REASONS TO BUY
Not terribly loud
Compact
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor air cleaning performance
High operating costs for a machine of its size
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Review
A compact model with relatively poor performance and no redeeming attributes to make that up
RELATED: Best Air Purifiers of 2024
Our Verdict
The Hamilton Beach TrueAir is the lowest-performing compact air purifier. It struggles with air cleaning performance, has low-quality controls, and to top it off, requires expensive filters. Its one redeeming quality is how little noise it makes while operating, but this hardly makes up for its overall poor performance. If you're seeking a compact air purifier for a smaller space, we'd suggest going with the GermGuardian AC4100 instead, as it offers higher performance at a lower cost.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
We weren't thrilled with its performance; there are better compact models to purchase.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Air Cleaning Performance
The TrueAir is one of the worst performers in our air cleaning testing, sharing the bottom of the barrel with one other model. We put it in our smoke-filled testing room for one hour and it reduced the airborne particulate concentration by 89.49%. For comparison, the top-performing compact (GermGuardian AC4100) model achieved a 95.32% reduction, and most of the full-sized models were able to break 99%. So the TrueAir can make the air cleaner, but there are other comparable models that can do a much better job of it. Also, it is the only model we tested that doesn't specify a CADR (clean air delivery rate), but we guess that it would be around 60 or 70, meaning it is powerful enough for rooms smaller than 100 square feet.
We weren't impressed by the TrueAir's filter.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Noise
The noise produced by the TrueAir in our testing was relatively mild, earning it an above-average score. On high it emits a low hum that would likely blend into the background after a few minutes of running but is still slightly more noticeable than the Coway. On medium, that hum gets quieter but is still noticeable. On low, the hum is very quiet and barely detectable, plenty quiet for reading or meditating.
Ease of Use
The Beach TrueAir's score is one of the lowest in our ease of use testing. It only has three fan speeds and no off timer, which limits its adjustability and makes it more likely that you'll accidentally leave it on all day while you're at the office. Also, the single dial it uses for its control panel feels cheap and flimsy. In the plus column, it weighs only 4.9 pounds, so it is very easy to move around.
The TrueAir uses a single knob as its control panel.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Operating Cost
Despite a low initial cost to purchase the unit, the TrueAir is surprisingly expensive in the long run. Its estimated lifetime cost came out to $573, which is higher than that of the Coway and the GermGuardian AC4825, both of which are much more powerful and capable machines. This high cost largely comes from its short-lived filters, which run $22 and must be replaced every 90 days. That cost quickly adds up if you use the TrueAir frequently. It also uses electricity at an above-average rate, accumulating an estimated annual electricity cost of $10.51.
Value
The TrueAir's price is on the high end for a compact purifier. Then when you factor in its operating costs, it becomes more expensive than some of the top-performing full-sized models. At that point buying a full-sized model would be a much better value. If you'd rather have a compact model, the GermGuardian AC4100 is a much better value.
Conclusion
The Hamilton Beach TrueAir provides low-end performance yet costs as much to operate as much better machines. Because of this, we would not recommend it.
—
Buck Yedor, Max Mutter, and Steven Tata
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