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The latest smart air purifier is from Bemis, a large-scale manufacturer that produces everything from humidifiers to toilet seats. The Bemis Imunsen smart tower air purifier is exactly what its name implies: a towering off-white (somewhat medically-looking) 19-pound device measuring 29 inches high and 10 inches long on each side.
Air is sucked in from the three sides at the bottom and is output directly upwards through the attractive panel at the top. The detachable top plate is made of maple wood, carved into a honeycomb pattern, giving it a natural beauty. If it is more in line with your decoration style, the device is also available in black.
This review is part of TechHive's report on the best air purifiers, where you can find reviews of competitors' products, as well as a buyer's guide for features that should be considered when buying such products.
Bemis does not provide a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) rating for the purifier, but it does indicate that the device can filter 265 cubic feet of air per minute and has a usable area of 782 square feet. Its cylindrical multi-stage filter can be accessed through the rear of the device. Here, a HEPA 13 filter is the core component, plus a "deodorizing filter", which can remove VOC and other odorous gases. It is said that the filter can be used for about a year, and it costs $100 to replace one.
On the front of the device, a simple subsurface LED provides a digital indicator of PM2.5 (particulate matter in the 2.5 mm range) level, plus a color LED to indicate whether the air condition is good (green), average (blue) or Bad (orange).
A series of buttons on the top of the device give you access to many expected controls, including four operating modes: a dynamic automatic mode that changes power according to pollution levels, three manual control levels, a full-speed cyclone mode, and a sleep mode that can be used in the day When it is dark, the fan speed is automatically reduced to dim the display. Please note that sleep mode is sensitive to light; if any light enters the room, the unit will quickly return to automatic mode, even if you turn off the light, it will not return to sleep mode. This is a well-thought-out feature, but if you are a person who sleeps during the day or just don’t want to place more LEDs around you, putting a little electrical tape on the light sensor may provide more flexibility. The lowest level of operation and all modes except sleep mode are very loud; the cyclone mode is deafening.
The last feature is the ability to add an essential oil capsule to the device, which is very convenient if you want the purifier to double as an aroma diffuser. This is not the easiest process, because it requires pulling the wooden panel from the top (a special tool is provided), and then using a screwdriver to remove the safety net under the panel. From there, the oil capsule can be put into the inside of the device, and then everything must be reassembled. The capsules come in eucalyptus or lavender; each lasts two to three months. Three packs of capsules are priced at $50.
There is nothing to see in the application, but at least it replicates the hardware control of the unit.
The unit includes smart functions, but these functions are very basic and add little to the experience. The Bemis Air app has a lengthy and roughly documented installation process that requires registration, and a temporary Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) manually connected to the device. The process includes tapping and printing only in manual. (Pro tip: it's "bemisair".) The app got stuck once during my setup, but restarting it a second time allowed me to complete it in one go.
Once in the app, the options will be restricted. The application screen recreates the controls available on the device itself and provides the same color-coded PM2.5 information. There is no historical pollutant level log, no scheduling mode, and no connection to third-party ecosystems such as Alexa. The only new features in the app are real-time temperature measurement (in degrees Celsius only), filter level gauge and "humidification" (that is, the humidity in the room).
Asking for some proofreading in the Bemis Air app may sound pedantic, but considering the $800 pricing (a discount of $100 at launch, or you can save $100 by getting the same model without Wi-Fi), I think It will not be outdated. In addition, it is understandable that shoppers want to know more details of Bemis's CADR rating and more in-depth smart features. On the bright side, the device can exhaust a lot of air, so if you need a fairly stylish purifier to fit a fairly large room-and assuming you are not turned away by the price-Bemis Imunsen Smart Tower The air purifier is the least worth seeing.
Bemis' towering air purifier only provides minimal smart functions and cumbersome setup procedures, but it can indeed pass a lot of dirty air.
Christopher Null is a senior technical and business journalist. He regularly contributes to TechHive, PCWorld and Wired, and runs the Drinkhacker and Film Racket websites.
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