Powerful, Pursuit Mode: The Dreame AirPursue PM10 air purifier is impressive

Dreame makes an impressive debut with its first air purifier, the AirPursue PM10. In practical tests, the device proves to be powerful yet quiet, boasting well-thought-out features and an effective tracking mode. Unfortunately, it comes at a high price.

Air purifiers are becoming increasingly popular, and according to Market Data Forecast, sales are steadily increasing even after the coronavirus pandemic, including in Germany. In Europe, the market is expected to nearly double from €4.84 billion in 2024 to around €8 billion by 2032.

Allergies are often a reason for purchase, and high levels of fine dust pollution in cities also play a significant role. The devices can also eliminate odors and pollutants that arise in homes.

The Chinese company Dreame also wants a piece of the ever-growing pie and recently launched two air purifiers. ntv.de tested the AirPursue PM10, which, unlike the PM20, doesn't offer a heating function and is somewhat less powerful.

Exceptional design

While most air purifiers look boring and functional, the Dreame AirPursue PM10 aims to stand out. The nearly 85-centimeter-tall device looks spectacular, with a brass-colored mesh column supporting a hemispherical fan unit with a black, glossy, curved surface. The base and the remote control, in particular, are strongly reminiscent of Dyson devices.

This is probably no coincidence; Dreame is likely targeting its British competitor's target audience, who are willing to pay higher prices for a unique design, among other things. And that's what you have to do with the AirPursue PM10, which costs just under €800. By comparison, the similarly powerful product test winner, the Bosch Air 4000, currently costs around €265.

CADR at winner level

The new Dreame model not only looks exceptional, it also boasts a number of technical features that should justify the significant price difference. In terms of cleaning performance on paper, it's on par with the Bosch Air 4000. It's capable of cleaning 300 cubic meters of air per hour (CADR 300 m³/h).

This makes the AirPursue PM10 suitable for larger rooms. For example, it can clean the air in a room with a height of approximately 2.5 meters and a surface area of 40 square meters three times per hour. ntv.de tested the device in a room of this size.

Formaldehyde is also filtered out

The air purifier's maximum performance is 300 m³/h; in everyday use, the air flow is usually significantly lower. It's best to let AirPursue take care of what's needed. In automatic mode (intelligent cleaning), the device's sensors constantly measure the air quality in the room and adjust the air flow accordingly.

The measured values include the proportion of particulate matter (PM) in the air, ranging in size from less than 1 to 10 micrometers (µm), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) such as benzene. The device also measures room temperature and humidity.

App more convenient than display and remote control

The measured values can be viewed in the app or on a small color display in the center of the head. You can change the display using a button next to the power switch. You can also use the remote control for this. But as with all other settings, it's usually more convenient to do this via the app.

To remove pollutants from the air, the AirPursue PM10 is equipped with a combination allergen filter, a carbon layer, and a formaldehyde kata filter. The mesh housing traps larger particles such as pet hair.

Low power consumption, expensive filter changes

The automatic system reacts quickly to changes. Just a few seconds after a test subject lit a cigarette, the air purifier was operating at peak performance. It consumed approximately 33 watts of power; when the air was clean, the device consumed just under 6 watts, and 1 watt in standby mode.

This is pleasingly efficient; even with continuous use at maximum fan speed, the daily power consumption is only 0.8 kilowatt-hours. At a price of 30 cents per kWh, continuous operation would cost only 24 cents per day. That would be €7.20 per month, or €86.40 per year.

However, the replacement filters are quite expensive. The activated carbon filter costs just under €100 and is supposed to last a year. The combo filter, which costs around €120, is supposed to be replaced every two years. However, this is based on average usage, eight to ten hours at medium fan speed and normal indoor air pollution.

The change may be due much sooner, but it may also be due much later. You can see when the time comes in the app, which displays the expected remaining usage time in days.

Quiet and far-reaching

In addition to the automatic mode, you can select two other modes in the app, along with manual settings. In pet mode, the fan runs at high speeds to remove pet hair and odors. In comfort mode, the fan speed is set to level 1. In this mode, the Dreame AirPursue PM10 is barely audible, at 30 decibels measured on the device, which is especially good in the bedroom at night.

At its highest setting, it's 60 decibels, so loud that it can be distracting while watching TV, for example, but you can easily place it further away. This is made easy thanks to the smooth-running wheels hidden on the bottom.

Longer distances are also no problem for the device, as it blows air from the hemisphere up to ten meters. Circulation is also enhanced by air flowing out of the top of the base and being deflected to the sides. According to Dreame, this also effectively cleans areas where polluted air accumulates. "A high CAD value is not enough if these areas are not reached," writes the manufacturer.

Effective person recognition

To ensure the air reaches every target, you can also adjust the direction of the airflow. The PM10 can swivel back and forth by 45, 90, or 180 degrees. The device also has a unique feature: a tracking mode. Motion sensors detect a person in the room and automatically direct the airflow in that direction. If the device detects two people, it attempts to switch between their positions.

In our practical test, the tracking mode worked almost too accurately. The air purifier reacts even to small movements when it's not far away, such as when you lean forward. This can be a bit annoying. The automatic wake-up from standby mode works just as accurately when you enter the room where the Dreame AirPursue PM10 is located. You can use both functions, but you don't have to. You can also set a timer to turn the device on and off at or after specific times.

The fancy extras are of little use if the air isn't effectively purified. Verifying this without laboratory equipment is difficult. In the practical test, a Dyson air purifier with the fan deactivated served as the control device. It largely confirmed the values measured by the AirPursue PM10.

Apparently quick and thorough

And in tests with cigarette smoke and slightly open windows, the temperatures dropped surprisingly quickly from the red to the green zone. About five minutes after the cigarette was put out, the fan switched from the highest to the medium setting, and after about another ten minutes, the problem was solved.

Another indication of effective cleaning is that after 15 to 20 minutes, the smell of cigarette smoke was barely noticeable. However, this only applies to fresh filters. As Stiftung Warentest has found, the cleaning performance sometimes decreases significantly over time. How much this is true for this device remains to be seen.

Conclusion

The Dreame AirPursue PM10 is a powerful and effective air purifier with some great features up its sleeve. Its wide-ranging circulation is particularly interesting, and could set it apart from competitors that appear similarly powerful on paper. However, you're only willing to spend €800 on this newcomer if you like the design and the special extras that you don't necessarily need, but that are fun to have.