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Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 Review In 2023: Is 4 Better Than 5?

Set your mind on a spanking new AirGenius air purifier only to realize there is 3 version to choose from. The lowest Air Genius 3, mid-range 4, and high-end 5. In this review, we are focusing on the mid Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310. In theory, it should be the most-balance between airflow performance and price tag. How many differences are there between its siblings? Is it worth getting this over conventional HEPA air purifier? Let’s find out.
online price (US)**
±N/A $$$$/ 7

(annual filter cost ±0)

CHECK LATEST AMAZON PRICE
** MRSP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price)/ RSP (Retail selling price) is accurate at the time of posting.
^ Annual filter cost is calculated based on filter price and 12 hours of usage. Pricing could vary depending on air quality, usage frequency, and speed.
` The indicated online price guides as follows: $ = under $50, $$ = $50-100, $$$ = $101-200, $$$$ = 201-300, $$$$$ = $301-400, $$$$$$ = 401-500, $$$$$$$ = over $500.

Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 Specification

ProductHoneywell AirGenius 4 HFD310
Dimension
11.5 x 29 x 11.5 in
(29.2 x 73.7 x 29.2 cm)
Weight13.5 lb (6.1 kg)
Fanspeed4
Coverage (up to)250 sq. ft. (23 m2)
Airflow speed
Dust free (CADR)160 cfm (272 m3/h)
Pollen free (CADR)170 cfm (289 m3/h)
Smoke free (CADR)161 cfm (274 m3/h)
Humidifying(H) speed
Filtration3-stage
Pre-Filter
- Lifespan
- Replacement cost ($)
Washable Pre-filter
HEPA filter
- Lifespan
- Replacement cost ($)
-
Carbon filter
- Lifespan
- Replacement cost ($)
-
Ionizer/ TechnologiesElectronic Ionizer
UV-light/ PCO
-
Other filter
ifD Micro-Filter
Permanent
All-in-one filter
- Lifespan
- Replacement cost ($)
-
Optional/ Addon
HRF-K2 Filter K Household Odor & Gas Reducing Pre-filter (2 pack)
3 months+- 15.95
Noise level
Power usage level
Timer/ Scheduler2, 4, 8
Sensors
Auto mode
Air qualityAQ indicator
Filter change indicator
More color options
Wi-Fi/ BTBluetooth
ENERGY STAR
Remote control
Child lock
Warranty5 years
Email/ Phone support

Key Features

  • 3-stage filtration
  • 2 pre-filter options - Permanent pre-filter or odor absorbing pre-filter
  • Permanent QuietClean ifD filter
  • Oscillation mode
  • 4 air cleaning levels - Sleep, General, Allergen and Max
  • Auto shut-off timer - 2, 4 or 8 hours
  • Filter change reminder
  • 5 years limited warranty

Design and Usability

A mirror to AirGenius 5, Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 shares the same tower design at 11.5 x 29 x 11.5 in and 13.5 lb weight. Available in black or white, the flask shape body is slim and tall thus not suitable as a tabletop air purifier. Circling around the body is a back air inlet that pulls air in and air outlet that pushes air out. Fitting quality is tight as with most modern air purifier these days. We did not encounter any off-gassing during our test.

Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 control

Continue with the controls and functionality. HFD310 might not come with advanced touch panel, it is still easy to use with many standalone buttons. Let’s jump ahead the main Power button explanation (duh). Above it is the “leaf” purification level button that essentially is the speed button. On tap, the air purifier will cycle between Sleep mode that is ultra quiet for night use. Tap again to the default General mode that is best used to remove dust, cooking odor, and tobacco smoke. Again to Allergen mode use to target seasonal allergens particularly during spring/ fall. Last is Max Cleaning mode that has the fastest settings for ultimate purification. Next is the timer button that cycles between off, 2, 4, 8 hours. Light Dimmer button with Low/ High setting. Oscillation Button that will activate side to side purifying to improve air circulation. Check Filters Reset Button to check filter status. Press and hold the button for 3 seconds to reset the filter countdown timer. On reset, you should see the filter status red color flash twice and shut off.

Recapping the features again. You have 3-stage permanent filtration with 4 cleaning setting. There is timer, Oscillation, light dimmer, and check filters/ reset Button. Finally, AHAM/ ARB certified, Energy Star rated and 5 years warranty.

Airflow, Coverage, And CADR

Honeywell HFD310 250 sq. ft. purifying radius is decent for medium room size coverage at best. Airflow distribution is ample and consistent via its 4 cleaning mode. You do have to manually crank it up to Max Cleaning mode to cover a larger area. No Auto or night mode is available as with all AirGenius models. Again same as HFD320, CADR is at adequate tier for household particles filtration. You have the dust at 160 cfm, pollen at 170 cfm and smoke at 161 cfm (with odor-reducing pre-filter) installed. It did not pass our airfuji 200 cfm benchmark but it's close and you will not be able to tell the differences anyway.

Filters And Performance

Honeywell AirGenius 4 QuietClean ifD technology by no means is poor. It has a 99.9% capturing efficiency against all types of particle. Depending on which filter you use, the washable pre-filter would do a fine job at capturing large particles. The premium odor-reducing pre-filter will do likewise with enhanced filtration against gas particles. Ending the process is the Ionizer that releases ions to merge with on-float ions. This causes the merged ions to fall and the filtration will finish up any unclean particles. As the permanent filters do not need change, you have to regularly clean the filter instead.

Noise And Energy Usage

The two fans generate low to medium noise level across its 3 cleaning mode. Other than that, Sleep setting is absolute quiet thanks to the QuietClean technology. Manageable for night time use without any disruption. Low Power usage around or less than a light bulb from Honeywell official statement. Ideal for all-day use as it does not have too much impact on your electricity bill.
Noise TypeDecibels
Breathing10 dB
Rustling leaves20 dB
Whispering/ Quiet library30 dB
Light rainfall40-50 dB
Conversation50-60 dB
Vacuum cleaner/ Hair dryer/ Washing machine65-80 dB
City traffic80-90 dB

Pricing And Maintainence Cost

Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 is not cheapest among its low mid-range price group. On the bright side, it is a one-time fee and you'll get good spec including the reusable filter set. It is also possible to have zero filter cost if you only utilize the default washable filter. For better gas filtration, choose the odor-reducing pre-filter upgrade that would not cost you much anyway.
As Honeywell AirGenius 4 price is relatively close to AirGenius 5, it is no longer in high demand. The air purifier availability is limited but you should be able to find it in Amazon with a great discount. The official website does carry the model but again, we don't know how many stocks are available. Better cross-check with them or go straight with AirGenius 5. At the same time, survey the pricing in Target, BestBuy, Walmart and see if they are doing any seasonal sales.

Final Thoughts On Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310

Honeywell AirGenius 4 is a well-made tower air purifier that has received mix reviews. Only 65% 4-5 stars reviewers agreed on our review. The filtration performance in removing airborne particles is what gets the most nod. Those particular users also like how silent the air purifier is. Lastly, praises on the no recurring filter cost. Due to the low reviews number, there is a high 28% of the negative feedbacks in Amazon. Almost all of them are disappointed with the durability. Their unit started making weird noises and then broke down just a couple of months down the road. There are also complains of the produced smell or worst, sparks can be seen coming from the air purifier! Overall, the complaints in Air Genius 5 seems a lot lesser than 4, maybe you will be better off you that.

Pros

  • Slim and sleek black tower design.
  • Works with either a permanent pre-filter or premium odor-reducing pre-filter.
  • Zero annual maintenance cost as the ifD filter is reusable.
  • Proven and effective QuietClean ifD filter technology.
  • 4 cleaning modes with on/ off oscillation and accent light control.
  • 2, 4, 8 pre-set timer setting.
  • 5 years limited warranty.

Cons

  • Cheaper than AirGenius 5 but still relatively expensive compared with a conventional air purifier.
  • Filtration depth is not as effective as traditional HEPA media filtration.
  • Permanent filters require scheduled vacuuming to clear out the trapped particles.

Verdicts And Ratings

Build Quality

Features

Coverage

Particle Filtration

Smoke Filtration

Price

Filter Cost

4

OUT OF 5

Honeywell AirGenius 4 HFD310 Review
4

Max Fernandez

A loving father and a dedicated reviewer for airfuji.com with more than 1000 air purifiers under his belt. Max Fernandez is also one of the million patients currently suffering from asthma. Feel free to nudge him if you have any questions.

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