The Classic is a very reliable model but it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, at the highest speed – Turbo Speed – it consumes 105W of energy. It is a large room air purifier, larger air consumption is expected, but the Classic model does drain more energy than comparable energy-efficient large room air purifiers.
At the top fan speed setting, the noise levels rise to 56 dB which is not ideal. Granted, the smaller Lasko Box Fan FLEX also has 55 dB noise levels at Turbo Speed but the new 45i and 75i models have managed to reduce that number to 49 dB, a considerable difference. Noise is based in instrument measurements with the model running at a low speed. The lowest speed may provide even quieter operation but will not be as effective at cleaning the air. Even though some manufacturers use buzzwords like “Whisper quiet” and “near silent,” air purifiers move air through their filters using a fan that is powered by a motor. Once you select an individual device, you can access its controls and data.
Alen shows they mean business by only including heavy-duty, thick H13 (medical grade) HEPA filters with activated carbon pellets in their units. The 45i boasts a higher CADR at 245 CFM whilst the Flex falls slightly behind at 225 CFM. But, when we put these two units through our performance tests, that extra 20 CFM only translated to one-minute difference to clean the contaminants from our room. When we compare two units side-by-side, we first look at their cleaning power.
The difference in energy costs between the Flex and 45i is very noticeable. The annual cost of running the 45i can come to double what it costs to run the Flex, meaning it’s a hell Lasko Box Fan of a lot more energy efficient. For all you tech heads out there, Alen has developed their own BreatheSmart smartphone app that connects to your unit through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Predicted brand reliability ratings are based on estimated problem rates for newly purchased room air purifiers, by the end of the 5th year of ownership. The app is designed to manage mulitple purifiers but lets you control and drill into data from individual units. To recap our previous review, the 75i is a True lasko pedestal fans HEPA Air Purifier designed for residential or commercial use. The latter seems a more likely scenario given the appliance’s 27 x 19 x 12-inch (HxWxD) measurements and its ability to service rooms up to 1,300 square feet. A pair of wheels on the rear make moving the 27-pound unit slightly less cumbersome.