What’s the logical next step for a company that focuses on air quality monitoring? An air purifier, of course, and Airthings, a manufacturer known primarily for its air quality monitors, is at CES this week showcasing its first entry in the smart air-purifier market.
The Airthings Renew arrives with a matte-gray enclosure, a woven textile front cover, and a design that allows the unit to stand upright or lay on its side.
Rated for rooms up to 525 square feet, the 16.1 x 16.3 x 6.7-inch (HxWxD) Renew is ideal for cleaning the air in medium-sized spaces like your living room or rec room. But Airthings is also pitching the Renew for use in a bedroom, given that it can operate at a “library quiet” 23dB when it’s running in silent mode.
On silent mode, the Renew produces just 23dB of noise, about the same volume as a whisper.
Airthings
Besides silent mode, the Renew has an “auto” mode that adjust the fan speed based on measurements from its laser-based particulate matter (PM 2.5) sensor, while a “boost” mode will run the purifier on its highest setting for an hour.
The unit’s four-stage HEPA-13 filter and separate carbon filter are designed to clearn 99.97 percent of all fine particles, Airthings says. Unsurprisingly, the Renew will work in concert with any current Airthings monitors.
The Renew syncs with the Airthings app, which can track air quality trends as well as let you control the Renew from outside your home.
For now, the Renew doesn’t offer integrations with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or any other smart home ecosystems, but an Airthings rep said the company “anticipates” the addition of smart integrations down the road.
In addition to the Renew, Airthings also debuted the Wave Enhance, a compact, battery-operated version of its popular Wave air quality monitors.
Equipped with a flip-out stand (Airthings didn’t provide images of the unit, unfortunately), the Wave Enhance is best suited for bedrooms, officers, or other spaces where either focus or rest is important.
Five sensors measure CO2 levels, VOCs, temperature, humidity, and air pressure, as well as ambient noise and light. The Airthings app analyzes this data, and then provides a “Sleep Disruptors” report to offer guidance on how to get a better night’s sleep.
Slated to ship in March, the Airthings Renew is already available for pre-order on the Airthings website for $400, while the Wave Enhance will cost $150 when it goes on sale this summer.
