Awair
Awair Element
$299
Released 2019
Best Air Quality Monitors · head-to-head
Awair Element vs PurpleAir Touch
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. PurpleAir Touch is cheaper at $209. Every spec and price links to its source.
PurpleAir
PurpleAir Touch
$209Cheaper
Released 2023
Which is better: the Awair Element or PurpleAir Touch?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The PurpleAir Touch is the cheaper at $209.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| 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) |
| Release year | 2019 | 2023 |
Sources — Awair Element: getawair.com (verified 2026-06-20). PurpleAir Touch: www2.purpleair.com (verified 2026-06-20).
What's the difference between the Awair Element and PurpleAir Touch?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- CO₂ sensor: Awair Element true vs PurpleAir Touch false
- 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
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Accurate real-time readings; temperature and humidity matched a reference thermometer and hygrometer; Comprehensive, user-friendly companion app delivering deeper insights and readings; Integrates with multiple smart-home platforms (Alexa, Google Home, etc.).
Flagged: Poor on-device readout — white-on-white LEDs hard to read / no real screen display; Requires constant USB power, no battery option; No radon detection, unlike pricier alternatives.
PurpleAir Touch
No sourced tester review yet.