I Tried This Air Purifier That’s So Stylish and Powerful (It’d Look Great in an MCM Home!)

When wildfires in Canada sent smoke and smog to New York City and created dangerous air quality levels for days in 2023, I could smell the burnt air inside of my apartment. It was at that moment that I realized that I really needed to invest in air purifiers. Ever since then I’ve cycled through a few different ones, trying to find the perfect mix of square footage the filter can clean, filter life, and cost. That’s why I was so excited when I had the opportunity to test the Blueair Blue Signature Air Purifier, which packs major power, smart air pollution detection, and a long-lasting filter.

The Blue Signature is an air purifier made for large rooms and homes. It purifies up to 3,385 square feet of space. It comes with a pre-filter and a particle and carbon filter, and promises “seven stages” of air filtration: It catches dust, hair, and dander; has an “electrostatic charge that pulls pollutants in;” captures airborne pollutants, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and chemicals; absorbs gases and breaks down odors; and has an “odor-fighting mineral for clean, fresh air.”

It measures 12.5 inches wide and 21.2 inches high, and has a diameter of 12.5 inches. It comes in two colors: midnight (black) or nordic fog (gray). You can further customize your Blue Signature air purifier by changing the pre-filter color (there are six options) or adding a wood leg base or chrome leg base — all for an additional cost.

There’s a fun touch screen on the top of the air filter, where you can see what the air quality is and change the mode or fan speeds. The side of the filter has lights that reveal the quality of your air as well. Spoiler alert: Red means bad! 

You can also use the Blueair app to measure your air quality all the time and see when the air is very polluted, polluted, moderate, good, or excellent. You can control settings (auto, eco, or night) and track different particulate matter levels (particulate matter, or PM, is inhalable airborne particles). These include PM1, PM2.5, and PM10. 

The main thing that I like about the Blueair Blue Signature Air Purifier is that it covers so much square footage, so it’s really the only air purifier you need. It covers more than 3,000 square feet, which is three times the size of my already large Brooklyn apartment.

The different settings and the app are fun and shiny, and while I like looking at it (and knowing I could run the air filter remotely, for example), I also like that I can just select options physically on the filter and that the app is just a functional bonus. 

The filter is incredibly long-lasting — other air filters I’ve tested don’t have an ounce of the stamina that this one does. I’ve been testing it for months and the filter still has over 95% of its life left. I also like that it’s tabletop size, so it’s made a home by my sofa and I can put snacks, remotes, and more on it without worrying about damaging it. 

Plus, although it is big, it’s not ugly — especially with the additional legs that make it look almost like an MCM decor piece rather than a powerful appliance. All in all, this is a highly powerful, all-in-one air filter that doesn’t sacrifice power and efficacy for style or apps and connectivity. 

Buy: Blueair Blue Signature Air Purifier, $449.99