Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03

Aptly named, the Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03 is a powerful yet quiet air purifier that uses three-stage HEPA filtration technology to rid the air in your home of harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It does a fantastic job of cleansing the air in rooms up to 1,076 square feet in size and is equipped with an oscillating fan to keep you cool. At $999.99, it’s not for those on a budget, but its fast purification performance, multiple sensors, long filter life, and useful smart home platform integrations earn it our Editors’ Choice award for high-end air purifiers.

Design and Features: Formidable Filtration, Detailed Data

The BP03 has a design that is reminiscent of the LG PuriCare 360 ($1,299) we reviewed back in 2021, but with Dyson's distinctive flair. It has a large round silver-tone fan component, dubbed the conic amplifier, that sits at an angle atop an indigo cylindrical base that holds the three-stage filter assembly. Dyson calls this colorway Bright Nickel/Prussian Blue, and it's the base model in the Big+Quiet series. The company also sells a more premium version, the $1,099.99 Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04 with a Prussian Blue/Gold colorway and a K-Carbon filter that promises threefold NO2 filtration compared with the regular Activated Carbon filter in the BP03.

Weighing 26.2 pounds and measuring 32.6 by 17.0 by 16.3 inches (HWD), the Big+Quiet isn't quite as tall or as heavy as the 42.3-pound PuriCare 360 (42.2 by 14.8 by 14.8 inches), but it’s still a beast of a machine. However, five small casters on the bottom make it easy to move from room to room.

The fan uses cone aerodynamic technology to force two streams of air over a smooth dome and create one airflow stream that delivers 21 gallons of purified air per second with a 32-foot projection range. It has 10 speed settings and three oscillation options (0, 25, or 50 degrees). There’s also a Breeze setting that changes angles to mimic a natural breeze.

(Credit: John R. Delaney)

In the center of the fan’s dome is a one-inch color LCD panel that displays real-time air quality readings from the purifier's numerous sensors. By pressing the Information button on the included remote, you can cycle through PM2.5, PM10, CO2, NO2, and VOC readings.

The base contains a fully sealed 360-degree HEPA filter, a wrap-around carbon filter, and a catalytic oxidation filter. The filters will remove 99.97% of contaminants, including bacteria, cooking odors, formaldehyde, pet dander, pollen, VOCs from aerosol cans, and other allergens.

The HEPA filter is rated to last up to five years before needing to be replaced, and the carbon filter has a two-year life span. The app will let you know when it’s time to replace either one. To access the filters, simply press the release button on the fan component, remove the fan, and lift the cylinder off the base. A new HEPA filter costs $169.99 and a carbon filter costs $89.99. While the HEPA filter price may seem exorbitant, it is actually more affordable than most other machines' replacement filters over the long run. For example, the Rabbit Air A3 Air Purifier ($749.95) requires yearly filter replacements and a kit costs $115.95, which works out to $579.75 over five years. Replacement filters for the Dreo Macro Max S ($239.99) are relatively affordable at $49.99, but you'll need to replace them every six months, so that's $500 over five years.

The BP03 has built-in Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and Bluetooth radios and can be controlled using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands, but it doesn’t support Apple HomeKit or IFTTT applets. You can also control it using the aforementioned seven-button magnetic remote, which attaches to the front of the purifier, and with the MyDyson mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

(Credit: Dyson)

When you open the app, you’ll see a picture of the purifier, its name, indoor air quality, indoor temperature and humidity levels, and the most prominent type of pollutant. This is all displayed inside a house graphic that follows the same color coding as the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 purifier: green is good, yellow is fair, orange is poor, red is very poor, dark red is extremely poor, and purple is severe.

At the top of the screen are the local outdoor temperature, humidity, and air quality readings (based on your location), and the bottom of the screen holds buttons for power, Auto mode, fan speed, and oscillation angle. A remote control button opens a screen with the same buttons, as well as Timer and Night Mode options. Swipe down to view historical charts for general air quality, PM2.5, PM10, HCOC (Formaldehyde), VOC, NO2, temperature, and humidity readings

Installation and Performance: Fast and Effective

I had the BP03 up and running in no time. Following the quick start instructions in the box, I placed the top (fan and control panel) component on the base and gave it a slight twist until it locked into place with an audible click. I powered on the purifier, downloaded the MyDyson app, and created an account. I tapped Add My Machine and allowed Bluetooth to find the purifier, which it did immediately. I selected the purifier and followed the instructions to press the power button to begin the pairing process, and within a few seconds, the device was paired with the app. I tapped Continue Setup, selected my Wi-Fi SSID from the list, and entered my Wi-Fi password. After another 30 seconds or so, the purifier was connected to my network and I was prompted to assign it a room location and enter the purchase date for warranty purposes. After a quick firmware update I was ready to go.

(Credit: John R. Delaney)

The BP03 did an outstanding job of purifying the air in testing. I placed it in a 110-square-foot room where it reported a PM2.5 level of 02, lit a stick of incense, and extinguished it after ten minutes. When the display read 200 and showed a purple color code, I set the Big+Quiet to Auto mode and the fan went into high gear. After three minutes, the PM2.5 level was at 65 and the color code was orange, and after six minutes the PM2.5 reading was down to 40 and the color code was yellow. After 10 minutes had passed, the PM2.5 level was at 16 and the color code was green. The PM2.5 returned to its starting level of 02 after 13 minutes. The Rabbit Air A3 also took 10 minutes to return the air quality to a good level, but needed 16 minutes to fully scrub the air of detectable particulate matter in this same test.

Alexa voice commands to turn the Big+Quiet on and off, change fan speeds, enable Auto mode, and change the oscillation angle all worked correctly. I created an Alexa routine to have the purifier turn on with the fan speed set to eight and the oscillation set to Breeze whenever a Ring Floodlight Cam detected motion, and it worked every time.

As advertised, the BP03 is very quiet. Using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter iPhone app, I measured a sound level of 38dB with the fan running at low speed and 50dB when running at high speed. That’s on par with the Rabbit Air A3, which puts out 50dB at its highest setting. It's much quieter than many other purifiers we have tested.

The Verdict: Pricey, But Worth It

While the Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03’s $999.99 price may seem over the top, it's money well spent if you need an air purifier that not only provides detailed air quality data but also quickly and quietly purifies the air in large rooms. Its powerful oscillating fan does a great job of cooling down large spaces, and a five-year HEPA filter life helps save money on replacement parts compared with most air purifiers. Add support for Alexa, Google, and Siri voice commands, and it's our Editors’ Choice for high-end air purifiers.