REASONS TO BUY
Effective air purification
Portable
REASONS TO AVOID
Somewhat loud
High operating cost
Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA Review
This zero-frills and comes with a high operating cost, but we valued its effective air purification and convenient carrying handle
Credit: Honeywell
RELATED: Best Air Purifiers of 2024
Our Verdict
While the Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA might not dazzle with its features or operating costs, its simplicity can be a plus for some users. It performs well in cleaning the air and is fairly portable, making it a practical choice for those who prioritize straightforward functionality. However, the overall experience is lacking. The high operating costs combined with limited functionality and less-than-optimal noise levels result in a package that doesn't quite meet expectations. If you value simplicity and efficiency but can overlook its shortcomings, this model might still be worth considering. However, if you're looking for more features and better overall performance, you may find other options in ourAir Purifier Review more satisfying.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Value for a Smart Air Purifier | Best Value for Small Rooms | |||
| Price | $160 List $103.22 at Amazon | $220 List $219.99 at Amazon | $100 List Check Price at Amazon | $90 List $89.99 at Amazon | $100 List $99.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This model won't wow anyone with its feature set, however it does a decent job keeping the air clean in small spaces | This app-compatible model is user-friendly and comes with an assortment of programmable features | An affordable, high performing option that is ideal for smaller spaces | It boasts a low price and silent operation and excels in smaller room sizes | This air purifier doesn't take up much space and cleans the air with ease, as long as you don't mind the lack of features |
| Rating Categories | Honeywell PowerPlus... | Levoit Core 400S | Levoit Core 300 | Levoit LV-H132 | GermGuardian AC4825E |
| Air Cleaning Performance (40%) | |||||
| Noise (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Operating Cost (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Honeywell PowerPlus... | Levoit Core 400S | Levoit Core 300 | Levoit LV-H132 | GermGuardian AC4825E |
| Measured Annual Cost | $219.91 | $148.14 | $96.81 | $84.79 | $105.27 |
| Airborne Particulate Reduction After 1 Hour (%) | 99.97% | 100.00% | 99.92% | 95.30% | 99.90% |
| CADR | 129 (Smoke) 145 (Dust) 145 (Pollen) |
Sleep: 59 Speed 1: 88 Speed 2: 118 Speed 3: 177 Speed 4: 260 *Per Levoit, their stated CADR ratings for this product are the same for Smoke, Dust, and Pollen but differ for fan speeds |
141 (Smoke) 140 (Dust) 145 (Pollen) |
40 (Smoke) 40 (Dust) 40 (Pollen) |
99 (Smoke) 118 (Dust) 125 (Pollen) |
| Measured Dimensions | 14.1" x 9.0" x 15.0" | 10.8" x 10.8" x 20.5" | 8.7" x 8.7" x 14.2" | 7.9" x 7.9" x 12.6" | 10.3" x 6.8" x. 22" |
| Measured Weight | 9.8 | 10.4 Ibs | 7.3 Ibs | 5.4 Ibs | 8.3 Ibs |
| Measured Cord Length | 6' | 6' 3" | 6' 3" | 5' 10" | 6' |
| True HEPA (99.97%) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Estimated Lifetime Cost (5 years) | $1,099.57 | $740.70 | $484.03 | $423.93 | $526.33 |
| App Control | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Air Quality Sensor | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Measured Decibels | 54.2 | 51.8 | 52.3 | 46.1 | 51.2 |
| Energy Star Certified | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed | Yes |
| Listed Coverage | 200 sq. ft | 1560 sq. ft | 219 sq. ft | 129 sq. ft | 743 sq. ft |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The Honeywell PowerPlus in testing.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Air Cleaning Performance
If nothing else, the Honeywell PowerPlus did a great job at cleaning the air despite its limited specs on paper. It has a relatively low CADR (clean air delivery rate) score compared to many of its peers, but during our smoke test, it managed to clear away 99.97%% of the harmful particles in the air. While it effectively cleared out the thick smoke, the odor lingered beyond the one-hour testing window. We used the standard filter that came with the unit to ensure a fair comparison across all devices. However, this model offers four distinctive filters depending on your needs: Smoke, Home Renovation, Kitchen, and Pet.
The Honeywell PowerPlus did well in our smoke test.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Noise
Utilizing the turbo setting, the Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA is a very loud device. In fact, every mode we tested was audible and somewhat disruptive. Many air purifiers we've reviewed barely register a decibel reading from 6 feet away on their low settings, but this model landed at 54.2 decibels on turbo, 46.1 on medium, and 41 on the lowest setting. If you're hoping the sound will gently fade into the background, be prepared for it to add to the overall noise level in your home.
The sound levels of the Honeywell PowerPlus were not a strong point.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
Getting the Honeywell PowerPlus up and running was easy. Filters are also simple to replace, which you'll need to do a few times a year, depending on the filter you choose. The touch buttons are responsive, and each one lights up when selected. However, the different modes can be confusing at first glance. Various icons signify fan speed, but it's not immediately clear which is which.
We weighed each air purifier.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
There are four different cleaning options—Microscopic Particles, General Clean, and Pollen—plus Turbo mode, which is the highest power level. Lastly, the overall size of this model is convenient, as it can likely be placed on most nightstands. The Honeywell is nearly 10 pounds, and while this is one of the heavier options, it wasn't difficult to move around thanks to its carrying handle.
The Honeywell is portable and easy to place just about anywhere.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Operating Cost
The biggest weakness of the Honeywell PowerPlus is its lack of efficiency. Using a kilowatt reader and the national averages for electricity, we discovered that this device will not go easy on your power bill. We calculated the costs assuming you'll be running it on medium for up to 12 hours a day on average. Additionally, the carbon pre-filters need to be replaced every three months, and the HEPA filter once per year, which adds more cost over the lifetime of this air purifier. The annual cost is among the highest we've seen during testing at $220.
The carbon pre-filters will wear out every few months with regular use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA?
It has effective air purifying abilities and is somewhat portable, but beyond that, we can't find much reason to recommend this air purifier over others. The high operating cost and lack of features really take this device down a notch, making it tough to consider this a contender among the high-performance machines on the market today.
What Other Air Purifiers Should You Consider?
The Coway Airmega 200M offers a much better performance-to-cost ratio. It removes 100% of the particles in an hour and is highly efficient in terms of electricity usage. Additionally, its HEPA filters, which only need to be replaced once a year, are available at an affordable price. The GermGuardian AC4825E, while not perfect, still delivers good cleaning power with a lower upfront cost. Finally, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i excels in nearly every aspect and is one of our favorite air purifiers for blending in with any home thanks to its many color and design options.
—
Genaveve Bradshaw and Ryan White
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