Blueair 411 Auto Air Purifier: Trusted Review (+ Tests)

Full Review

The Blueair 411 Auto is a high-quality air purifier with some exciting extras that make it a worthy successor to its predecessor, the Blueair 411.

The main feature that distinguishes this model from its predecessor is the air quality sensor, which detects particles in real-time. This sensor also works in combination with the air quality indicator on the front of the device and the automatic mode option, which changes the device’s fan speed according to the current air quality.

The Blueair 411 Auto needs very little power to work. It has a motor of only 10W, is designed for rooms of 190 sq. ft. (18 m²), and uses 3-stage filtration technology.

This air purifier fits perfectly into a small bedroom, small living room, office, or any other room within the recommended dimensions.

This review will show you what makes the Blueair 411 Auto special, how well it performed in our tests, how loud it is, and whether it’s worth buying.

How We Tested the Blueair 411 Auto?

1. For the filter efficiency testing, we used the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter, which measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI.

2. We placed the Blueair 411 Auto in two separate performance tests, one in a 194 sq. ft. (18 m²) room and the other in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) room. Then, we recorded the initial air quality values using the Temtop laser particle meter and let the Blueair 411 Auto run at maximum speed.

3. After 60 minutes, we measured the new values using the Temtop laser particle meter and saved the data.

4. Next, we placed the Blueair 411 Auto in a glass box, which we then filled with smoke. Then, we measured how much time was needed for the air purifier to remove all the smoke from the box.

5. Using a special noise measurement tool, we tested the air purifier’s noise level at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale.

6. Finally, we measured the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculated how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we used an energy price of $0.12 per kWh.

In the performance tests, the Blueair 411 Auto showed excellent results. We tested the device using the Temtop laser particle meter, which detects the number of particles (PM2.5 and PM10) in real time.

As the Blueair is designed for rooms up to 190 sq. ft. (18 m²), we tested it in two different rooms: one that is similar to the recommended dimensions and one that is larger.

I must point out that Blueair has shown outstanding results in dust and pollen removal, but it has also shown slightly worse results in the fight against odors and bad smells.

This means that it won’t be as effective in the kitchen or smoking rooms as a larger and more powerful air purifier, such as the Levoit Core 400S, which uses a pellet-based carbon filter.

Testing in a 194 sq. ft. (18 m²) Room

In the first test in a 194 sq. ft. (18 m²) room, the Blueair 411 Auto achieved excellent results, improving air quality by approximately 94% in 60 minutes of operation at maximum speed. In this test, Blueair reduced the PM2.5 from 105.1 to 6 µg/m³.

As shown in the chart above, the Blueair 411 Auto’s performance in this test is among the best. It performed just 1% lower than the Levoit Vital 100S, which is one of the best small air purifiers we tested.

It also performed much better than the IKEA FÖRNUFTIG, which improved air quality by 89%.

I have to say that this is a remarkable result and that Blueair has fully justified the room coverage it claims, considering that the room in which we tested it is almost identical in size to the recommended dimensions.

Testing in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) Room

In another room, 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) in size, which is much larger than the recommended dimensions, the Blueair 411 Auto also performed very well, improving air quality by approximately 91% in 60 minutes of operation at maximum speed.

I have to say that I was impressed with the performance of the Blueair in this room. In short, this is an excellent quality air purifier that can handle rooms that are slightly larger than the recommended dimensions.

Performance – Smoke Removal Test

The Blueair Blue Pure series is characterized by a specific filtration technology that doesn’t include pellet-based carbon filters. Still, many of the air purifiers in the Blue Pure series that we tested achieved outstanding results in the smoke removal tests.

The Blueair 411 Auto was also great in this test. It removed all the smoke from the glass box in just 27 seconds, which is a truly fantastic result for such a small air purifier.

Not many competitors did it better than the Blueair. Some of those that did are the Levoit Core 300S and Vital 100S; they needed 20 seconds. On the other hand, the IKEA FÖRNUFTIG needed 44 seconds.

The Blueair 411 Auto uses only three fan speeds, but it has a night mode, in which it produces only 41.6 dBA.

This result is in the range of some of the quietest air purifiers we tested. As you can see on the chart below, only a few of the competitors are quieter at the lowest speed. One of them is the Blueair 411, which is 40.6 dBA at the lowest speed.

However, at max speed, the sound produced is slightly louder. The motor is strangely loud, and sometimes you can hear cracking or strange noises. This personally bothers me a lot, which is one of the downsides of this air purifier. When we add that at this speed, it produces a sound of 61.2 dBA, we can say that it could be a bit quieter.

But, on the other hand, if we look at the chart again, we can see that many competitors are much louder. The Levoit Vital 100S, for example, produces a sound of an incredibly high 65.4 dBA at max speed. The Medify MA-25 is also louder than the Blueair 411 Auto, with a sound level of 64 dBA.

Overall, the Blueair 411 Auto is very quiet at the first and second speeds, while it’s slightly louder at the third speed. However, bear in mind that you will rarely use the device at max speed.

This is the part where Blueair surprised me very positively. It’s simply amazing that such a strong air purifier has a motor power of only 10W.

This means that the Blueair only consumes 9.1W at max speed, which further means that if you were to leave this air purifier running at max speed, 24 hours a day for one month, your electricity bill would go up by about $0.80, which is very little and puts this air purifier among the smallest electricity consumers that I have tested so far.

If you look at the chart above, you will see that the Blueair is definitely the lowest power consumer. All the other air purifiers we compared with this one are much larger power consumers, with some using even 3-4 times more power than the Blueair 411 Auto. For example, the Hathaspace HSP001 would cost you about $3.05 if used at maximum speed for one month.

In addition to the cost of electricity, there is also the cost of replacement filters, which is very affordable, especially considering that the filters are very long-lasting and that the pre-filter is washable.

Summing up the cost of electricity consumption and replacement filter prices, the conclusion is that the Blueair 411 Auto is very affordable to maintain. Actually, this is the most affordable air purifier among all the ones we tested.

Filtration Technology

The Blueair 411 Auto uses a 3-stage filter consisting of a washable fabric filter, a particle filter, and a carbon filter. In addition, this air purifier uses HEPASilent technology, which is essentially an ionizer built into the device and can’t be switched off.

The good thing is that the Blueair 411 Auto is CARB certified, which means that it does not produce ozone in unauthorized amounts and is safe to use.

The Blueair 411 Auto uses high-quality filters, as confirmed by the performance test results. The fabric pre-filter is washable, while the particle filter and carbon filter combination are replaceable and must be changed periodically.

Fabric Pre-filter

The fabric pre-filter is the first and perhaps the most interesting filtration stage on this appliance. I say most interesting because the Blueair pre-filter is innovative, available in 5 different colors, and washable.

The primary purpose of this pre-filter is not aesthetic; this filter catches all large particles such as hair, dog hair, large dust particles, etc.

In fact, the pre-filter will preserve and extend the life of the particle filter in this way.

Particle Filter

The particle filter is the second and primary filtration stage on this machine. This filter removes airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, pet dander, microbes, etc.

Interestingly, the Blueair 411 Auto does not use a True HEPA filter. Although it has performed very well with this filter too, I feel that an addition such as a True HEPA filter would significantly increase the performance and take the unit to the next level.

Carbon Filter

This final filtration stage captures light household odors from pets, cooking, and smoking. To be honest, I am not satisfied with the quality and performance that the Blueair 411 Auto has produced when it comes to gas filtration, especially when it comes to the filtration of cigarette smoke.

I would therefore recommend the Blueair 411 Auto air purifier for filtering dust particles, pollen, and similar pollutants rather than odors.

How to Replace the Blueair 411 Auto Filter?

The Blueair 411 Auto uses a washable pre-filter, and this is a filter that is not changed but needs to be washed or cleaned from time to time. I recommend cleaning this filter at least once a month, in some cases more.

However, the combination of particle and carbon filler is not washable; it is a filter that needs to be changed occasionally, every 6 months on average. Fortunately, the Blueair 411 has an Auto Filter Reset indicator that lets you know when it’s time to change the filter. This means that you should change the filter as soon as the indicator turns red.

Installation and Setup

The Blueair 411 Auto is entirely ready to use and does not require any particular procedure or adjustment before starting. All you need to do is place the unit in the desired location, take care not to block the airflow, plug it in, and switch it on.

I recommend placing the unit 10 inches away from walls or other objects that may block the airflow. Be sure to put it on a hard and flat surface.

In addition, I would advise you not to place the appliance in places where there is excessive humidity. You can hide the power cord under the pre-filter if you like.

Design

In terms of design, the Blueair 411 Auto has retained the same principles as its predecessor but has significantly improved the fabric pre-filter, which now looks much more premium and is made from much higher-quality fabric.

This air purifier is made of plastic, in my opinion, a pretty solid quality for this type of device. It is made up of two parts, 2/3 of which are taken up by the filter, and the top part contains the fan, the control knob, the air quality sensor, and the indicator.

The lower part of the device is equipped with the pre-filter, which is easy to remove, easy to maintain, and available in 5 different colors, which further facilitates the installation of the device and its integration into any environment.

Although the Blueair 411 Auto does not have a handle to move from room to room, it is a very light and portable air purifier, so I do not think the lack of handles is a problem.

Overall, this is a stylish and modern air purifier adorned with a unique design that cannot be seen on other similar air purifiers. To be honest, I really like the look of the Blueair 411 Auto. I would like to see other brands working a little on innovation regarding appliance design.

The Control Button

The Blueair 411 Auto is a minimalist air purifier without many advanced options that uses just one button for complete device control. The button is touch-sensitive, precise, sufficiently sensitive, and perfectly positioned. There are indicators around the button to show the current mode and serve as an indicator to reset the filter.

The first press of the button switches the device on and sets it to automatic mode. In this case, all the indicators light up white.

A second press switches to night mode (low fan speed), the third press to everyday mode (medium fan speed), and a fourth press to boost mode (high fan speed).

The fifth pressure switches off the air purifier. Pretty simple controls, don’t you agree?

In addition to the indicator light for each operating mode, it also serves as an indicator to reset the filter. If the light is red, it’s time to change the filter. I like the minimalism and simplified controls that adorn this Blueair air purifier.

Airflow

The Blueair 411 Auto is round in shape, which means that the filter in this device is cylindrical, hollow in the middle. This means that this air purifier draws air through openings in the bottom of the unit, spaced out on all sides.

The air is then filtered and exits through the holes on the top side.

Size and Dimensions

The air purifier weighs 3.8 lb. The dimensions of the device are 7.9 x 7.9 x 16.7 inches. It is a portable and small air purifier that can be easily moved from room to room.

What’s in the box?

You will receive an air purifier, 2-in-1 filter, fabric pre-filter, and user manual when you buy the device. As minimalistic as the device is, so is the packaging, and so are the accessories that come with the device. Overall, the Blueair 411 Auto is a very easy-to-use air purifier.

Features Overview

The Blueair 411 Auto is a minimalist air purifier with extras such as an air quality sensor, an air quality indicator, and an auto mode that set it apart and take it up a notch without compromising its minimalism. In addition, this series is known for its auto-start option.

This means that the Blueair 411 Auto starts working as soon as you plug it in; you can plug this air purifier into a smart plug and use it the way the older version is used.

In the following sections, I will describe all the most essential features and options this model has.

Air Quality Sensor

The air quality sensor is the biggest innovation in Blueair’s Blue Pure series. The sensor is mounted on the back of the device and detects particles in real time.

This handy feature takes the Blueair 411 Auto to a whole new level, especially as you can now monitor the current air quality at any time; plus, you can switch the device to auto mode.

As an option, I would have liked to have had a sensor sensitivity setting because I sometimes feel that it could have been a little bit more precise. Overall, I really like this option, and it’s definitely an improvement compared to the previous Blueair Blue Pure series.

Air Quality Indicator

The Blueair 411 Auto has a built-in air quality indicator located on the front of the unit. This indicator collects data from the air quality sensor. It lights up a different color depending on the current air quality indicator.

This indicator lights up in three different colors. If it glows red, it means that the air is polluted; if it glows orange, it means that the air quality is moderate; and if it glows blue, it means that the air quality is good.

The air quality indicator determines the color it will glow according to the amount of PM2.5 in the air.

Auto Mode

Auto mode is another option that works in combination with the air quality sensor. Basically, in Auto mode, the Blueair 411 Auto monitors the current air quality and switches modes based on this. This is a handy option that allows you to turn on the air purifier, leave it running and make sure the air in your room is of the highest quality at all times.

Filter Reset Indicator

The Blueair 411 Auto uses a filter reset indicator to let you know when to change the filter. The indicator is located around the control button; more specifically, it is the same indicator that shows the currently active mode.

If this indicator is red, it is a sign to change the filter immediately.

Room Coverage

The Blueair 411 Auto is a small air purifier designed for rooms with an area of 190 sq. ft. Blueair cleans the air 4.8 times in one hour in a room of this size.

When it comes to CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), the Blueair 411 Auto has values of 107 for dust, 96 for pollen, and 123 for smoke. This air purifier ideally fits into small spaces such as a small living room, a small bedroom, a small office, etc.

I would recommend this model for use in a bedroom, especially as it has a night mode offering very quiet air purification and dims the lights on the unit.

FAQ on Blueair 411 Auto