Shark HC452 vs. HC502 Air Purifier

A compact powerhouse vs. a heavy-duty giant
After the lockdown, a justifiable obsession with the air quality in enclosed rooms began. What monsters were floating around in the atmosphere unfiltered, invisible and undetected?

Luckily, air purifier and filtration companies rose to the challenge and are innovating new ways to combat the menace– and they’re doing so with our comfort and convenience in mind. Today we’re reviewing two such offerings from a well-known manufacturer that specializes in home cleaning technology.

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Shark HC452 vs. HC502 Overview

The Shark HC452 3-in-1 and the Shark HC502 3-in-1 Max are combination air purifiers, heaters, and air conditioners packed into modern, sleek frames.

These two products both boast the manufacturer’s vaunted NanoSeal technology, which includes a pre-filter (for larger particles such as lint, pet hair, and clumps of dust), an antimicrobial filter (for odors, volatile organic compounds, and formaldehyde), and the aforementioned NanoSeal HEPA filter, which is supposed to capture micron-size invaders like dust, bacteria, cigarette and wildfire smoke, and more.

Both models have smart features that send out an alert when there’s a danger of overheating

Another shared feature is the Clean Sense IQ, a function that monitors room air quality and constantly adjusts levels to maintain consistent output. You can track its readout on the display, which shows the three different tiers of particles it collects data on PM1, PM2.5, and PM 10.

Range, Size, and Power

Where the Shark HC452 and the HC502 Max Air Purifier begin to differ are size and, subsequently, power. The HC452 stands at around two feet high and weighs about 13 lbs, making it a fun-size choice for squeezing into small apartments and narrow dorm rooms. It does its best work over a limited area of 500 sq. ft.

The HC502 Max, in contrast, is two-and-a-half feet tall and weighs a little under 18 lbs, and it uses all that extra space in its case to extend its range to a whopping 1000 sq. ft.

A shoo-in for a super-size mansion, right? That being said, the Max is distinctly bulkier than its counterpart, so make sure you have space for it before you drop the cash!

Speaking about bulky… in contrast to the petite Shark HC452, which barely makes a blip on your electricity bill, Max’s power draw is large enough that some customers’ circuit breakers tripped when it was first plugged in. Oops?

The 3-in-1 Promise

The same piece of clothing hangs differently on different-sized people, and the same is true for 3-in-1 options for equipment. The Shark HC452’s air purifying qualities are solid at up to 500 ft, but what about its heating and cooling modes?

Reviewers found that both the heater and air conditioning functions were noticeably weaker in strength than that of a dedicated separate space heater or air conditioner, barely able to reach the air purifying mode’s range.

The HC502 Max’s extra oomph comes into play here on this field: its air conditioning and heating modes share comparable strength to its purifier mode, with all three’s effects noticeable to the full thousand feet.

Noise Level

What about the noise level? In this case, do smaller mean better? The lightweight Shark HC452 is so quiet when it runs that some people had to go check if it was actually on! It’s unobtrusive and fades into the background while you work, so don’t worry about putting your headphones in to focus. That doesn’t mean the Max can’t compete.

Despite its bulk, it’s still noticeably quieter than other air purifiers its size. The Max does, however, make a slight ‘ticking’ noise when it runs at higher levels, which is more noticeable to some than others.

Last update on 2023-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cons

This wouldn’t be a real review if we didn’t go over the drawbacks. For both models, there are complaints of a plastic, burnt sort of odor that occurs when the unit is first to run. Shark customer service is aware of this issue and assures us that the odor will fade in a short time.

Although there is a disc-like remote included with both models, there are some functions you’ll have to haul yourself upright to go change manually on the display.

Shark HC452 vs. HC502 Final Words

For the Shark HC502 Max, some customers noted that its height and bulk make the stability of its base a concern. One reviewer even went so far as to say it might be ‘wobbly’. Their words, not ours!

And finally, that NanoSeal HEPA filter? Only one is included for free in the box. It’s recommended to replace it every 6-12 months and to do that you’ll need to buy a new one from the Shark website.

Last update on 2023-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This website is supported by readers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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