Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier Review: Pros & Cons
I first became cognizant of the impact of air quality during training runs for various races. It definitely impacted the quality of my running (a more drastic decrease in speed the longer the run or bike was) but, more importantly, the tiny particles were potentially wreaking havoc on my lungs and the rest of my body. But I was younger and good air purifiers are expensive so I just checked the air quality (Airnow.gov) and worked out indoors on days when the air quality was higher than 100.
Then, 5 years ago, we were living in Philly and my wife was pregnant with our first child. By this time I was well aware of the role that the basic elements of human life--food, water, air--had on our health. But while high-quality food (organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, etc.) and water (RO filtered) were checked off, I dragged my feet on air quality.
With the due date looming, I learned that a worthwhile purifier needs to be a HEPA one so then I went deep on the available options. I wanted one that was durable, affordable, and from a reputable brand. The answer was Alen Air Filter. I pulled the trigger on our first Alen air filter for my son's room: The Alen BreatheSmart Fit50. We love it and still use it constantly so more recently we got the upgraded version: The Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier.
Today I'm going to review the Alen BreatheSmart 75i.
Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier: The Verdict
Durability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance & Function: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The Bottom Line
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier is a game-changer for those who prioritize clean air and the well-being of their family. Whether you have allergies, asthma, or respiratory issues, live in a city or an area prone to wildfires, or simply want to ensure your indoor air quality is clean, this purifier delivers on its promises. With its high CADR score and True HEPA filter, it effectively removes pollutants, including fine particles like wildfire smoke, dander, dust, mold, and germs. Its quiet, energy-efficient, and sleek design makes it nice for any space.
While it comes with a hefty price tag, the durability, coverage, and performance make it a worthwhile investment. It’s one of the larger purifiers due to it’s wide coverage of 1,300 square feet.
The Bottom Line: if you are willing to pay for it, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier is an excellent air purifier for larger spaces for those who demand clean, healthy air.
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i
From The Manufacturer
“Don’t just purify your air—Alenize it
The Alen®75i Air Purifier isn’t just a game changer—it’s a life changer. Consumer Reports recommends the Alen®BreatheSmart 75i Pure with an overall EXCELLENT score. Alen®air purifiers are engineered to outperform by combining power with efficacy and superb filtration technology. And our beautifully designed, whisper-quiet units do it without disrupting your conversations or your lifestyle.
Alen® Air App: Connect to WiFi to monitor air quality history and control remotely.
Whisper Quiet: Enjoy soothing pink noise for up to 25% better sleep.
Know it’s Working: See real-time changes in air quality through LED colors.
Set and Forget: Adjust fan speed automatically to keep air pure 24/7.
Ideal Room: Open-concept spaces and living rooms up to 1,300 sq. ft.
Guaranteed Forever: Receive lifetime peace of mind from the industry’s best warranty.
Customized and Personalized for you: Several designer panel colors to choose from plus 3 filtration options.”
Selling Points
Effective. The Alen Air Purifier 75i is very effective at removing pollutants from the air. It has a True HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, which includes dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander. Consumer Reports said “After extensive testing and research, CR determined this product to be: top performing and effective at smoke/dust/pollen removal.”
High CADR score. CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) scores measure how much air an air purifier can clean in one cubic foot per minute (CFM). The higher the CADR score, the more air the air purifier can clean. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i has a CADR score of 350 CFM for smoke, 300 CFM for pollen, and 250 CFM for dust. This means that it can clean up to 350 cubic feet of smoke-filled air, 300 cubic feet of pollen-filled air, or 250 cubic feet of dust-filled air per minute. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the minimum recommended CADR scores for large rooms (400-600 square feet) are 200 CFM for smoke, 150 CFM for pollen, and 100 CFM for dust. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i exceeds all of these minimum recommendations, making it a good choice for large rooms.
Quiet. The 75i is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market. It has a whisper-quiet setting that is perfect for bedrooms and other quiet spaces. It maxes out at 49dB and the lowest setting is 25dB. Anything under 50 decibles is considered quiet.
Energy-efficient. The 75i uses very little energy, even on its highest setting. This makes it a great choice for eco-conscious consumers.
Durable: The 75i is built well and made with high-quality materials. It is backed by a five-year warranty. The first Alen purifier we bought has lasted through a move and two young, curious kids without concern.
Smart Features. You can download the Alen app which will tell you the status of your filter as well as other things like the current air quality and the temperature.
Kid-Friendly. It comes with a standard vent and then a one you can snap on over top of that that has more bars to prevent kid’s curious fingers from sneaking in. It also has a lock button to prevent kids from messing around with the settings.
Long-lasting filters. While other air purifiers require frequent filter replacements, the filter life for the 75i is around 15 months if you keep it on for 24 hours a day.
Comes in multiple colors. The front panel can be changed to 6 different color options: white, oak, weathered gray, brushed stainless, graphite, and espresso.
Ionizer option. Hit the ionizer button to activate the ozone-safe ionizer. This improves the purifier’s ability to ride the area of airborne particles. Ionized air may also be better for your health so we just keep it on.
LED Color Rings. It uses laser technology to determine how dirty the area is and then changes the color of the LED rings to indicate this. If it’s on auto mode then it will modify it’s performance based on the air quality. Important: Knowing this was going in my kid’s room initially i didn’t want any extra blue light so I made sure that these colors could be turned off. Simply push the center button to get rid of the light display.
Great warranty. Each purifier that Alen makes comes with a “Forever Guarantee,” however you need to sign up for the filter subscription service to activate this.
Drawbacks
Expensive: The 75i is one of the more expensive air purifiers on the market.
Large: The 75i is relatively large. It stands at 27" H, x 18.5" W x 11.5" D which is necessary given the 1,300 sqft it cleans but it’s still tough to tuck away.
Warranty. The warranty is only effective if you get the filter subscription.
The Wifi Connection. While most people would keep this in the plus column, I’m concerned about the effects of EMF. I turned it on to test it out just for this review but immediately turned it off. See more about this below in My Experience.
Who Do I Recommend It For?
Anyone with allergies, asthma, or respiratory issues.
Those living in areas prone to wildfires, where the 75i's ability to filter fine particles as small as 0.3 microns is crucial for protecting lung health. wildfire smoke is comprised of 90% fine particles, also known as PM2.5 (2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller). A 2021 study found that "Smoke from wildfires is as much as 10 times more hazardous to humans than similar pollution from other sources" such as car exhaust. The 75i filters particles as small as 0.3 microns.which includes these wildfire smoke particles. Read more on this here.
City residents or those in high-pollution regions (check AirNow.gov for local air quality).
Parents of young children with respiratory concerns or a history of RSV and bronchiolitis.
Pet owners looking to control dander and eliminate odors.
Anyone seeking improved sleep, as air purifiers, have been shown to enhance sleep quality. Research has shown an association between indoor air pollutants and reduced sleep duration (30 minutes or more), sleep efficiency, and blood saturation levels, especially in the summertime. It’s thought to reduce sleep by 30 minutes or more.
Health-conscious people who want to ensure the air they’re breathing is purified.
Tips
Don’t connect it to the app. In my opinion, the potential harm of EMF radiation outweighs the benefits of any connection of the unit to your Wi-Fi.
Keep the ionizer on.
Subscribe for the filter replacements so you don’t forget.
If the space is more than 900 square feet or less then go with the Alen FIT50 which is slightly smaller and is equipped to cover this area.
Specifications/Features
95 CFM | Speed 2: 170 CFM | Speed 3: 240 CFM | Speed 4: 280 CFM | Turbo: 350 CFM
CADR 347
Cord Length 7ft (213cm)
Coverage Up to 1,300 sq. ft. (120.77 m2) | Cleans all air in room every 30 minutes @ highest setting
Dimensions H 27" (68.58 cm) x W 18.5" (46.99 cm) x D 11.5" (29.21 cm)
Energy Star Yes
Filter Cost $99 | Using "Pure" air Filter
Filter Life Max 15 months | @ Recommended 24hr/day operation
Filtration Rate Removes 99.9% of particles greater than 0.1 micron
Noise Level Lowest Speed 25 dBa | Highest Speed 49 dBa
Ozone 0 PPM when disengaged, less than 0.001 PPM with optional ionizer engaged
Power Consumption 1.8 to 45 watts
Power Supply 120 AV, 60HZ (3 Prong Power Cord)
Sensor Automatic speed adjustment and coordinated to 5 color rings/speeds
Sound Type Pink Noise | All speeds
Speed Settings 5
Warranty Forever Guarantee | with Product Registration & Active Air Filter Subscription
Weight 27 lbs (12.2 kg)
My Experience
Respiratory Issues, Wildfires, & Plastics
I never thought I’d say this about an air purifier, they have played a pretty big role in our lives.
The first year of our first child's life was marked by multiple trips to the ED due to bronchiolitis and RSV. While having the AlenFit50 in his room couldn't magically solve these issues, it did provide us with a comforting sense of security, knowing that his home environment wasn't exacerbating his respiratory concerns. (A side benefit of the bedroom air purifier is that it acts as a white noise machine to help him sleep.) While it wasn’t the Alen BreatheSmart 75i that we used at the time, this situation helped spark my awareness of the importance of healthy air.
Another unpredictable scenario was the recent wildfires in Philly. Canadian wildfire smoke--and the ultra-concerning PM2.5 particles--wafted down here for days at a time. We relocated the bedroom purifier to our main living space, letting everyone breathe easier (😉), further prompting me to get a first-floor air purifying unit.
While these are sporadic issues, the mounting research on our air is concerning. One recent study found that we breathe in 16 bits of microplastic every hour. Over the course of a week, this adds up to a full credit card's worth of plastic. Another study found that plastic production and recycling workers face heightened risks of various cancers, neurotoxic injuries, and fertility issues, while residents near these facilities experience increased rates of birth problems, asthma, and chronic diseases. The volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other airborne toxins in the air will not be going away anytime soon.
EMF & 24/7 Use
One of the downsides of the unit is what most people would consider an upside: the Wifi-enabled smart functions. You can download the Alen Air app, plug in your location, and link your purifier to your WIFI and it will give you info like the weather, air quality, and your filter’s life expectancy. While interesting, I am concerned about the electromagnetic field (EMF) given off by the unit. I intentionally make our home “dumb” by limiting units connected to the internet (e.g. thermostat, locks, appliances, etc.) due to the concerns EMFs may pose, especially for our kids. See the FAQ below for how to turn it off.
While the Alen purifiers are designed to be used 24/7, we only tend to use the AlenFit50 throughout the night in our son’s bedroom and the BreaheSmart on the first floor more often but not all day every day. Now that we live in the suburbs, if it’s a nice day out then the windows are open. On hotter or colder days we use the air purifier. This allows some more peace of mind with keeping those windows closed for months at a time given the fact that pollutants in the home can be 2-5 times more concentrated than outside the home.
My Two Cents
If I had the means, I would probably install a full-house air purifying system but that’s not happening anytime soon. Enter the Alen BreatheSmart 75i, a great alternative. While it’s true that this purifier comes with a substantial price tag, the advantages are undeniable: it’s built to last, it covers 1,300 square feet, it’s quiet and it actually looks nice, and the alternative whole-house unit would be significantly more expensive. This rationalization mirrors the mental gymnastics I did without a reverse osmosis water unit, a must-have when we moved to our new home. (As a welcome bonus, it helps to kill the cat smell and dander.)
Knowing that these fundamental elements of our health are operating seamlessly in the background of my family’s home brings a sense of peace and reassurance.
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier: Is It Worth It?
If you have the means to buy an air filter for a large space then this is definitely the one to use. For smaller space and a lower cost consider the Alen BreatheSmart Fit 50.
FAQ
What kind of air pollutants does the Alen BreatheSmart 75i remove?
This air purifier tackles dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, and even some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it a good choice for allergy sufferers, pet owners, and anyone living in polluted areas.
How big of a space can it cover?
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is ideal for medium-sized rooms up to 300 square feet.
Is it noisy?
One of its greatest strengths is its quiet operation. Even on its highest setting, it runs at a whisper-quiet 45 decibels, making it suitable for bedrooms and other areas where noise can be disruptive.
How often do I need to replace the filter?
The HEPA filter typically lasts for around 12 months, depending on your air quality. Alen offers a convenient filter replacement reminder to keep your purifier performing at its best.
How do I turn off the Wi-Fi connection?
I wasn’t sure about this one so I reached out to the manufacturer who provided this: First, you can drop the unit from the app by hitting the three-dot symbol in the upper right corner and selecting ‘remove device.’ Afterwards, to disable access point broadcast on your 45i or 75i, simply hold down the Auto button until the wi-fi symbol begins to flash. Once flashing, remove the front panel for at least 2 seconds and then replace the front panel. To verify that the purifier has stopped broadcasting, pull up the list of available wi-fi networks on your mobile device and make sure that there is no wi-fi network titled "SmartLife-XXXX".
Can you put the air filter in airplane mode?
The manufacturer says this: No, there’s not an airplane mode. Although if you follow the steps above the unit will not be trying to pair with your network or, in other words, it will stop “broadcasting” its SSID.
How do I maintain my Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier?
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is very easy to maintain. The filter should be replaced every one year, or sooner if needed. The filter can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush. The air purifier should also be dusted regularly to keep it clean. The air quality sensor can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
What is the difference between the Alen BreatheSmart 75i and the Alen BreatheSmart 45i?
The main difference between the Alen BreatheSmart 75i and the Alen BreatheSmart 45i is the size and power of the unit. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is designed for larger rooms, up to 1,300 square feet, while the Alen BreatheSmart 45i is designed for smaller rooms, up to 1,100 square feet. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i also has a higher CADR (clean air delivery rate) than the Alen BreatheSmart 45i. This means that it can clean the air in a room faster.
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