Air Purifiers / Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) vs Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)
Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US)
$1014.99
VSAlen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)
$799.00
Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) vs Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)
Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)
Best sensors and a lifetime warranty — as long as you never cancel the filter subscription.
Wins overall by 2.1 points
Quick Verdict
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 2.1 points. Best sensors and a lifetime warranty — as long as you never cancel the filter subscription.
The Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) and Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) are both current-generation air Purifier models, and the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) is $216 cheaper than the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) ($799 vs $1,014.99). On Quietness, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads (8.0 vs 3.5/10) — measured decibels at the lowest setting you would run overnight AND at the top speed you need in a smoke event — a purifier is only useful at a speed you can tolerate. Not publishing a figure at either end costs points. On Running Cost, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads (5.0 vs 1.5/10) — filters, pre-filters, cartridges and subscriptions over three years, against the purchase price. Several units here cost more to feed than to buy; a high score means cheap, long-lived, non-proprietary consumables. On Verified Clean-Air Delivery, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads (6.5 vs 3.5/10) — how much air the unit actually cleans per minute, weighted heavily toward AHAM Verifide smoke CADR over manufacturer-published figures. Self-reported CADR scores below Verifide CADR, and 'no CADR published at all' scores below both. Overall, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 6.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 4.8/10 for the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) | Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1014.99 | $799.00 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| AHAM Verifide CADR (Smoke / Dust / Pollen) (CFM) | Not published, and not AHAM Verifide. Molekule does not appear in the AHAM Verifide directory in August 2026 and publishes no CADR for smoke, dust or pollen anywhere on the Air Pro page. For a $1,015 machine this is the single largest information gap in the file. | Alen publishes a CADR of 375 on the 75i spec block and 350 in its own product description on the same page — Sources conflict: 375 (Alen spec table) vs 350 (Alen product description). Not AHAM Verifide: Alen does not appear in the AHAM Verifide directory in August 2026, so neither figure is independently confirmed, and neither is broken out by smoke, dust and pollen. |
| AHAM Verifide Room Size (4.8 ACH) (ft²) | Not listed in the AHAM Verifide directory (August 2026) | Not listed in the AHAM Verifide directory (August 2026). At Alen's own 375 CADR, the equivalent 4.8-ACH room would be about 580 ft², not the 2,800 ft² on the box. |
| Coverage Claim & Its Air-Change Basis | "Up to 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²) with avg. 8-ft. ceilings" — no air-change basis is given at all. With no CADR published there is no way to derive one, so the 1,000 ft² figure cannot be checked against any standard. | "Covers up to 2,800 sq ft every hour or 1,400 sq ft every 30 minutes" — that is 1 air change per hour and 2 air changes per hour respectively. Alen never quotes a 4.8-ACH figure. The gap between the 2,800 ft² headline and the roughly 580 ft² its own CADR implies at 4.8 ACH is the largest in this file. |
| Filter Grade (True HEPA / HEPA-Type / H13) | PECO-HEPA Tri-Power: a True HEPA layer claimed at 99.97% of small particles, a light-activated PECO (photo-electrochemical oxidation) layer said to destroy organic pollutants, and a carbon layer for gases. The PECO layer is the marketing centrepiece and the part with no CADR-equivalent metric behind it. | True HEPA H13 rated at 99.9% down to 0.1 microns (Alen's wording). Four interchangeable filters: Essential/Pure, Fresh, Odor and Heavy Odor, the latter three adding progressively more carbon. |
| Pre-Filter (Washable?) | None separate and none washable — the pre-filtration is part of the single Tri-Power cartridge | Integrated into each filter cartridge — not separately washable |
| Filter Cost per Year | $349.98/yr — PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter $174.99, replaced every 6 months per Molekule. That is by far the highest running cost here: over three years the filters cost more than the Blueair, the Winix and the Coway combined, and roughly a third of the machine's own price every single year. | $79.20–$99.00/yr with the Essential (Pure) filter at $99 on Alen's stated 12–15 month interval; $166.80–$238.29/yr with the Ultimate (Odor) filter at $139 on its 7–10 month interval. And note the warranty coupling below: the filter subscription is not optional if you want the lifetime guarantee. |
| Ioniser / UV / PCO & CARB Classification | PECO is a photocatalytic oxidation process, not an ioniser, but it is still an active air-chemistry stage rather than pure filtration and it cannot be switched off independently of the machine. Molekule's own FDA criteria table states the unit "Does not product [sic] ozone". CARB nonetheless certifies the Air Pro SQ2PH-US as an ELECTRONIC device (EO G-24-246, notified 2024-11-05) — the category CARB uses for devices capable of generating ozone that tested at or below 0.050 ppm. Every Molekule model in the CARB list, back to the 2017 Home One, is classified Electronic. | Yes, and it is switchable — Alen publishes the numbers at both settings: "0 PPM when disengaged, less than 0.001 PPM with ionizer engaged". CARB certifies the BreatheSmart 75i_V2 as an ELECTRONIC device (EO G-24-038, notified 2024-02-26), and the 45i V2 likewise (G-25-209). Ozone-capable by construction, tested at or below 0.050 ppm, and defeatable in software. |
| Noise, Lowest to Highest Setting (dB) | 33 dBA lowest speed to 64 dBA highest (Molekule published). Both ends are the loudest in this file — the 33 dBA floor is above the Medify's sleep mode and 10 dB above the Blueair and Levoit. | 25 dBA lowest to 51 dBA highest (Alen published) |
| Air Quality Sensor | The most comprehensive here: particulate matter PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 down to 0.3 µm, plus VOCs, CO2 and relative humidity. Molekule notes that the Air Pro "senses but does not destroy CO2 or RH". | The most complete sensing package here: PM2.5, TVOC, eCO2, temperature and relative humidity, driving five colour rings and an auto mode. Note eCO2 on this class of device is normally inferred from the VOC sensor rather than measured with an NDIR CO2 cell, and Alen does not state which it is. |
| Smart Features & Offline Operation | Wi-Fi, the Molekule app and Alexa require an account. Air-quality reporting, history and filter notifications are app-side. Basic fan control works on the device. | Wi-Fi and the Alen Air app need an account. Fan speed and auto mode work from the panel offline — but the "Forever Guarantee" requires an active filter subscription, which is a commercial dependency rather than a technical one. |
| Power Draw & Annual Energy | Not published by Molekule on the US Air Pro page | 1.36W to 55W across the speed range (Alen published) |
| Warranty Terms & Conditions | 2-year limited warranty. Worth weighing against the company's history: Molekule Inc. filed for Chapter 11 in 2023 and the brand now trades under new ownership, and as of August 2026 both the Air Pro and the Air Mini+ show as sold out on molekule.com. | "Forever Guarantee | with Product Registration & Active Air Filter Subscription" — Alen's lifetime warranty is conditional on you continuing to buy filters on subscription. Cancel the subscription and the guarantee lapses. warrantyMonths is recorded as 0 because the term is conditional and not expressible in months. |
| Warranty | 24 months | 0 months |
| Colors | Silver | White, Oak, Weathered Gray, Brushed Stainless, Graphite |
Category Scores
Coverage-Claim Honesty
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 3.0 against 2.0 — a 1.0-point margin on the trap dimension for this category. Almost every brand derives its headline square footage from ONE air change per hour, which does close to nothing for smoke, pollen or wildfire particulate — the useful standard is 4.8 air changes an hour, and it is typically a fifth of the number on the box. A high score means the manufacturer publishes the 4.8-ACH figure prominently and it survives comparison with the AHAM Verifide room size; a low score means a big number with no stated air-change basis, or no CADR at all to derive one from.. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Verified Clean-Air Delivery
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 3.5 — a 3.0-point margin on how much air the unit actually cleans per minute, weighted heavily toward AHAM Verifide smoke CADR over manufacturer-published figures. Self-reported CADR scores below Verifide CADR, and 'no CADR published at all' scores below both. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Filtration Quality
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on what the media is really rated at — sealed H13, True HEPA, HEPA-Type, EPA 12 or charged fabric — whether the whole machine is sealed so air cannot bypass the filter, and how much genuine activated carbon there is for odours and VOCs. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Running Cost
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 5.0 against 1.5 — a 3.5-point margin on filters, pre-filters, cartridges and subscriptions over three years, against the purchase price. Several units here cost more to feed than to buy; a high score means cheap, long-lived, non-proprietary consumables. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Quietness
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 3.5 — a 4.5-point margin on measured decibels at the lowest setting you would run overnight AND at the top speed you need in a smoke event — a purifier is only useful at a speed you can tolerate. Not publishing a figure at either end costs points. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sensor Quality
The Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on whether there is a real laser particle sensor resolving PM1/PM2.5/PM10 with numeric output, a vaguer 'air quality' index, an inference from a cheap VOC element, or no sensor and therefore no auto mode at all. If that is what you are buying for, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Freedom From Ozone & Air Chemistry
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-point margin on whether the unit adds an ioniser, plasma, UV or photocatalytic stage to the airstream, whether that stage can be switched off, and how CARB classifies the device — 'Mechanical' means filtration only, 'Electronic' means capable of generating ozone and certified only as being at or below 0.050 ppm. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Controls & Independence
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on whether every mode works from the machine itself with no account or cloud, how good the auto mode is, filter-change access, and whether losing a remote or a login costs you function. If that is what you are buying for, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) if…
- • You prefer the Molekule ecosystem, app, and design language.
Choose the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) if…
- • Quietness matters most to you — the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 8.0/10 here (measured decibels at the lowest setting you would run overnight AND at the top speed you need in a smoke event — a purifier is only useful at a speed you can tolerate. Not publishing a figure at either end costs points).
- • Running Cost matters most to you — the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 5.0/10 here (filters, pre-filters, cartridges and subscriptions over three years, against the purchase price. Several units here cost more to feed than to buy; a high score means cheap, long-lived, non-proprietary consumables).
- • Verified Clean-Air Delivery matters most to you — the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 6.5/10 here (how much air the unit actually cleans per minute, weighted heavily toward AHAM Verifide smoke CADR over manufacturer-published figures. Self-reported CADR scores below Verifide CADR, and 'no CADR published at all' scores below both).
- • Freedom From Ozone & Air Chemistry matters most to you — the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 7.5/10 here (whether the unit adds an ioniser, plasma, UV or photocatalytic stage to the airstream, whether that stage can be switched off, and how CARB classifies the device — 'Mechanical' means filtration only, 'Electronic' means capable of generating ozone and certified only as being at or below 0.050 ppm).
- • Controls & Independence matters most to you — the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores 8.0/10 here (whether every mode works from the machine itself with no account or cloud, how good the auto mode is, filter-change access, and whether losing a remote or a login costs you function).
Pros & Cons
Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US)
Pros
- +Six-channel sensing — PM1/2.5/10, VOC, CO2 and humidity — is the deepest air-quality picture here
- +Holds an FDA 510(k) Class II clearance, which no other consumer unit in this file does
- +Aluminium body with a carry handle rather than the usual moulded plastic tower
- +The HEPA layer underneath the PECO stage is real True HEPA, so it works as a filter regardless of the PECO claims
- +App-side air-quality reporting and history are genuinely detailed
Cons
- −No CADR published and no AHAM listing, so on a $1,015 machine there is no measure of how much air it actually cleans
- −$174.99 filters every 6 months is $349.98 a year — a third of the purchase price, annually, and the worst running cost here by a factor of three
- −CARB classifies the Air Pro as an Electronic (ozone-capable) device even though Molekule's own FDA table says it produces no ozone
- −33 dBA on the lowest setting is louder than most of this field's mid speeds; 64 dBA at the top is conversation-drowning
- −Molekule filed Chapter 11 in 2023 and both current purifiers show as sold out on molekule.com in August 2026 — filter supply is a real risk on a 2-year warranty
- −The "1,000 sq ft" claim has no air-change basis and no CADR to derive one from
Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)
Pros
- +Publishes actual ozone figures at both ioniser settings — 0 ppm off, under 0.001 ppm on — which almost nobody does
- +PM2.5, TVOC, eCO2, temperature and humidity sensing is the broadest package here
- +25–51 dBA across the whole range from a genuinely large-room machine
- +Four filter chemistries in one body, so you can retune it for odour or wildfire smoke
- +Interchangeable panels make it the only unit here designed to be seen
Cons
- −The "Forever Guarantee" is conditional on registration AND an active filter subscription — stop buying filters and the lifetime warranty stops
- −"Up to 2,800 sq ft" is a 1-ACH figure; Alen's own CADR implies roughly 580 ft² at the 4.8 ACH that matters
- −Alen's own page states two different CADRs, 375 and 350, in two places
- −Not in the AHAM Verifide directory, so nothing about the CADR is independently confirmed
- −CARB lists the 75i_V2 as an Electronic (ozone-capable) device, and the Odor filter pushes running costs past $165/yr
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) or Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Quietness, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) or the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores higher on Quietness (8.0/10 vs 3.5/10) — measured decibels at the lowest setting you would run overnight AND at the top speed you need in a smoke event — a purifier is only useful at a speed you can tolerate. Not publishing a figure at either end costs points.
Which is better for Running Cost, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) or the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores higher on Running Cost (5.0/10 vs 1.5/10) — filters, pre-filters, cartridges and subscriptions over three years, against the purchase price. Several units here cost more to feed than to buy; a high score means cheap, long-lived, non-proprietary consumables.
Which is better for Verified Clean-Air Delivery, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) or the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores higher on Verified Clean-Air Delivery (6.5/10 vs 3.5/10) — how much air the unit actually cleans per minute, weighted heavily toward AHAM Verifide smoke CADR over manufacturer-published figures. Self-reported CADR scores below Verifide CADR, and 'no CADR published at all' scores below both.
Which is better for Freedom From Ozone & Air Chemistry, the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) or the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) scores higher on Freedom From Ozone & Air Chemistry (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — whether the unit adds an ioniser, plasma, UV or photocatalytic stage to the airstream, whether that stage can be switched off, and how CARB classifies the device — 'Mechanical' means filtration only, 'Electronic' means capable of generating ozone and certified only as being at or below 0.050 ppm.
Is the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) worth the price difference over the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) is the cheaper option at $799 versus $1,014.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Quietness.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) is the better fit if you mainly care about large-room or wildfire-smoke. The Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) is the better fit for bedroom-quiet.
What's the warranty on the Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) vs the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2)?+
The Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) ships with a 24-month warranty; the Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) ships with a 0-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Alen BreatheSmart 75i (V2) — $799.00
Premium Option
Molekule Air Pro with PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter (SQ2PH-US) — $1014.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.