I’ll admit, I’m a longtime fan of Dyson’s air purifying fans. I’ve used the Pure Cool Link TP02 for years, and I’m always impressed by its ability to detect the slightest hint of smoke or odor and automatically turn on, even from across the house. Dyson’s latest model, the Purifier Cool TP07, looks just like its predecessors, with a minimal, modern tower design, but has been reengineered on the inside to better trap pollutants and prevent them from escaping back into the air. At $549.99, it’s certainly an investment, though it also works as a fan while taking up minimal floor space, and features Wi-Fi connectivity so you can remotely control it from your phone or with your voice. It’s the most effective smart air purifying fan we’ve tested, and our Editors’ Choice award winner.
Distinctly Dyson
The Purifier Cool TP07 retains the signature bladeless oval tower design of its predecessors. It comes in white/silver or black/nickel, though the latter is exclusive to Dyson’s website and stores. The company’s air purifiers come with a two-year parts and labor warranty.
The TP07 stands 41 inches tall and sits on top of a cylindrical base measuring 8.7 inches in diameter. While tall, its otherwise compact footprint makes the TP07 one of the more compact air purifiers we’ve tested, and an excellent option if you’re short on space, especially since it’s two devices in one: an air purifier and a fan. The unit weighs 11 pounds, making it easy enough to move from room to room if desired.
It features two large HEPA+Carbon filters that together form a 360-degree cylinder. The HEPA layer captures allergens, bacteria, gases, mold spores, pollen, and other pollutants, while the activated carbon layer removes gases and odors.
Dyson also offers a version that senses and “destroys” formaldehyde, a colorless gas pollutant released by many household items such as furniture, plywood, fiberboard, insulating materials, paint, wallpapers, varnishes, and cleaning products. That model, the Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09, costs $649.99 and comes in white/gold or nickel/gold. Dyson says that formaldehyde is 500 times smaller than 0.1 microns, making it difficult to capture. Long-term exposure to low levels of formaldehyde can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation. Higher levels can cause some types of cancer. Aside from its $100 price bump, gold accents, and formaldehyde-destroying abilities, the TP09 is the same as the TP07, which this review focuses on.
As a more affordable alternative, Dyson is still selling the older Pure Cool TP01, which isn’t Wi-Fi compatible or fully sealed to the H13 standard. That model is currently selling for $399.99; just keep in mind that Dyson says the TP07 delivers “50% cleaner air” than the TP01.
Like its predecessors, the TP07 offers 10 airflow speeds. In Auto mode, the machine will assess the air quality and automatically start purifying when needed.
The TP07 optionally oscillates 45, 90, 180, or 350 degrees. You can also change the direction of the airflow, so the machine will continue purifying the air, but won’t blow it toward you.
In the evening, you can enable Night Mode, which dims the display and purifies using the quietest settings. There’s also a timer feature, which lets you program the TP07 to turn off after a certain amount of time (15 minutes to 9 hours). The app also lets you create a weekly schedule so the machine automatically turns on and off at specific times.
When we reviewed the older Pure Cool Link TP02, one of our main complaints was that it gets loud when set to full blast. To reduce TP07’s sound output, Dyson said it widened the slot through which air exits the machine. The company says the TP07 is 20% quieter than its predecessor, but I compared its volume at full blast (airflow speed level 10) with the TP02 and TP06, and couldn’t tell much of a difference between the three. At level 10, I still find it to be disuptively loud. My sweet spot, in terms of volume and airflow, is level 4.
Fully Sealed
To comply with the current baseline standard, HEPA filters are tested and certified to remove at least 99.97% of dust particles as small as 0.3 microns. Dyson says its filters also meet the HEPA H13 standard, meaning they can remove 99.95% of particles down to 0.1 microns.
As WirecutterWirecutter reported last year, a NASA study found that HEPA filters can actually capture almost 100% of particles as small as 0.01 micron (10 nanometers), well exceeding the baseline standard. To put that in perspective, COVID-19 is about 60 to 140 nanometers in diameter. Dyson doesn’t specifically mention COVID-19, but says the TP07 has been scientifically tested to capture airborne viruses, including H1N1 influenza, which is about 80 to 120 nanometers in size.
One of the major differentiators between this model and earlier generations is that the entire machine (not just the filter) is fully sealed to the H13 standard, ensuring pollutants won’t leak back into the air during the purification process.
“Dyson engineers have re-engineered the machine airflow pathways not only ensuring that no air bypasses the filter, but also sealing any potential leak points through which dirty air might enter the airflow,” the company says.
The TP07 features a small circular display that shows information about the current air quality, temperature, humidity, and filter level. You can press the information button on the remote to scroll through the data its sensors are collecting, including a graph of your indoor air quality, indoor temperature, indoor humidity (percentage of water vapor in the air), and the density of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide and oxidizing gases, such as gas stoves and car exhausts), PM2.5 (microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns in size, such as industrial emissions), PM10 (microscopic particles up to 10 microns in size, including dust, mold, and pollen), and VOC (volatile organic compounds, or odors from things like cleaning products and paint that can be potentially harmful) in the air. Unlike the $1,299 LG PuriCare 360 Air Purifier, the Purifier Cool TP07 won’t tell you the density of contaminants 1 micron or smaller (PM1.0).
The machine offers a continuous monitoring feature, which when enabled gathers air quality, temperature, and humidity information 24/7. Continuous monitoring is turned off by default; to enable it, press and hold the Auto mode button on the remote for five seconds, or navigate to Settings > Your Machine’s Settings in the Dyson Link app.
Controlling the Flow
The Purifier Cool TP07 doesn’t come with a full physical manual, just a quick start guide that outlines the steps to set it up. Dyson says it moved the full manual online to reduce its environmental impact. A QR code on the quick start guide makes it easy to access the full manual on your phone. Setting up the Purifier Cool TP07 is also simple.
After unboxing the unit, just remove all the protective packing materials, unlock and remove the outer covers, attach the HEPA+Carbon filters to the inside of the cover (you’ll hear a clicking sound when they’re secure), and put the covers back on the machine. Then, plug it in and use the power button on the unit or the included remote to turn it on. The remote magnetically attaches to the top of the blade, a handy feature since it’s small and easy to lose.
With the Dyson Link app (available for Android and iOS), you can control the machine, monitor the air quality, and set up a purifying schedule. In testing, I had no trouble connecting the TP07 to the app in just a few minutes. The app walks you through the steps; just make sure you have your Wi-Fi password handy before starting.
When you’re ready, download the Dyson Link app on your phone if you don’t already have it, and create an account. Next, press the menu icon in the top left corner of the app, select Add machine, then hold your phone next to the purifier’s LCD. Once the app finds your machine, press the power button on the unit to activate the pairing process. Once paired, the app will bring up a list of nearby Wi-Fi networks; select yours, enter your password, and you should be good to go.
Once connected, the app will ask you to select the name of the room your air purifier is in (I set it up in my office), and specify your purchase date for the warranty.
By default, the machine is set to automatically receive new updates as they become available, but you can disable the auto-update feature in the settings menu if you prefer. To do so, tap the gear icon in the upper right corner of the app, select Your Machine’s Settings, then scroll down to Auto-Update Software and toggle it off.
“Alexa, Turn On My Dyson”
In addition to the aforementioned methods, you can control the Purifier Cool TP07 with voice commands via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts. Just keep your Dyson Link account credentials handy, as you’ll need to enter them when linking your machine with Alexa and Google Assistant.
To connect it with Google Assistant, open the Google Home app, select the plus sign > Set Up Device > Works With Google > Dyson, then sign in using your Dyson Link account credentials. To link it with Amazon’s virtual assistant, open the Alexa app, select More > Skills & Games > search for Dyson, enable the Dyson skill, then enter your Dyson Link account details.
Dyson also makes it easy for iPhone users to set up Siri Shortcuts. Just press the gear icon in the top right corner of the app, select Voice Control > Siri > Add New Shortcut, then select your settings and give the Shortcut a name. I created Siri Shortcuts that let me turn the machine on and off, and they worked perfectly in testing.
The machine also quickly responded to Google Assistant voice commands such as, “Hey Google, turn on my office Dyson,” and, “Hey Google, turn off my office Dyson” via a Nest Hub and Nest Mini (sold separately).
Putting the TP07’s Purification Abilities to the Test
In the Dyson Link app, you can see your current overall indoor air quality, which ranges from good to severe, depending on the density of microscopic particles and VOCs the machine’s sensors detect. You can also enter your zip code and it will show the outdoor air quality.
The app is color coded, so if the house graphic is green, you know that your air quality rating is good (meaning the machine is detecting a very low level of pollutants). Yellow means the air quality is fair, orange is poor, red is very poor, dark red is extremely poor, and purple is severe.
The app shows a graph of your indoor air quality throughout the day and week. You can also swipe to see graphs of your PM2.5, PM10, VOC, NO2, temperature, and humidity levels.
A gray line on the indoor air quality graph represents your target level. In Auto mode, the machine will automatically start purifying the air as soon as its sensors detect a level of pollution exceeding the air quality target.
To evaluate its performance, I pit the Purifier Cool TP07 against the LG PuriCare 360 Single Filter, which I’m testing for an upcoming review. I lit a stick of palo santo wood and timed how long it took the TP07 to rate the overall air quality as very poor (red), then timed how long it took to purify the air (in Auto mode) until the indicator once again shined green. I then repeated the same test with the PuriCare 360 Single Filter. I did this test twice for each machine, alternating between them each time. Overall, it took the machines roughly the same amount of time to detect a very high level of airborne pollutants, and around the same amount of time to clean the air in Auto mode.
In each test, the air quality started out good, with the TP07 reporting zero PM2.5, PM10, VOC, and NO2. I lit the palo santo and it took about four minutes for the TP07’s indicator to change to red (indicating a very high level of airborne pollutants). Four minutes is pretty long, but it did take the palo santo a while to get started. I then extinguished the palo santo with water, after which it took 19 minutes, 28 seconds for the TP07 to get back to green.
I then repeated the test using the LG purifier, making sure to put it in the same spot where the TP07 was. Again, the room started out in the green with the PuriCare 360 Single Filter reporting PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 levels less than 10. I put the LG purifier in Booster mode with the fan set to Auto (which automatically adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality) and lit the palo santo. It took the LG model two minutes to detect a high level of smoke, then around 20 minutes to purify the air.
For the second test, the Purifier Cool TP07 recognized high levels of the palo santo smoke in two minutes, then took 21 minutes, 23 seconds to get back to green. On its second try, the PuriCare 360 Single Filter took 2 minutes, 50 seconds to recognize a high level of smoke, then 19 minutes, 41 seconds to get back to a consistent green.
Maintaining Your Machine
To keep the TP07 running in tip-top shape, be sure to periodically wipe it off with a damp, lint-free cloth. While you’re doing this, take a moment to look for any blockages in the air inlet holes and the small opening inside the loop.
The machine’s filters aren’t washable, so you’ll need to dispose of them when they’re dirty. Dyson says that you should replace the filters about every 12 months, but their lifespan will obviously depend on how often you use the machine. As the filters get clogged with pollutants over time, the machine may begin emitting an unpleasant odor, which is an indication that it’s time to change the filters. You can also check your remaining filter life at any time; just press the information button on the remote, or navigate to Settings > Your Machine’s Settings in the Dyson Link app.
Replacement filters for the Purifier Cool TP07 cost $79.99, which includes both pieces. If you’re worried about the cost of filters, or you’re looking for a waste-free air purifier for environmental reasons, it’s worth checking out the $599 Airdog X5, which uses ionic filtration to rid your air of common pollutants and features washable collecting plates. I prefer the HEPA-based Purifier Cool TP07, which is more compact and doubles as a fan, but the Airdog cuts down on maintenance costs and is a more waste-conscious option.
A Smart Way to Breathe Easier
Poor indoor air quality can cause a host of issues, from headaches to asthma. A good air purifier can help. The $549.99 Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 is an excellent option that excels as both an air purifier and a fan. Set it to Auto mode, and it will automatically start purifying the air when it detects an elevated level of bacteria, dust, industrial emissions, mold, pollen, and other airborne contaminants, trapping them in its 360-degree HEPA filter. It looks like its predecessors, but offers improvements on the inside to better capture pollutants and prevent them from escaping back into the air. Its companion app lets you monitor your air quality, control the machine, and create a purifying schedule. You can also connect it with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and/or Siri Shortcuts to turn it on and off with your voice.
It won’t tell you the density of contaminants 1 micron or smaller (PM1.0) like the LG PuriCare 360 Single Filter, but in testing, we found both machines equally capable of purifying contaminated air. The Dyson model has a smaller footprint, a superior fan, and costs $150 less, making it a better value overall, as well as our Editors’ Choice award winner for smart air purifiers.
