Toshiba CAF-Z85US(W) air purifier review

Price under consideration

299.99

Best Prices Today: Toshiba H13 True HEPA CAF-Z85US(W) Air Purifier

While some air purifiers try to hide their purpose behind an unobtrusive shell (most of them), an iconic design (Dyson), or even a hybrid form (LG’s desktop air purifier), Toshiba’s air purifier builds on it with an eye-catching design. attention to its functionality.

Design and appearance

• Weighs 25.2 pounds
• Measures 26.8 inches x 12.2 inches x 12.2 inches
• Eye-catching design

Column-shaped white cleaner, 26.8 inches high and 12.2 inches wide and deep. It’s on wheels so it’s easy to roll, but because it’s quite heavy (25.2 pounds), you won’t want to move it up and down stairs too often.

Clean air vents are located on the top and there are two large (10×17″) air intake grilles, one on each side of the unit, which draw in large amounts of air from different directions.

But while his body is simply engineered, his upper body is not. At the top, there is a recessed round air vent embedded in a clear plastic edging. There is a bright ring of light around the vent that indicates air quality (although it can be turned off in sleep mode).

Emma Rowley / Foundry

This design choice makes it quite prominent. Overall, it looks like it will be more comfortable in a lab or medical center than at home. But while it might be ugly, it’s incredibly easy to use. And thanks to the light ring, you can immediately determine the quality of the air – even from the other side of the room.

There is a five-button control panel on the front of the rim with appropriate indicators (except for automatic mode – you’ll know it’s on when all other indicators are off).

Emma Rowley / Foundry

The first one is for automatic mode. In this mode, the purifier will respond to its sensors: when the air quality drops, it will turn on. When the air quality is good, it goes into standby mode. In practice, I found that the purifier stayed on at a very low level even when the air quality was good. However, spray an aerosol near it and it will turn on, the blue ring of light will change to an angry red, and the VOC indicator will explode.

The responsiveness of this mode would seem to make it a good general day-night setup. There’s even a light level indicator that turns the purifier’s display on and off. However, if you have concerns about your electricity bill, this will not be economical.

The next button gives you a timer option. Set it to run the machine for one, two, four or eight hours to clear a smoky room or clear the air while you sleep.

The third button allows you to switch between three fan speeds. Press this button along with the mode button and the child lock will turn on, which will save your settings from the little fingers. (Or really giant if your child has them.)

The mode button gives you three options: Smoke, Sleep, and Turbo. Smoke seems like a confusing name since it’s not as powerful as Turbo, but if your room was full of smoke, you should choose Turbo mode. The manual does not explain these terms.

Finally, there is an on/off button.

At the bottom is a backlit display that shows information about air quality and maintenance. It shows how much time is left in the HEPA filter and when you need to remove the pre-filter for cleaning. You can also see if Child Lock is enabled and Wi-Fi is connected.

Finally, it gives information on PM2.5 particle volume and VOC levels. Everything is easy to understand once you have checked the manual in the manual.

Filter type and CADR

• HEPA 13 filter
• activated carbon layer
• CADR 312

This purifier is effective against all pollutants that may be in the air in your home. It has a three-stage filter with a pre-filter, effective against pet dander, hair and dust; HEPA 13 filter for airborne particles down to 0.3 microns, including viruses, pollen, dust mites and mold spores; and a layer of activated carbon to remove smoke, volatile organic compounds and unpleasant odors.

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds, and this category includes all the harmful gases emitted by paint, aerosols, cleaning products, and new furniture. If you’re in a remodeling or renovation business, the VOCs in the air are likely to be high, and an activated carbon filter would be a good investment.

This purifier is ideal for large spaces as it has a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) of 312, which means it can clean 312 cubic feet of air per minute. It can purify the air in rooms up to 483 feet² five times per hour, Toshiba says.

We can’t test these claims in a lab, but we can – and did – use it around the house and see how well it performs in everyday conditions.

Performance

The air purifier is quick to set up. All you have to do is open the air intake grille, take out the HEPA filter, remove the plastic cover and put it back in place. Then repeat on the other side.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Almost immediately I was able to use it after a cloud of smoke formed due to excessive non-intervention in the preparation of dinner. I wheeled in a Toshiba and its light ring turned red to warn me of poor air quality (not necessary as I could see smoke in the air, but thanks). I closed the door and let her get to work.

Within minutes, the air in my (admittedly cupboard-like) kitchen was completely smoke-free. All evidence of my partner’s culinary crimes is gone.

During my testing period, I found many uses for Toshiba. Removes persistent egg and fish odors. Removes cat litter odor. It refreshes the room after sleeping or when the door and windows have been closed for a long time.

It’s very quiet as well. Even in turbo mode, only the sound of rushing air is heard. And in sleep mode, the volume can reach 30 dB – literally a whisper.

Smart features

If you download the free TSmartLife app (which is available for Apple and Android), you can control your air purifier through the app and even use voice commands through Alexa. The purifier supports dual-band Wi-Fi, so it’s easy to connect.

In the app, you can also see particulate matter and VOC levels and track them over time.

Unfortunately, since I’m in the UK, I wasn’t able to test the smart features. The app is available, but the air purifier is not among the recognized devices for this region.

Price and availability

Toshiba CAF-Z85US(W) air purifier available from Amazon to USA for $299.99. It is currently not available in the UK.

The bad news is that there are two filters that need to be replaced – although that could mean you’ll live twice as long with them? – and it will be expensive. A pair of replacement filters costs $49.99. from the Amazon.

Toshiba doesn’t specify how long the filters will last, but these things typically have a lifespan of 3-6 months, depending on usage. They cannot be cleaned, as the charcoal layer will eventually simply saturate and will no longer be able to trap the gases.

On a positive note, the air intake grilles and pre-filter can be vacuumed and washed by hand, so they don’t need to be replaced.

Verdict

This is a really powerful and efficient air purifier. I found it easy to use and the displays easy to read. The trade-off with this appliance is its looks: it’s a pretty ugly thing in your home – and quite an eye-catcher.

For more air purifier options and our recommendations, check out our roundup of the best air purifiers we’ve tested.