Review the Philips AMF220 / 15 air purifier: a serious competitor for Dyson

Wearing a round head and dressed in metallic black, the Philips AMF220 / 15, from the 2000 Series range, has an unusual aesthetic. A white circle outlines the perimeter of this well-made head and lights up in blue or red depending on whether the purifier is heating or ventilating. On the front of the device, a screen indicates several information in real time: the ambient temperature, the need to change the filters, the number of microparticles (2.5 microns) per m³ and an air quality indicator .

The control panel, meanwhile, has taken up residence on the top of the device. Five (very) sensitive controls are grouped there: the power button, the power of the fan and the heating, the timer (from 1 to 7 hours), as well as the oscillation angle (up to 350 °). Additional functions can be activated by holding a command for 3 seconds. The user can then choose to reset the filter life, lock the device or put it to sleep. The pictograms chosen are also lacking, to our taste, in clarity.

If this model has a lot of features, we bitterly regret the absence of a thermostat. Without this, it is impossible to manage the temperature of the air given off by the device. Only the intensity of the breath can be changed. Fan mode and heating mode each have three different powers.

On the list of absent, we also find the automatic mode, as well as the night mode. In fact, the “standby” mode present on the AMF220 / 15 only allows the purifier indicator lights to be switched off (screen, led and light strip). In no case does it imply a drop in power or quieter operation, unlike what a night mode could generate; like the one on the Samsung AX60R5080WD.

To control the device, a remote control has also been designed by Philips. It obviously facilitates the use of the purifier, especially since no smartphone application is provided to control it remotely. Magnetic, it is discreetly stored at the back of the AMF220 / 15. We therefore challenge you to misplace it.

Ventilation, heating, magnetic remote control: so many options available on the Pure Hot + Cool and the Purify Hot + Cool Formaldehyde by Dyson. With the AMF220 / 15, Philips therefore skillfully strengthens its position in the air purifier market and tries to overshadow the British brand.

Maintenance, change of filters and tariffs

Like many devices on the market, and present in our comparative, the AMF220 / 15 has a three-layer filtration system. The pre-filter takes care of trapping large particles like animal hair and hair. Then, place for the multilayer filter, combining HEPA filter and activated carbon filter. Philips claims the former is capable of removing 99.95% of particles down to 0.003 microns, such as dust, animal dander, pollen, mites and smoke. On the other hand, the smell of the latter, as well as unpleasant odors in general are eliminated by the activated carbon filter. Finally, the manufacturer claims to be able to filter 99.99% of viruses; data that we are not able to verify in our laboratory.

To clean the body of the device and the air outlet, a simple soft cloth is sufficient. Philips does not recommend opening the cover of the particle sensor; surface cleaning should suffice.

Filters need a little more attention. To access it, the same procedure as for Dyson devices: you simply have to unclip the grille. It is advisable to vacuum their surface or brush them every two weeks. And when the filters need to be changed, the purifier warns the user with a symbol that appears on the screen. It takes nearly 65 € to acquire a new suitable filter (ref. FYM220 / 30).

First of all, note that the purifier cleans the air both in fan mode and in heating mode. Adjusted to its minimum speed, it displays much better performance than those of the devices present in our comparative. It takes a little over 22 minutes to remove 50% of the pollutants in the room. And it is one of the few to remove 80% of fine particles in the allotted time, that is to say in 1 h 15 min. Only the Samsung AX60R5080WD and Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H do better.

When launched at maximum power, the Philips shows the same trend; its performances are moreover similar to those of theAC0830 / 10. It therefore cleans the lab very quickly since it only takes 11 minutes to eliminate 50% of the pollutants.

However, the tests are completed here since the AMF220 / 15 is not equipped with an automatic mode. Pity.