IQAir vs Austin Air Review 2024 | Features and Ratings

Austin air and IQAir are two very established brands in the air purifying world, that offer a selection of some really good air purifiers. In this post, I am going to make an in-depth comparison between Austin Air Healthmate vs IQAir Healthpro model. These are two very high-end products, which will most likely stay with you long-term. So it is important to select the one which will be of the most benefit to you and your situation. Without any more delays, let us jump straight into this comparison.

The Main difference between IQAir and Austin Air is the HEPA Filter. Another difference is that IQAir is mostly built from plastic whereas Austin Air purifier is made from steel.

Austin Air HealthMate vs IQAir Healthpro : Product specifications

I always start these types of product comparisons with the most basic thing first: a side-by-side comparison chart for the product specification of both air purifiers. Refer to the table below:

Austin Air Healthmate is a bit smaller, but quite heavier and can be a challenge to easily move around. Almost no official certifications for both models, since they did most of the testings and quality control internally (more on this later). In both cases, the warranty period is also quite above average – IQAir offers a warranty for up to 10 years! While none of these two air purifiers is energy star certified, the electricity bill for IQAir can be twice as much as Austin Air, as it consumes that much more power on max fan speed settings.

A quick note about Austin Air filters – they are of high quality and can last even up to years. What is unique here is that the filters can be upgraded/are interchangeable. This means that you can install a better filter in your basic Healthmate unit when it is time to replace it.

Austin Air Healthmate vs IQAir Healthpro: Features and effectiveness

This is going to be the main portion of my comparison, where I will take a look an in-depth look into both main product features. Similarly to the paragraph above, I will first display all of the necessary information in a side-by-side comparison chart, and then give you an analysis of the differences and similarities. I will pick a winner in each of these subcategories, based on my own experiences. Do note that this is only my opinion and should be taken as such.

Filtration system

Austin Air Healthmate comes with a 4-stage filtration system, which consists of two pre-filters, activated carbon, and a HEPA filter. What differentiates this system from others is the second pre-filter, which specializes in capturing particles of medium size (like pollen and mold). I want to briefly touch on the activated carbon filter, too, as it comes with a twist – it comes integrated with potassium iodide and zeolite as oxidizing agents. That sounds great, but what does it actually mean? Well, these oxidizing agents improve the removal effectiveness of certain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as benzene and formaldehyde. Lastly, I want to touch on the main component: the HEPA filter. This is your regular high-quality filter that does its job very well, but not extraordinary. It can remove particles as small as 0.1 microns, which sadly means that anything below that size (quite a few viruses) escapes this filter.

IQAir HealthPro Plus has a similar filtration system that consists of 4 stages. It consists of a pre-filter (called PreMax), granulated carbon filter  (together with pelletized chemisorption), and a special HyperHEPA filter. While the pre-filter is not permanent and lasts up to a year and a half, it is washable and is only effective for removing the largest (harmful) particles from the air. I want to take a look at the carbon-activated filter next – this is not your typical filter as it actually a combination of granulated activated carbon filtration and pelletized chemisorption. While that sounds cool and all, how does that actually benefit you? In short, it protects you greatly from a wider (than usual) array of chemicals and odors/smells – a great solution for anyone that suffers from multiple chemical sensitivity (OCS).

Lastly, I want to touch on the most unique aspect of IQAir HealthPro Plus air cleaning technology – HyperHEPA. This is currently one of the most effective and powerful HEPA filters on the market – it can even remove ultrafine/smallest particles. Why is this so important? The vast majority of HEPA filters are unable to do that since the smallest particles they can remove are 0.3 microns in diameter. HyperHEPA, on the other hand, can remove particles that are as small as 0.003 microns in diameter. And the cherry on top of the cake? IQAir HealthPro Plus does not produce any ozone, making it safe.

In terms of the filtration system, IQAir HealthPro Plus has a clear advantage over Austin Air Healthmate. While they both have a similar “upgraded” version of their pre-filters and carbon-activated filter, the biggest difference comes with the HEPA filter. HyperHEPA is just so much more effective than your regular HEPA filter (even top-tier ones), as it is capable of removing particles smaller than 0.3 and even 0.1 microns. This offers you better protection against a wider array of harmful air particles, viruses included.

Room coverage

Austin Air Healthmate, along with other Austin Air purifiers, does not have an official CADR rating. This simply means that they chose not to participate in this voluntary program. This is because Austin Air believes that CADR measurements and results can be misleading. While this is up to debate, we do have unofficial numbers which were done by several individuals. They all concluded that the Healthmate model has a CADR of around 400 cfm, which is considered a very high number and basically means that it cleans the air fast. ACH is between 2x-4x, so you can expect fresh and clean air in your room up to 4x in a span of one hour. You can use this air purifier to clean rooms of up to 1500 square feet!

IQAir HealthPro Plus does its own internal testings when it comes to room coverage, which also means that we get no “official” numbers from AHAM. While this is quite a unique situation, it does not automatically mean that it is bad. Quite a few users did some of their own, individual tests, and the results varied a bit. The room coverage span is figured out to be between 300 and 776 cfm. Why is the span so big? Well, simply put, it depends if your device comes with the New Edition fan that can deliver upward to 41% cleaner air than you would get with the regular fan. The bottom line is that you are getting a superb fan that is capable of effectively dealing with spaces of up to 1125 square feet. This puts IQAir HealthPro plus as an amazing choice for large rooms that over-deliver in terms of room coverage and fan power. And the best part? It has an above-average ACH rating of 5, which means that it changes the air roughly once every 12 minutes. This is a fantastic number, making it a viable option for anyone that has respiratory issues such as allergies.

In terms of room coverage, I would argue that IQAir HealthPro Plus has a slight edge over Austin Air HealthMate, despite the lower room coverage numbers. Hear me out here – both devices can cover over 1000 square feet, making them both viable options for large-sized rooms. That being said, the clear advantage here is the 5 ACH, which makes IQAir much more suitable for anyone that suffers from allergies or any other respiratory issues for that matter. CADR is also higher (provided it is with the New edition fan, which means faster cleaning capabilities.

Noise levels

I want to preface this section with a short but straightforward chart for noise level range examples, so you get a better understanding of the numbers that are about to follow.ž

Austin Air Healthmate is quite a loud device, unfortunately. The noise range spans from 50 dB to a whopping 66 dB of noise. This, unfortunately, means that Healthmate is probably not the best fit for your bedroom or study room, where you need some peace and quiet. The lowest fan speed setting is sadly noticeable too, and can not complete the majority of other air purifiers in this price range – for example. Rabbit Air minusa2, which has around 20dB on the lowest fan speed.

IQAir HealthPro Plus has a noise level range from 22 dB (lowest fan speed) to 57 dB (highest fan speed) . Not much can be said here except that it is a much quieter option than HeathMate from Austin Air. 22 dB is generally considered very quiet – think of whispering; that is how loud you can expect the sound to be. On the other end of the spectrum, 57 dB is also surprisingly low for a large room air purifier with such a powerful fan. It can be compared to the sound of a dishwasher or normal conversation, but slightly quieter. All in all, is this air purifier model suitable for the bedroom or a study room? Absolutely, you just have to make sure to put it on lower than maximum fan speed, and you enjoy a full night‘s sleep.

In terms of noise levels, IQAir HealthPro Plus is just straight up (much) quieter than Austin Air Healthmate, making it a more flexible choice out of the two. Nothing more to add here, really.

Control panel

Austin Air Healthmate does not really come with your typical control panel. Instead, Austin Air chose the old saying of “quality of quantity” quite literally. The device comes with one knob, which you use to change the fan speed, and that is all you get. No timer function, no sleep mode, smart features, and even no replacement filter indicator! This is as bare-bones as you can get, but flashy features were never part of the game plan for Austin Air. This is a strategy that quite a few high-end air purifiers actually choose! As usual, here is what the control panel looks like:

On the other hand, we have IQAir HealthPro Plus which has a bit more to offer. It uses an electronic control panel that allows the user to cycle between 6 different fan speeds, set a system clock that can be then used for a timer function, and monitor that shows the status of all filters. You can also lock the control panel, preventing accidental changes to your most recent settings. The filter monitor is pretty unique as it actually shows you how much longer (in hours) you can use current filters before they need to be replaced. There is a major lack of smart features, but you do get an automatic timer option. With it, you can program the device to automatically adjust fan speeds according to the time. What is also pretty neat is that you get a remote control, which can be used up to 20 feet away and is a nice convenience to have at times. Here is how the control panel looks:

In terms of the control panel, IQAir HealthPro plus outclasses Austin Air Healthmate. While both of them are missing many smart features, IQAir offers you more choices. This, in turn, gives you more flexibility and that is always a nice bonus to have.

Warranties

Both Austin Air and IQAir have great warranties that back their amazing air purifiers. The warranties provide you with reassurance in case anything does happen to your unit(s).

Austin Air — The air purifiers are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for five (5) years from the date of purchase and a five (5) year pro-rated filter warranty, by far the most comprehensive in the industry. If the filter lasts less than five years, Austin Air will discount the cost of a new filter based on the number of years the filter has been in use. They also have a 30-day money back guarantee!

IQAir — They guarantee that your air purifier is free from defects, or they will fix or replace it for free. You will have to register your product within 30 days of purchase to be eligible for a 10-Year Limited Warranty. This warranty is for parts and labor (excluding filters).

Austin Air Healthmate vs IQAir Healthpro: Conclusion

So, we have two high-end air purifiers, made by two reputable brands. Each of them has its own impressive features and advantages, but which one is better? I personally conclude that IQAir Healthpro plus is the clear better overall choice out of these two. Why? because it cleans the air better, is much quieter, flexible, and offers more in terms of control and adjustable settings. While it does not have as big of a room coverage as Austin Air, it can still easily be used for large and extra-large rooms. The higher ACH rating also makes IQAir a better choice for all allergy sufferers. All in all, a top-tier air purifier is worth its hefty price tag.

Is there a scenario where I would pick Austin Air Healthmate over IQAir? Yes, in two scenarios actually: smaller budget and for rooms/spaces larger than 1125 square feet. While both these air purifiers are considered top tier, Austin Air is more affordable. So if you are on a tighter budget, then Austin Air is probably a better choice – as long as you do not plan to use it in your bedroom (it is simply too loud!). Got a really large room that is over 1125 square feet? Get Austin Air Healthmate as it will be able to clean that better than IQ Air.

And there we have it. I hope this comparison helped you decide which one of these two air purifiers is a better fit for your needs. These are two very expensive air purifiers that will be a long-term investment, so be sure to choose the one that is best for your situation.

You can check the latest price and availability of IQAir HealthPro Plus here:

You can check the latest price and availability of Austin Air HealthMate here:

Austin Air Purifier

IQAir Healthpro