IQAir is one of the longest standing air purifier manufacturers and are known for their above-average prices, innovative Swiss engineering and the uncommon offer of a 10-year warranty.
The Atem X is part of their latest generation of air purifiers, with integrated air quality sensors, smart features and app connectivity. This is undoubtedly a high-end device that promises style AND performance.
Selling at $1,400, this is officially the most expensive unit we’ve ever bought, so as you can imagine, my expectations are very very high. I tested our Atem X in the same space we’ve tested more than 100 other models, and in my review, I will break down its design features, air cleaning performance, energy consumption, user experience and more.
The overall score of the IQAir Atem X incorporates first-hand data results from our battery of tests, as well as our ratings for customer service, brand transparency and design & UX. Check out the full scorecard below to see the split of categories.
The pros and cons of the IQAir Atem X
A summary of our top-level findings after testing this air purifier following our methodology.
“If you can afford the $1,4000 and value high-end design, then you should definitely consider the Atem X over other premium models like the Dyson Big+Quiet, the Jaspr and the Molekule Air Pro due to how powerful its air cleaning performance is.
A big downside, however, is that there are currently no gas filters for the Atem X in the U.S., so you will need to buy an additional device to deal with VOC issues.”
HouseFresh Founder
& Lead Tester
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 429 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 229 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 435 cfm (dust) |
| Filter technology: | HyperHEPA filtration. |
| Recommended room size: | 643 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 27.08H x 25.19W x 10D inches (68.8H x 64W x 25.4D cm) |
| Weight: | 28.66 lbs (13 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Speed 1: 35.6 dBA Speed 2: 36.9 dBA Speed 3: 40.7 dBA Speed 4: 44.5 dBA Speed 5: 49.5 dBA Speed 6: 53.6 dBA Speed 7: 58.4 dBA Speed 8: 62.3 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 1 watt Speed 1: 5.3 watts Speed 2: 7.5 watts Speed 3: 10.5 watts Speed 4: 15.5 watts Speed 5: 24.2 watts Speed 6: 35.9 watts Speed 7: 57.2 watts Speed 8: 85.5 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 12 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 10 years |
| Country of origin: | Switzerland |
| Country of manufacture: | Germany |
Filtration technology
The Atem X comes with IQAir’s signature HyperHEPA filter, which is highly efficient at capturing particles but it has no activated carbon to remove VOCs from the air.
The Atem X comes with three HEPA filters that surround the device.
To access the filters, you need to remove the front round cover and unclip the ‘Impaktors,’ which are blades that trap larger particles and catch them in the washable pre-filter that sits underneath.
However, it’s disappointing that this $1,400 device doesn’t come with a gas filter or any form of carbon filtration as standard. That said, in some regions like the UK and Thailand, you can get a set of HyperHEPA CF Filters if you need to tackle Formaldehyde. Hopefully, this option will be made available in the U.S. soon.
The HEPA grade will be dependant on the fan speed and ranges from H13 to E11, as you can see the full technical specifications made available by IQAir
Design, controls and features
Most high CADR air purifiers are big, utilitarian-looking devices that put form over function but IQAir broke the mold with the Atem X.
When it comes to the design, the Atem X looks very different from any other air purifier on the market right now.
The only models that come close are other IQAir air purifiers in the Atem Series, such as the Atem Car.
Even though the Atem X has a small footprint, it’s still pretty heavy (28.7 lbs or 13.5 kg). The good news is that it comes with a strap at the back and a stand with wheels that you can clip to the base.
One thing I didn’t expect was how cool the Atem X looks once you remove the white front cover. Without it, you can see a red and black fan that sits behind a transparent plastic cover.
This means you can see the fan doing its thing, and I must say it is quite hypnotising! It was fun to show my kids.
The control panel is situated at the back and, unlike most other air purifiers, it doesn’t have any screens – instead, you get a few different lights.
From left to right, you get a filter warning light, the power button, an auto mode button, a fan speed slider that is surrounded by a color-coded air quality indicator, a light dimming button, a wi-fi button and an ethernet connection indicator.
The Atem X also comes with full app support using the IQAir AirVisual App, which unlock many features that are not available on the control panel.
The app has 4.7 out of 5 rating for Android and a 4.8 on Apple, but the vast majority of the reviews are not a fair representation of the UX and functionalities in the Atem X, as most people use the app to check the air quality in their area.
Once you add the Atem X to the app, you will get to enable child lock for the controls on the device, schedule routines, adjust the brightness of the lights, see indoor and outdoor air quality data, and also customize the auto mode (which IQAir calls ‘Smart mode’) by limiting the maximum fan speed to 5, 7 or 8 depending on the level of sound you want.
Overall, the IQAir AirVisual App app worked well and I had no issues, and I especially liked how quickly the indoor air quality data showed up on the screen.
You also get access to a web dashboard, which will be particularly useful for those who use multiple IQAir devices in one place – like in a school setting or an office. But be aware that you will need to get a paid subscription if you want to create groups of many devices, add multiple members, create widgets and other features that could be useful to those managing multiple air purifiers.
Air cleaning performance
We tested the Atem X in our 728 cubic ft. test room, tracking how fast it removed all PM1 particles from the air after we filled the space with incense stick.
When running at top speed, our PurpleAir Zen sensor shows the Atem X needed 14 minutes to reach PM1 zero – and we estimate a PM1 CADR of 429 cfm which would be good enough to provide five air changes per hour in rooms up to 643 sq. ft.
The Atem X provides excellent particle removal speed, outperforming some of the most powerful air purifiers we’ve tested in the the Smart Air Blast Mini and the Levoit EverestAir.
So I’m pleased to say that spending $1,399.99 on the Atem X won’t be a total waste of money as this device is officially one of the best performing air purifiers we have tested.
But it’s not just about raw power when running at top speed…
Sound levels
The sound levels of the Atem X range from 35.6 dBA to 62.3 dBA — quieter than popular models like the Winix 5510 but louder at top speed than most air purifiers we’ve tested.
If an air purifier is too loud, you will turn it off eventually. That is why we always measure how much sound air purifiers generate from 3 ft. away.
These are the results for the Atem X:
Be aware that our background noise is 35 dBA, so the Atem X running at speed 1 and 2 is likely to be quieter if you could measure it in a silent room.
Reaching 62.3 dBA at top speed, the Atem X is quieter than the DIY 30×20 CR box (which uses a standard box fan) and the AlorAir HEPA 550 air scrubber (which is generally used in construction zones), but it is louder than the Blast Mini, the Core 600S, the EverestAir and the AirFanta 3Pro – all of which offer similar air cleaning performance.
However, one of the benefits of larger CADR devices with multiple fan speeds is that you can run them at lower fan speeds and still clean the air effectively.
Running at speed 4, the Atem X generates 44.5 dBA and it managed to clear our test room from all PM1 pollutants in 26 minutes, which we estimate to be a PM1 CADR of 229 cfm, when accounting for the natural ventilation in our test room.
So when it comes to sub-45 dBA air cleaning performance, the Smart Air Blast Mini and the Luggable XL-7 from CleanAirKits were still able to clean the air quicker at quiet fan speeds, but the Atem X was able to outperform the AirFanta 3Pro and the EverestAir and Core 600s from Levoit.
But let’s start adding up long-term costs to see how much money you would need to spend each year to run an Atem X in your home.
Long-term running costs
Running an Atem X will cost you $295.52 per year, combining energy consumption costs and filter replacement prices.
We used our energy meter to record how much energy the Atem X uses when running at each fan speed and also while on standby.
At top speed, the Atem X pulls 85.5 watts. This means that if you were to leave it running at top speed 24/7 for one year, it would add $95.53 to your annual energy bill, assuming an average U.S. electricity prices as of September 2025.
However, it’s not just energy costs that add to the running cost of an air purifier, you will also need to replace the filters eventually.
On their website, IQAir states that you need to replace the filters for the Atem X every 12 months. The genuine filter set includes the three HyperHEPA filters costs $199.99, so you will spend that much each year.
When we combine this with the electricity cost, you can expect to spend $295.52 each year to run this device all day, every day at top speed. Now, this is unlikely but it is the best way for us to calculate ongoing costs in a fair, comparable way.
As you can see from the chart, even though the Atem X is highly energy efficient, the expensive filter replacement costs drive the yearly running costs up.
To be clear, though, these calculations are using the 12-month estimate from IQAir, as we always use manufacturer’s filter lifespan information. But considering that the Atem X only uses a particle filter, I would expect that you would get a longer filter lifespan. For those in the UK, Allergy Cosmos estimates that the filters could last three years and this would mean a filter cost per year of $66.66.
Bottom line: Should you get an IQAir Atem X?
I can’t make a case for it being the best bang for your buck, so I won’t.
If particle removal performance is your top priority regardless of noise levels and long-term running costs, then you should consider building your own Corsi-Rosenthal box using 20×30 MPR 1900 MERV 13 filters from Filtrete and a Lasko box fan.
However, if money is not an issue, then the Atem X is definitely worth considering. A big downside, however, is that there are currently no gas filters for the Atem X in the U.S., so you will need to buy an additional device to deal with VOC issues.
Like a Rolls Royce, the Atem X is expensive to buy and expensive to run, but it looks incredible inside and out, and wouldn’t look out of place in a 5-star hotel. Plus, it can be wall-mounted for an even cleaner look with the optional bracket.
It has an incredibly sensitive onboard sensor and auto-mode that can be adjusted to exactly what you want. The app is clean and works well, and you even get a web dashboard to access your data and control the device remotely.
And running at lower fan speeds, it can even compete with the very large Smart Air Blast Mini or the new generation of PC fan-powered air purifiers from AirFanta and CleanAirKits.
But there is no way around the fact that it costs $1,399.
However, if you are okay with spending this amount of money and value design and features, it’s hard not to recommend this over the other premium models on the market like the Dyson Big+Quiet, the Jaspr and the Molekule Air Pro. With the Atem X, you will not only get the looks and the features but also a lot more air cleaning power.
So, should you buy it? If you want the best-looking, smart purifier for removing particles with a 10-year warranty and don’t mind the spicy price tag, then the Atem X is it. But if you’re budget-conscious, the mighty DIY 30×20 Corsi-Rosenthal box still rules.
If you do decide to buy yourself a fancy Atem X, please use the links in this article. It won’t cost you anything extra but you will be supporting the work we do at HouseFresh, as we will get a small affiliate commission over the price of the sale.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
