TCL breeva A2: Review of an Air Purifier & Humidifier Combo

Full Review

Recently, many people have become aware of the importance of the quality of the air they breathe. As a result, the demand for air purifiers is increasing day by day.

TCL is a brand that has started to compete seriously in the air purifier market. I had the opportunity to test two new models from the TCL breeva series. In this review, I will evaluate the TCL breeva A2 air purifier, which, unlike the breeva A3, is a slightly smaller and less powerful device.

The breeva A2 is an air purifier with advanced features such as ionizer technology and a built-in humidifier, meaning that in addition to cleaning, the A2 humidifies the air in the room.

I like the A2’s unusual design, excellent build quality, and very good technical specifications. TCL is a brand that is available on the world market and is widely recognized as reliable. You have probably come across their other products by now, such as TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, and other devices.

How We Tested the TCL breeva A2?

1. For the filter efficiency testing, we used the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter, which measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI.

2. We placed the TCL breeva A2 in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) room. Then, we recorded the initial air quality values using the Temtop laser particle meter and let the TCL breeva A2 run at maximum speed.

3. After 60 minutes, we measured the new values using the Temtop laser particle meter and saved the data.

4. Next, we placed the TCL breeva A2 in a glass box, which we then filled with smoke. Then, we measured how much time was needed for the air purifier to remove all the smoke from the box.

5. Using a special noise measurement tool, we tested the air purifier’s noise level at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale.

6. Finally, we measured the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculated how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we used an energy price of $0.12 per kWh.

The TCL breeva A2 is suitable for rooms of up to 182 sq. ft. (17 m²), where it will clean the air 4.8 times in one hour.

I tested this device in my home for some time to see how it works in everyday situations, and I must say that it did a very good job. However, I think it could be a bit better at odor neutralization.

In addition to these tests, I put the breeva A2 to a real test to see how much it would improve the air quality in a specific room size.

Testing in a 194 sq. ft. (18 m²) Room

In this test, we placed the TCL breeva A2 in a 194 sq. ft. (18 m²) room, measured the current air quality, and let it work for 60 minutes at max speed.

It managed to reduce PM2.5 particulate matter from 83.1 to 4.4 µg/m³, which is an air quality improvement of about 95%.

I couldn’t believe that this small air purifier performed better in this test than the Levoit Core 300S (about 1% better). Refer to the chart above, and you can confirm how powerful the TCL breeva A2 is.

Performance – Smoke Removal Test

I was truly surprised by the very good result the TCL breeva A2 achieved in the smoke test.

It needed only 27 seconds to remove all the smoke from the box, which is in the range of the top-rated air purifiers we tested.

For example, a similar performer, the Xiaomi 4 Compact, needed 22 seconds to remove all the smoke from the box.

However, if you are searching for a much better performer, there is always the legendary Levoit Core 300S. It removed all the smoke in 20 seconds.

Many users use air purifiers in rooms where they stay all day, so they often look for an air purifier that isn’t too loud but is also powerful and effective.

Luckily, the TCL breeva A2 has four different speeds that you can use, making it very easy to adjust the noise it produces to your preference.

I would like to point out the sleep mode, where this air purifier produces only 41.7 dBA, which is in the range of the quieter air purifiers tested.

Some competitive air purifiers with similar noise levels at the lowest speed are the Medify MA-15 (41.2 dBA) and the Aroeve MK01 (40.9 dBA).

The sleep mode is great, but I don’t like that the breeva A2 lacks ambient light, which is an integral part of its bigger brother, the breeva A3, which would be a great addition, especially if used in bedrooms.

However, at maximum speed, the situation is a bit different. I believe the breeva A2 could be better optimized at this speed. It produces a sound of 65.4 dBA, which is too much for such a small device.

I have seen many more powerful air purifiers that produce lower noise at maximum speeds. Also, if you look at the chart provided, you will see that the average noise produced at maximum speed is much lower than the noise produced by the breeva A2.

Overall, it has four fan speeds and is generally quiet at the lowest speeds but too loud at maximum speed.

Considering the operating costs, let me first say that the TCL breeva A2 uses a well-optimized motor that’s just 26W powerful.

This means if you used the breeva A2 at the max speed, 24 hours daily, for one month, your electric bill would increase by $2.05. We can say that this is an average power cost in this price range, especially after analyzing the chart below.

One thing I noticed is that it consumes almost identical power at the max speed as the Levoit Core 300S, which is a much better performer and has a higher CADR than the TCL breeva A2.

There is also the price of a replacement filter, which needs to be replaced every 3 to 6 months on average. The good news is that the cost of the replacement filter isn’t too high, making the TCL breeva A2 relatively affordable to maintain.

Filtration Technology

The TCL breeva A2 uses a 3-in-1 filter which is responsible for primary filtration. In addition, it is possible to switch on the ionizer, which provides an extra level of filtration. We can say that the breeva A2 uses 4-stage filtration if we include the anion (ionizer).

The primary filter consists of three layers, the so-called three-stage filtration. The first stage of filtration is a pre-filter; the primary purpose is to remove hair, dust, cotton fibers, and other large particles.

The second stage of filtration is the HEPA filter, which is credited with effectively removing cigarette smoke, PM2.5, pollen, dust, pet dander, and other allergens as small as 0.3 microns from the air.

The third and final filtration stage is an activated carbon filter that neutralizes the gases. 

The last stage of filtration is the ionizer, which is optional and can be switched on at the user’s request.

The TCL breeva A2 is not CARB certified but has other certifications that confirm that it is safe to use and does not produce unauthorized amounts of ozone. I sincerely hope that TCL will obtain CARB certification as soon as possible, thereby confirming the fact that it does not produce unwanted ozone. In any case, I will update the review as soon as this happens.

How do I replace the TCL breeva A2 filter?

The TCL breeva A2 filter lasts approximately 2160 hours, which means that if you use the machine for 24 hours continuously every day, the filter should be replaced every 3 months on average. However, in my experience with many air purifiers, you will rarely use it 24 hours a day, so in my opinion, the average filter life on a breeva A2 is between 3 and 6 months.

The filter change procedure is simple. Thanks to the filter reset indicator, which lights up red when it’s time to change the filter, you don’t even have to think about when to change the filter.

Total time: 10 minutes.

Installation and Setup

The TCL breeva A2 requires specific preparatory measures before the first start. To begin with, the device must be unpacked, as well as the adapter that comes with the device. The filter must then be removed from the device, unpacked, and returned to the device.

The last step is connecting the adapter to the air purifier, placing the A2 in the desired location, and switching it on.

Design

The TCL breeva is a small, cute air purifier with an unusual design. It consists of two parts, the upper part that is protruding and slightly wider and the lower longer part. The filter is the lower part, while the motor is above it.

The breeva A2 is available in black color. The plastics are of excellent quality, and the build quality is outstanding; everything is beautifully assembled and in place.

Unlike the A3 model from the same manufacturer, which I also tested, the breeva A2 does not have a night light, which is a significant drawback and an essential difference between the two models.

The overall impression from the design is that the A2 is a minimalist and modern air purifier that fits almost anywhere in the room. It is small enough to be placed on a table or on a bedside table, but on the other hand, it will fit very nicely even if you leave it on the floor.

Control Buttons

On the top of the A2 Air Purifier are the control buttons. The buttons are touch-sensitive and large enough. I think you may not need to use the buttons, as the breeva A2 has the option to connect to a smartphone app, which is quite enough for complete control of the device.

The buttons you see on the device are on/off, mode, timer, anion, child lock, filter reset indicator, and air quality indicator. Each button lights up when active, and there are indicators to show the current mode, timer settings, and Wi-Fi connection.

Airflow

The TCL breeva A2 is circular in shape, with the filter occupying the bottom half of the unit. Therefore, the A2 draws air through the openings in the lower half, on all sides (360 degrees). After this, the air is filtered and exits through the grilles on the upper side.

Size and Dimensions

The dimensions of the device are: 10,3 x 8,1 x 13,7 inches (26,2 x 20,8 x 34,8 cm). The breeva A2 is a very small and lightweight air purifier. It is easy to move from room to room as needed, even though it does not have a special grip.

What’s in the box?

When you buy the device, you get a TCL breeva A2 air purifier, 3-in-1 filter, power supply, user manual, and happy card. I recommend that before using the device, you read the tips from the beginning of the review, where I wrote about preparing the device for the first start-up. In addition, it would not be a bad idea to read the user manual and check some tips and information from TCL.

Features Overview

The breeva A2 is an air purifier rich in many different options. Many of these options are not standard and not commonly fitted to air purifiers, making the A2 special. Below I will describe the most essential features that this air purifier has.

Humidifier

The TCL breeva A2 also uses a humidifier, which is not commonly found in modern air purifiers. A humidifier and an air purifier are usually two different devices.

A humidifier is basically a device that increases the humidity in a room. The A2 humidifier is located on the top side, just below the grille. For the humidifier option to work, you need to frequently check the amount of water in the container under the grille at the top and add water if necessary.

The humidifier does not have a special button to turn it on or off; simply, the humidifier will work as long as there is water in the tank. When the water runs out, it stops working.

The humidifier on the breeva A2 emits approximately 40g of steam per hour. To give you an idea of how much it is, washing dishes releases about 400g of steam.

A humidifier is an excellent option if you have dry air and want to humidify it a little. However, I would advise against buying the A2 breeva if the only reason for buying is for the humidifier because the A2 is designed to clean the air in the first place. If you want a device that humidifies the air in your room, I suggest you look at appliances for that purpose.

Infrared Dust Sensor and VOC Sensor

Unlike the A3 breeva model, this model uses an infrared dust sensor. However, I like that the breeva A2 also uses a dual-sensor that detects both particles and gases. The sensor is positioned right next to the filter. When the unit is sucking in air, air automatically passes through the sensors. I think this is a perfect option. The sensors will be able to read the current air quality more efficiently and accurately. But I also think it will be much easier to get dirty, so you will need to check and clean the sensors regularly if necessary to get the most accurate readings of the current air quality.

Bearing in mind that the A2 detects particles and gases, this option sets it apart from similar devices such as the HathaSpace HSP001, which is equipped with a sensor that detects only particles, or the Winix 5500-2 air quality sensor that detects only gases. In any case, the type of sensor, as in the case of the breeva A2, is a significant step forward and helps the air purifier do its job in automatic mode, without problems, and accurately in almost all conditions.

Air Quality Indicator

The smart sensors on the A2 model work in combination with some other options. In this case, the air quality indicator is located right next to the control buttons. The air quality indicator is a button in the form of a leaf.

When the light is white, the air quality is excellent. When the light is yellow, the air quality is medium. When the light is red, the air quality is poor.

Automatic mode

An automatic mode is an option that also works in combination with a smart sensor. Suppose you switch the mode to automatic mode. In that case, the breeva A2 monitors the current air quality. Based on readings, shifts the motor speed between speed 1, speed 2, and speed 3 depending on how much air pollution is in the room.

Child Lock

This option is handy if you have young children and want to lock the air purifier so that an accidental press of the button does not turn the machine off or switch the mode. The child lock lights up by holding your finger on the button for 3 seconds. After this, pressing any button will not give any reaction, nor will pressing the off button turn the device off.

Timer

This is a great option that can be handy as well. If you set a timer, the air purifier will switch off after a specific time. On the breeva A2, you can set the timer to 1h, 2h, 4h, or 8h, and via the smart app, you can set the timer between 1h-8h.

Filter Reset Indicator

If you’re the type of person, who doesn’t want to bother with little things like “when is it time to change the filter,” this option is just for you.

The filter reset indicator lights up red when it’s time to change the filter. So you won’t have to keep track of when it’s time to change the filter because the breeva A2 does it all for you.

TCL Home Smart app

The TCL Home app is a universal app for controlling TCL products. This app also allows you to connect the A2 air purifier. TCL Home is available for Android and iOS platforms. After downloading the app, an account must be created to add the air purifier, connect it to the app.

Connecting the A2 breeva to the app is easy. All you need to do is follow the on-screen instructions and guidance. You can also connect it to Alexa and Google Assistant via the TCL Home app.

You can connect the app to several different devices; you can change the name of each device and assign it to a room, and that way, create a smart home. This app reminds me of the Mi Home app I reviewed when I tested the Xiaomi Mi 3H air purifier.

Air Quality, Indicators, And Commands

Once you’ve successfully connected the air purifier to the TCL Home app, you’ll be presented with a few new options. In my opinion, the most essential and exciting feature is the detailed presentation of the current air quality. The device displays AQI particles, PM 2.5, as well as the amount of TVOC.

In addition, you can find various indicators and information on the app, such as the exact filter durability. All the settings you have directly on the device are transferred to the app. Some of them are even extended, such as the timer.

In addition, there is a favorite mode that allows you to select your favorite device settings, which can be activated at any time with a single click.

I would single out one more option, namely the air quality diary, which shows a detailed graph of the air quality in your room by day. This way, you can track how polluted the air in your room is and how much your air purifier is actually helping you clean the air.

Room Coverage and CADR

TCL breeva A2 is made for rooms up to 182 sq. ft, with a CADR of 200m3/h. This air purifier cleans the air five times in one hour in a room of 182 sq. ft.

The breeva A2 ideally fits into a small office, a small bedroom, or any other room of similar dimensions. I have also tested it in a slightly larger room, where it has also produced excellent results. Therefore, I can say that the A2 breeva can easily be used in slightly larger rooms than recommended.

Technical Support and Warranty

TCL offers a 12-month warranty on this model. To activate the warranty, you must register the product after purchase on the TCL website or directly on the TCL Home app. I have already written in detail about the warranty and the quality of customer support provided by TCL; you can read this in the breeva A3 review.

FAQ on TCL breeva A2