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Are you on the hunt for the best negative ion generator to give that extra oomph to eradicate airborne contaminants in your home? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’re going to discuss 10 of the best negative ion generators that the market has to offer and how your health can benefit from having one of these handy devices.
Ionic Air Purifiers Compared
| Product | Coverage | Filter | Size | Warranty | |
| Oransi Max Air Purifier | 600 sq ft | 3-stage with HEPA | 20" x 11" x 25.5" | 10 years | |
| Aeramax 300 Air Purifier | 300 sq ft | 4-stage with HEPA | 8.13" x 16" x 25.13" | 3 years | |
| Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 | 550 sq ft | 4-stage with HEPA | 16.6" x 9.8" x 22.2" | 5 years | |
| Sharp FP-F50UW | 210 sq ft | 3-stage with HEPA | 15.1" x 8.2" x 21.3" | 1 year | |
| Germ Guardian AC9200 | 335 sq ft | 3-stage with HEPA | 17" x 9.75" x 27" | 3 years |
10 Best Negative Ion Generators Reviewed
1. Oransi Max Air Purifier with Ionizer – Best For Large Rooms
Features
- Large casing, motor, and fan
- 3-stage filtration with HEPA
- Intelligent air quality sensor
The Oransi Max Air Purifier is probably one of the most well-known air purifiers that comes with an ionizer. It’s not the prettiest thing to look at, but its performance is truly off the charts, and its intelligent features make using it a breeze.
The Oransi can cover up to 600 square feet, making it the perfect air purifier candidate for living rooms, hobby basements, and apartments. This device can recirculate air up to four times per hour or roughly once every 15 minutes for better cleaning and improved air quality.
Most air purifiers feature a three-stage filtration system, but the Oransi takes it a step further. Inside are the standard pre-filter for large particles and an activated carbon filter to trap odor. Then we have an amazing True HEPA Filter that traps particles as small as 0.3 microns up to 99.97% of the time. Finally, the Oransi has an optional ionizer to trap airborne particles more effectively in the HEPA filter.
To make using this device as simple as possible, the Oransi comes with an intelligent air quality sensor that is constantly calculating the concentration of airborne contaminants. When auto-cleaning mode is activated, the Oransi will automatically kick into high-gear when the concentration reaches a certain point.
The only issue we have with the Oransi is its low-ish CADR figures. For dust, smoke, and pollen, the Oransi scores 196, 182, and 208 CFM respectively. By no means is this a deal-breaker, but there are plenty of higher-scoring air purifiers out there.
Pros
- Excellent performance in small/medium spaces
- Smart features
- Simple and convenient
Cons
- CADR ratings on the low side
2. Aeramax 300 Air Purifier with Ion Generator – Most Popular
Features
- Power motor and fan
- 4-stage filtration including True HEPA
- Built-in antimicrobial treatment
In our humble opinion, the Aeramax 300 is the better-looking air purifier compared to the Oransi, and it’s available with either a black or white finish. Performance-wise, it’s practically at the same high-quality cleaning level, but as you can see, the Aeramax 300 is made specifically for tinier spaces.
This air purifier has a maximum reach of only 300 square feet which, by looking at the size of the unit, can be quite off-putting. However, there’s no denying that the Aeramax 300 can clean the air in bedrooms, dorm rooms, and smaller kitchens to near-perfection.
The CADR and ACH ratings on this device, relative to its size, are quite impressive. Even though it scores below the 200-CFM mark in all three categories, seeing as its cleaning capacity is half that of the Oransi, this is still considered a win. Plus, it can move air up to five times per hour is 300-square-foot spaces.
Like the previous model, the Aeramax 300 uses the same four-stage filtration that starts off with a pre-filter and ends with a True HEPA Filter. There’s also an optional ionizer you can switch on to improve its purifying performance when nobody’s at home. Run this function along with the 1, 2, 4, or 12-hour timer to ensure the best results.
And, of course, it can’t be one of the best air purifiers if it doesn’t have air quality sensors. The Aeramax 300’s sensors make it so you won’t ever need to touch the device except to clean and replace the filters. Just set this baby up and let it do its thing for days on end.
Pros
- Accurate air quality sensor
- Quiet operation
- Excellent cleaning performance
Cons
- Limited coverage
3. Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 – Best Design
Features
- Portable housing
- 4-stage filtration and deodorization
- Smart pollution sensor
Next up is the tried and true Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0—a fantastic air purifier with four-stage filtration; a sleek, curved body; and high-quality purifying performance akin to many high-end units on the market.
The BioGS 2.0 is one of the larger air purifiers on our list in terms of coverage capacity. It has a maximum reach of 550 square feet with an ACH rating of twice per hour and a maximum CADR rating of 180 CFM for pollen. Like the Oransi, its CADR isn’t the most impressive, which is why the BioGS 2.0 would work better in less spacious areas under 400 square feet.
Like the models before it, the BioGS 2.0 relies on four different filtration stages for the best cleaning performance, including a True HEPA Filter. The optional ionizer works beautifully at trapping the finer, stubborner airborne contaminants in the filter—a handy feature for those who suffer from pet allergies.
Its smart pollution sensor is decent at best. It works just as intended by turning the motor on and selecting the most appropriate fan speed (five available speeds) to clear the air, but the sensor itself is a bit too sensitive. This causes the BioGS 2.0 to kick into high gear even when it’s not entirely needed.
The one complaint we have is the single touch button on the unit. It does make this unit a beauty to look at, but it figuring out how to use it can be a challenge. Make sure you read the included paperwork to get the hang of using your BioGS 2.0.
Pros
- Wide coverage
- Ultra-affordable for a large-size air purifier
- Energy Star certified
Cons
- Single touch button can be confusing
4. Sharp FP-F50UW – Best for Budget
Features
- Sleek design
- 3-stage filtration
- Child lock
If you’re looking for a single-room air purifier, then you can’t go wrong with this masterpiece by Sharp. The FP-F50UW is an amazing air purifier with a 210-square-foot coverage capacity and 3-stage filtration. It comes with all of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a Sharp-made device, and it works like an absolute beast (in confined spaces).
The FP-F50UW’s limited reach is due to its “tinier” motor and fan. Although it is considerably weaker than the other products on our list, the silver lining is that it’s one of the quiet air purifiers you’ll ever find. With a noise output range of between 29 and 45 decibels and three fan speeds, you can rest easy knowing that the machine is slowly but surely filtering your bedroom air as you doze off to sleep.
However, there have been complaints about the FP-F50UW’s noise output when its optional ionizer (known as the Plasmacluster function) is on. In all honesty, we’re not sure why there are noise complaints at all—this feature should only be activated in empty rooms, and after testing it out, we can’t find anything to complain about.
For those with children, you should know that their curious fingers are always looking for buttons to press, but thanks to the FP-F50UW’s child lock function, you won’t need to worry about children messing with the settings or tampering with the timer.
Pros
- Great design
- Microwave-like noise output
- Extremely portable
Cons
- Fan could be stronger
5. Germ Guardian AC9200 – Best with UV Light
Features
- Multi-functional
- Carry handle
- UV-C
The Germ Guardian AC9200 is an excellent air purifier with a medium-level reach of up to 335 square feet. Its handy carry handle makes it super-portable for use in whichever room you occupy, and it comes with the signature four-stage filtration system that puts Germ Guardian on the map.
Apart from the standard pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter that customers should look for when shopping for the best air purifier, the AC9200 also features an optional UV-C light in place of an ionizer. The UV-C light sanitizes a room by sending out a germicidal beam that disrupts and destroys harmful pathogens at a molecular level. There’s no hope of return for viruses and bacteria that happens to stray into the invisible light.
The AC9200 is an Energy Star certified air purifier. This means the motor uses very little power while also ensuring maximum cleaning performance throughout its lifespan. With this device running silently in the corner of a room for days or weeks on end, you won’t have to worry about a significant spike in energy costs.
But there is one glaring downside to the AC9200, namely its missing intelligent air quality sensor. For some reason, Germ Guardian may have decided that the timer function is adequate and auto-cleaning mode is overkill. We and countless other customers beg to differ.
Pros
- CADR at 200-plus CFM
- Portability to the max
- Energy Star certified
Cons
- No smart sensor
6. Clarion Negative Ion Generator – Best Plug-in
Features
- Modern, curvy design
- Ionizing technology
- Permanent filters
The Clarifion is an ionizing-only device. This means it works extremely well at capturing particles, but it should only be activated in empty rooms and homes. The Clarifion is NOT something you’d want to use in your bedroom at night, no matter how quiet it is.
In appearance, the Clarifion looks like any air purifier, but under its hood, you may notice a single filter in place. This is not accidental—the single filter serves to trap small and large particles that the fan happens to suction in. The non-detachable filter needs to be vacuum cleaned every time you turn it off, so even though the device itself is low-maintenance, the filter isn’t.
This negative ion generator supposedly does not produce ozone which, by any standard, is a good thing. However, if you take a look at the technical specs, you’ll notice that the paperwork clearly indicates that it releases 10 parts per million of ozone per cubic foot. This is far from being hazardous to humans and pets, but we’d still advise only running this machine when you’re not at home.
The Clarifion is simplicity at its best. There’s no carry handle, but it weighs less than five pounds so moving it to different rooms is no back-breaking task. Also, it does not have a smart sensor or a timer function—it’s a plug-and-play device that’s very user-friendly.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Ozone-free
- Extremely portable
Cons
- No smart sensors
7. L&N Portable Air Purifier – Best For Workstation
Features
- Freshener and disinfector
- Compact body
- 60-minute timer
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a negative ion generator that fits comfortably in your pocket? Now you can—the L&N Portable Air Purifier gives a whole new meaning to the label “portable.” Measuring in at 5 x 5 x 9 cm, it’s pretty safe to say that you can move this device from place to place without any trouble at all.
What is amazing about the Portable Air Purifier, other than its compact size, is that it has two different cleaning modes. It works as a negative ion generator to freshen the air in a room by increasing the cling-ability of airborne particles, so they don’t get trapped in your lungs. It also functions as an ozone generator to eliminate odor molecules permanently. The ozone generator mode should be used infrequently to prevent an excessive buildup of the harmful molecule.
With tiny size comes minimal power. The Portable Air Purifier is not something you can rely on at all times, especially for spaces larger than 100 square feet. At most, this would be the perfect air purifier for bathrooms and dorm rooms, but anywhere else, it won’t perform optimally.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Oversized buttons for easy control
- Fits in your pocket
Cons
- Not for large rooms
8. GreenTech Environmental pureAir 50
Features
- Pocketable design
- Relatively powerful fan
- Plug-and-play
If the previous model doesn’t pique your interest, perhaps this one might. The GreenTech Environmental pureAir 50 is another pocketable air purifier, but it has one major difference: it can clean the air of rooms of up to 325 square feet. To put this into perspective, the full-size Sharp FP-F50UW has a maximum reach of only 210 square feet. Let that sink in…
While you’re doing that, you should also know that this device is made specifically to remove odor molecules from the air. This pocket-sized air purifier produces very little ozone so it’s safe enough to use for hours on end without worrying about overexposure.
Despite being a far-reaching pocket air purifier, customers have noted that it can take several days or even up to a week for there to be a noticeable difference in air quality. If you plug this device in the bathroom, you may not notice a difference at all. Rest assured, the pureAir 50 is working silently and removing foul odors from the air.
For those who like to travel, the pureAir 50 would make for a super-handy air purifier to take with you to foreign lands. The only thing you need to worry about is accidentally misplacing it or leaving it in a hotel bathroom.
Pros
- Unquestionable portability
- Efficient odor removal
- Easy to use
Cons
- Limited to small rooms only
9. Air Genie Filterless Ionizer – Best Filter-free
Features
- Plug-in
- Filter-free
- High-power suction
How about a third pocket air purifier? The Air Genie Filterless Ionizer does exactly what you’d expect from a compact device, but it does it so efficiently than you’ll notice a difference within a couple of hours after plugging it in. The tiny fan is able to move air in rooms of up to 350 square feet, making it an excellent air purifier for storage spaces, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Best of all, this unit produces absolutely no harmful byproducts. You’ll be able to use this in your dorm room or bedroom all night long without worrying about any harmful effects to your health. This makes for an excellent device to have if you live with a roommate.
There’s an LED indicator that shines brightly to let you know that the device is currently working. Though the light itself is pretty calming, it can be distracting to have, especially if your eyelids are particularly sensitive.
Something we need to let you know is that even though it looks like it has a metal housing, it’s actually made of plastic with a metallic coat of paint. Since it’s a plug-in air purifier, the plastic housing should keep you from getting zapped while plugging it in, but it’s also prone to breaking when dropped.
Pros
- Cleans up to 350 square feet
- Plug-and-play
- Noticeable difference in air quality within hours
Cons
- Plastic casing breaks easily
10. 12V Car Ionizer by Twinkle Birds – Best For Car
Features
- DC plug for cars
- Two 2.1A USB ports
- Chrome finish
Last but not least is the super-portable Twinkle Birds 12V Car Ionizer. From its name alone, you can correctly assume that this device is made specifically for removing foul odors from cars. It plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter port and draws power from the battery to eliminate nose-wrinkling smells from your vehicle.
This isn’t just a one-trick pony, either. On the body of this car ionizer are two 2.1A USB ports that allow you to charge your electronics while also purifying the air. Just don’t expect to get quick-charging abilities from this device—it’s an ionizer first and a phone charger second.
The fan and ozone generator components are stored within a chrome-finished body for extra protection. It’s rather durable and won’t snap from a single fall, but it’s also easily lost due to its miniature size.
Within 30 minutes of plugging the Car Ionizer in, you may notice an instant change in the overall smell of your car’s interior. Even though the device is supposedly protected by a lifetime warranty, many users have reported their Car Ionizer failing within the first couple of months, and Twinkle Birds customer service reps are slow to respond to complaints.
Pros
- Safe ozone emission
- Cleans the air while charging your phone
- Works quickly
Cons
- Short lifespan
What Should You Consider When Choosing A Negative Ion Generator
Unsure of what to look for when shopping for a negative ion generator? In this brief guide, we’ll go over the various features and specs that make a negative ion generator worth the cost.
Coverage Capacity
A good negative ion generator is one that has the capacity to cover an entire room. Ideally, the machine should cover more than the room in which it’s placed in—preferably between 20 and 40 percent greater than the size of the room—so you won’t need to reposition it every couple of hours.
Filter Type
A negative ion generator’s main function is the clear the air of airborne contaminants. HEPA filters are ideal—the commercial-grade stuff that eliminates up to 99.97% of particles sized 0.3 microns and large—but if you don’t suffer from pet or seasonal allergies, standard fine-mesh filters will suffice.
Noise Output
Although most modern negative ion generators are pretty quiet, you may come across the oddball model that shrieks its head off whenever the power button is pressed. All ten items on our list produce anywhere between 30 and 70 decibels of noise which, by negative ion generator standards, isn’t half-bad.
Air Change per Hour Rating
The ACH rating is used to measure how many times an air purifier or negative ion generator circulates and filters the air in a room. The higher the rating, the more efficient the generator is.
Do Negative Ion Generators Really Work?
Negative ion generators release high-voltage negative charges into the air to make airborne contaminants (bacteria, dust mites, etc.) adhere to their filters. These generators have been around for quite some time so there’s really no reason to doubt whether they work or not.
Whether you need one or not depends entirely on what sort of contaminants you’re dealing with, but it won’t hurt to have an appliance made specifically to eradicate harmful microorganisms from finding their way into your lungs.
Are There Side Effects of Negative Ions?
Despite being an extremely handy appliance to have at home, there’s one huge downside of negative ion generators, namely their ozone output. Ozone is a lung irritant and possible carcinogen when exposed to the substance for prolonged periods.
The good news is that most modern negative ion generators, or at least the products mentioned on our list, produce far less ozone than what is deemed dangerous by the NIOSH. That said, users should refrain from starting their negative ion generators up in occupied rooms and buildings.
Conclusion
And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our guide on the best negative ion generators you can find on the market today. On our list, you’ll find both full-size air purifiers with the latest and greatest technology and high-end features, as well as a number of portable air purifiers made specifically for confined spaces. Make sure you go through our guide from start to finish to determine which of these negative ion generators is best for your home (or car).
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