a photo of Airthings Renew Air Purifier in a room plugged in and cleaning the air.
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Airthings Renew Air Purifier Review

Explore Airthings Renew: Clean Air & Smart Home Integration for Healthier Living.

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Overall Rating:
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As Springtime is upon us and the trees bloom, so does the air quality inside and outside our home. And with hay fever sufferers starting to feel the change in the air, the need for a smart air purifier becomes greater for them and anyone looking to keep the air in the home free of pollen and other particles that are bad for you. We recently tested a new smart air purifier that can help keep the air in your home clean and provide information on what type of particles they are taking out of the air to keep you from sneezing. It's Airthings Renew Air Purifier, and it's worth looking at what we learned from testing this smart air purifier in a typical home over the past few weeks.

What is the Airthings Renew Air Purifier?


a photo of Airthings Renew Air Purifier unboxed on a countertop.Airthings Renew Air Purifier unboxed.GearBrain

Discover the Airthings Renew Air Purifier, the epitome of intelligent air quality solutions designed to blend seamlessly into your living space. With a history of creating innovative air quality products, Airthings now introduces Renew, specifically crafted for your bedroom. It ensures your nights are filled with peace and your air with purity.

Elegant Design Meets Superior Functionality: Renew stands out with its understated, matte color palette inspired by the natural world. Its versatile design allows placement in multiple orientations—upright, laid flat, or even wall-mounted. Its built-in cable storage and strap handle enhance its portability, making it effortless to purify any room up to 525 sq ft (49 m2).

Silent Guardian of Your Air Quality: Renew's Silent mode operates at a library-quiet 23 dB, ensuring undisturbed sleep while it diligently purifies the air. Its 4-stage HEPA-13 cleaning system, featuring two washable pre-filters, a HEPA-13 filter, and an active charcoal filter, tackles particulates, gases, and odors, leaving behind clean, healthy air. This comprehensive system captures 99.97% of tiny particles, ensuring a clean environment.

a photo of the controls on a Airthings Renew Air PurifierControls for Airthings Renew Air PurifierGearBrain

Intelligent, Effortless Operation: With Renew, you can 'set and forget' thanks to its Auto mode, powered by a high-precision, laser-based PM2.5 sensor that automatically adjusts fan speed based on real-time air quality. This feature ensures optimal air purification while conserving energy, so you can take clean air for granted without a second thought.

Stay Connected for a Healthier Home: The Airthings Renew is not just an air purifier; it's a smart air quality companion. Utilizing the intuitive Airthings app, you can easily check air quality trends, control the purifier remotely, and even reorder filters. Compatible with iOS and Android devices, Renew connects via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection (Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n) and supports Bluetooth 4.2 or later, ensuring you're always in control, no matter where you are.


Smart Home Integrations with Airthings Renew Air Purifier


a screenshot of the Alexa App explaining how to add the Airthings Alexa SkillUse Airthings Alexa Skill to connect Alexa to your Airthings Renew Air PurifierGearBrain

If you want a smart home-ready air purifier, we can tell you that Airthings Renew works with Alexa, Amazon's voice platform, to help you monitor and keep the air in your home clean all the time. Although direct smart home automations via the Alexa ecosystem are limited and not supported due to the specific nature of air quality parameters, you can still use Alexa to vocalize your Airthings monitor's sensor readings, adding a layer of convenience and interaction.


How to install the Airthings Renew Smart Air Purifier

a screenshot of the QR code on the Airthings Renew Air Purifier quick start guide to download the Airthings app.Use the QR code on the quick start guide to download the Airthings appGearBrain

Setting up your Airthings Renew Smart Air Purifier is a breeze, ensuring you can start purifying your home's air with minimal fuss. Here's a straightforward guide to get you up and running:

  1. Unboxing: Begin by opening the box and verifying all components are included: the air purifier, power cord, Quick Start Guide, a clip, and the manual.
  2. Power Connection: Locate the cable compartment cover on the side of your air purifier and remove it to reveal the power connection. Plug in the cord and reattach the cover, ensuring a snug fit without any obstruction from the cord. Misalignment may prevent the cover from closing properly.
  3. App Installation: Once your air purifier is powered on, you should download the Airthings app for seamless control and monitoring. You can scan the QR code provided in the Quick Start Guide or search for it in the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android users. After installing the app, you'll be prompted to create an account.
  4. Wi-Fi Connection: Find your Wi-Fi password, as you'll need it to connect your Renew air purifier to your home network. This crucial step enables remote control via the app and access to real-time air quality monitoring.
  5. Device Setup: In the Airthings app, tap the "+" icon in the top right corner to add your new device. Follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup process in just a few minutes.
  6. Using Your Air Purifier: After the setup is complete, your Renew air purifier can now be controlled manually or through the app. On the device, an LED light indicates air quality: green for good, yellow for fair, and red for poor.

A screenshot of the Pollen readings from Airthings Renew Air Purifier in the Airthings appAirthings app provides real-time pollen readings taken from the Airthings Renew Air PurifierGearBrain

The Airthings app also provides valuable insights into your home's air quality, including tracking pollen from various sources like trees, grasses, and weeds. It offers detailed explanations and real-time data on pollen impact, helping you understand and manage your indoor air quality effectively.

With these steps, you'll have your Airthings Renew Air Purifier up and quickly protect your home's air quality.


How Much Does Airthings Renew Air Purifier Cost?

The Airthings Renew Smart Air Purifier has an MSRP of $399.99 and is available on the company website and Amazon. The company offers three Airthings bundles on its website. The bundles include other Airthings smart air monitors and radon detectors with the purchase of the Renew air purifier. The bundles are only available on the Airthings site and start around $699, and the company is currently offering 25% off.



Performance - What We Appreciate About the Airthings Renew Air Purifier

Based on our findings after testing the device for the past few weeks, we have much to share. First is the installation process. It is straightforward, and the operation is user-friendly. The stem effectively maintains the air in our den—adjacent to the kitchen—clean and free from odors despite being a frequently used area.

We found the Boost mode particularly useful for times when we were expecting visitors, ensuring our space was welcoming. While the purifier operates with noticeable sound during intense cleaning, it remains unobtrusive and far from disruptive.

Setting up the air purifier through the Airthings app was hassle-free, and connecting to our home Wi-Fi was smooth and without any complications. The app is intuitive, offering pollen count readings and insightful details on pollen types, including trees, grasses, and weeds.

Screenshot of Pollen readings in the Airthings appAirthings app breaks down the pollen readings by trees, grasses and weeds. GearBrain

When active, the air purifier is impressively quiet, blending seamlessly into the background and ensuring continuous air purification without disturbance. The Auto Mode feature is incredibly convenient, keeping the air clean around the clock without needing manual adjustments.

Design-wise, the air purifier integrates well into our space, offering flexibility in placement, whether on the floor or mounted on the wall, provided there's an accessible outlet. The air quality indicator lights are a practical addition, offering immediate air quality status without the need to consult the app. The child lock feature is another plus, providing peace of mind when the device is within reach of curious little ones.

a photo of the strap on the side of the Airthings Renew Air PurifierThe Airthings Renew Air Purifier comes with a strap that makes it easy to carry.GearBrain

The portable design, facilitated by a strap, makes relocating the air purifier effortless, a boon given its manageable weight of 15 pounds (5.4 kg), including the power cord.

However, the integration with Amazon Alexa fell short of expectations. Although it's possible to access sensor readings via the Airthings Alexa skill, the lack of direct, smart home automations with Alexa compared to other smart air purifiers was somewhat disappointing. The direct integrations often provide enhanced control, scheduling capabilities, and alerts, which we missed.

While the price point of $399 is not on the lower end, it's justified for a premium smart air purifier of this caliber, making it a worthwhile investment for those prioritizing advanced air purification technology.



Summary

The Airthings Renew Smart Air Purifier stands out as a comprehensive solution for enhancing indoor air quality, especially with spring's arrival and the accompanying increase in pollen. I liked how the smart air purifier is designed to fit seamlessly into a bedroom but I think it will work in any home environment. This smart air purifier offers effective air cleaning capabilities and has a silent operation that ensures a disturbance-free atmosphere in any room in the home, not just the bedroom. I also liked how the intuitive Airthings app provides detailed insights into air quality, including real-time pollen tracking.

Easy to install and operate, the Airthings Renew purifier is ideal for anyone looking to improve their home's air quality. It offers flexibility in placement and smart features like auto mode for continuous air purification. Despite its higher price point of $399, its premium features and compatibility with smart home devices, except for limited Amazon Alexa integrations, make it a valuable investment for a healthier living space.

Pros

  • Easy installation and operation
  • Silent operation
  • Child Lock feature
  • Intuitive app
  • 4-Stage HEPA-13 filtering system

Cons

  • Alexa integration
  • Price

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