“Want to come over and see my new air purifier?” I texted my friend. He immediately told me the Atem X, IQAir’s latest consumer air purifier, with its large, minimalist, circular shape, had high-end Bang & Olufsen speaker energy.
IQAir has been in the air game for over 50 years. One researcher told me they are the Rolls-Royce of air purifiers. They even come with papers, like a purebred dog. Each one leaves the factory in Germany with a certificate of proof of passing the test for ultrafine particle removal and decibel check while running at low, medium, and high. It also includes a signature and an embossed stamp that lets me know that the air purifier works.
My tester, which is the hyperHEPA version with high-efficiency particulate air filters, passed with flying colors and outperformed its advertised cleaning abilities. It even has a 10-year warranty. Unfortunately, all this comes with a $1,399 price tag. The Atem X is definitely a long-term investment.
If Looks Could Kill
The Atem X has futuristic looks that would fit right into Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a white circle that stands upright, with a diameter of 25 inches. It snaps into its custom-fit dolly that disappears in its design. Its black faux leather strap on the back makes an easy handle to roll the Atem X from room to room. The power cord slips into a circular hidden groove in the back.
Imagine the Atem X as a large white tire from a flying car. The air circulates through the 10-inch wide grille, where the treads would be. This feature enables the purifier to sit flush against a wall or sofa. Unlike so many air cleaners, you don’t have to strategically position it in the center of a room.