# Awair Element vs PurpleAir Touch: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Awair Element (Awair) and PurpleAir Touch (PurpleAir) among air quality monitors. PurpleAir Touch is the cheaper of the two at $209.

## Side by side

| Spec | Awair Element | PurpleAir Touch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299 | $209 |
| Brand | Awair | PurpleAir |
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Pm25 sensor | Yes | Yes |
| CO₂ sensor | Yes | No |
| Voc sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Radon sensor | No | No |
| Display screen | LED dot-matrix display (5-dot AQI score + numeric readout) | No screen - full-color LED ring (AQI color scale) |
| App connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Power | AC plug-in (100-240 V, 5 V/2 A adapter) | USB Micro plug-in, 5 V (adapter not included) |

## Key differences

- CO₂ sensor: Awair Element Yes vs PurpleAir Touch No
- Display screen: Awair Element LED dot-matrix display (5-dot AQI score + numeric readout) vs PurpleAir Touch No screen - full-color LED ring (AQI color scale)
- Power: Awair Element AC plug-in (100-240 V, 5 V/2 A adapter) vs PurpleAir Touch USB Micro plug-in, 5 V (adapter not included)

## What reviewers say

**Awair Element** — Two whitelisted hands-on testers cover the exact Awair Element: TechHive (2020) and Reviewed/USA Today (2024). Both recommend it as an accurate, user-friendly value pick with strong smart-home integration and helpful in-app tips. Both flag the weak on-device readout; Reviewed additionally notes it needs constant power (no battery) and lacks radon detection. Neither published measured accuracy numbers, so 'accurate' rests on qualitative comparison to reference instruments only. All six draft quotes verified as literal substrings; both sources survived intact. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Awair Element: https://www.getawair.com/products/element (getawair.com, verified 2026-06-20)
- PurpleAir Touch: https://www2.purpleair.com/products/purpleair-touch (www2.purpleair.com, verified 2026-06-20)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/air-quality-monitors/awair-element-vs-purpleair-touch/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Awair Element ($299) vs PurpleAir Touch ($209) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/air-quality-monitors/awair-element-vs-purpleair-touch/
License: CC BY 4.0.