Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier – are they effective in COVID?

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Which one should you buy – Molekule air purifier or Dyson air purifier – are they effective in COVID? Molekule PECO-Filters purify air thanks to a proprietary coating. Only Molekule-branded filters are warrantied for use with Molekule air purifiers. Dyon uses HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns including pollen, dust, mold spores, bacteria and pet dander. Second filter layer with active carbon captures household odors and volatile organic compounds such as paint fumes. Discover more in Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier.

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Pros & Cons – Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

Molekule air purifier

Pros

  • PECO filtration destroys pollutants
  • Tech only available from Molekule
  • Whisper quiet
  • Touch screen display
  • Easy to move around house
  • Certain models work with Apple HomeKit

Cons

  • Expensive for Some

Dyson air purifier

Pros

  • Sleep mode
  • Night mode
  • Carbon filtration
  • Innovative integration with fans, heaters, and humidifiers

Cons

  • Expensive for Some
  • No PECO filtering

Key differences

Molekule

  • Cleans Up To: 600 sq. ft.
  • Filters: PECO & Pre-Filter
  • Wifi Control: Yes
  • Oscillation: No
  • Dimensions: 8.25′ x 23′

Dyson Pure Cool TP04

  • Cleans Up To: 765 sq. ft.
  • Filters: HEPA & Activated Carbon
  • Wifi Control: Yes
  • Oscillation: Yes
  • Dimensions: 8.1′ x 41.5

List of air purifier – Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

Molekule Air

The Molekule Air is a more accessible unit that cleans the air in spaces as large as 600 sq. ft. Financing is available for all of the Molekule Air filters, but the unit also comes with a 100% refundable 30-day home trial in case you have any trepidation. The unit improves indoor air quality, all while operating at a whisper-quiet noise level. The ozone-free performance is impressive, but the overall system is also convenient. You can set up automatic filter refills, so there is one less thing on your mind.

Like the Molekule Air Pro, the touch screen display lets you easily select fan speeds and modes, as well as check on filter status.

Molekule Air Pro

The Molekule Air Pro is a professional-grade air filter that works in spaces as large as 1,000 sq. ft. Unsurprisingly, the Molekule Air Pro is the most expensive model the brand offers, but it is good to know they offer a financing option in case the purchase price is too much to bite off in one chunk. It’s a beautiful unit with 360-degree air intake, intuitive on-unit controls showing filter status and air particle levels, and communicates with Molekule’s associated smartphone app.

Molekule Air Mini

The Molekule Air Mini and Molekule Air Mini+ are the smallest units the company makes, destroying indoor air pollutants in spaces as large as 250 sq. feet. Because the units are smaller, they are also naturally more portable.

In order of smallest to largest, here is a list of all current Dyson models:

  • Dyson Pure Hot + Cool: a compact air purifier that can sit on a table or desk that heats, cools, and purifies for all-year comfort (available in HP01, HP02 and HP04 models, comes in white/silver, black/silver, or iron/blue)
  • Dyson Pure Cool Me: a personal size purifying fan (available in BP01 model, comes in white/silver or black/silver)
  • Dyson Pure Cool – Compact: a compact air purifier that can sit on a table or desk that cools small to medium-sized rooms (available in DP01, DP02 and DP04 models, comes in white/silver, black/silver, or Iron/blue)
  • Dyson Pure Cool – Tower: a larger tower purifier that purifies and cools over 77 gallons of air per second (available in TP01, TP02 and TP04 models, comes in white/silver, black/silver, or Iron/blue)

Who is this for – Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier?

The Molekule may be best if you:

  • Want a modern purifier: If you want a purifier that doesn’t scream “AIR PURIFIER”, the Molekule is a great option as well. It has a modern aesthetic, has limited grooves and crevices for dust to collect and is easy to use.
  • Want PECO technology: If you are opposed to HEPA filtration, the Molekule air purifier is an excellent option. While the performance was not as good as traditional HEPA filtration on the Dyson (based on our in-home tests), it certainly wasn’t bad by any measure.

The Dyson may be best if you:

  • Want more options: Dyson has a much wider selection of purifier models on the market than the Molekule. If you’re looking for difference sizes, styles or features, you may be pleased with some of the other models that Dyson has available.
  • Want the best performance: Between the Molekule vs. Dyson, the Dyson TP04 outperformed the Molekule during our tests. It is even more impressive considering the initial baseline measurement showed poorer air quality than the quality of air that the Molekule tested in.

Compare Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

 MolekuleTP04HP04DP04BP01
Form FactorCompactTowerCompactCompactPersonal
ModeCooling OnlyCooling OnlyHeat + CoolingCooling OnlyCooling Only
OscillationNone350°350°350°70°
AirflowForward OnlyForward or BackwardForward or BackwardForward or BackwardForward Only
Height23″41.5″30.1″27.2″15.78″
Amp SizeN/A8.1″ diameter8.1″ diameter13.9″ diameterN/A
Weight18 lbs.10.98 lbs.19.07 lbs.10.25 lbs.6.17 lbs.
Remote Control?NoYesNoYesNo
WirelessWifi-EnabledWifi-EnabledWifi-EnabledWifi-EnabledWifi-Enabled
FilterPECO filter and pre-filterGlass HEPA filter and activated carbon filterGlass HEPA filter and activated carbon filterGlass HEPA filter and activated carbon filterGlass HEPA filter and activated carbon filter

Customer reviews – Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

Design

The Molekule is built with aluminum and has a sleek and stylish look. It is well built and has an average size. On top of it, there is a touch screen that allows choosing between modes, monitor filters, and put the purifier on stand-by.

With Dyson, you can see that there are four different designs: a portable one, medium size, a tall one, and a smaller one. The medium (HP04) can create cool and hot air and also purify. The TP (a tall one) can create cool air and also purify, it has a tall tower design. The DP is a portable purifier, it also creates cool air and purifies, can be used on a desk, or for small areas. The cheapest and smallest one BP, it also creates cool air and purifies, can be used for small areas.

Size

The Molekule air purifier is 23″ tall and 8.25″ in diameter. It weighs 18 lbs.

The Dyson air purifier ranges widely, but basically has these three categories.

Personal

  • 15.7″H x 7.7 x 9.6″
  • 9.9 pounds

Compact

  • 27.2″H x 8.8″ x 13.8″
  • 10.18 pounds

Tower

  • 41.5″H x 8.8″ x 8.8″
  • 10.89 pounds

It has almost the same diameter base (8″ vs. 8.8″), but the Dyson is almost twice the height of the Molekule. (23″ on the Molekule vs. 41.5″ on the Dyson). The large, open amp is notably the feature that makes the Dyson so much taller.

Filter

Molekule: PECO Filtration

With the Molekule, the PECO filter is the primary line of defense against allergens and airborne irritants.Smaller particles (even those smaller than the 0.3 microns) enter into the PECO filter where it uses light to shine on a specially designed nano-particle coated filter and destroy the particles.

Dyson: HEPA Filtration

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have Dyson that relies on traditional HEPA filtration. Dyson uses a large HEPA filter in addition to an activated carbon filter. The HEPA filter removes fine particulates, while the activated carbon filter helps to remove smells and gasses.

Filter replacement

The maintenance of each of these air purifiers really boils down to one thing… the filters. The filters are the most critical part of each air purifier and without proper filter maintenance, the performance will notably suffer.

To properly maintain the Molekule…

  1. Replace the pre-filter once every 3 months.
  2. Replace the PECO filter once every 6 months.

To properly maintain the Dyson…

  1. Follow the digital / app-based prompts on replacement frequency for the HEPA filter as well as the activated carbon filter. We estimate you will need to replace the filters every 6-18 months, depending on use.

Replacement filters for both the Molekule as well as the Dyson are available directly from the manufacturer’s website or are also available from third party retailers.

Operating Modes

Depending on the size of your space, both the Dyson and the Molekule offer a variety of air purification modes for each purifier.

The modes on the Molekule air purifier include:

  • Auto Mode: In auto mode, you can input information about your room, like size, to help the purifier determine the optimal fan speed and airflow for best results. This is a nice feature if you’re not sure of the quality of your air and want the Molekule to adjust as needed.
  • Dark Mode: Dark mode is mainly reserved for purification while you sleep or other light-sensitive times. Keep in mind, when the Molekule is in dark mode, it won’t be able to use the PECO filter properly. Once the light is turned back on, it will treat the particles that were gathered when in dark mode.
  • Boost Mode: For boost mode, the Molekule will run at the highest possible air flow setting. This mode is great for purifying spaces right after you dust or run other cleaning cycles.
  • Silent mode: When the purifier is in Silent mode, the fans are running at the lowest possible sound output level (around 30 dB).

The modes on the Dyson air purifier include:

  • Auto Mode: In Auto Mode, the Dyson will detect current air quality and automatically adjust as needed to most effectively treat the air, turning up or down as needed.
  • Night Mode: In night mode, you can set a sleep timer that ranges from 0-8 hours, automatically shutting off when the timer is complete.
  • Custom Mode: This mode allows you to select a custom fan speed, ranging from 1-10. You can also customize airflow direction depending on whether or not you want the air blowing towards you or away from you (good for varying seasons). Oscillation can also be customized ranging from 0 to 350°.

Noise

Molekule Noise : 39-65 dB
Dyson Noise : 40-56 dB

The above dB levels are based on our in-home sound meter tests, standing about 3 feet away from the purifier. These tests are in a living room studio and include normal ambient noise within the room, which is around 39 dB.

App Control

Both Dyson and Molekule have the ability to connect to a smartphone-based app.

From the app you can:

  • Turn the purifier on / off
  • Check current air quality
  • Send notifications to your phone
  • Configure the space / how much to clean
  • Changes modes
  • Monitor filter replacement schedules
  • Go into a dark or quiet setting for nighttime use

Oscillation

One feature that the Molekule doesn’t have, but most Dyson purifiers do have is oscillation. The exact range of oscillation varies by model, but spans from 0° up to 350°.

Dyson air purifier - oscillation settings

Here are the oscillation limits of other popular Dyson air purifier models:

  • Dyson Pure Cool TP04, DP04, and Pure + Cool HP04: 350°
  • Dyson Pure Cool TP01, Pure Cool Me BP01, and Pure Hot + Cool HP01: 70°

Again, the Molekule air purifier does not have the ability to oscillate.

How to do they work?

Molekule

When allergens and other particles enter the system, they will first be challenged by the pre-filter. It is used to catch out larger particles. When smaller particles manage to go through the pre-filter, the PECO filter will use light to shine on a nano-particle coated filter to completely eliminate even the smallest of elements that could be harmful to our lungs.

Dyson

As opposed to the Molekule, Dyson models rely on HEPA filtration. This filtration technology has been around for over 80 years and remains one of the most widely used purification methods on the market.

Dyson air purification units make use of a large HEPA filter which is complemented with an activated carbon filter. The HEPA filter is mainly used to remove particles larger than 0.3 microns while the activated carbon filter is responsible for the removal of any odors.

Performance review – Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

The Molekule sample was next and there was an embarrassed pause as Rahmy tried to find mold spores to compare to the other sample. They simply weren’t there. It was only after a few minutes of nervous searching (since the CEO and Director of R&D were with me as well) that he was able to pinpoint the burst structures of what had been mold spores. They hadn’t spread or stayed intact, but instead died on the spot.

Mold Growth PECO (magnified)
Mold Growth PECO (magnified) MOLEKULE

The Dyson sample was first and I could clearly see the mold spores, their structure intact, on the filter. It was easy for Rahmy to zoom around the sample and find areas to focus in on.

Testing VOCs and Allergens

Our next stop was Molekule’s custom testing lab. There, they’ve built several custom chambers to see how effective their (and their competitor’s) devices are at removing VOCs from the air. They also take samples for their extremely sensitive, extremely expensive, mass spectrometer so that they can see what exactly is in the air they’re testing. 

Molekule ran identical tests for both the Molekule Air and the Dyson Cryptomic (Clarification: these tests were conducted with the unit being tested placed a sealed chamber that was kept at a steady temperature in the mid-70s. Pollutants were injected at identical concentrations directly into the chamber for each unit.).

After three hours, the results were impressive. The Dyson did an admirable job stripping out limonene and xylene out of the air (limonene is in a wide variety of household cleaners and xylene is produced during forest fires) with 26 and 29 micrograms per cubic meter of air, respectively. 

Our results are shown below. We tested the Molekule air purifier vs. the Dyson TP04 air purifier:

Starting Baseline

  • PM 2.5: 6.2
  • PM 10: 10.7
  • Particles: 379
  • AQI: 25

Molekule: After 1 Hour

  • PM 2.5: 0.6
  • PM 10: 1.2
  • Particles: 44
  • AQI: 0

Starting Baseline

  • PM 2.5: 7.4
  • PM 10: 12.1
  • Particles: 599
  • AQI: 30

Dyson TP04: After 1 Hour

  • PM 2.5: 0.2
  • PM 10: 0.2
  • Particles: 14
  • AQI: 0

Alternate of Molekule air purifier vs Dyson air purifier

Coway AP1512HH HEPA Air Purifier

After months of use in my own home, Coway’s HEPA air purifier has cemented itself as my favorite HEPA air cleaner around. While it saw great deals in recent months, its price tag at Amazon is up to an uncomfortable $250 — which is only decent for the 361-square-foot coverage it offers. Luckily, its unique design and ion filtration technology that removes pet dander, dust and other allergen particles set it apart from many other purifiers in the price range. The Coway’s striking, retro design was one of my favorites among the devices I tested.

Personally, while using this air purifier brand, I’ve experienced fewer allergy symptoms during typically difficult seasons for me. A colleague’s mother also recently bought a Coway for smoke in her home during the West Coast wildfires, and she noticed an immediate improvement in the air quality.

While the ionic filtration technology isn’t a huge plus, it also won’t produce significant ozone, as tested by the California EPA. If you want an air purifier for a midsize room, Coway’s HEPA air purifier is one of the best air purification options around with one of the most adventurous looks.

Honeywell Home HPA300

Honeywell’s $225 air purifier is a little more expensive than other HEPA models, but it can cover a larger space than almost any other purifier I tested: 465 square feet. Despite its clunky design (this thing weighs a hefty 21 pounds), the Honeywell Home is actually one of the quieter models around.

The Honeywell Home’s aesthetic isn’t my favorite, but you get good control for setting timers and checking whether the prefilter or filter needs replacing. If you’re looking for great basic performance for a reasonable price, you can’t beat this Honeywell HPA300

Editor’s recommendations

Abu Saleh Rizvee
Abu Saleh Rizvee

I love to write content and contribute for my society. I invest my days in creating content for products those I love and brands who need online presence

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