Kenmore KAPA3D0AMW Air Purifier with HEPA Filtration White, Medium

I'm just gonna start this review with the thing that really makes me confused and question the choices of Kenmore - the airflow design. Despite how it looks, there's no airflow through the front panel. Those aren't holes on the front, those are just little divets for design to LOOK like its some kind of grate. The air actually flows in through the BACK and then out the top. If you've ever used any other air purifier before (or even seen one), you'd know most, if not all, draw air from the front, sides, or in a circular range. Considering most people will be placing the back facing a wall or corner, it means getting decently airflow would require this to be sitting a fair ways away from a wall (and idk about you, but I don't want this large device just sitting in the center of my room).Now, obviously, you could just turn the device around, but then you have the issues of1) The back isn't what I'd call "pleasing to look at"2) The power cable juts out the back and there's no way to hide it.3) The controls and air quality lights are on the front.The manual also confusingly says that it can be laid on it's back in a horizontal position...Um...no? There's no offset on the back, so it would completely cut off all airflow to the intake if you did this. In addition, the power cable juts out the back, preventing this from even being possible. Perhaps it meant to say you could lay it on it's front or side, but "or ON ITS BACK in a horizontal position" is word-for-word what it says. Not sure why you'd do either of these things since, as mentioned, the back is unappealing and there's legs on the bottom that would look very odd when placed horizontally. Kenmore, if you're reading this, please elaborate.I've been trying out air purifiers for a while now, but have been struggling to find one that I'm satisfied with. I may not live anywhere with horrible air quality, but I have had horrendous allergies for my entire life. Unfortunately, most of the good ones are pretty pricey, with the cheaper ones often sacrificing QOL features and controls. This falls into the latter category.$200 for a "large-room" purifier is actually on the lower end, despite that still being quite the price tag. And with it, comes the same loss of features that you'd get on a lower-end small-room unit. No timer, no save-able presets, no manual speed controls (besides the limited "sleep" and "turbo" modes). The unit either runs automatically, full-blast, or lowest, and will continue to do so until you manually change it. I will give them credit that this unit has an air quality sensor in it (even some pricier small-room filters don't have this), which is certainly nice for just turning it on and forgetting about it.Visually, its okay. Its not especially sleek looking and its about as large as an end table, so it will most certainly be noticed (even more-so if you turn it around or lay it face-down to reveal the unappealing backside).Unfortunately, Vine reviews have to be done in a limited about of time, so I don't have the months I'd like to spend seeing if this unit can help my allergies. I can certainly say that it does seem to move air as it creates noticeable airflow in the room even when its sitting at the idle speed (but I still question if that airflow is guiding particles to the back). I'll be sure to update the review later on that. I also don't own an air quality tool (nor do I plan to purchase one), so this will be entirely anecdotal. At the very least, it does seem to immediately notice an air quality difference when I start cooking, so it certainly is able to pick up on changes relatively quick.Honestly, I think this unit's performance will have to absolutely blow me away to be able to recommend it over the countless other options. Its gonna need to prove to me that the airflow is just as good as similar units that are pulling from the front/sides. In the meantime, I simply can't recommend this device due to so many odd choices that, at least in my eyes, do nothing but hamper its function. Hopefully I can be proven wrong (again, Kenmore, I'd love to hear from you about all this), and I'll certainly update if that happens.

I am a bit of a clean air freak (and that was BEFORE Covid!)I have health issues and allergiesOur main HVAC unit has a huge April Aire prefilter unit.We have the huge Blue Air unit in open living space, and Rabbit Minus A2 filters in the two Bedrooms.We just bought a new house with a large enclosed lanai, and It needed a filter also.I decided to this the Kenmore unit vis the vine reviewers program.It retails for $200 so is substantially cheaper than everything I just listed.I was surprised at how much i liked the looks of it when I opened it. It has a clean, spare, mid mod vibe…especially with its little legs.I dont know what kind of filtering systems the complaining previewers have (who keep mentioning that it draws air in from back and out top so it cant go against wall. That is actually quite common, and most air filtrations systems need good air flow on all sidesI knew the individual filters inside unit would need to be unwrapped based on prior filter experience.. this kenmore has a lower level of filtration than the more expensive ones listed above. But it is also HUNDREDS less to buy.Speaking if filter. My big concern is that I do not see ANY replacement filters listed for sale anywhere for this unit.I hope Kenmore hasnt dropped the ball!I am very curious to see what the filter set will cost.The kenmore is surprisingly quiet. I leave it on automatic sensor unless i am cooking something smelly like cabbage. Then i turbo it for a few hours (turbo on kenmore is quiet than the blue and rabbit units on high speeds ) The air on lanai is definitely improved since we installed the unit, so i am pleased with the filtering qualityWe do not smoke, nor do we have petsIf you dont replace the filters routinely, and more often than you expect, the system isnt going to work properly.The Aprilaire and Blue filters are over $100, the Rabbit are almost $100.Having the aprilaire system in our new house has definitely helped overall air quality, and had added benefit of helping pur room units not get dirty nearly as fast as they did before the aprilaire system.Clean air is crazy expensive. I sure hope kenmore offers replacement filter sets, and at a decent price

This is whisper-quiet on every setting except Turbo, which sounds like heavy winds. While it doesn't have wheels, it's light enough to easily pick up and move around, even if you need to navigate stairs. Don't let its size fool you. It's not like a dehumidifier, which is heavy. This weighs next to nothing, and has indented handles on either side. The cord is far shorter than I'd like, though. There isn't always an outlet a convenient distance from it. As far as the air filtering itself--who knows? I trust that it's doing a good job. It tells me my air quality is good, which makes me happy. So far the filters haven't gotten too dirty. I do appreciate the HEPA filtration, as I have allergies. I'm hoping this helps. I was going to use a very fine filter on my HVAC unit, but was told this can cause problems, as so much can get trapped that these filters get clogged quickly and interfere with the functioning of your unit. So it seems to me a separate air purifier is a good idea.The manual doesn't mention this, but both filters are enclosed in plastic bags inside the machine. Before you use it you have to remove the bags and put them back. The manual really ought to tell you this. The other odd thing, as others have mentioned, is that the air intake is through the back. Given the amount of suction power it seems to have, this may not make such a difference that it interferes with the functioning as long as you don't put it right against a wall. But it is an odd choice.

Pros• Really Quiet (Turbo mode is not but has never gone in this mode unless manually turned on)• Automatic mode is nice that it switches between regular and slow speed depending on the air quality (I don’t think it will go in Turbo speed or maybe my air never gets that bad that it has too)• Larger coverage area (465 Sq ft)• Multiple levels of filtering (Pre, carbon, HEPA) *this is pretty standard• Unobtrusive Display can easily see air quality and if filter needs replaced via small LED lights• Energy Star Rated (air purifiers run a lot, some people keep them on 24/7 so being energy efficient is very important)• Kenmore is an established company which gives (should) piece of mind for support/warrantyCons• Looks cheaper in person than on pictures, almost everythig is made of plastic that doesn’t look like the highest quality• It has the basic controls you see on air puriers… Manual (Set desired speed), automatic, sleep (runs low speed turns off air indicator light). No timer option of any sorts. I would of liked to have an option to program purfier to run so many hours a day that keeps repeating each day… I see a lot of recommendation to run 12 hours a day but no way to this other than manually turning on and off… I currently just turn on to automatic setting when I get up and turn off when I go to bed which I would like to avoid having to do this everyday

This Kenmore air purifier has a very retro look to it with its boxy design and legs. The air purifier has minimal settings, so it’s not as high tech as some of the fancy ones, but it still seams to clean the air well. I have a very pricy purifier in my living room/ kitchen area that was over $1,000, so I was a bit worried that at this ones price point it wouldn’t be very effective. But so far it seams to be doing very well.This isn’t without issues though. My biggest issue with this is that the shape and photos imply that you can place this against a wall. However that’s not the case. The back of this has the air intake on it and can’t be placed against a wall. But other than that it’s a pretty effective air purifier for the price and I can recommend it!