BreatheSmart FLEX

I went with this one for my daughter’s bedroom - she has severe seasonal and animal allergies. It’s currently $249 instead of $349 to boot. https://alen.com/products/alen-breathesmart-flex-hepa-air-purifier

Check U.S. Consumer Reports (subscription required) for the best model recommendations. The highest rated model got an 85. Alen Breathsmart 35i got a 43, Flex not rated. There are many filters with much higher ratings.

+1 for Alen. With that size room, the Flex model is perfect. Then I’d grab the “odor” or “VOC/smoke” filter to deal with odors. Just note that the flex doesn’t come with any apps or ionization like the other commenter. That starts with the 45i and 75i models. Also are great but are way overkill for your room.

It doesn’t exist on the flex model. It’s purely mechanical filtration. Which is what you are looking for.

1) Ask r/airpurifiers 2) Alen is really the only true BIFL brand because they offer a lifetime warranty for as long as you buy genuine Alen filters. Plus the filters last a long time too and they are incredibly quiet. Coway and Winix are good too just not at the level Alen is. **Avoid Dyson, blueair and Levoit. They’re junk.** 3) As for sizing, this part is important: most manufacturers advertise crazy sqft numbers (1,000sqft+ for a tiny tabletop unit) just know that most of the time this is disclaimed by stating it can filter all the air in a 1ksqft room ONE TIME per hour. If you actually want to filter your air, industry standard is FOUR times per hour. So in reality, that 1ksqft unit is really only good for a 250sqft room **on full blast** which is usually loud. What kind of space are you trying to purify? An Alen 45i or 75i is great for living rooms and open spaces, then A flex or 25i bedrooms would work well.

Not a Dyson. Seriously. Alen, Coway or winix.

Dyson in general is not known for high quality especially for the price they charge. Also their customer service is shit. The other 3 I listed are much better options. You’ll want as much carbon in the filter as possible. Alen VOC for example.

Alen is the best. I got this deal. 2 in kitchen/living room and one in bedroom. Amazing for smell and pet allergies. Only downside is filters are $80-$100 but they last for around 6-9 months. I also buy extra filter covers to make them last longer. https://alen.com/products/buy-2-breathesmart-flex-get-the-3rd-free

I like Alen - they're filters aren't too expensive, they're quiet, and use a lot less electricity than other air purifiers I've seen. I've had this model for about 7 years now and no issues. [https://amzn.to/3H6Nhu8](https://amzn.to/3H6Nhu8)

I have a Pyr. I got an Alen BreathSmart Flex on sale for my living room and it's made a world of difference. I have 2 Coways for other rooms too. Night and day diference.

Just purchased a couple Alen Flex machines after loads of research. Didn't feel I needed all the bells and whistles that come with newer models. It is being phased out but uses the same filters as 45i, the lifetime warranty was a big plus.

Alen Flex is what I got primarily for odors, but it's around 350 range I think.  But it has a lifetime warranty you will end up saving money probably as others will break after some years.  (Lifetime warranty if you stay in the filter replacement program, you can do I think every 9 or 12 months, and the filters are around 90-120 I think, with a thick one with a lot of carbon being the good one for odors at around 120)  For 200 many purifiers at that price point won't do anything dramatic for odors I think, so you prob should spend a little more for a better unit imo. The Alen carbon filter is heavy, at a few pounds...and definitely has helped for me.  (I also have multiple units that have at least some carbon in them with a RIA Breezeguard in the kitchen, an Elite Pure Enrichment, and two levoits 300s in living room, As well as a few others in my bedroom. - although I inherited an old moldy carpet with 5 kinds of mold at this apartment - but now my air is fresh and clean.)  Austin Air has apparently very good units but they are like 750 bucks, which I could not afford. So I went with Alen + surrounded with more units.  Edit: you can also buy carbon pellets for like 12 bucks i believe although I am not sure how best to place them around a space for effectiveness.  ( Maybe in a cup or mug Near a window or fan ?) As well thin carbon filter sheets/carbon filters which I have a few around my kitchen specifically.  (It's whats In the hood filter above a stove usually, and a lot of my air purifiers have a layer of that carbon too.)   But best....is a bigger unit with very thick carbon pellets for most impact.  

Just spend another 50 bucks and you can get an Alen Flex.   Or a RIA Breezeguard (370) Most normal air purifiers have white filters that filter dust + particles.  Odor molecules are different so other methods will be used to capture odors.  (I also use moisture bags + have a carbon filter behind box fan - essentially an air purifier for carbon/odors at that point.  As that is what will capture odors on an air purifier (under 200 bucks usually). Will be a thing carbon filter layer.  It can help.  But just 1 in 1 air purifier isn't going to be a game-changer for odors I doubt.  So you either need much more coverage/carbon.  (So 1 air purifier with carbon filters around, carbon pellets perhaps etc. Might make an impact, or...a better unit with a thicker filter that has not just a thin carbon layer on top of the main filter.  But one with thick carbon pellets that will absorb odors. ) Getting any air purifier is better than nothing.  But for odors specifically 1 affordable unit is not likely to solve your issue.  (A very good unit might, but even there you probably will want +something if you truly want to get rid of all odors.)  So definitely get the best purifier you can afford.  Yes, it can help.  But for odors specifically...if that's all you truly want it for, you would end up paying mostly for the air particle trapping that an normal filter does.  So it's a much more impactful value for your money..getting one with better carbon filters.  (Levoits for instance do have carbon layer but it's a bit modest and just so-so there.). So 3 or 4 or 5 Levoit units might do what 1 better carbon filter unit does in terms of odors.  (Don't know the exact math but probably something like that.). So again I suggest spending a little more to get one which will have more impact if you need odor help.  For around 20 bucks theres also lots of small items you can get such as moisture bags, CH-cut filters you can put in a closet or whereever, thin carbon filter strips, and carbon pellets.  All of those will do more for odors than just the 1 thin carbon strip that is in a lot of affordable purifiers.  So get a good one + also use pair with some of those other methods for better results on that.  But if you really can't afford 350 then just get whatever unit you can afford and use those other more affordable methods in addition, would probably be next best thing. 

I believe they have multiple units called "Flex" which means its the same as the other unit,  but without the smart features/ionizer, so a little cheaper, but same size and otherwise same.  So you can get more coverage area with a Flex, if you dont need or want the smart features.  So on amazon the 35i is around 290-300, so for about 50 bucks more you can get the 45i Flex, which has bigger + better  coverage. (What I have and love.).   But I have a largish apartment, and have a lot of odor and mold from an old carpet I inherited here.  For maybe smallish apartment or normal ish 35i probably fine, so depends on how big your space is.  But they are excellent units, quiet, energy efficient, and lifetime warranty (when sticking with the filter replacement plan 9 or 12 months.).  The 35i is 11 pounds, 45i 15. Ideal coverage 700 sq feet vs 950.   The Flex I believe, is just either unit without the smart features/certain features.  So if you just want cheapest price/most coverage per dollar...go with a Flex.  If you want smart features then get the regular but you pay a little more for the smart features, vs a Flex of one size up.  So for me, id recommend pay a little more and get a 45i Flex for more impact, unless you really need/want the smart features.  (And again depends how big your space, what coverage you have etc.)   Get the more expensive filter with carbon layers for odor control, they go from 90-120 or so.)  and last about 1 year. 

An affordable and long lasting one is Alen 45i, around 300-400 bucks and they have a lifetime warranty. (if you stay signd up with the filter replacement plan, with one every 9 or 12 months, your choice.) It has black carbon filter material, and is good overall, would be very good for a 300 sq foot area. Levoits are great for lonevity as I've had mine running continuously for 5 years...still going...most other affordable brands will break or have problems but the Levoits last forever. However, they dont have a huge amoount of carbon, only a litlte in some of the filters I think. If you can afford a lot consider the pricey units others are suggesting. I cant afford that and use a combination of levoits + an Alen + RIA Breezeguard (my best unit overall with carbon fiber layer + UVC + humidifier all built in, however it doesn't have a lifetime warranty but so far its been great after a few years. Around 400 I think. The RIA Breezeguard is bigger + pushes more air and has more options (also app/phone control.) But you prob wont need that so much in a small studio apartment. So if you want longevity/lifetime warranty and good effectiveness for the area you have...the Alen 45i is a good choice imo. If you had a bedroom then add a levoit in there for more coverage etc. The only downside to my Alen 45i is that it doesn't super forecefully move air on high, it just kind of goes pretty steady....but it lasts forever and for your small space, if placed in a decent spot where air is flowing...then would still be very good for now + long term. Add in more units once you move to a bigger space. You can also just buy some black carbon filters (for any brand really) and place a few around if you want to capture more odors, esp smoke. So Ria BreatheSmart great all-around unit with excellent features, good carbon, but unsure about longevity Alen 45i seems to meet all your needs with longevity, carbon, size etc. Levoits awesome for longevity as well (not lifetime warranty but they last a long time) but just so-so on carbon I think. (Don't know thier newer/more pricey models as my 2 100 dollars ones have lasted years....) Ofc I like all 3 brands and use all 3 in my bigger space (+ more in bedroom etc.)

Thanks for the feedback guys. I went with the Alen flex and got it on Amazon so it’ll be here asap. No weird filter issues, ionizing BS, etc. and it moves air well for a room my size

Alen FLEX. Full disclosure is that I work at Alen. However, it's $100 off right now and if you sign up for emails you'll get another 5% off. I have one of these in my bedroom and it's just a workhorse. No IoT, no ionizer, just a solid purifier that just sits there and cleans the air.