This comparison is about the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX and Molekule Air, two premium air purifiers. In this article, I will answer many questions related to these two devices and determine which one is a better buying option.
Firstly, let’s compare their basic specifications. The Alen FLEX is intended for rooms up to 300 sq. ft. (28 m²), while the Molekule Air covers rooms up to 130 sq. ft. (12 m²). Both air purifiers will clean the air 4.8 times in the recommended room sizes.
The Molekule Air is a premium air purifier made of an aluminum case with some plastic details. I believe this is the best-crafted air purifier on the market. On the other hand, the Alen FLEX has no metal parts; it’s entirely made of plastic, but it looks premium, eye-catching, and modern.
Additionally, I prefer Alen’s filtration technology over Molekule’s. It uses a three-stage filtration technology, has a True HEPA filter, and performs amazingly in performance tests. On the other hand, the Molekule uses PECO filtration technology, which is their own patented technology. Overall, it showed a slightly worse performance than Alen.
Keep reading to find out which one performed better in other tests, which is superior in specifications, and which one excelled in real-life tests.
Our Verdict
After analyzing these two air purifiers’ specifications, real-life tests, and other characteristics, I strongly believe that the Alen FLEX is a much better option than the Molekule Air.
First of all, the Alen FLEX is cheaper, offers much more for the price, has an impressive activated carbon filter, uses a True HEPA filter, performed much better in performance tests, is more affordable for maintenance, and is much quieter.
I feel that with the Molekule Air, the only premium aspects are the price and build quality. Everything else is on par with many much cheaper devices. The smart app doesn’t work properly, the airflow is very low, and the performance isn’t impressive.
If you have questions about these Molekule and Alen air purifiers, please comment in the comment section below the article.
Specs: Alen FLEX Vs Molekule Air
| Product Image |  |  |
| Manufacturer | Alen | Molekule |
| Model | BreatheSmart FLEX | Air |
| Dimensions (inches / cm) | 8.5 x 15 x 25 inches (21,6 x 38,1 x 63,5 cm) | 8.25 x 8.25 x 23 inches (20.1 x 20.1 x 58.4 cm) |
| Weight (pounds / kg) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 18.0 lb (8.2 kg) |
| Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) | 187 CFM (317 m³/h) | - |
| Coverage (4.8 ACH)
Room Coverage Explanation: ACH is a measurement used in indoor air quality management to indicate how many times the air within a defined space is changed/moved through the filter media.
For more details, visit our ACH calculator tool. | 300 sq. ft. (28 m²) | 130 sq. ft. (12 m²) |
| Performance Ratings Performance Ratings Score Summary: 8.5 - Average Score (67 products) 9.8 - Best Score (2 products) 2.5 - Worst Score (2 products) We use the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter to test the particle removal efficiency of every air purifier. It measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Filtration Technology | Pre-filter, True HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter | Pre-filter and PECO-filter |
| Filter Replacement Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Filter Life | 9-12 months | 3 months (pre-filter), and 6 months (PECO-filter) |
| Power Consumption
Power Usage Summary: Our extensive testing of 67 air purifiers revealed the following power consumption insights:
Check out our power consumption calculator tool. | 50W | 80W |
| Operating Costs Ratings Operating Costs Ratings Score Summary: 9.1 - Average Score (67 products) 10 - Best Score (2 products) 8 - Worst Score (1 products) We measure the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculate how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we use an energy price of $0.12 per kWh. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Number of Fan Speeds | 4 – Speed 1, Speed 2, Speed 3, and Turbo Mode | 3 – Silent Mode, Auto Mode, and Boost Mode |
| Air Quality Sensor Air Quality Sensor Summary: Out of 67 air purifiers tested, only 31 have the air quality sensor. | No | No |
| Air Quality Indicator | No | No |
| Auto Mode Auto Mode Summary: Out of 67 air purifiers tested, only 32 have auto mode functionality. | No | Yes |
| Smart App Smart App Summary: Out of 67 air purifiers tested, only 20 have smart app functionality. | No | Yes |
| Voice Control Voice Control Summary: Out of 67 air purifiers tested, only 20 have voice control functionality. | No | Yes |
| Other Features | Control Panel LockTimer | Dark Mode |
| Noise Level (low – high) | 41.2 – 53.7 dBA | 42.0 – 67.4 dBA |
| Noise Ratings Noise Ratings Score Summary: 9.3 - Average Score (67 products) 10 - Best Score (1 products) 8.2 - Worst Score (1 products) We use a special noise measurement tool to test the noise level of the air purifier at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Best Suited For | Living Rooms Bedrooms Kitchens Allergies Neutralizing VOCs Dust Mold Quiet Operation | Small Spaces |
| Warranty | 1-year to Lifetime | 2-year |
| In-Depth Review | Alen BreatheSmart FLEX | Molekule Air |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Particle Removal Test – Comparison
I want to clarify something: Molekule and Alen claim that these two air purifiers cover much larger rooms than those in which I recommend using them. Here at Air Purifier First, we follow the industry standard set by AHAM, which states that an air purifier must have a minimum of 4.8 ACH (Air Changes per Hour).
However, because these two brands recommend using these air purifiers in larger rooms than advised, we tested them in a room size of 560 sq. ft. (52 m²), which is much larger than the recommended dimensions.
Particle Removal Tests - Comparison
We placed the Alen FLEX and Molekule Air in two separate tests and measured their performance using the Temtop laser particle meter.
After running for 60 minutes at maximum speed, the Alen FLEX improved the air quality by 94%, which is an outstanding result and 24% better than the result achieved by Molekule in this test, where it improved the air quality by about 70%.
The Alen FLEX reduced the PM2.5 particulate level from 96.3 to an impressive 5.7 µg/m³, which is a very good result and demonstrates the effectiveness of this air purifier.
In addition to this test, the Alen FLEX also showed far better performance in neutralizing bad odors, which I am sure is primarily due to the high-quality pellet-based carbon filter.
Smoke Box Test – Comparison
Besides the regular particle removal test, we also tested the performance of these two air purifiers in the smoke box. Frankly, the results in this test shocked me.
I expected the Alen FLEX to perform faster; however, the Molekule Air needed only 29 seconds to remove all the smoke from the smoke box, while the Alen FLEX needed 32 seconds.
Even though the Molekule had better results in this test, I still can’t say that it does better in odor neutralization. The Alen FLEX’s pellet-based carbon filter is hard to beat.
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