Airdog X5 Review – A HEPA-Free Alternative

Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to review a couple of air purifiers on this blog. However, where the previous air purifiers I’ve reviewed had different niches – namely the budget and luxury niches – today’s air purifier is slightly different.

The Airdog X5 is the mid-range air purifier from Airdog. With the X3 device being smaller with a more limited feature set, the X3 is the entry-level device from the company. Sitting in the middle is the more effective and feature-rich X5. Finally, at the top of the range sits the X8, the most effective air purifier and the most complete in features.

Airdog allowed me to review one of its air purifiers, and I chose to go with the X5. This will be the preferred air purifier for many people as it balances cost, performance, and features. Further, it gives me the best position to extrapolate the performance of the X3 and X8 due to it being the mid-tier device regarding performance.

From left: X8, X5 and X3

Perhaps the most considerable appeal of Airdog’s X range is the usage of TPA filtration technology. Where most air purifiers rely on HEPA filters (which create a significant amount of waste), Airdog instead opts to use a zero waste filter that first electrically charges particles and then captures them in attracting plates.

While the filters in Airdog do need to be cleaned from time to time, they shouldn’t ever need to be replaced. This is not only beneficial for the environment, but it’s also an attractive offer for our wallets! But, of course, the filtration system still needs to perform the basics of an air purifier – to purify! So, in today’s review, I will look at the performance you can expect from the Airdog X range.

With this brief introduction to the Airdog X5 out of the way, let’s dive into my full review of the device. I’ve been using the X5 for around a month, and throughout that time, I’ve had it in various settings. Most of the time, it’s been sat in the lounge – an ample space that consists of a living area, kitchen, and lounge in a conjoined space. However, I’ve also had it in bedrooms, especially overnight.

Throughout these four weeks, I’ve used the device extensively. The X5 has been moved around the house, tried in various settings, and it’s been on for hundreds of hours. Over this time, I’ve monitored the device’s performance with an air quality monitor – but more on that soon!

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.

Technology

Airdog air purifiers, including the X5, use a patented technology called TPA to filter particles passing through the device. Where most air purifiers rely on HEPA filters and the passive filtration mechanisms of traditional filtration (the same concepts that apply in mask & respirator filtration), Airdog utilises a more active method of filtration.

Firstly, particles are required to pass through a pre-filter screen. This screen provides filtration for large objects such as hair, pet dander, and large dust particles. Smaller particles can pass through this filter easily, but its intention is merely to stop larger particles from reaching the emitter wires.

That leads to the second stage of filtration – the emitter wires. These wires create an electro field which charges particles passing through. These charged particles will be attracted when they reach the next stage of the filter, the ionic field. In a very similar method to electrostatic filtration in masks, this electronic charging and capturing provides high filtration efficacy even against ultrafine particles.

As particles pass through the ionic field and are captured, they are moved to collecting plates. These plates attract the charged particles and keep them stuck within the filter of the Airdog X5. This is where the biggest strength of the device lies – since the air purifier doesn’t rely on traditional filtration mechanisms (which have a finite lifespan), the collecting plates are charged plates which can be washed many times.

This process allows the Airdog X5 (and the Airdog X3 and X8) to filter around 98.87% of passing particles. While this isn’t quite as effective as a MERV 17 HEPA filter (MERV 17 filters can filter 99.97% of 0.3 – 1.0 micron particles), it’s a comparable level of performance.

Further, HEPA filters lose filtration efficiency over time, with most HEPA filters losing 25-50% filtration efficiency over six months. However, the ionic filter in Airdog products can filter the same number of particles while losing a far lower percentage of filtration efficiency. While there will be a slight drop in filtration performance, it’s a far less significant difference than you will see in HEPA air purifiers.

Based on this, even a low-end HEPA filter (MERV 17) will initially provide more filtration efficiency than the Airdog X Series. However, even MERV 20 filters (the best available) will lose efficiency over time, and over time it’s likely the X5 will become the better filtering device.

Airdog Filter after one month of use.

Another valuable benefit of the ionic filtration system used in the Airdog X3, X5 and X8 is the ability to filter nanoparticles. Where HEPA filters are only tested for filtration down to 0.3 microns (300nm), the ionic filter in Airdog’s X Series has been proven against particles as small as 14.6nm in tests.

HEPA filters are capable against particles smaller than 0.3 microns, and this has been proven by a multitude of studies. However, it’s reassuring to see more thorough testing against a wider range of particles. There’s never anything wrong with more testing!

Now, the use of an ionic filter doesn’t come without issues. Ionic filters produce ozone, a chemical compound that can harm human health. Luckily, Airdog has tackled this issue, and the X Series produce only 0.01ppm of ozone over 24 hours. Further, all Airdog devices are certified by CARB (California Air Resources Board).

Finally, there is a catalyst filter to remove odours. While there is still some debate surrounding whether catalyst filters are better or worse than activated carbon filters, the addition of an odour removal filter is an excellent addition to any air purifier!

Airdog claims that using an ionic filtration system makes the air purifier quieter than the competition. While this is true from my experience, it’s not a silent device by any means. On sleep mode, the device is barely audible in a large room – especially compared to other devices. However, once you speed the fan up, the Airdog system is still a loud device.

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Performance

Unfortunately, I have no access to professional-grade equipment to monitor the real-world performance of the Airdog X5. However, I am fortunate enough to have a few consumer-level pollution monitors on hand with which I can test the device’s performance.

Similarly to my Briiv air purifier review, in this review, I will be using the Atmotube Pro to analyse the air quality. A study by AQMD has shown both the PM1 and PM2.5 sensors in this device provide similar readings to professional and governmental air quality monitoring equipment. In addition, VOC readings are also accurate within 15%.

All of this is to say; While the Atmotube Pro’s readings aren’t entirely accurate, they are accurate enough to identify if the Airdog X5 is making a positive difference regarding air quality.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss the modes on the Airdog X5. The device allows both manual control and automatic – in manual, the user can choose one of four predefined fan speeds. In automatic, the X5 will determine the speed itself based on the air quality reading provided by the built-in monitor.

On speed levels one and two, the X5 is quiet, and these are the speeds most people will run the device on. However, at these lower speeds, the cleaning capacity of the Airdog X5 is significantly lower than at the higher levels. Therefore, if you require a quick room clean, I recommend turning the device on level three or four long enough to cycle the air in a room completely.

I tested the quick room cleaning capabilities in a room of 4.5×5 metres, an area of 22.5m². At 9:50 am, I turned the device on to level 4 and kept it at the maximum for 30 minutes. I sat the Atmotube air pollution monitor about 2 metres away from the Airdog X5, near one of the walls (I placed the air purifier in the centre of the room).

In as little as 10 minutes, the air quality score improved significantly. The AQS is monitored on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being pristine air. Before turning on the Airdog X5, the AQS had consistently been 68. However, within 5 minutes of the air purifier being turned on, the air quality rapidly jumped to 79 and improved to 81 over the next 30 minutes.

The air quality then hovered around 79-81, staying within that range for the duration of running the X5 at level 4. Considering this room typically has an AQS of 65-70, this is a marked improvement over the standard air quality in this room.

Interestingly, both VOC and particulate matter concentrations dropped during these 30 minutes. Previously, VOCs hovered around 0.5-0.55ppm, and after using the Airdog X5, they fell to around 0.28ppm. Again, this is a good improvement over the standard air quality in this room.

However, while these results show the ‘quick cleaning’ capabilities of the Airdog X5, they aren’t representative of the everyday use of the air purifier. While levels 3 and 4 are great for bursts, they are loud, and I don’t believe anyone will want to use these levels for long periods. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the performance of the Airdog X5 when set to auto mode.

12-hour test one (on auto)

In the first test (shown above), I enabled auto mode on the Airdog X5 and left the device on for the next 12 hours. I enabled auto mode around 10 am and kept it on until 10:30 pm. During this period, the lounge is generally in heavy use, and people and animals constantly pass through. Therefore, this 12-hour period tends to be the worst in regards to particulate matter.

However, the X5 managed to perform well and keep the air quality consistently above 85 – far higher than the usual 65-70 where the lounge normally sits during daytime. Across VOCs and all forms of particulate matter, pollutant concentrations dropped significantly, and the Airdog X5 made a noticeable difference to the room’s air quality.

When I initially turned on the air purifier at 10 am, the Airdog identified the air wasn’t very clean. It put itself on a high speed (I couldn’t tell if it was level three or four) for about 30 minutes before slowly decreasing the speed. For the next 11 and a half hours, the Airdog alternated between levels one and two with the exception of lunchtime.

Someone (definitely not me!) burnt some toast at lunchtime, and the particulate matter spread to the lounge. Airdog recorded an AQI of 330 on its monitor, and Atmotube decreased its AQS to an exceptionally low 13. After burning my toast for about 25 minutes, the X5 sped up in order to clean the air.

12-hour test two (on auto)

The second test has much the same results as the first. Over about 12 hours (in this case, eleven hours and 10 minutes), the Airdog X5 significantly decreased the concentrations of pollutants in the lounge. In this test, the decrease in VOC levels was less noticeable but particulate matter levels dropped by a similar amount.

From these results, I can conclude that the Airdog X5 made a positive difference in the air quality in the lounge of my home. The Airdog X5 is effective at both short-term bursts of cleaning with a high fan speed and longer-term auto-mode cleaning with a much lower fan speed.

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Design

The Airdog X5 is a large device that operates best when located centrally in a room – or, at minimum, away from walls. For this reason, the device will be prominent in whatever room it’s used in, especially if you plan to use it in a house. Since the device is hard to miss, you’d hope it looks good!

Thankfully, the Airdog X5 and its siblings look clean and modern. The devices are solid white with black and grey accents. This colour scheme fits in any setting, but it works exceptionally well in modern homes or homes that are primarily white.

The device only has one button, which is located on top of the air purifier. The button is large and easy to use. While the button will allow you to power on and off the device, it’s clear that the purifier is designed to be used with either the included remote control or the Airdog X application.

During my time with the device, I mostly used the controller for the X5. This was due to the 2.4ghz limitation of Wi-Fi control via the app. I never use the older 2.4ghz Wi-Fi in my home, and I would have to enable it specifically to use the air purifier. For this reason, I ended up relying on the controller. For a device in this price range, support for both 2.4ghz and 5ghz Wi-Fi is essential, and I see this as a big downside of the device. However, that’s beside the point in the ‘design’ section!

Luckily, the controller is very functional. In fact, it borders on being too simple, but many individuals will appreciate the ease of use – I sure did! The controller has a few buttons that allow the owner to power on and off the device, toggle between manual and automatic mode, set the device speed, connect to Wi-Fi, child lock, and reset the air purifier.

The controller is easy-to-use, and I had no issues regarding its usability. However, I do have to comment on the feeling of the controller – it feels cheap and doesn’t feel befitting of an air purifier this pricey. This feeling primarily comes from the weight (or lack thereof), which will be a non-issue for some. I still associate weight with quality, and the lack of weight on the controller gives me the feeling that the controller isn’t very well made.

That being said, I’ve never had any issues with the functionality or manufacturing of the remote control. It’s always worked perfectly; it just doesn’t feel up to scratch for this premium air purifier.

The X5 is a large device, and the size tells the product’s weight – it’s a heavy air purifier. Thankfully, the weight is very bottom-heavy as the filters are low on the device. This means the machine is well-balanced and never at risk of falling.

On the left and right of the air purifier are handles that allow the device to be lifted with (relative) ease. However, some people will still struggle with moving the device, so consider the weight when purchasing.

On the front of the device is a small screen and light. Typically, the screen will show the air quality (0 being immaculate air, with higher numbers representing worsening quality), but it will sometimes let you know the filter needs cleaning. In addition, the light underneath the screen changes colours from green to red, representing local air quality.

Now, it’s worth noting the air quality monitor in the Airdog X5 only monitors particulate matter – it does not monitor VOCs or other pollutants. Since the reading is limited to only particulate matter, it will often differ from more complete air pollution monitors.

For what the monitor does, it’s easy to read, and the light is a welcome addition. While I would love to see a more thorough air quality monitor added to the device, the fact it includes a monitor at all is an addition I’ve found very useful.

Taking out the filters for cleaning is easy, and the process is painless. Simply open the back of the device, and you can slide out the different filter layers for easy cleaning. Due to the vertical filter, cleaning is straightforward and can be done with a cloth, brush, or compressed air.

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Cost & Lifespan

Let’s get to the elephant in the room – the Airdog X5 is expensive. In fact, the complete range of Airdog X series air purifiers is pricey. From Airdog’s official pricing, the X5 sits at 599 USD. The X3 comes in a bit cheaper, while the X8 is far more expensive.

The prices used are official Airdog prices. All prices are in USD. Cheaper prices may be found on third-party websites.

Now, for this price, you can purchase a vast range of air purifiers on the market. In fact, many equally performant devices are available on the market for a significantly lower price. Unfortunately, the Airdog X5 is expensive, and I believe many people will be turned away by the price.

But, this isn’t the whole story. Throughout my research of the Airdog X5, I’ve read through many other blogs and reviews to see other users’ thoughts on the air purifier. The biggest complaint is the price in nearly all the reviews I’ve read. This is a fair point, and it needs to be considered.

Please note: I’ve compared various products, not necessarily the most comparable ones to the X5. This is intended to provide an overview of what’s available.

However, nearly all these reviews miss a crucial point – the ongoing use cost. The Airdog X5 (also the X3 and X8) are pricey devices; there’s no way to deny that. But this isn’t the whole story. In the reviews I’ve read, comparisons have been made to the Honeywell AirGenius range, BlueAir Classic 480i, Coway Airmega range, and the Dyson Pure Cool.

I’ve made a comparison table above showing the listed prices (from the manufacturers), CADR (clean air delivery rate) and recommended room size (according to each manufacturer, based on CFM). Looking at this, the Airdog X5 base price isn’t unreasonable – it’s comparable to much of the competition, especially considering the higher CADR.

Further, the devices above all use HEPA filters, meaning they all have high ongoing costs. Depending on the brand, these filters could cost as much as 80USD for replacements – this is far from cheap, and a couple of years of replacement filters will quickly amount to more than the device itself.

With this in mind, the price of the Airdog X series becomes a different story. The X3, X5, and X8 are still far from cheap devices, and the upfront cost will turn many potential customers away. However, in the long run, the Airdog X5 will become a more affordable device – compared to some air purifiers, the X5 will become cheaper in only a couple of years!

At this point, I’ve already addressed the lifespan of the device. Provided you treat your Airdog X5 well, nothing should ever need to be replaced! Instead, the filter components can be washed through hand-cleaning when they become loaded.

Prefilter after one month of use.

The device needs to be cleaned when -C- appears on the screen, and after a month of use, I have not yet seen this. The filter looks like it can still be loaded significantly more, and I expect not to need to clean the washable plates for another month or two. That said, I have washed the prefilter a few times as it gets loaded quickly in a house with two dogs and a cat!

To conclude this section, I will say this; when it comes to pricing and lifespan, the X5 is an investment. The initial price can be a tough pill to swallow as it appears the X5 is significantly more expensive than competing products – and it is! However, over time, the cost of running the X5 is lower than all competing products with disposable parts.

While the exact length of time needed for the Airdog X series to become cheaper will vary depending on the comparison product, it’s likely the Airdog X3, X5, and X8 will become more affordable in as short as a couple of years of usage.

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Final Thoughts

After using this device for one month, would I recommend it? The answer is yes, but not for everyone. The Airdog X5 is a capable air purifier with a high upfront cost but zero ongoing costs – at least when it comes to filters. For many, this will be the biggest appeal of the device.

Every model in Airdog’s X-Series is pricey, and there are cheaper models on the market. However, compared to other high-performance air purifiers, such as those offered by BlueAir, Coway, and Winix, the price doesn’t seem so unreasonable. On top of this, each of these brands has high ongoing costs.

While there are more efficient air purifiers out there, the Airdog X5 is capable at a lower price. In addition, while it is a simple device, it offers all the functionality anyone would need from an air purifier. With connectivity provided via the app or the separate remote control, controlling the device is straightforward and easy.

Perhaps the biggest question for many readers will be this: What air purifier suits me best? The Airdog X3, X5 or X8? Well, I think the answer is relatively straightforward. If you’re planning to use an air purifier in a small room such as a bedroom or home office, the X3 is your best choice.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to purify a larger space, such as a living area, lounge, or combined area, the X5 is the purifier you should be leaning towards. Finally, if you’re looking to purify the air in an office building, large classroom, or in another similarly large space, the Airdog X8 is the choice for you.

Although I’ve broadly recommended the Airdog X-Series, there are a few situations where it isn’t ideal. Firstly, this air purifier is heavy and large. So if you want an inconspicuous device or one that needs to be moved regularly, you will likely want to consider other options.

Finally, if you plan to use an air purifier infrequently, the Airdog X5 is probably not the choice for you. The most significant cost-saving of this device is for those who use it frequently. If you only want an air purifier for occasional use, you will be better off with an equally performant but cheaper HEPA-based alternative. While filter replacements can be pricey, the cost of these will take a long time to surpass the upfront price of the X5 if they are only used from time to time.

That brings this review to a close. If you have any thoughts to share regarding any device in the Airdog X-Series or would like to ask a question, please feel free to do so in the comments below. I will do my best to reply and clarify any questions you may have!

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Airdog X5 FAQ

Airdog X5

The Airdog X5 is the mid-level device from Airdog's X Series of air purifiers. Sitting between the X3 and X8, the X5 offers a balance between performance, size, and price. Featuring an ionic filter which maintains efficiency better than HEPA filters at a far lower cost and environmental impact, the Airdog X5 is a promising air purifier.

Product Brand: AirDog

Editor's Rating:
4

Pros

• High performance
• Capable of cleaning small and medium-sized rooms with ease
• Modern, minimal design
• Easy to set up and use
• Reusable filters
• Low long-term running costs

Cons

• Pricey
• Very large and heavy
• Requires 2.4ghz Wi-Fi for the app
• Remote control feels cheap