We purchased the KeySmart CleanLight Air Pro (Check latest price on Amazon) so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for the full product review.
The KeySmart CleanLight Air Pro is a practical solution to a growing issue: maintaining clean air quality. While the design is simple, this air purifier is powered by impressive technology that purports to remove 99.99 percent of pollutants. The CleanLight Air Pro sterilizes and cleans the air without the use of filters, relying instead on UV light and ionic air purification.
Two fan speeds give you control over how much cleaning power you want to use, and an onboard air quality monitor gives you real-time feedback about the health of the air around you. The rechargeable, battery-operated design makes it ideal for personal use in small spaces such as the office, at home, or while traveling.
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Design: Simple but effective
The CleanLight Air Pro is shaped like a cylinder crossed with a three-dimensional rectangle. It’s small, measuring just over 3 inches wide and 4.6 inches tall, making it easy to fit just about anywhere.
The height is increased to 8.11 inches when the cup holder base is attached. The CleanLight Air Pro fits into most cup holders, though it loses stability and is prone to wobbling with the base attached. This device is only 1 pound in weight, making it easy to pack in a bag for short commutes and travel.
The overall design has a matte but substantial feel thanks to the sturdy ABS and rubber oil construction. The main interactive area of the air purifier is at the top, with a multi-purpose button and an LED readout that displays the air quality level, fan speed, and battery charge. This attractive, slightly reflective display is complemented by a second LED air quality indicator light that surrounds the unit’s air vents.
Setup Process: Plug-and-play ready
The design of this portable air purifier is extremely plug-and-play. The cup holder, which the main unit slides on and off easily, and the USB-C to USB-A charging cable are the only extras beyond the air purifier base. It came half-charged and ready to use right out of the box.
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What’s New: CleanLight Air Pro vs. CleanLight Air
The CleanLight Air Pro version has similar air-cleaning capabilities but is more portable and has more user-friendly features. The Pro does not require a HEPA filter and instead cleans the air with UV-C and ionic sterilization. The CleanLight Air Pro also has monitoring capabilities that the original CleanLight Air lacks.
The Pro model can operate without a power source, which is perhaps the most distinguishing feature. When not in use, it detaches from the base and can be tucked away in small bags and compartments, whereas the CleanLight Air fits perfectly in a cup holder at all times. If aromatherapy is important to you, the Pro version lacks that compartment but compensates with a more portable design.
Performance: Consistent with little variation
UV-C wavelengths of 260nm to 280nm are used in this KeySmart air purifier. UV wavelengths of 222 nm have been shown to be effective against airborne viruses in studies. I used the CleanLight Air Pro in several rooms throughout my apartment, all of which (except one) are larger than the device’s 160-square-foot range. The CleanLight Air Pro improved air quality the most in the smallest room I used it in, a 72-square-foot space.
When I didn’t run the CleanLight Air Pro, I noticed that it helped dispel the smoke smell and improved the air quality significantly more than when I didn’t.
The CleanLight Air Pro consistently registered air quality of around 10-11 on the PM2.5 (particulate matter) pollutant scale, regardless of room size. PM2.5 pollutants are ultra-fine particles that measure 2.5 micrometers or less, similar to a strand of hair, and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CleanLight Air Pro, according to the manufacturer, uses a highly accurate Sharp PM2.5 sensor to actively detect and adjust air conditions.
Readings between zero and 50 on the EPA’s air quality index, the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), indicate good air quality. KeySmart uses a similar scale, with blue LED lights representing excellent air quality from zero to 50, and yellow LED lights representing good air quality from 50 to 100.
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The colors orange and red, which range from 100 to 250 and above, correspond to moderate and heavy haze, according to KeySmart. These levels correspond to the AQI’s unhealthy to very unhealthy or hazardous ratings for sensitive groups and unhealthy to very unhealthy or hazardous for everyone else.
The lowest setting is barely audible, while the second is similar to a very low fan volume.
The level stayed around 10-14 when I placed the CleanLight Air Pro in the kitchen while cooking or outside. This reading was fairly consistent with the AQI for my zip code, which was also in the Good range. Even though the air seemed smokey, I ran a fan on exhaust and opened windows when near cooking conditions, which could explain why levels were so low.
Only when I extinguished a candle right next to it did the indicator change significantly. On the highest fan setting, the rating increased to 36, then gradually decreased over 40 minutes to 10. In this case, I noticed that the CleanLight Air Pro significantly improved the air quality and dissipated the smoke smell compared to when I didn’t use it.
There are two fan settings on the CleanLight Air Pro, both of which are very quiet. The lowest setting is barely audible, while the second mode is more akin to a fan or white noise machine running at a very low volume. Even on the highest setting, this device registers at less than 50dB, according to KeySmart. According to the CDC, whispers are around 30 decibels, and anything less than 60 decibels, which is close to conversation volume, is generally safe from hearing loss.
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Battery: Nearly 4 hours of use
The 1800mAh rechargeable battery in this small air purifier is good for nearly 4 hours of use on a single charge. Regardless of fan speed, I found battery life to be just under that time. Regrettably, charging took nearly as long, at around 3 hours. The good news is that you can use this air purifier while it’s charging, so if you have access to a USB port, you’ll never be without it.
Regardless of fan speed, battery life remained consistent at just under 4 hours.
Price: Steep but for a reason
The CleanLight Air Pro costs around $220 (Check latest price on Amazon), which is comparable to much larger, top-rated air purifiers that can cover rooms up to 360 square feet. The Coway Mighty, which costs around $20 less, and the Winix 5500-2, which costs around $160, provide exactly the same coverage. These rivals also provide a variety of settings and speeds, as well as air quality indicators and automatic modes.
Despite this, neither of these models is filterless or as portable as the CleanLight Air Pro. The CleanLight Air Pro’s mobile design and impressive performance as a personal air purifier for travel place it in a unique category that may be worth the hefty price tag.
KeySmart CleanLight Air Pro vs. GermGuardian GG3000BCA Desktop UVC Air Sanitizer & Odor Reducer
Based on its design and feature set, the KeySmart CleanLight Air Pro provides exceptional value. While there are less expensive portable air purifiers, none quite match the GermGuardian GG3000BCA’s filter- and cord-free UV-C cleaning design, but it comes close in some ways.
The GG3000BCA has a sleek, modern tube-like design that uses UV-C light to reduce bacteria, allergens, and odors in the air, similar to the CleanLight Air Pro. The UV light in the GG3000BCA must be replaced every 4,000 to 5,000 hours, whereas the LED light in the CleanLight Air Pro is estimated to last 10,000 hours.
The GG3000BCA, despite its diminutive size, will not fit in most bags or cup holders and is best suited to spaces of up to 100 square feet. It weighs 3.6 pounds and stands 15.55 inches taller than the CleanLight Air Pro. It also needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to work. When comparing price points, the GermGuardian, which retails for $100, requires far less of an investment.
The Final Word
The KeySmart CleanLight Air Pro is a small, portable air purifier that can be taken with you wherever you go. While the price is high, thoughtful features like the wire-free design, UV and negative ion filtering technology, and a dynamic PM2.5 sensor set this portable air purifier apart from similarly sized competitors with fewer features.
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