Blueair 121 vs 211+. Which blueair stands out?

Last updated on Jul 26, 2021 Air Purifiers
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Blueair purifiers are friendly clean air companions that are guaranteed to leave your air free of air pollutants. Because clean indoor air is a must have and every breath you take does help with your overall health, an air purifier is a must have. And in this case, a blueair blue pure air purifier.  So for this article, we are going to help you choose between the blueair 121 vs 211+.

Summary of the blueair 121 vs 211+

If you are in hurry and would not like to go through the entire article, then this section is for you.

Generally, our pick for blue pure 121 vs 211+, is the blueair 121. This is because it offers more in terms of performance and room coverage. The blue pure 121 has a clean air delivery rate of 400 and can cover rooms of up to 620 ft2. This means that it will work really well for extra-large spaces and will purify the room much faster. In addition to its performance and room coverage, the 121 also comes with the option to upgrade its carbon filter. So, for any nasty heavy odors in your home, you can just easily upgrade the carbon filter purposely for them.

blueair 121
Blueair 121

Blueair 121 Pros

  • You can upgrade carbon filter to handle heavier odors.
  • Low energy consumption with energy star rating
  • Covers rooms extra-large rooms greater than 600 sq ft
  • LED auto-dim feature
  • Quiet Operation at low setting
  • Easy to Clean
  • High performance of 400 CFM

Blueair 121 Cons

  • 3 fan speeds
  • At the highest fan setting, the purifier is quite loud but you can still engage in conversation without having to raise your voice

Otherwise, the blueair 211+ still performs well enough when compared to other purifiers on the market. It does offer stellar performance for rooms that are up to 540 ft in size and below. And like other blueair purifiers it also has low energy consumption and the standard efficient 3 stage filtration.

So, if your room is 550 sq ft and below, we suggest you go with the blueair 211+. This is because it has been specifically designed to cover rooms of that size.

Blueair 211+
Blueair 211+

Blueair 211+ Pros

  • Aham Verified
  • Low consumption of energy
  • Clean delivery rate of 350 cfm
  • Can cover rooms of up to 540 sq ft in size

Blueair 211+ Cons

  •  It is noisy at highest fan setting
  • 3 fan speeds

Similarities in blueair blue pure 121 vs 211+

Blueair 3 stage Filtration

The blueair purifiers consist of a three-part filtration that guarantees it releases clean air back to you. The 3 stage filtration process captures 99% of common pollutants such as allergens, house odors, smoke, mold and pet dander.

This filtration system removes airborne allergy triggers like pollen and significantly reduces hay-fever symptoms. Both the blueair 121 and 211+ have this 3 three-part filtration system as follows;

  • A washable fabric pre-filter that offers the first line of defense by trapping large particles from the air. This feature also serves the secondary purpose of extending the life of the blue pure primary filter. These blue pure units usually come with two pre-filters that are washable as well. You can also change these fabric pre-filters to match any décor settings you might have at home. 
  • A combination of a Particle + Carbon Filter that has a layer of activated carbon whose purpose is to filter household odors. The activated carbon filter ensures that it removes the common odors rather efficiently. Some common odors include; odors from smoke, pet fart, cooking odors and dorm room odors. It is also effective against smoke from wildfires.
  • The main particle filter removes most airborne particles with 99.97% efficiency. It also includes HEPASilent technology. This technology works by using a principle known as Electrostatic filtration. The electrostatic filtration charges airborne particles before they reach the filter. This acquired charge attribute then makes the particles stick to the filter media more easily.
Blueair Blue 3-part filtration
Blueair Blue 3-part filtration

Blueair’s use of both electrostatic and mechanical filtration in its HEPASilent technology really sets it apart. The dual filtration allows the purifiers to use filters that are not so heavy and that need lesser air pressure than traditional HEPA filters without a loss in performance. This therefore results into much quieter and energy efficient air purifiers.

How does HEPASilent technology work, you might ask?

Well, it works like so;

  • The blueair fan pulls air into the air purifier.
  • The particles in the air are given an electrical charge that makes them stick faster and easily to the filters made of polypropylene. Also, the act of combining an electrical charge and high air draft inactivates viruses and bacteria.
  • The sticky attribute created by charging the airborne particles means the filter can be made less dense than usual. With the lower density, the fan can now push through more air using less pressure, less noise and energy. The lower density also means clogging is reduced in the filter.

Blueair guarantees sleep without disruption

For both the blueair 121 and the blueair 211+, the noise levels are almost as loud as a whisper at the lowest speed (32 dB). And at the highest setting (56 dB), the noise is almost equal to that produced when you are having a normal conversation. These blueair air purifiers make as much sound as rustling leaves.

The 121 and 211+ operate quietly and this is so because of the advanced filters that enable a higher air flow at a much lower noise level.

Place anywhere in your house

With the blueair 211+ and 122, there aren’t any rules for where you should put your purifier. Both air purifiers’ intake air in a 360-degree angle. Therefore, this means that you can put them anywhere in your room without affecting their overall performance.

211 plus place anywhere
211 plus place anywhere
121 place anywhere
121 place anywhere

Low energy consumption

These blue pure purifiers are energy star rated and so you can use them for 24 hours a day without worry. The 211+ and 121 use less energy than a light bulb. It is also on record that energy star rated room purifiers are almost 40% more efficient than regular air purifier models.

Change color of blueair with customizable pre-filters

The fabric pre-filters come in different colors and you are free to pick the color of your choice. Blueair provides six fabric pre-filter colors that you can choose from. You can also decide not to use any of the pre-filters and just use the purifier without one.

You can clean the pre-filters by simply vacuuming the fabric or you can wash them in a washing machine.

blue pure prefilter colors
blue pure prefilter colors

Blueair Blue Pure Design

The main feature in the blueair 121 and 211+ design is the single button found at center of the purifier. With this button, you do not have to worry about adjusting several settings and device knobs because the single button does it all for you.

Blueair blue pure button
Blueair blue pure button

It also will additionally notify you when it is time to change the filter. The button will glow red when it’s time to replace the filter.

Filter Replacement Indicator

The 121 and 211+ blueair both have an in-built LED warning system that will glow red when the filter needs to be replaced. But, for you to keep the device working optimally, we suggest that you change the filter every 6 months.

This LED light also has an auto dim feature. It works by automatically dimming it’s light to 10% brightness after about 7 seconds. Therefore, you can be guaranteed that the LED light won't bother you in any way.

Differences in blueair blue pure 211+ vs 121

Blue pure Performance

The blueair 121 has a clean air delivery rate of 400 cfm while the blueair 211+ has a clean air delivery rate of 350 cfm. This means that the blueair 121 cleans air much faster than the blueair 211+.

The blueair 211+ and 121 have both been evaluated independently by the AHAM verification program.  

The blue pure 211+ has clean Air Delivery Rates of 350 CFM for pollen, smoke and dust. While the blue pure 121 has clean air delivery Rates of 400 CFM for smoke, dust and pollen.

This therefore makes the blueair blue pure 121 the better device when it comes to performance.

Blueair blue pure room coverage

The Blue pure 121 filters air at an industry recommended rate of 5 times an hour. This is equivalent to cleaning the air out every 12 minutes in a 620 ft² room. As a result, it ensures low particle levels in your living space and keeps a comfortable breathing environment for you. Blueair designed the 121 for extra-large rooms that range between 600 square feet and 700 square feet. Though, the AHAM rated coverage is 620 sq ft.

The 121 purifier is therefore suitable for kitchens, large bedrooms, and living rooms.

On the other hand, the 211+ Blue Pure also performs at the recommended industry rate of 5x an hour for a 540 ft² room.  This purifier is quite suitable for large family rooms, living rooms or even playrooms.​

Simply put, the blueair 121 can fully cover rooms of up to 620 sq ft while the blueair 211+ covers rooms of up to 540 sq ft. This means the blueair 121 is designed for much larger rooms. So the 121 will generally perform much better than the blueair 211+ especially in rooms above 600 ft2.

Blueair 121 Optional Extra Protection Filter

Another special feature only available with the Blue Pure 121 is the extra protection filter. As we have mentioned earlier, the blueair comes with a standard Combination Particle + Carbon filter meant for light household odors. So, for the heavy odors, blueair designed another protection filter that comes with activated coconut carbon pellets. This extra protection filter can absorb heavy gases, odors and chemicals produced inside your home.

Consequently, with the blueair 121, you can upgrade your carbon filter to this extra protection filter if you want to combat heavy household odors.

blueair 121 carbon filter with coconut carbon pellets
Blueair 121 carbon filter with coconut carbon pellets

Comparison table of blue pure 211+ vs 121

FeaturesBlueair Blue pure 121Blueair Blue pure 211+
Room size620 ft2540 ft2
Auto Mode
Metal filter housing
CADR-smke400 cfm350 cfm
Filter replacement indicatorYesYes
On/off timerNoNo
WheelsNoNo
Speed control options 1 - 2 - 3YesYes
Air sensorsNoNo
WifiNoNo

Conclusion of blueair 121 vs 211+

Fresh air in your home is always a definite plus and will really do you good. Air purifiers will also reduce any allergy and asthma symptoms you might have. And as a result, will generally create a better sense of comfort at home.

Having all that in mind, our recommendation for this comparison of the blueair 121 vs 211+ is the blueair 121. This is because the blueair blue pure 121 will offer better performance in terms of clean air delivery rate and room coverage. So you can be guaranteed that it will cover larger rooms of up to 620 sq ft very effectively. The high clean air delivery rate also means that it will purify air much quicker than its counterpart. On top of that, you can upgrade its carbon filter to fight against heavy household odors.

Otherwise, the blueair blue pure 211+ is still a good air purifier and it will still be able to get the job done. You should note that its room coverage of 540 sq ft still makes it better than most purifiers on the market. If your rooms are as large as 500 sq ft then you can go with the blueair 211+ because it still does well in medium to large rooms of that size.

Frequently asked Questions

Can I use the blueair purifiers without the pre-filter?

Yes, you can. The blueair purifier will still run even when you don’t add the pre-filter. Though, you will be putting a lot of strain on the main filter.  This is because the pre-filter serves the purpose of stopping large particles from getting into the main filter and clogging it.

How can I clean the blueair pre-filter?

You can machine wash it and thereafter hang it to dry.

How frequently should I wash the pre-filter?

You should wash the pre-filter every 2-3 months. But that depends on where it is and the kind of air it has to filter. You might find scenarios where the pre-filters get dirtier even quicker than anticipated. In such a scenario, you can go ahead and wash it even before the recommended 2-3 months.

Do these models have air quality sensors?

No, the blueair blue family of purifiers does not have air quality sensors on their devices. But leaving the device running on low or medium would usually be enough to keep your air clean.

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