Odak Clean Air Assistant Review – A Handcrafted Monitor for Calm Air Quality Tracking

Over the past few years, we’ve slowly seen air quality monitoring become more and more inclusive and fun as devices have attempted to introduce the issue in a way that is easy to understand and accessible. Just think of devices like Livegrid and Air Lab, which are not only air quality monitors, but also fantastic devices for raising awareness and teaching about air quality.

A few months ago, another device joined this trend – the Odak Clean Air Assistant from Mountain Labs. While the aforementioned ‘monitors’ try to simplify air quality as much as possible, Odak holds a middle ground where it provides easy-to-understand and accessible information, while still giving enough details to appeal to a more ‘enthusiast’ level of user like myself.

The individual behind Odak was kind enough to send me a sample unit, and I’ve been using it for the past few months. It’s been an interesting device to use, and one that I’ve come to appreciate for a few reasons. Perhaps prime among them is simply how beautiful this device is – do you know of a better-looking air quality monitor? I haven’t seen one yet!

But besides the aesthetic of the device, the Clean Air Assistant has a few things going for it that make it an air quality monitor I wanted to review. So, I’ve now been using it for almost three months, and I’m now ready to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this device, what excites me about it, and also who it is and isn’t for. Let’s dive in!

Contents

Sensors & Accuracy

As per usual, the most important place to start with any air quality monitor is with the sensor selection, as this directly impacts how the device performs. In the case of the Odak Clean Air Assistant, we have four key sensors – PM, CO₂, VOCs and temperature/relative humidity/air pressure. The specific sensors found in the Odak device are listed below:

• PM: Cubic PM2105L
• CO₂: Cubic CM1106SL
• VOCs: Sensirion SGP40
• Temperature/RH/pressure: Bosch BME280

When I asked about the sensor selection, I was expecting to hear that one of Sensirion’s new all-in-one SEN6x series of sensors was being utilised. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see this selection of sensors, as the new SEN series has a few issues with the thermal conductivity technology some of its line uses for CO₂ sensing.

Unfortunately, while Cubic is far from an unknown name in the sensor field, it’s relatively hard to find any third-party data about these sensors in particular. While the PM2105L and CM1106SL compete well with the competition (such as the Sensirion SPS30, Plantower PMS5003, SenseAir S8 and Sensirion SCD41) in terms of specs, there is very little in the way of third-party testing to validate this.

Sensor	Bins measured	Size range	Stated performance
Cubic PM2105L	Mass only: PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10	0.3–10 µm	PM1/PM2.5: ±10 µg/m³ (0–100), ±10 % (>100) PM10: ±30 µg/m³ (0–100), ±30 % (101–1,000)
Sensirion SPS30	Mass: PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4, PM10 Number: PM0.5, PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10	0.3–10 µm	PM1/PM2.5: ±(5 µg/m³ + 5 %) (0–100), ±10 % (100–1,000) PM4/PM10: ±25 µg/m³ / ±25 %, calculated from distribution profile
Plantower PMS5003	Mass: PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10 Counts: >0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10 µm	0.3–10 µm	PM2.5: ±10 µg/m³ (0–100), ±10 % (100–500)

Spec-wise, the Cubic sensors are very similar to their more thoroughly-tested counterparts.

With that said, I was able to find a few things out about these sensors. Let’s start with the PM2105L, which measures PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. While this exact model doesn’t appear to have any third-party testing yet, there is testing present for other sensors such as the PM2012SE-B, which achieved an R-squared of 0.61-0.62 when AQMD tested it (the SPS30 achieved an R-squared of 0.64-0.85). Furthermore, in my recent testing of the Govee Air Quality Monitor (which uses a Cubic PM2008MS), I found it to perform almost identically to the Plantower PMS5003 used in monitors such as AirGradient and the PMS6003 that PurpleAir uses in its monitors.

Again, while these are different sensors, Cubic does have a decent reputation within this space. Only the Airthings View Plus uses the PM2105L, as far as I am aware, and that also performed decently when it came to my (far from scientific) testing. This lack of third-party results meant that I needed to do some of my own testing to figure out exactly where the Odak Clean Air Assistant sits.

For this comparison, I compared the PM readings to a factory-calibrated AirGradient ONE. Now, it’s worth noting that this monitor also isn’t entirely accurate, and can’t be used as an accurate baseline for comparison. However, a comparison to the Plantower PMS5003 inside the AirGradient monitor does allow us to compare the Odak to a monitor with a sensor that’s widely used and well-understood.

Interestingly, except for at the lower end (<5µg/m³), the Odak reported almost identical PM2.5 and PM10 readings to the AirGradient ONE. While the ONE did exhibit more noise, this is due to the higher measurement frequency of 1 minute compared to the Odak’s 4 minutes. When it comes to PM1, the Odak consistently over-reported compared to the ONE. This is something I found interesting, as normally PM1 – PM10 readings are almost identical from low-cost sensors as they can’t properly differentiate between particle sizes. However, the Odak showed significantly different readings for PM2.5 and PM1.

Either way, I would take both PM1 and PM10 readings with a grain of salt, as low-cost PM sensors tend to not be too accurate for these metrics. Rather, focus on the PM2.5 readings. Now, one caveat I noticed with the Odak’s PM readings is the floor – for some reason, my device basically bottomed out at around 3µg/m³. Even when I put the device in my ‘clean room’ with multiple air purifiers, I couldn’t get it to show a lower reading. I’m unsure why this is, or if it’s an issue limited to my unit, but I was able to apply an offset in the Odak Software that set 3µg/m³ as the baseline which resolved this.

Moving on to CO₂, the picture improves a fair amount. Consumer-grade CO₂ sensors (at least the higher-end ones) are now very accurate if calibrated correctly, and this comparison uses a calibrated Aranet4 Home, which can be considered a decent baseline to compare to. As you can see, all three tested devices follow the trend perfectly, except for one spike from the AirGradient ONE. While I am unsure what caused this, I have to believe one of my cats may have been sniffing the monitor to cause such a spike!

Regardless, while the Odak Clean Air Assistant did follow the general trend well, it also exhibited quite a bit of noise – certainly more than the other monitors I tested. This isn’t ideal, and it means that there is a fair amount of variance between the readings, but the trend was followed quite closely. I’ve tested a range of Cubic CO₂ sensors before, and I also noticed this noise with the CM1106SL-NS in the Airthings View Plus. This lines up with a couple of recent studies that show the Cubic sensor is more than capable for such an application. If you want to read more, you can find the studies here and here.

Finally, when it comes to temperature and humidity, the device did encounter some issues. I compared it to a lab-calibrated hygrometer, and the temperature consistently read about 3 degrees Celsius too high. While I only tested this in a very limited range of temperatures, an offset can help here. Please note that the Odak only reports full temperature values. For relative humidity, the device consistently read a far lower percentage, and I assume this is due to the case design and lack of ventilation.

Overall, the device is more than accurate enough for trend spotting with PM and CO₂. While it is a bit noisy, the sensors are capable and no sensor in this price range is entirely accurate (at least not for PM). Also, as with any low-cost air quality monitor, only interpret the VOC measurements as relative measurements rather than absolute measurements. You can read more on this matter here if you’re curious. Finally, for temperature, a fixed offset (which can be applied in the software) appeared to help, but relative humidity readings shouldn’t be used in anything more than a relative sense.

Design

The Odak Clean Air Assistant is designed to be a standalone monitor, but not necessarily a portable one. That is to say, the monitor is designed to be used without any connectivity to a smartphone app or web dashboard (though there is a web dashboard for deeper data analyses if needed), and it runs on a battery, but it isn’t a device you’d want to carry around in your pocket as it’s a bit large.

The Odak Clean Air Assistant measures 9.5cm x 7.5cm x 3cm. Each Odak Clean Air Assistant is handcrafted from beech wood and features a large e-ink display on the front. This combination gives it a stunning look, and it embraces Odak’s mission of providing ‘calm technology’. Personally, I love the style of the device because it looks at home on my wooden desktop – even if the colours don’t quite match.

I do also appreciate the idea of calm technology. While I do think there’s a time and a place for more ‘pushy’ devices (for an extreme example, every house needs a few CO alarms), this approach is ideal for a device that is placed somewhere like an office. When I glance at it, I can quickly understand the air quality and the actions I need to take, but at the same time, it never distracts me while I’m focused on something else. It’s never flashing, showing me coloured LEDs, or making sounds (there is an 85 dB audible alarm, but I’ve never used it). It’s a peaceful device to use, and I mean that in the best way possible.

This design choice will mean that it’s not for everyone. There are absolutely times when you want a more ‘in your face’ device, and it’s clear that the Odak monitor is trying to target a specific audience. Those who want to be informed, but not panicked.

The UI itself also embraces this theme, but it also provides some more advanced information, which I appreciate. The most basic view will show you the AQI reading, a status (such as ‘stuffy’) and give a suggestion for an action you can take (such as ‘open windows’). The next view gives you information on every metric captured by the device – CO₂, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, tVOC and AQI. The third view shows you the AQI history over the past 24 hours (and gives advice based on this) and the fourth and final view shows you a circular graph which shows you what specific parameter is leading to the given AQI rating.

You can easily cycle through these different displays by pressing the ‘left’ and ‘right’ buttons on top of the device, and it’s generally quite responsive. There are some imperfections with the device – for example, the buttons aren’t quite flush with one another and they are slightly out of alignment – but these are relatively minor and due to the fact that they’re handmade, so I can forgive this. If anything, they add some character to the device.

If you turn the device to the left or right, you will see the two vents that allow air to enter. On the left-hand side, underneath the vent, is the USB Type-C port that can either be used to charge the monitor or to transfer data (or both!). Finally, on the back of the device is a white plastic cover that hides all of the components and sensors inside the device.

When it comes to durability, I did find that it’s relatively easy to dent the monitor along the edges. I don’t think many people will encounter any issues since this device normally remains stationary, but I did want to note it as I’ve travelled to four countries with it and it has gathered a few nicks and some minor damage over that time. It’s not a big deal, but I did want to mention this.

Connectivity

I want to be upfront and say that if you’re looking for a monitor that features strong connectivity, this is not the right device. As I mentioned in the design section, the philosophy behind this design is very much that it should be stress-free and easy to use – and that it should be a good standalone device. Following this philosophy, the Odak Clean Air Assistant has no wireless connectivity.

The device can be plugged into a Windows or Mac PC via USB Type-C for some data visualisation and logging, but the device doesn’t store exportable historical data, so you can’t analyse data this way unless the device is plugged in to record the event. Obviously, this is a weakness of the device, but considering its intention, it’s a conscious decision that’s been made, and there are certainly users who will appreciate the standalone approach.

Now, if you plug your Odak Clean Air Assistant into a PC, you can use the Odak Air Quality Monitor software that connects to the device via a COM connection over a USB port. This software is a relatively small download (around 100MB) and will allow you to see every reading from the device. Now, you don’t get too much control here – for example, you can’t set the time period that the graphs show or the measurement intervals. While there is a good amount of data here (about 4-minute resolution with 7 hours showing at once), it’s again clear that this is intended to be a standalone monitor.

The software becomes a bit more interesting because it also houses some of the more advanced features of the device. For example, through this software you can also access the CLI (command line interface), which allows you to change some more advanced device settings such as offsets (for PM, CO₂ and temperature), and even apply multipliers to any of these readings. While this will be a bit technical for some users, there is a list of commands and variables provided.

However, the most likely reason you’d download the Odak Air Quality Monitor software is to update the device. As it stands, the only way to get new firmware onto the Clean Air Assistant is through a USB Type-C connection – it’s also easiest through the Odak Air Quality Monitor software.

It’s clear that the device isn’t supposed to be dependent on another device or any software to run, and I can appreciate this as there are certainly times when I don’t want to recommend a connected monitor (for example, it’s far easier for me to recommend something standalone and without frills for many older family members). It’s also clear that the software isn’t an afterthought, but rather houses some important device functionality that requires some form of connection. That said, if connectivity is important to you, this isn’t the right device.

Pricing

The Odak Clean Air Assistant is a pricey air quality monitor at $279. There is also a ‘lite’ version available which costs $179 and drops the PM and VOC sensors from the device to make something more akin to an Aranet4 Home or INKBIRD IAM-T1. Now, both of these devices are expensive, and I feel that many people will have a hard time justifying the price.

With that said, it’s also not a monitor that can be directly compared to most other devices on the market because it’s not just an air quality monitor, but in some ways a work of art. The handcrafted wooden case means that every device is slightly different, and if you’re just looking for an affordable air quality monitor, this isn’t the monitor for you.

Rather, I think this monitor exists in the premium segment of the market that houses some other truly unique monitors like Air Lab (a CO₂-only monitor at $250) and Livegrid (another CO₂-only ‘monitor’ that displays an aquarium and costs £299). Another example of a different device in this category is the Briiv air purifier, which is extremely expensive for its performance but looks stunning. Basically, these are not air quality monitoring devices for the typical user, but rather offer more unique experiences.

All of this is to say that I can’t really tell you whether or not the Odak Clean Air Assistant is worth it for you. The people who this device appeals to will know right away, but I really can’t state whether the beautiful design and calm experience of using the device are worthwhile for you.

What I can say is that the device is accurate enough for what most people will want from it – spotting trends in their air quality and knowing when it’s time to take action – and you won’t be losing anything (except for connectivity) by opting for a device like this over something more affordable.

Conclusion

The Odak Clean Air Assistant is unlike any other device that I’ve tested so far. While I’ve tried a range of air quality monitors – some of them quite niche and unique – none are taking the calm approach that the Odak does. While this does drive up the price, there’s nothing else on the market quite like this.

Unfortunately, the beautiful case also causes the biggest issues with the device – since it’s presumably quite warm and dry inside, the environmental parameter readings from this device aren’t particularly usable without some manual adjustment. Luckily, the air quality parameters are decent, with the exception of some noise.

I believe that at least the temperature and PM readings can be fixed via software, and I hope to see these changes made in the future. As it stands, you will be losing a little bit of accuracy compared to more traditional air quality monitors, but you’re also getting an almost bespoke device.

So, if you want an air quality monitor that looks beautiful when placed on a bookshelf or desk, or simply one that feels a lot more premium and unique than other options on the market, the Odak Clean Air Assistant is worth looking into.

If you have any questions remaining after reading this article, or if you’ve tried the Odak and have some thoughts to share, please feel free to let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, thank you for reading!

Odak Clean Air Assistant FAQ