Air Purifiers Review
Honeywell Air Touch i8 Review: Solid but Basic
Our verdict
The Honeywell Air Touch i8 is a competent 300 m3/h purifier with H13 HEPA and a simple touch panel, but it lacks the sensing and smart features of newer rivals.
Buy it if
- Bedrooms up to about 220 sq ft
- Buyers who want a known brand without an app
- Households that prefer a simple touch panel
Skip it if
- You want app control or voice support
- You want detailed sensing
What we like
- 300 m3/h CADR, per retail listings
- H13 grade HEPA claimed in listings
- Simple touch controls
- Street price well below launch MRP
What we don’t
- Basic sensing and no app
- Top-speed noise is clearly audible
- Design is not new
- Replacement filter prices vary by seller
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 7.2
- Features
- 6.4
- Noise
- 7.0
- Energy efficiency
- 6.9
- Build quality
- 7.3
- Ease of use
- 7.4
- Value for money
- 7.1
- After-sales service
- 7.0
The Honeywell Air Touch i8 suits a buyer who wants a competent purifier from a familiar brand and has no interest in an app. It cleans a bedroom steadily and its touch panel is easy to use. The trade-off is that sensing and smart features are basic, so you do not see much of what the purifier is doing.
How well does it clear a bedroom?
It brought PM2.5 from about 300 to under 35 ug/m3 in 24 minutes in a 180 sq ft room. That matches a 300 m3/h CADR on paper, and sits between the Philips and the Cuckoo. Listings claim 387 sq ft coverage, but treat 220 sq ft as the real limit during stubble-burning weeks.
How loud is it?
On the lowest speed we measured about 33 dB at 1 metre, fine for sleep. On top speed it reached about 57 dB, steady and not whiny. Auto mode raised the speed when the air-quality light turned from blue to orange.
What does the sensor tell you?
An air-quality indicator light, not a number. In our test the light turned red from about 80 ug/m3, so it works as a prompt but not as a monitor. There is no VOC or humidity reading. If you want numbers you need the Philips, Xiaomi or Boon.
What about filters and running costs?
Listings describe H13 HEPA with activated carbon. We did not find a stable official replacement price; seller prices vary, so check the exact model number on the filter before buying. Plan on a change every 8 to 12 months in Delhi. Power draw on top speed measured about 42 W.
What do owners say?
Owners praise the simple touch panel and steady airflow. Complaints focus on the lack of an app, filter cost and noise at top speed. Honeywell’s service network is decent in metros, thinner in tier-2 cities.
Who should skip it?
If you want connected features or the quickest clean-up, the Xiaomi is better. If price is the only concern, the Eureka Forbes is cheaper.
Test results
| PM2.5 clean-up, 180 sq ft bedroom How we test this : PM2.5 clean-up, 180 sq ft bedroom | 24 min |
|---|---|
| Noise on lowest or Sleep setting How we test this : Noise on lowest or Sleep setting | 33 dB |
| Noise at top speed How we test this : Noise at top speed | 57 dB |
| Power draw at top speed How we test this : Power draw at top speed | 42 W |
| Colour light turns red at How we test this : Colour light turns red at | 80 ug/m3 |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
We bought a unit and tested it for four weeks in a 180 sq ft bedroom with outdoor AQI between 270 and 450. We timed PM2.5 clean-up from about 300 to under 35 ug/m3, measured noise at 1 m on each speed, logged wall power and compared its indicator with a handheld reference monitor.
We bought this unit at retail price.
How does the Honeywell Air Touch i8 compare?
-
Philips Series 2000i Air Purifier AC2958/63 B− 7.4
The Philips cleared our 180 sq ft bedroom faster, in 21 minutes against 24, and adds a numeric PM2.5 display and an app.
-
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 (AC-M16-SC) B 7.7
The Xiaomi is better if you want connected features or the quickest clean-up: 18 minutes against the Honeywell's 24 in our bedroom, with an app and a PM2.5 display.
-
Cuckoo A Model Air Purifier C 6.4
The Honeywell cleared our 180 sq ft bedroom faster than the Cuckoo, in 24 minutes against 29, and was quieter at top speed. Both lack an app and show air quality only as a light.
-
Eureka Forbes Dr Aeroguard 150 Air Purifier C 6.6
The Eureka Forbes is cheaper but suits only small rooms: it needed 44 minutes in our 180 sq ft bedroom, against 24 for the Honeywell.
Key specs
| CADR (listing) | 300 m3/h |
|---|---|
| Coverage (listing) | Up to 387 sq ft at 9 ft ceiling |
| Filtration | Pre-filter, H13 HEPA, activated carbon (per listings) |
Questions buyers ask
Is the Honeywell Air Touch i8 good for Indian homes?
Yes, for bedrooms. The Honeywell Air Touch i8 took 24 minutes to bring PM2.5 from about 300 to under 35 ug/m3 in a 180 sq ft room. It is solid but lacks the app and sensing of newer purifiers.
What is the Honeywell Air Touch i8 CADR?
Retail listings give 300 m3/h, with coverage up to about 387 sq ft. As with all boxes, we would plan for a smaller room in severe smog, about 220 sq ft.
Does the Honeywell Air Touch i8 have an app?
We found no app control on the Air Touch i8. It uses a touch panel on the unit, so there is no remote schedule or voice support.
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