We tested the Wi-Fi-enabled Coway Airmega 400S in a house and an RV, and it performed better than other higher priced air purifiers.
We all know that our RVs can become, how shall we say, funky smelling from time to time. Whether the cause is poor air quality where you are traveling, bad water, holding-tank issues, dirty clothes, smoke, trash or any of the many other things that can affect the air circulating inside our homes on wheels, it can create a rather foul camping scenario. With that in mind, I set out to find a way to purify the air in my RV and my home, and remove allergens, particles and odors.
Air purifiers can be an expensive investment, but the outcome cannot be overstated. The Coway Airmega air purifier comes in several models that cater to different square-footage needs, and some of the higher-end air purifiers have integrated smart features. We conducted our reviews using the largest model, the Airmega 400S. The 400S was selected so we could sample it in a larger home-based environment as well as on camping trips in an RV.
For the price (MSRP: $849), we have not tested a better air purifier, especially when you consider that the 400S has four filters, is Wi-Fi enabled, works with Alexa voice control and purifies 1,500-plus square feet. In fact, the Airmega performs better than many of the higher priced air purifiers we have tested. After using the Airmega 400S for more than two months in our RV and our home, we would be reluctant to consider using any other purifier.
Coway Airmega 200
Now, granted, 1,500 square feet is overkill for an RV. For those who won’t also be using the air purifier in their home, one of Coway’s smaller models will be a better solution. The Airmega 300S (MSRP: $749) covers 1,200-plus square feet. The Airmega 200 (MSRP: $269), which has very different features, covers 361 square feet.
Automatic Purification
As soon as you take the Airmega out of the box, you can’t help but be impressed by its sleek, modern design. The unit comes in white or graphite, and has clean lines, no-press buttons on the top and easy access to the filters. It really is a nice piece to have in your home or RV. It’s strange to say that an air purifier can look “sexy,” but it really does look great.
While the Airmega is a stylish piece, it’s even more impressive in functionality. The 300S and 400S models connect to the Coway mobile app for iOS or Android, which enables real-time air-quality monitoring, alerts and the ability to control the purifier from anywhere. Both models connect to Wi-Fi to implement control with Amazon Alexa and offer smart cleaning mode.
In smart mode, the Airmega automatically adjusts to handle the current air condition. For example, when we started cooking in our house or our RV, the Airmega would automatically cycle to a higher strength after it sensed new contaminants in the air.
For visual monitoring, the unit has a colored ring in the front that changes with the quality of the air (see below).
High-Efficiency Air Filters
Be advised heading into this purchase that the filters are expensive. There is just no other way to put it. Of the four filters on the 400S and the 300S, two are particle-capturing prefilters that can be rinsed easily with sink water, and two are heavy-duty Max2 filters that combine a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter.
The Max2 filters are the pricey ones. They last from three to six months and retail for $129 for the pair, so even replacing them just twice a year adds up to an annual cost of $258. However, for those looking for a purifier that will help with allergy sensitivity, the cost of replacing these filters will likely be worth it.
If you’re a smoker, have pets, cook frequently (particularly international foods or seafood) or camp near beaches or deserts, the Airmega is a good fit. You can purchase one unit and use it at home, and then move it to the RV when you travel, as we did.
Conclusion
I have nothing but positive things to say about the Coway Airmega air purifier. Fully functional. Visually stunning. Reasonably priced. Expensive filters, but worth every penny.
Since powering up the Airmega, we have slept better, our colds have been significantly shorter than in previous years, and fur from our dog no longer bothers our friends’ kids who had to take Benadryl every time they visited. On top of that, our home and RV smell better.
We even tested the Airmega for a week in an older RV from the mid-1990s that had what was perceived to be a permanent stench. The Airmega had that RV smelling as fresh as new in a weekend!
Pricing note: Manufacturer-suggested retail prices (MSRPs) are referenced above, but Airmega products were sale priced on the Coway Airmega website at the time of posting.
Photos: Courtesy of Coway
