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Portable air purifier

Austin Air HealthMate

HealthMate standard model

$715US price, checked Oct 13, 2026

Heavy steel purifier with lots of carbon, five-year filters and no published CADR

Check price at Austin Air Full review →

Portable air purifier

Alen BreatheSmart 45i

US BreatheSmart 45i

$449US price, checked Oct 13, 2026

Slim, quiet HEPA purifier with a guarantee tied to Alen filters

Check price at Alen Full review →

Criterion	Austin Air HealthMate	Alen BreatheSmart 45i
US price	$715Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review	$449Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review
Three-year ownership estimate	$952 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: energy use.	$725 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: energy use.
Choose if	You want a steel purifier with lots of carbon for odors and a filter change only every few years.	You want a quiet, slim HEPA purifier for one large room and don't mind buying Alen filters every year.
Main trade-off	You pay $715 or more without a CADR, room size, noise or wattage figure to judge it by.	Filters add $69 to $198 a year, and Alen gives its own airflow figure instead of AHAM smoke, dust and pollen ratings.
Key specifications	CADR (smoke, dust, pollen): Not published by Austin Air Room size: Not published. Austin Air says only that it can clean large rooms Filter: One 4-stage filter: two pre-filters, 780+ cu in of carbon and zeolite (up to 15 lb), 60 sq ft of HEPA HEPA efficiency (maker's claim): 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron and 99% down to 0.1 micron Filter life and price: Up to 5 years in normal home use; $395 per replacement Fan: 3-speed centrifugal; motor rated for continuous use Power draw and noise: Not published. The manual gives only the outlet: 120 V AC, 60 Hz Wheels: The manual lists easy-roll wheels on standard-size models Size and weight: 14.5 × 14.5 × 23 in; 47 lb	Clean air delivery rate: 255 CFM on high by Alen's own CADRi figure; 80, 120 and 190 CFM on the lower speeds. No separate smoke, dust or pollen CADR on Alen's page. Room size: 950 sq ft at 2 air changes an hour or 1,900 sq ft at 1, by Alen's figures. Its FAQ says up to 1,600 sq ft. Noise: 24 dB on the lowest speed to 50 dB on high Power draw: 1.6 to 64 W in the spec table; the FAQ says 50 W on high. Alen doesn't say which setting draws 1.6 W. Filter life: Essential (Pure) 9 to 12 months; Advanced (Fresh) and Ultimate (Odor) 6 to 8 months, running 24/7 Filter price: $69, $89 or $99 each; 10% off on subscription ($62.10, $80.10 or $89.10) Ozone: Optional ionizer: under 0.001 ppm when on, 0 ppm when off. Alen lists CARB certification.
Exact variant	HealthMate standard model	US BreatheSmart 45i
Dimensions	14.5 L × 14.5 W × 23 H in; 47 lb.	25 in high, 15 in wide and 8.5 in deep, and 14 lb, according to the product page. Alen's support table lists the 45i/FLEX at 19 × 11 × 28 in and 23 lb. That's the same size it gives for the shipping box.
Installation	No installation. It plugs into a standard 120 V outlet. Austin Air says to set it on a flat, dry, stable surface at least four inches from any wall, with the vent facing away from the wall. It's meant to run 24/7.	Freestanding, with no installation. It runs from a 24 V external power adapter. The manual asks for a level surface at least 6 in from heat sources such as heaters, with the vents left clear. The Alen Air app adds remote control, scheduling and filter alerts over Wi-Fi.
Materials	Steel housing with a 360° perforated intake and a baked-on powder-coat finish. The filter has a large-particle pre-filter, a medium-particle pre-filter, over 780 cubic inches of activated carbon and zeolite (up to 15 lb), and 60 sq ft of HEPA media.	One filter cartridge with a prefilter you can vacuum. Essential (Pure) is a True HEPA (H13) filter aimed at dust, pollen, dander, mold and allergens. Advanced (Fresh) adds activated carbon for VOCs, smoke and cooking odors. Ultimate (Odor) adds an odor neutralizer for pet and diaper smells. An optional ionizer can be turned on or off. The front panel comes in White, Oak, Weathered Gray, Brushed Stainless, Graphite or Espresso.
Warranty	Five years on the unit against defects in material and workmanship, under normal home use. Coverage depends on returning the warranty registration. The filter has its own five-year pro-rated warranty, and Austin Air doesn't explain how the pro-rating works.	Alen gives a 1-year manufacturer's warranty. Its Forever Guarantee extends that if you register the serial number and use only Alen filters. You also need an active filter subscription or proof of an Alen filter purchase in the last 12 months. If troubleshooting can't fix a fault, you get a new unit in year two. From year three you get a refurbished or reconditioned unit, and the guarantee page sets no end date. Alen's support page says to register within 12 months of purchase. The guarantee doesn't transfer and excludes accidental damage, floods and fires. The product page says it needs an active subscription, but the guarantee page also accepts a recent filter purchase.
Returns	30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Austin Air doesn't say who pays return shipping.	60-day trial on orders from alen.com. Alen refunds the purchase but deducts return shipping, using a FedEx label it emails you. Opened filters can't be returned. The refund can take up to 7 business days after the warehouse receives the return. Orders from other retailers go back through that retailer. Alen doesn't say whether the 60 days start at purchase or delivery.
Unresolved questions	CADR for smoke, dust and pollen, and the room size it suits Power draw at each speed, so running cost is unknown Noise at each speed How the pro-rated filter warranty is calculated Why Austin Air's two stores list different prices Whether it's in AHAM's Verifide directory or on CARB's certified list	Smoke, dust and pollen CADR from AHAM or Energy Star testing Whether CARB's own list includes the 45i (Alen's linked order file has no readable text) Average power on auto, so the yearly electricity cost Whether the store ships the original 45i or the touch-control 45i V2 named in Alen's CARB and Energy Star files The true size and weight, since Alen's product page and support table disagree How long a filter lasts if you don't run it around the clock How often subscription filters ship

These comparisons use published specifications, not head-to-head tests. Prices and terms are dated. Unknown costs are not zero. Check the exact variant before you buy.