Best Air Purifiers (2026): Tested Picks for Every Room

Shark BreatheClear Max for $450: Launched in April (we've previously tested the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier and Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max), this purifier offers intelligent purification that automatically adjusts fan speed in response to the air around it, scanning the air 3,600 times per hour. The filter lasts up to a whopping six years, and it can clean up to 1,650 square feet in an hour. 5 and 10, and VOCs. To be honest, though, this air purifier slightly annoyed me. The bottom never seemed to screw in right and often fell out, and the fan auto-detected seemingly any and every potential pollutant on auto mode—something as innocuous as my cat walking by would launch it into its highest level, at about 75 decibels.