Best Air Purifiers (2026): Coway, AirDoctor, IQAir, and More
WIRED has published its updated 2026 buying guide to the best air purifiers, drawing on hands-on testing across a range of budgets, room sizes and pollutant types. The reviewer, who has lived through severe wildfire smoke in California and now contends with pet dander, gas-stove fumes and urban pollution in New York, frames air purifiers as a long-term household investment worth researching carefully rather than a disposable appliance.
Top recommendations include the premium IQAir Atem X (£1,400/$1,400) as the overall best performer, praised for its quiet operation, app control and optional 10-year warranty, though it lacks a carbon filter for gases. Budget-conscious buyers are pointed to the Coway Airmega Mighty2 ($270), while the Coway Airmega 450 ($499) is singled out for tackling odours and the Levoit Vital 200S-P ($190) for homes with pets. For wildfire smoke specifically, the guide recommends the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 ($375). The July 2026 update added the Shark BreatheClear Max and IQAir Healthpro Plus, alongside refreshed testing details and pricing.
In short
- WIRED's 2026 guide ranks top air purifiers by budget and need
- Best overall: IQAir Atem X ($1,400), praised despite lacking a carbon filter
- Budget pick: Coway Airmega Mighty2 ($270); pet homes: Levoit Vital 200S-P
Explained simply
Air purifiers are devices that clean indoor air by removing particles such as dust, pet hair, pollen and smoke. People use them to improve air quality in their homes, particularly when dealing with outdoor pollution, wildfire smoke or indoor problems like cooking fumes.
WIRED has published a buying guide reviewing air purifiers based on hands-on testing across different price ranges and room sizes. The guide was created by reviewers with direct experience of air quality challenges, who approach air purifiers as important household investments rather than impulse purchases.
A wide range of air purifiers are available at different prices, each with particular strengths for different air quality problems. Factors such as the type of pollutants to be removed and the size of the space influence which models are most suitable.