The Hamilton Beach True Air Ultra Digital UV Air Purifier filters air with a HEPA/carbon 2 stage air purifier. The carbon pre-filter traps large particles, hairs, and odors, while the flat-style HEPA filter removes 99.97 percent of airborne particles down to .03 microns. Filtered air then passes a germicidal UV light that kills any germs still in the air prior to being returned to the room. This model, the 04161, is recommended for small- to average-size rooms up to 200 square feet in size. For larger rooms, see model 04163.

The 04161 includes a monitor that indicates air quality in the room (good, fair, or poor) and filter indicators that tell you when to change filters. It lets the user set the fan to one of three speeds or to the automatic function, which ramps up or down on its own, depending on the air quality. This allows the unit to stay on the whisper quiet setting, saving energy and lowering the noise level. Its clean air density rate (CADR; the amount of clean air the unit delivers in cubic feet per minute) is 130 for dust and tobacco smoke, and 140 for pollen.

The styling of this unit is unobtrusive, and the design allows you to place it against the wall and out of the way of traffic. It is lightweight for easy portability. The front grill lifts and detaches for cleaning, and the filters are easy to change.

As when buying any purifier, take into account the cost of the filters, UV lamps, and frequency of change. Hamilton Beach suggests typical life expectancies of 3 months for the carbon pre-filter, 12 months for the HEPA filter, and 6000 hours for the UV germicidal light. None of the filters can be cleaned and reused.

Warranty
3 years