We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
The Coway Mighty’s compact size and quiet operation set it apart from the competition.
If Wirecutter had a Hall of Fame, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty air purifier would be a first-ballot lock. It’s been our top pick since 2015, and in that time we’ve pitted it against more than 40 competitors in our rigorous testing.
Perfect for bedrooms, playrooms, and living rooms, the Mighty is one of the best-performing, most durable, and most economical purifiers we’ve tested.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $207.
In this throwaway age, I have a special love for stuff that’s made to last. I’ve been running my 2017 test unit virtually 24/7 since I got it, and it still performs like new.
Our test results and recommendations for the best equipment to improve your air quality.
Dare I get emotional about a machine? I do, and I’m not the only one. Wirecutter associate photo editor Michael Murtaugh wrote an ode to his Mighty: “She is beauty, she is grace. She is well built, runs quiet, filters beautifully, looks pretty—and I know she is doing her job.”
The Coway captures smoke from wildfires and traps particles smaller than the coronavirus.
Less poetic but equally reassuring, the Coway Mighty (like all true-HEPA purifiers) is exceptionally effective at capturing smoke from wildfires and at trapping particles smaller than the coronavirus. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that health-care facilities consider adding portable air purifiers to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Coway initially got into air purifiers by producing ODM (original design manufacturing) purifiers for other companies in the early 2010s. As the company began exploring its own designs, it spoke with customers of its ODM machines: “People wanted a smaller unit, so we focused on making the filter size and the product size about the same,” said Jay Kim, Coway’s US sales manager.
Many air purifiers are tower-like, with a rectangular or cuboid filter below and a bulky fan unit on top. By contrast, the Coway’s fan is mounted at the rear, and its filter is square, resulting in a low-profile machine that takes up significantly less visual space than tower designs.
Coway also altered the way air flows through the Mighty. “A lot of air purifiers back then were acting as a fan as well,” blowing the purifier air horizontally, Kim explained. “What we wanted was to blow the air upwards, for better circulation, and also to not blow the air toward people. Many customers were older, and they didn’t like the colder feel of the fan.”
We used to see regular sales on the Mighty every couple of months, but with the number of wildfires and other air-quality issues this year, sales have been very sporadic. In general, the best times to buy are still going to be during big deals events like Prime Day or Black Friday.
$190 Average street price $116 Best price we’ve ever seen
Air purifiers are generally “set it and forget it” appliances, but a little routine maintenance will help them perform better and last longer.
Simply clean the prefilter monthly, either by vacuuming it, brushing it off, or giving it a rinse under the tap. The prefilter captures large airborne pollutants like hair (human as well as pet) and lint, keeping the HEPA filter free to focus on microscopic pollutants. A clean prefilter also lowers stress on the fan motor, helping it last longer.
This post is part of our 2020 “52 Things We Love” series, an ode to Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time. Read the entire series.
Tim Heffernan is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter and a former writer-editor for The Atlantic, Esquire, and others. He has anchored our unequaled coverage of air purifiers and water filters since 2015. In 2018, he established Wirecutter’s ongoing collaboration with The New York Times’s Smarter Living. When he’s not here, he’s on his bike.
Our test results and recommendations for the best equipment to improve your air quality.
by Christina Williams and Wirecutter Staff
These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in October 2021.
These useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in 2021.
by Christina Williams and Wirecutter Staff
These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in February 2022.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). Subscribe now for unlimited access.
© 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company