At first sight
Expert assessment
Professionals
Small and quiet. Integrates with other Govee smart appliances Economical
Versus
Not powerful enough for larger rooms. Must be invested in the Govee smart home ecosystem to take full advantage of its capabilities
Our verdict
The Govee Smart Air Purifier (model H7120) is an ideal solution for bedrooms, home offices and other small spaces.
Price at time of review
$59.99
Today’s Best Prices: Govee Smart Air Purifier (Model H7120)
Retail price
$59.99
Govee $59.99
Price comparison of over 24,000 shops worldwide
Air purifiers tend to be loud and bulky appliances, making them poorly suited to bedrooms and home offices. The Govee Air Purifier (model H7120) was designed for exactly these types of spaces, with a compact design and an unobtrusive noise level. While we wouldn’t recommend it as a main workhorse, it’s a great option for any room where space and silence are at a premium.
At 6.9 x 6.9 x 11 inches(WxDxH) and weighing just 1.5kg, the H7120 is small enough to place on a bedside table or desk, and is portable enough to take along on the go. Its squat size and simple white finish should allow it to blend into the background of most decor. The usual safety warnings apply (don’t place it near water, heat sources, etc.), but as long as the H7120 has access to an electrical outlet, you can fit it just about anywhere.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage the best air purifiers.
Air enters through a 360-degree inlet around the bottom of the purifier and passes through a three-stage filtration system before being expelled through an outlet at the top. A pre-filter captures large particles such as dust, hair and lint; a HEPA filter traps small particles such as smoke, pollen and pet dander; and an activated carbon filter absorbs odors and filters compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to Govee, each filter should last between six and eight months; Govee replacement filters costs $25). In terms of horsepower, the H7120 has CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 52.9 cfm (cubic feet per minute) for smoke, 72.9 for dust, 82.2 for pollen, and 62.1 for PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller). It is rated to change the air in a room up to 108 square feet five times per hour.
A touch panel provides basic controls for the Govee H7120 smart air purifier.Michele Ansaldo/Foundry
The purifier can be controlled from its top touch panel, which includes buttons for power, fan speed, a timer, sleep mode, and a night light that circles the side of the panel. An indicator lights up red when the filter needs to be replaced. You can enable remote control and additional features using the Govee Home app.
Adding the air purifier to the app is as simple as pressing the “+” button and searching for the H7120 from a list of Govee appliances. The app takes over from there, walking you through a short connection process to pair the purifier and connect to your Wi-Fi. When finished, the H7120 appears on the app’s device screen so you can assign it to a room and add it to your home automation scenes.
In addition to providing the same basic touch panel controls as the purifier, the app enables features like scheduling, modes (auto, energy saving, and high efficiency), night light customization, and real-time PM 2.5 monitoring. The app also allows you to pair the purifier with other compatible Govee smart appliances. I connected it to Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor, which tracks temperature, relative humidity, and PM2.5 concentrations. This allowed the H7120 to automatically increase the air speed based on PM2.5 levels collected by the monitor and shut down to the slowest speed when PM2.5 readings returned to ‘safe’ levels. Used in tandem, the two appliances provide greater control and insight into indoor air quality through the Govee Home app.
The Govee Home app lets you control and customize your smart air purifier.Michele Ansaldo/Foundry
To further freshen your air, Govee has included an “aroma box” on the side of the H7120. This is essentially a small drawer where you can place an aromatherapy pad sprinkled with an essential oil of your choice. My unit came with some bearings but no oils so I couldn’t test this feature. According to Govee, you should place one of the 1.3 x 0.9 x 0.1-inch pads in the aroma box, add 8 to 10 drops of an essential oil, and turn on the purifier, which will automatically diffuse the scent.
In use, the H7120 is barely noticeable. The noise level ranges from a whisper-quiet 24dB at minimum fan speed to 46dB at maximum, which is still below talk level (around 55 to 65dB). I had no trouble sleeping with it at any speed and didn’t find it distracting while working. I currently run it 24/7 in my kids room and they don’t even know it’s there.
At $60, the H7120 is one of the most affordable air purifiers you’ll find. It’s not hard to imagine buying one for every bedroom and home office. It’s unlikely to be effective in living rooms and other large rooms, but Govee offers purifiers for those spaces as well (the H7121 smart air purifierit can purify rooms up to 452 square feet), and if the H7120 is any indication of Govee’s quality, they’re worth looking into too. Connect them all together with the Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor and you’ll be breathing easier in no time.
Leave a Comment