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Whether you are suffering from allergies or have had a season of heavy fires, the quality of your air might be below healthy. Air purifiers not only help to protect your health, but they can also help remove things like cooking and pet odors.
Blueair has a series of air purifiers that use quality materials and design at the right price. We are going to look at the Blueair 121 vs 211. We will discuss all of their specifics including energy efficiency, filtration and noise levels. We will include a comparison chart, some pros and cons and finish up with the final verdict.
Let’s begin with what the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 have in common.
Blueair 121 vs Blueair 211 – Similarities
Quick Glance
The side-by-side chart below will recap all the features of the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211.
Blueair 121 | Blueair 211 | |
| Image |  |  |
| Size | 28.3 x 13 x 13 inches | 20.25 x 12.8 x 12.8 inches |
| Weight | 18.2lbs | 12.5lbs |
| Design | 360º air intake, colored washable pre-filters | 360º air intake, colored washable pre-filters |
| Room Size | 620 sq ft./ 5 air exchanges per hour | 540 sq. ft/5 air exchanges per hour |
| Clean Air Delivery | Smoke/dust/pollen 400 CFM | Smoke/dust/pollen 350 CFM |
| Speeds | 3- one-button control | 3- one-button control |
| Timer | Yes | No |
| Noise Levels | 31-56dB | 31-56dB |
| Filtration | 3-part filtration- washable pre-filter, particle mesh filter, activated carbon filter (99.97% of particles) | 3-part filtration- washable pre-filter, polypropylene particle mesh filter, activated carbon filter (99.97% of particles) |
| HEPASilent Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Filter Replacement Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Energy Efficiency | 30-61W | 30-60W |
| What’s Included | Dark shadow and Diva blue washable pre-filters, 1 carbon filter | Dark shadow and Diva blue washable pre-filters, 1 carbon filter |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Price |
Design
The Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 are designed to take in air at 360º so that air is cleaned from all over the room. The top half is white, and the bottom has a washable pre-filter. Included with the air purifiers is a dark shadow and a diva blue filter. You can also buy other colors such as yellow, pink and gray.
Speeds
There are three speeds with the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211. For easy use, there is just one button on the front of the air purifiers that controls them.
Noise levels
For nighttime use, the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 are exceptionally quiet. On the lowest setting they are rated at 31dB and the highest, 56dB, so now louder than an electric toothbrush, for example.
Filtration
The Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 have 3-stage filtration. The first stage is the washable pre-filter followed by a particle mesh filter. The final stage is an activated carbon filter that is excellent for removing odors. The Blueair 211 is listed as having a polypropylene mesh filter.
HEPASilent Technology
It’s important not to mix this up with a HEPA filter! The HEPASilent Technology with the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 uses electrostatic filtration to remove 99.97% of airborne particles.
Filter Replacement Light
For easy maintenance, the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 both have a light indicator for when the filters need to be replaced.
Energy Consumption
Both the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 are rated as low energy consumption, so they aren’t expensive to run. Depending on the setting, the Blueair 121 consumes 30-61W and the Blueair 211 30-60W, not enough to make a difference for us.
Warranty
There is a one-year warranty with the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211.
There are still a few important differences between the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211, which we will look at now.
Differences Between Blueair 121 and Blueair 211
Appearance
The choice of washable pre-filter will change the appearance, but there is also a difference in size.
Blueair 121
This air purifier is quite a bit taller. The overall measurements are 28.3 x 13 x 13 inches and it weighs 18.2 pounds.
Blueair 211
As well as being smaller at 20.25 x 12.8 x 12.8 inches, it also weighs less at 12.5 pounds.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 211
Room Size
In order for an air purifier to be effective, you should make sure you get the right room size.
Blueair 121
You can use this air purifier in areas of up to 620 square feet. It performs 5 air exchanges per hour.
Blueair 211
It is better for smaller spaces of up to 540 square feet, but it will also clean the air 5 times per hour.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Clean Air Delivery
The general rule of thumb is to look for an air purifier with around 100 CFM (cubic feet per minute).
Blueair 121
It will clean smoke, dust and pollen at 400 CFM
Blueair 211
In this case, you have a 350 CFM for smoke, dust and pollen.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next – Coway Airmega 400 vs 400s: Which Smart Air Purifiers are Better?
Timer
For convivence, some people might want to set a timer for a regular cleaning schedule.
Blueair 121
This air purifier has a timer.
Blueair 211
There is no timer with this air purifier.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 121
Pros and Cons
To help make a well-informed decision, we have included some pros and cons of the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211.
Blueair 121
Pros:
- Super easy function
- Good results on air quality and fast
- One of the highest CADR ratings on the market
Cons:
- Some people have noticed a strong smell in the early days
Blueair 211
Pros:
- Excellent air cleaning performance
- The filters are good value
- It’s a well-built air purifier
Cons:
- It’s a shame there is no automatic feature
The Final Verdict
When it comes to purifying air, the Blueair 121 and the Blueair 211 do an amazing job with noticeable results fast. We love the simple but elegant design and as far as air purifiers go, they are quiet. The main differences weren’t really about the quality of the air purifier but the size of the intended space. If you have a larger area, the Blueair 121 is the better option. However, it is also nearly $200 more expensive, and we don’t feel that a timer justifies this. So, today, the winner is the Blueair 211.