A battle between two air purifying heavyweights
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Two air purifiers stand at the summit of the market, each boasting advanced technology and a premium price tag: the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde and the Molekule Air Pro.
Both promise to cleanse your indoor air of harmful pollutants, but with different approaches, different tech on board and vastly different designs… which one reigns supreme?
Read on for our guide to whether the Molekule Air Pro or the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde vs Molekule Air Pro is the one for you.
Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde vs Molekule Air Pro: Price
The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde and the Molekule Air Pro are both premium-priced air purifiers that are going to hit your wallet pretty hard.
The latest Dyson flagship purifier not only has a big name and a big form factor, but also a big price tag – coming in at £879.99 in the UK, and $999 Stateside.
At around $1,000 Stateside, and £800 in the UK, the Molekule Air Pro is a high-end purifier that goes head-to-head with its Dyson rival.
However, it’s important to factor in the ongoing costs of filter replacements as well.
Dyson’s filters are designed to last longer. The HEPA filter lasts up up to 5 years and will cost you around $75 / £60 to replace, the K-Carbon filter needs changing every 2 years and is more expensive at $110 / £90.
Molekule’s PECO filters, while technologically advanced, require replacement every six months – at costing around $140 / £150 a pop – which will add up pretty significantly over time. While cheaper alternatives exist, they won’t work with the device’s the PECO technology and Molekule is keen to point out that these would be considered counterfeit.
Whatever model you opt for, be sure to factor in the filter replacement costs for both models before making your final decision.
Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde vs Molekule Air Pro: Design
The Dyson Big+Quiet certainly lives up to its name. It’s very, very big, standing 83cm tall, and around 45cm in depth (and weighing a whopping 12kg).
So you’re going to need plenty of space to house this absolute monster. While its size is undeniable, Dyson has made a design choice to embrace it. It’s definitely designed to be seen, and seen it will be, don’t worry about that.
You can’t exactly tuck it away, nor would you want to; Dyson recommends positioning it at the edge of a room, around a metre from the wall, with the conic amplifier (the large round “spaceship” bit on top) facing the farthest point of the space you’re aiming to purify.
The good news is, if you do want to shift it around, it has wheels, making it easy to move, especially on hard floors. And when it’s stationary, the wheels are completely hidden, so they don’t interfere with the design.
The Molekule Air Pro takes a different approach. If Apple made air purifiers, they would look like the Molekule Air Pro.
Its sleek, minimalist design is undeniably attractive and it is easily one of the most visually appealing air purifiers available.
It’s smaller and lighter than the Dyson, but is still pretty massive at 58.6 x 28cm and weighing 10.4kg.
Still, the Molekule is easier to integrate into a modern living space; although you’ll use the leather handle to carry it around rather than using wheels.
The Air Pro’s UV lights are embedded along the central spike and, they do mean a faint blue hue emits from the unit when a room is dark.
Both have neat LED displays that give you info on the air quality and make changes to the settings and the like.
Molekule Air Pro vs Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde: Air purifying tech
The Dyson Big+Quiet uses a three-stage filtration system: a HEPA H13 filter, a K-Carbon filter, and a Selective Catalytic Oxidation (SCO) filter.
There’s not an air purifier to rival Dyson’s latest flagship in terms of what is detected and captured, with the system targeting a wide range of pollutants, including formaldehyde – the clue is in the name – which is a key differentiator.
The SCO filter, which is made up of billions of atom-sized tunnels, that breaks down formaldehyde molecules into tiny amounts of water and CO2.
The Molekule Air Pro’s claim to fame is its PECO technology and its use of ultraviolet (UV) lighting to power that unique PECO HEPA Tri-Power filter.
This technology, combined with HEPA and carbon filtration, is designed to not only capture but also destroy pollutants at the molecular level.
Molekule is keen to stress the benefits of its PECO technology and has received FDA recognition for its purifiers as medical devices.
Molekule Air Pro vs Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde: Features
Both purifiers are equipped with an absolute barrage of advanced sensors.
The Dyson monitors fine particles, dust, pet dander, pollen, CO2, NO2, VOCs, and formaldehyde.
The Molekule tracks fine particles (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10), VOCs, humidity, and CO2.
Notably, the Dyson includes NO2 detection, while the Molekule omits it.
The Big+Quiet is designed to purify in spaces up to 100m². The Molekule is designed for slightly smaller spaces, up to 1,000 sq ft (92.9 m²) but both are perfectly placed to handle whole floors of your house at a time. Unless you live in a castle, of course.
Molekule Air Pro versus Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde: Performance
Both purifiers offer app integration, providing control and monitoring capabilities.
The Molekule app, while functional, has some limitations with things like scheduling options, which seems like an oversight.
The Dyson works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can use voice commands to control basic functions like turning the purifier on/off, adjusting fan speed, and setting the sleep timer.
The Air Pro also works with Amazon Alexa but does not currently offer direct integration with Google Assistant.
Molekule Air Pro vs Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde: Which one is right for you?
The choice between the Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde and the Molekule Air Pro depends on your specific needs and priorities.
The Dyson offers comprehensive purification, particularly for those concerned about formaldehyde, and strong app integration.
The Molekule, with its PECO technology and sleek design, focuses on destroying pollutants at a molecular level.
Both are excellent choices, but the “best” one will depend on your individual circumstances and budget… and whether you’ve got the room to handle Dyson’s big blue and gold monster (although it does come in – slightly – less garish finishes as well).
Make sure you read our comprehensive reviews of both models before making your decision, as well:
Specs:
| Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde | Molekule Air Pro | |
| Price | $999 USD / £879.99 GBP | $999 USD / £799 GBP |
| Coverage Area | Up to 100 sq m / 1,076 sq ft | Up to 92.9 sq m / 1,000 sq ft |
| Filtration | HEPA H13, K-Carbon, SCO (Selective Catalytic Oxidation) | PECO-HEPA Tri-Power (HEPA 13, Carbon, UVA-activated filter) |
| Smart Features | MyDyson app, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | Molekule app, Amazon Alexa |
| Noise Level | Up to 56 dB | 33 dB (lowest) – 64 dB (highest) |
| Filter Replacement | HEPA: every 5 years; K-Carbon: every 2 years; SCO: never needs replacing | PECO-HEPA: every 6 months |
| Size & Weight | 83 cm x 45 cm, 12 kg | 58.6 x 28 cm, 10.4 kg |
| Additional Features | 10-meter air projection, oscillation (controlled via app/remote), LCD display, wheels for easy movement | Touchscreen controls, vegan leather strap |
