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AirBeam 3 Review – Portable & Standalone Air Quality Monitor

While it now feels like there are almost countless indoor air quality monitors and even many options for outdoor air quality monitors, I’ve always felt that one category of air quality monitors has been severely lacking. As you can probably already guess, those are portable air quality monitors.

A few years ago, I reviewed the Atmotube Pro, a device I still rely on today since it’s one of the few high-quality portable monitors available. However, at the end of last year, I discovered another monitor that had somehow escaped my radar – the AirBeam by Habitatmap. Currently, in its third generation, the AirBeam 3 instantly made me curious due to its fantastic accuracy results in AQMD’s third-party testing.

I knew I wanted to try this device because high-quality, portable air quality monitors that don’t have significant downsides are hard to find. In most cases, they need to be constantly connected to your phone, or they suffer from short battery life. However, the AirBeam 3 looked to be the most complete monitor because it can save data to your phone (by Bluetooth or over cellular as it can also house a SIM card), send it over WiFi, or even save it locally to an SD card. This functionality comes alongside 17 hours of battery life – enough to get through a whole day outside.

While the device has other highlights, these aspects also stood out to me. Not needing to worry about a constant connection and having a device that can perform whatever the conditions sounded almost too good to be true. But is it? In this review of the AirBeam 3, I aim to find out if this device is as well-rounded as it sounds. Let’s dive in!


This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please refer to my affiliate disclaimer. I was sent a product for review, but the article is not sponsored. All opinions expressed in this post are my honest thoughts. I only recommend products that I genuinely believe in.

Information on this blog is for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information herein with other sources. Furthermore, this information is not intended to replace medical advice from professionals. This website assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information, and information is subject to change without notice. Devices mentioned on this website are not medical devices and do not guarantee protection.


Accuracy & Sensors

AirBeam 3 PM Sensor

The AirBeam 3, as well as its predecessors, all rely on Plantower sensors. In the case of the AirBeam 3, the particulate matter sensor used is the PMS7003. Despite seemingly being a higher model number, this sensor is comparable to the Plantower PMS5003(T) used in AirGradient monitors and the PMS6003 used in PurpleAir monitors. I won’t lie – the naming scheme took me a long time and some contact with Plantower to get to the bottom of, but what I discovered in the end is that these three sensors (and other sensors in the range) offer nearly identical performance. Instead, they differ in size and connection type.

Plantower sensors have a good reputation (hence why they are used in so many monitors), but they’re also known to be inaccurate out of the box. As I discussed in my PurpleAir review, they have been found to sometimes overreport by over 50% at higher concentrations and to underreport at lower concentrations. In PurpleAir’s case, the EPA developed an algorithm for its Fire and Smoke map to ensure the sensors are significantly more accurate – at least regarding wildfire smoke.

AirBeam PM Correction Algorithm

Left: AirBeam 2 PM1 vs Reference (before correction). Right: AirBeam 2 PM1 vs Reference (after correction).

Similarly, the team at Habitatmap, the company behind the AirBeam 3, used AQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management District) AQSPEC (Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center) data from the AirBeam 2 to create a correction algorithm to improve the accuracy of data from the AirBeam 3 (and newer AirBeam 2 devices). While this algorithm differs from that used on PurpleAir devices as it doesn’t account for relative humidity, it achieves a similar purpose of making the device more accurate in many circumstances. However, it’s important to note that different particle types can influence the accuracy of light-scattering sensors.

Unfortunately, I still can’t perform my own tests due to the same unstable WiFi connection that caused issues in my recent Qingping Air Quality Monitor Gen 2 review. While I don’t have access to reference equipment to fairly judge the accuracy of this device, I would have liked to compare the sensor to five other Plantower PMS5003/PMS6003 sensors to see how the correction algorithm impacts readings and assess precision. While I can’t complete this in time for this review, I will post the results on the BreatheSafeAir forum once they’re complete in a few weeks when I have a better connection. If you’re interested, please head on over there to learn more!

Luckily, we have far better data to look at in the form of AQMD’s testing. As part of the AQSPEC program, AQMD compared the AirBeam 2 and AirBeam 3 to reference-grade equipment – essentially, particle monitors that cost tens of thousands of dollars and are the most accurate we currently have access to. While I am reviewing AirBeam 3 in this article, I first want to look at the AirBeam 2 results, as these were how Habitatmap built the correction algorithm for the updated AirBeam 2 and AirBeam 3.

Left/first: AirBeam 2 results. Right/second: AirBeam 3 results.

As you can see, despite both devices using the same sensor, the AirBeam 2 (shown on the left or first on mobile) only showed moderate to strong correlations with reference grade equipment for PM1.0 and PM2.5. With the improvements brought by the correction algorithm, the AirBeam 3 achieved strong to very strong correlations for these two types of particles – a significant improvement, especially for field studies where particle types can differ greatly.

After looking through the AQMD database, these results make the AirBeam 3 one of the most accurate PM1.0 monitors tested (depending on whether we compare the lowest, average, or highest result, it is the most accurate) and among the most accurate PM2.5 monitors tested, too. This great result makes it the most accurate monitor I’ve so far reviewed on this website for a combination of PM1.0 and PM2.5.

AirBeam Accuracy

Now, the elephant in the room here is the PM10 correlations, which are very bad in both the case of AirBeam 2 and AirBeam 3. Before we go any further, it’s important to note that low-cost PM sensors come with severe limitations when it comes to measuring PM10 as they don’t directly measure the particle count – instead, they estimate it based on the particle counts of smaller particles, such as PM2.5. For this reason, low PM10 accuracy is typical across not just the AirBeam devices but most low-cost particle sensors. This is why I tend to stay away from PM10 readings and only use the far more accurate PM1.0 and PM2.5 concentrations.

With that said, even other devices that exhibit poor PM10 accuracy (relative to PM1.0 and PM2.5 accuracy) tend to perform better than this. Something happened with PurpleAir’s latest devices, but the previous PA-II shows an R-squared value of 0.66 to 0.70 (with 1 being a perfect correlation), which is much higher than the AirBeam 3. With that said, the more recent PurpleAir Flex dropped from 0.21 to 0.39, showing how PM10 is an entirely different matter, and we shouldn’t be relying on low-cost sensors to measure this metric accurately.

PurpleAir Accuracy

In summary, the AirBeam 3 performs very well for PM1.0 and PM2.5, being among the most accurate monitors in AQMD’s database for both metrics. However, it does drop off considerably for PM10, and the PM10 readings from this device should probably not be used at all. If you decide to pay attention to them, consider the inherent flaws with trusting low-cost air quality monitor PM10 measurements.

Is this an issue? Personally, I don’t think so because there are very few monitors out there that provide PM10 readings with decent accuracy. If you view the AQMD database yourself, you will quickly see that most monitors in this price range often have an R-squared value of 0.2 – 0.5. While these are undeniably better than the AirBeam 3, they are still inaccurate and should always be taken with a grain of salt.

As the PMS7003 only measures particles, Habitatmap added a Texas Instruments, HDC1080DMBR, for relative humidity and temperature measurements. Interestingly, I’ve been told that this sensor only takes measurements within the chamber and shouldn’t be used for ambient readings. While this issue plagues many monitors due to the heat generated by other components (and the sensor itself), I find this case particularly interesting because often, these sensors are used for correction algorithms or a heat probe is added to move the sensor away from heat-generating components.

However, it is mentioned in this article that relative humidity isn’t accounted for in the AirBeam correction formula. I’m unsure if temperature is accounted for (although it has less of an impact), and therefore, I’m not sure why this sensor is included. In a future model, I would love to see another ventilation hole placed on one of the far ends of the bottom of the device with a temperature and RH probe. While this wouldn’t entirely remove the influence of heat generated by other components, it would make it more beneficial to have these measurements.


Design

AirBeam 3 AQ Monitor

Everyone who has seen me carrying my AirBeam 3 has quickly asked me, ‘What’s the ghost thing you’re carrying?’ and I think that sums up the design of this portable air quality monitor well. The white case of the device makes it look unmistakably like a ghost, and while I didn’t think I would be saying this about an air quality monitor, it’s quite cute. If you don’t think it’s cute, it’s at least a nice departure from the utilitarian look of many portable air quality monitors, as this one looks approachable.

Since the AirBeam 3 needs to be weather-sealed both when used portably and as a static monitor, the top and sides of the monitor are entirely sealed with no ingress points for water. While this makes the case quite simple, it also blends in whether it is hung from a bag or mounted to a fence outside. Really, besides the bottom of the device, the only features worthy of note are the carabiner mounting point on the top of the device and the screw hole on the back of the device.

AirBeam 3 AQ Monitor Carabiner Hook

Since I’ve already alluded to them, let’s first discuss the mounting options of the AirBeam 3. This monitor can be used either as a portable air quality monitor or as a fixed air quality monitor outdoors. While you could, in theory, use this device indoors, too, there are much cheaper indoor air quality monitors that offer great performance, meaning this is best used either portably or outdoors.

The AirBeam 3 has a metal carabiner that can be attached to a mounting point on the top of the device for portable uses. I love how this carabiner can easily be attached or detached depending on how you plan to use the device, especially as these metal loops can be unwieldy when not in use. While you can use this carabiner to hang the device outdoors, there is also a screw thread and bracket included in the box that will better let you mount this device to an outside wall, fencepost, or otherwise if you want to use this monitor as a static outdoors monitor.

If you turn the device around to see the bottom, you will find the main points of interest in the AirBeam 3 case. Here, you will find the power button, two status LEDs, a USB Type-C port, a set of vents that allow air to enter and exit the PM sensor, and the temperature and relative humidity sensor. These all sit on a piece of recessed plastic at the bottom of the device, which is covered by the bottom ‘wavy’ part of the ghost to prevent water from entering the device when it rains at a strong angle.

I’m glad to see a Type-C USB port used here, but I also expect it with any modern device. Unfortunately, even in 2024, we don’t see this port on all air quality monitors (rather frustratingly). Next to the USB port is a large power button that lets you quickly turn the device on and off. While you won’t be using this much if you use the monitor as a fixed monitor, you will often use the button if you take your AirBeam 3 out and about. Luckily, the button is large and easy to find – even in the dark. More importantly, it’s very hard to press accidentally.

AirBeam 3 AQ Monitor Device Bottom

There are also two status LEDs – one to indicate whether the device is charging and one to indicate connection status. While these LEDs are relatively small, disabling them via the app is impossible, which seems to be an oversight. It’s not a big deal, but I would appreciate it if one or both of these LEDs could be disabled, as I would prefer not to have the connection LED light up when I’m carrying the device as it tends to draw attention and questions.

Finally, there are also three sets of vent holes on the bottom of the device. The largest of these vents acts as PM sensor intake, with the two smaller vents acting as an exhaust and a temperature/RH intake. Based on the results found by AQMD, I would say the PM intake vent works well and is large enough to provide all the air the sensor needs for accurate measurements.

AirBeam 3 Components

Unlike many air quality monitors, the AirBeam 3 is somewhat supposed to be opened. I say ‘somewhat’ because you need to open the device to add or replace the SIM and SD cards, but it’s also not designed to have replaceable components like the AirGradient Open Air.

As you can see, the Plantower PMS7003 sits directly above the vents (which you can make out if you squint at the image above). While you can’t see the temperature and relative humidity sensor in this image, it sits behind the third vent on the back of the mainboard.

On the back of the mainboard, you will find the cellular antenna and the chips that power the device. The most notable other feature is, of course, the massive battery that sits at the top of the mainboard. This battery is 3350 mAh, which means it’s the same size you can find in many smartphones today – impressive for an air-quality monitor! This battery will let the unit operate for 17 hours without charging, even with the monitor taking frequent readings.

While it doesn’t compete with something like the Atmotube Pro (which has a battery that lasts a week), the AirBeam also appears to take much more frequent readings, which allows it to provide more up-to-date readings, but at the cost of drawing more power. I don’t mind this at all, as a battery that can easily get through a day is enough for me on a portable monitor, but I would like to see the option to decrease the frequency of readings to conserve battery life.

Overall, the AirBeam 3 features a very simple design, but it’s also all that is needed. As I’ve mentioned before, for an outdoor/portable air quality monitor, I prioritise devices that maintain a low profile and don’t draw attention. The only other important factor is weather sealing, and the AirBeam 3 appears to do well in this regard, as mine is still working even after some severe rain!


Connectivity & Application

The AirBeam 3 connectivity and mounting make it the perfect portable air quality monitor!

The AirBeam 3 is perhaps the most connected air quality monitor I’ve ever reviewed on this website. While it supports the somewhat expected Bluetooth and WiFi, it also goes further and supports cellular networks via a SIM slot inside the device. While this will cost extra, as you need a SIM card with data, having this additional option is incredibly useful in some situations.

However, AirBeam 3 even goes a step further than this, as it has an integrated GPS chip. When I first tried devices like the Flow 2, I always loved the mapping functionality of the device, but it was also tied to my phone and used the GPS found there. The AirBeam 3 has this functionality on board, and even when used in standalone mode, it can get its location and keep it updated. While I would argue this isn’t necessary in most cases, I appreciate not always needing to have this device tethered to my phone to get a location.

To further this device’s strength as a standalone monitor, it also has an included micro SD card, which can be found inside the device. While I’m not sure exactly how much storage it uses, I can’t imagine it’s much at all and a decently sized (and affordable) SD card will last a long time to come. All these features combine to make a monitor that excels at being used both standalone or tethered to a smartphone or WiFi.

To view data from the device, you will want to download the Aircasting app, which allows you to interact with your device from your smartphone. However, an online dashboard can also be used to view and download data once it’s uploaded. With that said, you will want the app to start sessions and record them, after which they will be uploaded to the map.

The app is quite straightforward; once you download it, you must create a session. It’s important to note that outside of the sessions, the monitor won’t provide data, so you won’t be able to see any PM measurements until you begin a session. Luckily, setting up a session is both fast and straightforward.

Firstly, you will want to choose either ‘fixed session’ or ‘mobile session’, which are named due to the differences in how they operate. For fixed sessions, the device will geolocate itself once, and assume it isn’t moved. It will also upload data only once per minute at that fixed location. Mobile, on the other hand, will upload and geolocate data every second, providing a much clearer (and more accurate) picture for anyone using the device portably.

Regardless of which session you choose, you will next need to pair your AirBeam to your phone. While this sounds like it could be a painful process, the device becomes visible within a second after being powered on, and the complete pairing process takes only a few seconds. Once on, you will be able to name the session, tag it, and connect to WiFi (if doing a fixed session). Finally, you can start the session, and your device will begin recording.

If you’re doing a fixed session, the device will upload data beginning after three minutes and you will be able to view data from this session either on your phone or on the map. From your phone, you are also able to end the session if you want to move the monitor or otherwise want to stop it. On the other hand, for a mobile session, the device will connect to your phone’s Bluetooth and provide updated data every second.

Now, if you want to do a mobile session without remaining tethered to your smartphone, you can also enter ‘standalone mode’ which will allow your device to continue recording data but without needing to remain connected to your phone. This feature is incredibly handy, and I love being able to not rely on my phone all the time. Of course, this means you can’t view the data on your phone until you finish the session and sync the data via Bluetooth. It’s also worth noting that longer sessions can take a while to sync, but you can use your phone while it syncs in the background.

Sessions are then stored in the app until deleted, and you can view graphs and maps (if the session is mobile) to see further details. Thankfully, you can export data from the app (even if you aren’t contributing to the map) or the map itself. This is handy because all mobile sessions will automatically be uploaded to the map when complete if you enable the option, allowing you to choose how to export data. Fixed sessions also show, but you don’t need to complete these before they show on the map.

Outside of the session-based system that the AirBeam 3 uses, you will also find a settings menu on the app which allows you to disable contributions to the crowd map and change other settings such as dormant stream notifications, mapping, units, and more. While there aren’t too many options here (and, notably, no way to change the measurement intervals or upload intervals of the device), the basics are covered.

AirBeam 3 Map

Moving on to the public map, here you can view data from all of the mobile and fixed sessions uploaded by users around the globe. While there aren’t as many contributors as larger platforms like PurpleAir (but there is still a lot, with 107,000 sessions and counting visible on the map), the platform is surprisingly complete, and I appreciate the options and filters included on the map. While you can disable contributions to the map, I fully support crowd-sourced air quality maps, so I upload my sessions when I have them.

One very cool (and unique) feature of the map is the ability to combine sessions to generate a more complete pollution map. While this has some caveats (such as the local pollution levels constantly changing, so combined periods from different times can provide different results), this allows you to create a more complete pollution map from multiple different sessions.

Of course, you can also download specific sessions, which allows you to perform deeper analysis easily through Excel or your chosen data tool. I believe data exporting should always be possible, so I am glad to see it included here. It’s also worth noting that this data seems to go back a long way, and you don’t need to pay for it (unlike with some companies…). I was able to export some sessions with over 200,000 data points!

Overall, the connectivity of the AirBeam 3 is fantastic, and the app and website support are good. However, I would like to see the app implement more features, particularly when it comes to control over the device’s measurement intervals. I, for one, wouldn’t mind increasing the battery life by lowering the reading frequency to once every 10 seconds when on a mobile session instead of every second.


Pricing & Competition

AirBeam 3 Enclosure

The AirBeam 3 costs 249 USD, placing it in what I consider the ‘premium’ air quality monitor segment. However, as I’ve found myself saying in a few reviews recently, I also think this monitor has no direct competition. Let’s discuss my reasoning why.

There are portable air quality monitors, such as the vastly cheaper Atmotube Pro, which sells for around $150. It’s also a fantastic device and worth looking into if you want a solely portable monitor. On the other hand, there are some excellent fixed outdoor air quality monitors out there, like the AirGradient Open Air, CO2 Click Model X, and PurpleAir Zen.

However, while these devices are comparable or, perhaps even arguably better in their niches, none of them have the flexibility of the AirBeam 3. While this monitor is a great portable device, it’s also a great standalone device – in that way, I could argue that it’s a jack of all trades. However, the ‘master of none’ that usually follows ‘jack of all trades’ also doesn’t apply here because the AirBeam 3 also has so many additional features that set it apart.

Regarding the portable side, the standalone functionality that the GPS brings and the included micro SD card is fantastic. I haven’t yet tried any other portable, consumer-grade monitor with these convenient features. On the other hand, as a fixed monitor, I appreciate these features alongside the SIM connectivity. With these points in mind and the flexibility they bring, it’s hard to find a direct competitor to this portable air quality monitor.

Of course, specialised monitors do have some advantages. For example the PurpleAir devices come with two sensors for redundancy and accuracy-checking. The Atmotube, on the other hand, has significantly better battery life making it more convenient as a portable monitor. However, these monitors also lack some of the features that the AirBeam has, really meaning you will want to think about your exact usage case before deciding which monitor best fits your needs.

While this monitor is pricey, especially for a single-sensor device, I imagine that the GPS, SIM, and SD slots, as well as other additions like the cellular aerial and larger battery, quickly increase the costs, making this device more expensive to manufacture. While the asking price won’t be justifiable to everyone, the feature set on this monitor is very robust, and the support is great (and very fast!).


Conclusion

Testing the AirBeam 3 outside.

The AirBeam 3 is an interesting device because it has a range of features that make this device quite unique. While many other monitors support (for example) data storage to a micro SD card, few support a SIM card. Few of those supporting a SIM card are capable portable monitors. These features combine to give the AirBeam 3 a unique and well-rounded feature set.

While I wouldn’t recommend the AirBeam3 as a solely fixed outdoor monitor (unless you need cellular connectivity), this monitor excels because it can be mounted when needed and taken with you at other times when you want to investigate local pollution levels. In this way, it’s a very flexible monitor, and I don’t know of any other monitor that shares this strength.

I would like to see a few improvements, such as more app settings (I would love to adjust the reading frequency) and, if possible, placing a temperature probe outside or slightly out of the case to provide more useful readings. However, the AirBeam 3 is already a well-rounded monitor, and I think it will become my portable air quality monitor of choice (as I already have multiple outdoor monitors).

The biggest benefit of the AirBeam as a portable device is its weather sealing (which the Atmotube lacks), which means I can take it with me even if there is a chance of rain. On top of that, the lack of needing to be tethered to my phone and the decent battery life means I can easily pick up and take this device anywhere I want to go, even if I don’t have time to prepare.

As per usual, it will be up to your individual use case to decide if the AirBeam 3 is for you. However, it’s a very solid portable/fixed monitor with a fantastic feature set – as long as you don’t mind monitoring only particulate matter. If you want a portable monitor that can double as an outdoor air quality monitor, this is the best choice (and with this feature set, the only choice) at the moment.


AirBeam 3 FAQ

What Does the AirBeam 3 Measure?

The AirBeam 3 measures PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10, RH and temperature.

Is the AirBeam 3 Portable?

Yes!

Is the AirBeam 3 Accurate?

Yes, currently, it is one of the most accurate monitors tested by AQMD for PM1.0 and PM2.5.

Where Can I Buy the AirBeam 3?

What Alternatives Are There to the AirBeam 3?

You can also look at the Atmotube Pro for another portable air quality monitor.


AirBeam 3 Review - Portable & Standalone Air Quality Monitor
AirBeam 3 Case

The AirBeam 3 from Habitatmap is an air quality monitor that can be used either in a fixed position or as a portable monitor. It's accurate, and has fantastic connectivity.

Product Brand: Habitatmap

Editor's Rating:
4

Pros

  • Accurate PM1 and PM2.5 measurements
  • Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular connectivity
  • Easy to use app
  • Great standalone mode
  • Built-in GPS
  • Good customer service & support
  • Portable and static use

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Inaccurate PM10 measurements
  • Limited usability of temperature & RH measurements

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