Review: Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier

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I have been an air purifier evangelist for a while now. Functionally, they’re relatively simple devices — basically a computer fan and a HEPA filter with an on/off switch.

It shouldn’t take much to make the best air purifier. Or so I thought until I met the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier.

Airing it out

Over the past ten years or so, I’ve bought a couple of very simple air purifiers off Amazon, based entirely on price and reviews.

They work well, but both lack any sort of sensor or info screen — so I’ve been basing their efficacy entirely on vibes. With the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier, I no longer have to wonder. It even has an app.

I’m not going to bury the lede here; I’m obsessed with this thing.

What’s in the box?

The box is surprisingly light. The purifier itself weighs in at just under 12 lbs, so it’s relatively to pick up and move around if you have to.

The device comes fully assembled with an H13 True HEPA Filter installed. Unlike some air purifiers, this is a cylindrical filter that apparently goes for about $50 on Amazon.

A grounded plug with about 6′ of line grants limited mobility within a space, but I doubt many people will be dragging these around too much.

Also included are a “Quick Start Guide” and a manual.

Let’s talk about specs, baby

• Power input: 120V ~ 60Hz
• Noise level: 24-50 dB
• CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): 464m³/h / 273ft³/min
• Effective range: 423ft² / 39 m²
• Weight: 11.89lb / 5.35kg
• Dimensions: 11.22 x 11.22x 20.86in / 285 x 285 x 530 mm

Does it work?

For a bit of background, we have cats. Three of them. Longhaired cats. Here’s one:

So I figured the best place to start testing would be the room where they hang out the most, the bedroom.

I turned the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier on and was greeted by a quick countdown as the device turned on. The front LED cycled through its colors — fun!

An LCD display can cycle through a few modes, showing either “PM 2.5 μg/m³” or “Clean Air” expressed as a %, which correlates to the color of the LED, and “Filter Life” also expressed as a percentage.

According to the Indoor Air Hygiene Institute, PM 2.5 is a measurement of particulate matter that has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. Most studies indicate that keeping the PM 2.5 level below 12 μg/m³ is typically considered healthy with no risk for exposure.

The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was; even at “turbo” speed, it wasn’t much louder than a box fan at its top setting.

There is also an “automatic” option, where the air purifier uses “ParticleIQ” tech to modulate the fan speed up and down. For the purpose of my testing, I mostly just ran it in “Turbo” mode for 2 or more hours at a time.

To the basement

Cat den sufficiently cleaned, I turned to a more difficult testing ground — the basement. I set up the purifier and let it go to work. The sensors immediately detected 69% air quality, so I was excited to see how quickly it would get back up into the 90s.

It didn’t take long — I checked the device about an hour later, and it was already back to “Excellent” air quality levels. So far, the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier had passed every test — it was time to go extreme.

The cat’s pee-yew

Cats are great, but their litter boxes stink. I’d never really thought of air purifiers for straight-up odor-removal purposes, but I figured this was worth a try. I set up the tower by the cats’ bathroom and let that turbo button fly.

The effects were nearly immediate. Within 15 minutes, I noticed a drastic reduction in odor, and, like the basement, within a few hours, the sensor was picking up “Excellent” air quality, even though the box had been used multiple times since I started the test.

Like I said above, I’m obsessed with this thing.

What’s the app for?

I’m no Luddite, but I also don’t necessarily think I need an app to run my air purifier. In the interest of journalistic completionism, I figured I’d give it a go.

The “Dreo” app is very intuitive, and pairing it to the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier only took about 10 seconds. You’ll have to enter your WiFi password, so have that handy if it’s not saved on your phone.

Alternatives to consider

The app offers full control over your Dreo device, including fan speed, toggling modes, and access to the child lock, adaptive brightness, and other options.

This is pretty cool but not nearly as useful as the dashboard that gives you up-to-the-minute data on air quality in an easy-to-understand graph.

Although I’m sure I won’t be continuously checking this app, I can absolutely see its utility in institutional settings (like a doctor’s office).

So, what’s the verdict?

Unsurprisingly, and as I’ve mentioned multiple times in this review, I think the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier is absolutely top-notch.

It is certainly the best air purifier I’ve ever used, and the additional features like the LCD display, LED lights, and app put it over the top.

It’s easy to use, relatively quiet, and honestly fairly handsome. You can even link it up with your smart home if that’s the kind of thing you’re into. If you’re in the market, I highly recommend the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier.

Where can you buy the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier?

You can buy the Dreo Macro Max S Air Purifier directly from Dreo or at fine retailers like Amazon for $219.99.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Take a deep breath of fresh air with the P200S air purifier by Welov
• Dreo introduces smart air purifier with daily air quality monitor
• Air purifiers are the perfect solution to spring allergy concerns
• Review: Sensibo Pure – an affordable, discreet, and easy-to-use air purifier

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.