on the maximum setting, it only pulled 25.5 watts.

Using the average energy prices as registered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we can see that at its highest setting, this air purifier will cost $38.89 a year if left to run 24/7, which is excellent efficiency for a larger unit. 

When I used the heating element – the power wattage jumped significantly, with an average of 2500 watts which shows how energy-intensive space heaters are, so ensure you are aware of the incurred costs ($3.813 per year) if you’re planning to use the heater feature regularly.

2. Filter costs = $42.99

Replacing filters is another cost that many don’t think about. However, this can get costly, so it’s best to know what you’re committing yourself to. 

The genuine HEPA and activated carbon filters are $65, which is above average for a unit with this level of performance. There are also generic filters available on Amazon for $42.99 which may not perform as well as the original Dyson filters, but it’s good to know that there are cheaper options out there. 

Dyson recommends you replace the filters every 12 months, but based on their size and lack of pre-filter, I would expect this to be more like 6 months. We will keep an eye on this as we use it over the long term and report back on how long they lasted. 

2-Pack TP04 Filter Replacement Compatible with Dyson TP04 / HP04 / DP04 Air Purifier, 360 Combi Glass High-Efficiency Carbon Filter

• 【Less Cost】 H13 True HEPA filter which fits and works as good as the original but cost by half.
• 【Breath Clean Air】 Great for pet owners or people sensitive to the air. Our filters are capable of filtering the smoke produced by wildfires, rendering the indoor air pure and delightful.
• 【Effortless Setup】 Just take the original filter out, and fit the new one in.
• 【Fit Perfectly】 Compatible with Dyson HP04, TP04 and DP04 Air Purifier and Tower Fan, TP05 and DP05 models. All manufacturers' names and part numbers are used for compatibility information only.
• 【Long Lasting】 It is recommended to replace filters for every 12 months. All manufacturers' names and part numbers are used for compatibility information only.

$58.99

Buy on Amazon

Bottom line

If you want an air purifier that works as a fan and a heater, then you don’t have any other options apart from the Dyson HP04. 

I’m a big fan of the innovation that Dyson is bringing to the air purifier market. Still, its air cleaning performance has a long way to go before I would recommend this unit over getting a separate fan and a much cheaper air purifier. 

I dislike that they don’t make the CADR clear for consumers and hope that they update their marketing material to align with what they have for China.

It’s certainly a great-looking machine, and the auto-mode and app work as well as you would expect for a $700 unit. But, for those looking for the best bang for the buck for cleaning the air – there are far better options. 

If you’re looking for a top-end unit, you’d be much better off going for the superior AlenBreathSmart 75i, the ‘godfather’ IQAir Healthpro Plus, or save yourself some cash and opt for the quickest purifier to undertake our real-world tests the Levoit Core 600S.