TCRThe Comparison Report

Dehumidifiers / hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) vs Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)

hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) vs Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)

Best Overall

hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)

The default basement 50-pint, cheap and everywhere — and not in the ENERGY STAR list.

Wins overall by 1.0 points

Buy on Amazon

Quick Verdict

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) takes this by a clear 1.0 points. The default basement 50-pint, cheap and everywhere — and not in the ENERGY STAR list. The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) and Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) are both closely matched dehumidifier models, and the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) is $195.70 cheaper than the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) ($46.42 vs $242.10). On Moisture Removal, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads (7.5 vs 1.0/10) — actual water pulled out of the air per day at a condition a home experiences, judged against the DOE-verified figure rather than the coverage claim on the box. On Quietness, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) leads (9.5 vs 5.5/10) — measured dB where published, weighted by where the machine actually lives — a 58 dBA crawlspace unit under a floor is fine, a 54 dB cube next to a desk is not. On Running Cost, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads (4.5 vs 2.0/10) — the kWh/yr on the ENERGY STAR certification and what it costs at the meter. On a machine that runs most of the year this dominates total ownership cost — often a third of the purchase price annually. Overall, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores 5.2/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 4.2/10 for the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.

Side-by-Side Comparison

SpechOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
Price$242.10$46.42
Release Year20172016
Rated Capacity (and Which Standard)50 pints/day on the 2019 DOE scale — and the listings say so explicitly. Walmart's title for this machine reads "50 Pint (Previously 70 Pint)". The Amazon listing adds a second, larger number: "50 Pint (MAX 120 Pint at 95°F, 90% RH)". Three scales for one machine: 70 (pre-2019 DOE), 50 (2019 DOE), 120 (saturation)Walmart's spec table for this unit says it "Collects up to 9oz of water per day" — that is 0.56 pints per day, not a pint rating at all. No DOE or AHAM pint figure exists for this product because thermoelectric units are outside the DOE portable-dehumidifier test scope. For scale, a 50-pint compressor unit removes roughly 90x more water per day
ENERGY STAR / DOE Verified Capacity ( pints/day)Not currently verifiable. hOmeLabs' only entries in the ENERGY STAR Certified Dehumidifiers database as of August 2026 are the HME0088 (24.48 pints/day) and HME0089 (32.46 pints/day). The 50-pint model is not in the certified list, despite listings that describe it as "Energy Star Dehumidifier"None — Pro Breeze does not appear anywhere in the ENERGY STAR Certified Dehumidifiers database, so no independently verified DOE Appendix X1 capacity exists
Technology & RefrigerantCompressor (refrigerant), 7.8 amps rated current, 165-188 CFM across three fan speedsThermoelectric (Peltier). A solid-state junction chills a small plate and moisture condenses onto it. There is no refrigeration circuit, no compressor and no refrigerant
Low-Temperature Operation & DefrostAuto-defrost present; hOmeLabs publishes no minimum operating temperature. The listing does warn the unit "emits heat during use" and is "not suitable for use with evaporative coolers"No frost failure mode — there is no coil to ice up — but Peltier output falls off sharply as the room cools because the plate can only sit a fixed number of degrees below ambient. Pro Breeze publishes no minimum operating temperature and no output-vs-temperature curve
Claimed CoverageThe same ASIN has been sold as 4,500 sq ft (Walmart's listing, and a cached third-party mirror of the Amazon title) and as 7,000 sq ft (hOmeLabs' own current page and Home Depot's HME031004N pump variant). The hardware did not change by 2,500 sq ftSources conflict badly for the same machine: 150 sq ft (Walmart's 1200-cubic-foot listing), 205 sq ft (Pro Breeze's own intl.probreeze.com page), 215 sq ft (the Amazon listing and Walmart's Peltier listing). All three describe the same 1,200 cubic feet
Tank Capacity & Refill Interval1.6 gallons (12.8 pints). At the rated 50 pints/day that is four emptyings a day. This machine is the standard illustration of why tank capacity and pints-per-day are the two numbers you must read togetherSources conflict: 17 oz (Amazon and Walmart), 16 oz (eBay and third-party listings), 18 oz (an eBay listing for the same PB-02-US). At the stated 9 oz/day extraction a 17 oz tank needs emptying roughly every two days, which is the one thing this unit does not ask much of you
Continuous Drainage (Hose, Gravity, Pump Lift)Continuous gravity drain port. No pump on this SKU; hOmeLabs sells a pump variant (HME031004N, Best Buy calls it HME1004). Gravity drainage needs the unit raised above the drainNone. There is no continuous-drain port, no hose and no pump — you empty the tank by hand. That is the practical ceiling on this product
ENERGY STAR StatusClaimed in the product titles, but the 50-pint hOmeLabs does not appear in the current ENERGY STAR Certified Dehumidifiers database — only the 24- and 32-pint models do. Treat the badge on this listing as unverifiedNot ENERGY STAR certified and not eligible — ENERGY STAR's dehumidifier scope covers portable and whole-home refrigerant units, and Pro Breeze appears nowhere in the certified list
Annual Running CostNot published, and no ENERGY STAR annual-energy figure exists for this model. At the rated 7.8 amps and the duty cycle typical of the class, budget for the same $85-95/yr as its certified 50-pint rivalsAbout $34/yr if run continuously (23W x 8,760h x $0.17/kWh). That buys 0.56 pints a day. Per pint removed it is by a wide margin the most expensive machine here
NoiseNo dB figure published by hOmeLabs. The listing claims "a quiet fan for minimal noise disruption"No dB figure published. Marketing says "ultra quiet"/"no noise"; there is a small fan and no compressor, so it is genuinely the quietest unit in this set, but the claim is unquantified
Warranty (incl. Sealed System)Not published on the hOmeLabs product page used for this entry. hOmeLabs' standard consumer warranty is 12 months with a 2-year extension available on some SKUs; confirm at purchase. No sealed-system term is publishedNot stated on the Amazon or Walmart listings used for this entry. Pro Breeze's standard consumer warranty is 12 months; confirm at purchase. There is no sealed system to warrant
Recall HistoryNo CPSC recall found for hOmeLabs dehumidifiersNo CPSC recall found for Pro Breeze dehumidifiers. Note that thermoelectric units were not part of any of the three large compressor-dehumidifier recalls (Gree 2013/2016/2023, New Widetech 2021)
Warranty12 months12 months
ColorsWhiteWhite

Category Scores

Capacity-Claim HonestyThis category's trap dimension. Since the DOE changed the test condition from 80°F/60% RH to 65°F/60% RH in 2019, the same machine that was a '70 pint' is now a '50 pint' — and manufacturers freely mix the two scales, plus a third 'saturation' figure taken at 95°F/90% RH. A high score means the pint number on the box matches the DOE Appendix X1 figure the manufacturer filed with ENERGY STAR. A low score means the marketing number is measured somewhere the buyer's house never is.
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
5.0
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
6.0
Moisture RemovalActual water pulled out of the air per day at a condition a home experiences, judged against the DOE-verified figure rather than the coverage claim on the box
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
7.5
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
1.0
Cold-Room PerformanceWhat happens in a 50-55°F basement, garage or crawlspace. Compressor coils frost below roughly 65°F and auto-defrost buys back the coil at the cost of runtime; desiccant rotors and hot-gas-defrost units do not care. The single most common mis-buy in the category
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
4.0
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
3.0
Drainage & Tank PracticalityTank volume measured against daily output, whether a hose is in the box, whether gravity drainage needs the unit propped up, and whether there is a real pump and how high it lifts
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
4.5
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
2.5
Running CostThe kWh/yr on the ENERGY STAR certification and what it costs at the meter. On a machine that runs most of the year this dominates total ownership cost — often a third of the purchase price annually
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
4.5
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
2.0
QuietnessMeasured dB where published, weighted by where the machine actually lives — a 58 dBA crawlspace unit under a floor is fine, a 54 dB cube next to a desk is not
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
5.5
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
9.5
Build & WarrantyCoil and cabinet construction, filter grade, and above all the warranty on the sealed system — the compressor is the part that fails and the part most portables cover for only twelve months
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
4.0
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
4.5
Value for MoneyPurchase price plus multi-year electricity against verified pints removed and how long the warranty protects the compressor
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)
6.5
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)
5.0
Capacity-Claim HonestyMoisture RemovalCold-Room PerformanceDrainage & Tank PracticalityRunning CostQuietnessBuild & WarrantyValue for Money
hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)

Capacity-Claim Honesty

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on this category's trap dimension. Since the DOE changed the test condition from 80°F/60% RH to 65°F/60% RH in 2019, the same machine that was a '70 pint' is now a '50 pint' — and manufacturers freely mix the two scales, plus a third 'saturation' figure taken at 95°F/90% RH. A high score means the pint number on the box matches the DOE Appendix X1 figure the manufacturer filed with ENERGY STAR. A low score means the marketing number is measured somewhere the buyer's house never is.. If that is what you are buying for, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Moisture Removal

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 1.0 — a 6.5-point margin on actual water pulled out of the air per day at a condition a home experiences, judged against the DOE-verified figure rather than the coverage claim on the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Cold-Room Performance

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads clearly here, 4.0 against 3.0 — a 1.0-point margin on what happens in a 50-55°F basement, garage or crawlspace. Compressor coils frost below roughly 65°F and auto-defrost buys back the coil at the cost of runtime; desiccant rotors and hot-gas-defrost units do not care. The single most common mis-buy in the category. If that is what you are buying for, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Drainage & Tank Practicality

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads clearly here, 4.5 against 2.5 — a 2.0-point margin on tank volume measured against daily output, whether a hose is in the box, whether gravity drainage needs the unit propped up, and whether there is a real pump and how high it lifts. If that is what you are buying for, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Running Cost

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads clearly here, 4.5 against 2.0 — a 2.5-point margin on the kWh/yr on the ENERGY STAR certification and what it costs at the meter. On a machine that runs most of the year this dominates total ownership cost — often a third of the purchase price annually. If that is what you are buying for, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Quietness

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-point margin on measured dB where published, weighted by where the machine actually lives — a 58 dBA crawlspace unit under a floor is fine, a 54 dB cube next to a desk is not. If that is what you are buying for, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Build & Warranty

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) leads clearly here, 4.5 against 4.0 — a 0.5-point margin on coil and cabinet construction, filter grade, and above all the warranty on the sealed system — the compressor is the part that fails and the part most portables cover for only twelve months. If that is what you are buying for, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Value for Money

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.0 — a 1.5-point margin on purchase price plus multi-year electricity against verified pints removed and how long the warranty protects the compressor. If that is what you are buying for, the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Best For

Choose the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) if…

  • Moisture Removal matters most to you — the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores 7.5/10 here (actual water pulled out of the air per day at a condition a home experiences, judged against the DOE-verified figure rather than the coverage claim on the box).
  • Running Cost matters most to you — the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores 4.5/10 here (the kWh/yr on the ENERGY STAR certification and what it costs at the meter. On a machine that runs most of the year this dominates total ownership cost — often a third of the purchase price annually).
  • Drainage & Tank Practicality matters most to you — the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores 4.5/10 here (tank volume measured against daily output, whether a hose is in the box, whether gravity drainage needs the unit propped up, and whether there is a real pump and how high it lifts).
  • Value for Money matters most to you — the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores 6.5/10 here (purchase price plus multi-year electricity against verified pints removed and how long the warranty protects the compressor).
  • Your main use case is basement or large-room.

Choose the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) if…

  • Quietness matters most to you — the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) scores 9.5/10 here (measured dB where published, weighted by where the machine actually lives — a 58 dBA crawlspace unit under a floor is fine, a 54 dB cube next to a desk is not).
  • You want to spend less — it's $195.70 cheaper.
  • Your main use case is closet-bathroom or cold-spaces.

Pros & Cons

hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N)

Pros

  • +Cheapest genuine 50-pint here at $242.10, and the most widely owned platform in US basements
  • +Its listing is one of the few that spells the scale change out loud — "50 Pint (Previously 70 Pint)"
  • +Auto-restart and a 24-hour timer make it a set-and-forget basement machine
  • +Parts, filters and support are easy to find precisely because so many were sold

Cons

  • Listings advertise ENERGY STAR, but the 50-pint hOmeLabs is not in the current ENERGY STAR certified database — only the 24- and 32-pint models are
  • The "MAX 120 Pint at 95°F, 90% RH" figure in the title is a saturation number no home will ever see
  • Coverage claim for the same ASIN has drifted from 4,500 to 7,000 sq ft with no hardware change
  • 1.6 gallon tank against 50 pints/day: four emptyings a day unless you can gravity-drain it
  • No published dB, no published minimum operating temperature, no published warranty and no published energy consumption

Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)

Pros

  • +Genuinely silent — no compressor cycling, which is why it works on a bedroom shelf where a 50-pint unit does not
  • +23W means you can leave it on permanently without a meaningful bill, unlike every compressor unit here
  • +No coil, so nothing frosts: it degrades gracefully in a cold room rather than shutting down like a compressor unit
  • +Cheapest way to keep a wardrobe, gun safe or small bathroom from smelling damp

Cons

  • 9 oz/day is 0.56 pints — roughly 1/90th of a 50-pint unit. It cannot dry a basement, a garage or a bedroom, whatever the 215 sq ft claim implies
  • Three different coverage figures (150/205/215 sq ft) and three different tank figures (16/17/18 oz) circulate for the identical PB-02-US
  • No drain port at all, so there is no unattended operation beyond a couple of days
  • Cost per pint removed is the worst in this comparison by a factor of ten or more
  • No published dB, no published minimum operating temperature, no published warranty on the listings

Shop by Need

FAQs

Is the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) or Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) better overall?+

Based on our 8-category scoring, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) 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 Moisture Removal, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) or the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores higher on Moisture Removal (7.5/10 vs 1.0/10) — actual water pulled out of the air per day at a condition a home experiences, judged against the DOE-verified figure rather than the coverage claim on the box.

Which is better for Quietness, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) or the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) scores higher on Quietness (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — measured dB where published, weighted by where the machine actually lives — a 58 dBA crawlspace unit under a floor is fine, a 54 dB cube next to a desk is not.

Which is better for Running Cost, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) or the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores higher on Running Cost (4.5/10 vs 2.0/10) — the kWh/yr on the ENERGY STAR certification and what it costs at the meter. On a machine that runs most of the year this dominates total ownership cost — often a third of the purchase price annually.

Which is better for Drainage & Tank Practicality, the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) or the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) scores higher on Drainage & Tank Practicality (4.5/10 vs 2.5/10) — tank volume measured against daily output, whether a hose is in the box, whether gravity drainage needs the unit propped up, and whether there is a real pump and how high it lifts.

Is the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) worth the price difference over the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) is the cheaper option at $46.42 versus $242.10. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Moisture Removal.

Which is better suited to my use case?+

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) is the better fit if you mainly care about basement or large-room. The Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) is the better fit for closet-bathroom or cold-spaces.

What's the warranty on the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) vs the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US)?+

The hOmeLabs 50-Pint Wi-Fi Dehumidifier (HME020031N) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier (PB-02-US) ships with a 12-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.

Premium Option

GE ADSE50XWT 50-Pint Smart Dehumidifier with Built-in Pump — $299.00

Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.

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