Home » Air Purifiers » Blueair Classic 280i vs Blueair Classic 480i – Comparison of HEPA Air Purifiers

Blueair Classic 280i vs 480i

There are a bunch of different HEPA air purifier brands in the market. This is a reason that makes looking for the ideal air purifier for your home extremely hard and intimidating. 

Don’t worry because today we are looking at a reputable air purifier brand, Blueair. We will compare the Blueair Classic 280i vs 480i in detail. Let’s start with the comparison table, then we will see the similarities and differences between the Blueair Classic 280i vs the Blueair Classic 480i and for the end we leave it to you to see our decision which HEPA air purifiers is the right choice.

Blueair Classic 280i vs 480i Comparison Chart

Blueair Classic 280i Blueair Classic 480i
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Recommended Room Size 279 sq. ft. 434 sq. ft.
HEPASilent Filtration Technology Yes Yes
DualProtection Technology  Yes Yes
Wi-Fi connectivity Yes Yes
Alexa-compatible Yes Yes
On/off timer Yes (via Blueair App) Yes (via Blueair App)
Filter replacement indicator Yes Yes
Speed control options 1 – 2 – 3 – AUTO 1 – 2 – 3 – AUTO
Integrated air sensors Yes Yes
Sound level  32 – 56 dB(A) 32 – 62 dB(A)
Air outlet Top Side
Air inlet Back Side
Air changes per hour (ACH)  5 5
Clean air delivery rate (CADR) Pollen – 200cfm

Dust – 180cfm

Smoke – 200cfm

Pollen – 300cfm

Dust – 280cfm

Smoke – 300cfm

Energy consumption 20 – 80 W 15 – 90 W
Dimensions (H x W x D) 21 x 17 x 9 in 23 x 20 x 11 in
Product weight 24lbs 31lbs
What’s Included Classic 280i air purifier​, DualProtection filter, Instruction manual Classic 480i air purifier​, DualProtection filter​, Instruction manual
Warranty Up to 5 years Up to 5 years
Price Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Amazon

Similarities between Blueair Classic 205 and Blueair Classic 280i

Let’s see how this HEPA air purifiers are similar.

HEPASilent and DualProtection Technology

The Classic 280i and 480i can filter 99.97% of all airborne particles in your house using Blueair’s HEPASilent filtration technology. Particles, as small as 0.1 microns, cannot escape both air purifiers. In addition to that, both air purifiers feature the more advanced DualProtection Technology that handles harmful airborne gaseous pollutants like smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), exhaust, smog, odors, and chemicals. You can breathe fresher air in just 12 minutes of filtering using both the Classic 280i and 480i.

Wi-Fi and Alexa-compatible

You can now use your Amazon Echo to control either of the air purifiers. Using Echo’s voice recognition, you can now ask it “Alexa, ask Blueair to run on max speed.” There are a lot more voice commands you can do with both Blueair air purifiers. Additionally, both purifiers have an accompanying app: the Blueair app which you can download on Google Play Store or Apple Appstore. Take advantage of this app to have more advance and robust control over the Class 280i and 480i.

Auto Speed Control and Integrated Air Sensor

Both Classic 280i and 480i have 3 different fan speeds which include the whisper-silent mode. This whisper-silent mode is most helpful when you do not want to be disturbed during your sleep at night. The Classic 280i and 480i have integrated air sensors baked in them. Thus, you can set both to auto mode to let them do the work for you. 

Differences between Blueair Classic 280i and Blueair Classic 480i 

Find out all the differences between the Blueair Classic 280i and 480i.

Room Size

When shopping for an air purifier, the size of the room it can purify is one of the first things you must look at. Both the Classic 280i and 480i differ in the size of the room they can filter.

Blueair Classic 280i

Blueair Classic 280i is ideal for small to medium rooms with a recommended floor area of around 279 square feet. The Classic 280i is perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, and small offices. 

Blueair Classic 480i

The bulkier Classic 480i can filter larger rooms than the Classic 280i. It is rated to purify medium to large rooms with a floor area of 434 square feet. The Classic 480i is ideal for dining areas, the kitchen, or the master bedroom. While both air purifiers have the same capabilities, due to Classic 480i’s ability to filter larger rooms, it deserves to win this category.

The Winner Is- Blueair Classic 480i

Clean Air Delivery Rate

Aside from the recommended room size, there are two more specifications you must take note when searching for your perfect air purifiers – the air changes per hour (ACH) and clean air delivery rate (CADR). Both the Classic 280i and 480i have an air change per hour of 5.

Blueair Classic 280i

The Clean Air Delivery Rate or CADR is a standard set by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) in the U.S. to determine the general performance of an air purifier. It is the volume of air it can clean per minute. The higher the CADR, the better. The Blueair Classic 280i has a CADR of 200cfm for pollens, 180cfm for dust, and 200cfm for smoke.

Blueair Classic 480i

Since the Classic 480i is bigger, it also can take more air in through its side vents. Therefore, it has a higher CADR than the Classic 280i. The Blueair Classic 480i has a CADR of 300cfm for pollens, 280cfm for dust, and 300cfm for smoke. This the exact reason why the Classic 480i is ideal for larger rooms.

The Winner Is- Blueair Classic 480i

 

Price

Both the Classic 280i and 480i are in the premium segment of air purifiers. 

Blueair Classic 280i

Blueair Classic 280i is the cheaper air purifier between the two due to its reduced CADR. It still brings a good value because it can do everything the Classic 480i does. Also, if you are just looking for an air purifier for a small room, it is only reasonable to buy the Classic 280i over the 480i and save the cash. 

Blueair Classic 480i

The Classic 480i more expensive than the 280i because it can clean more volume of air than the 280i. If you are looking to get an air purifier for your living room or dining area, it is ideal to buy the Classic 480i even if it is more expensive. It is perfectly reasonable to buy an air purifier for the living room or dining area because that is where family members bond and get together most of the time. 

The Winner Is- Blueair Classic 280i

Pros and Cons

Blueair Classic 280i

Pros:

  • Removes 99.97% airborne particles
  • Purifies room in just 12 minutes 
  • HEPASilent Technology
  • DualProtection Technology
  • Can filter particles as small as 0.1 microns
  • Perfect for smaller to medium-sized rooms
  • Wi-Fi and Alexa-compatible
  • 3 fan speeds including whisper-silent mode
  • Remote control using the Blueair App
  • Warranty up to 5 years
  • Sturdy build
  • Auto mode for fan speed
  • Has integrated air sensors for automatic operation
  • Cheaper

 

Cons:

  • Has a lower CADR
  • Only suitable for smaller rooms

 

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Blueair Classic 480i

Pros:
  • Removes 99.97% airborne particles
  • Purifies room in just 12 minutes 
  • HEPASilent Technology
  • DualProtection Technology
  • Can filter particles as small as 0.1 microns
  • Perfect for medium to larger rooms
  • Wi-Fi and Alexa-compatible
  • 3 fan speeds including whisper-silent mode
  • Remote control using the Blueair App
  • Warranty up to 5 years
  • Sturdy build
  • Auto mode for fan speed
  • Has integrated air sensors for automatic operation
  • Has increased CADR

 

Cons:

  • More expensive
  • Bulkier

 

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Which Blueair Classic HEPA Air Purifier is better? 280i or 480i?

The Blueair Classic 280i and 480i have the same functionality. Both have the same filtration technology and system. The Classic 280i has the better overall value because it does what the 480i with a cheaper price tag. They only differ in the amount of air they can clean per minute (CADR). That is exactly why the Blueair Classic 480i wins over the 280i.

Related Comparison:

Blueair Classic 205 vs Blueair Classic 280i