Coway, the brand that nabbed the top two spots on CNET’s best air purifier list after our recent testing, just released a brand-new, compact unit that’s part of its popular Airmega lineup.
The Airmega Mighty2 Mini features ultra-quiet operation, a multi-stage filtration system and a compact design that’s 40% smaller than its larger counterpart, the Airmega Mighty2. But the price tag may be the biggest draw.
The top two picks on our list, the Airmega 450 and the Airmega 400S, retail for $499 and $680, respectively, while the Mighty2 retails for $270. Yet the Mighty2 Mini comes in as the most impressive steal at $170.
How the Airmega Mighty2 Mini works
I received the Airmega Mighty2 Mini ahead of its launch. Although our lab team in Louisville, Kentucky, hasn’t yet put it through our rigorous air purifier testing, a few things were clear off the bat. To start, this unit is cute. The sleek and compact design makes it ideal for any room, but its quiet operation makes it ideal for bedrooms and nurseries. The Airmega Mighty2 Mini is available in white, beige and green.
It has a manufacturer-listed range of 19.2 to 49 decibels, depending on the mode used. For reference, 49 decibels is comparable to moderate rainfall. When it was set to its lowest speed, I never noticed it was on, but at its highest, I could definitely hear it. However, it was still significantly quieter than my window air-conditioner unit or tower fan.
It has eco, turbo, sleep and smart modes, as well as three speeds, a timer option and a washable pre-filter, a carbon filter, and a HEPA filter that can remove 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. It weighs less than 10 pounds and is easy to move from room to room.
Unlike some other air purifiers, including some from Coway itself, this affordable option lacks app connectivity. Still, it has a simple built-in air quality monitor with a four-color LED indicator at the top of the unit that shows the air quality in your room at any given time.
Our lab tested the larger Airmega Mighty, and during the particle-removal test, it removed 90% of fine particles in 90 seconds with the fan on high and in 2 minutes and 45 seconds with the fan on low. Although these are decent results, other units, including the top two Coway options, outperformed it in particle-removal speed. Still, the prices of the Airmega Mighty options are hard to beat.
In our next round of air purifier testing, we will include the new Airmega Mighty2 Mini to see whether it can impress us as much as larger Airmega models.