Air quality in our homes not only affects our well-being, but also the quality of our much-needed sleep. While good housekeeping habits can help, so can an air purifier. But not all home air purifiers are created equal. Few are designed like the IQAir Atem Desk Air Purifier, which helps keep us from breathing in those nasty, often invisible ultrafine particles that can potentially wreak havoc on our health.

We’re constantly exposed to microscopic particles in the air – from visible dust and pollen to invisible threats such as wildfire smoke, viruses and combustion fumes. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can travel into our lungs – and the more dangerous they become. (See sidebar).

That’s why choosing the right kind of air filtration matters. Most popular purifiers use True HEPA filters, which are great at capturing many fine particles out 99.97 per cent of fine particles down to 0.3 µm – but they often miss the smallest ones: Ultrafine particles (UFPs).

Introducing Smart HyperHEPA

This is where the Swiss-designed, German-made IQAir Atem Desk Air Purifier really stands out. It features a Smart HyperHEPA filtration system that captures up to 99.5 per cent of particles down to 0.003 µm – that’s 100 times smaller than what traditional HEPA filters target. This includes those microscopic virus particles.

It’s a personal purifier, designed to sit on your desk or nightstand and clean the air immediately around you – up to about 150 sq. ft. It’s ideal for a bedroom, small office or nursery, and highly efficient thanks to its focused PureJet diffuser.

Whisper quiet

It’s also whisper quiet – only 20 dB at the lowest fan setting (about the sound of rustling leaves) and just 44 dB at the highest, no louder than a quiet fridge. While that might seem impossible given its performance, it’s all thanks to IQAir’s clever, patented industrial design.

The system isolates vibration from the fan and motor, preventing it from transferring to the outer shell. That means no buzzing or rattling – just smooth, stable operation. It also redirects sound back into the unit, acting like built-in soundproofing, reducing the amount of noise that escapes into your space. The result? Clean air with barely a sound.

Sleek and stylish

Beyond function, it’s stylish, too. Imagine if Apple designed an air purifier – that’s the IQAir Atem Desk. They didn’t, but at first glance, it looks more like a premium Apple accessory than a traditional air purifier. Its sleek, circular design, minimalist stand and near-invisible interface wouldn’t look out of place beside a MacBook Pro or a Bondi Blue iMac G3.

In fact, I couldn’t help but imagine Jony Ive at a live Apple event narrating: “We wanted to purify the air... but in a way that was quiet, intentional and beautifully uncompromising.” The design is clean, focused and elevates desktop purification to something almost sculptural.

Portable power

It looks like a flying saucer on a stand, and while it’s not backpack-sized, it’s portable. It measures 12.4-by-5.5-by-11.8 in. and weighs slightly more than six lbs – small enough for a suitcase.

In-car use? Yep

With the optional Car Accessory Kit, you can convert the Atem Desk for in-car use. The kit includes a mount, belt and power adapter, allowing you to securely attach it to a car seat for HyperHEPA filtration on the road.

Getting started

Setup is simple: Clip on the base, plug it in and tap the centre panel to choose one of three speeds.

For added control, connect it via Bluetooth and download the IQAir Atem app. The app lets you adjust fan speed, monitor filter life and customize smart settings such as auto on/off and environment-based triggers.

Maintenance

Changing the filter is a breeze – just remove the back cover. The unique 270-degree filter design ensures thorough coverage and efficient airflow.

Bottom line

If you’re serious about air quality – especially when it comes to the tiniest airborne threats such as viruses and UFPs – the IQAir Atem Desk HyperHEPA Air Purifier is a powerful and stylish solution.

It’s perfect for smaller, personal spaces. Just note: It’s not designed to clean a large living room or be knocked around. Place it thoughtfully, and it performs like a champ.

At home, on the go, or even in the car, it’s a worthwhile investment if you want cleaner air without a bulky machine.

Price: $576.99. It comes with a three-year limited warranty and is available on Amazon and on-line at Walmart, and Best Buy, or at iqair.com.

How small are these particles?

Particulate matter is measured in microns. A micron (µm) is 0.001 mm or one micrometre. For perspective, a single human hair is about 60 µm wide.

• PM10 (Coarse Particles): 2.5–10 µm

Examples: Pollen, mold spores, dust, pet dander

• PM2.5 (Fine Particles): < 2.5 µm

Examples: Smoke, bacteria, cooking aerosols, emissions from stoves or fireplaces

• PM0.1 (Ultrafine Particles / UFPs): < 0.1 µm

Examples: Viruses (COVID-19, flu), industrial exhaust, laser printer dust, combustion particles

According to the U.S. EPA, many scientific studies have found that breathing even fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over the long term can lead to various health effects, including damage to blood vessels and the heart.