People used to think air purifiers were a gimmick, but research shows that regular use of an air purifier can actually help remove harmful airborne particles (allergens, dust, smoke, pollen) from indoor spaces. Your apartment can certainly benefit from the use of a good air purifier, but you should also be aware that it doesn't solve everything. The air purifiers that perform the best are known for filtering dust, smoke, and pollen from the air. Moreover, it's important to look for an air purifier that actually uses a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air filter) which provide at least a 50 percent reduction in household particulate matter. If you have allergies, pets, cook often, or even if you have neighbors in adjacent units who might introduce allergens, odors, etc. into your space, a good air purifier could be an excellent investment. Here are five of the best.

Levoit Core 600S

If you have a large apartment, this could be your best bet. This is Levoit's most powerful air purifier that covers up to 1,588 square feet and purifies air 2x per hour. Tested for big rooms and spaces, the VortexAir Technology 3.0 pairs with true H13 HEPA 3-stage filtration: 3-stage filtration, including an H13 HEPA Filter with HEPASmart Technology, capturing a minimum of 99.97% of airborne particles at 0.3 microns in size. It also uses what's known as AirSight Plus Technology that detects those particles down to 0.3 micron.

Auto Mode automatically adjusts the fan speed, so you don't have to mess with it. The Core 600S also provides information to your smartphone via the VeSync app, where you can, you can connect to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and change settings via voice command. The best part might just be its low-key look that will fit into any room.

Buy: $300

Blueair Blue Pure 211+

This is the beauty of the set with its grey and white colorway and its washable textured pre-filter fabric. But it's not all show and no go because it has the ability to manage large rooms and completely filter 550 square feet 4.8x per hour. The activated carbon removes light household particulate matter, and the HEPASilent technology filters 99.97% of particles.

The Blue Pure 211+ has an Intuitive Auto mode that adjusts to real-time conditions as evaluated by the built-in particle sensor. It does all this with a whisper mode (23 dB) and up to a high setting of only 56 dB that won't disturb normal conversation. It also uses less energy than most other purifiers regardless of the setting.

Buy: $340

Bissell Myair

The Bissell Myair might seem small, but it packs a punch for space of 100 square feet or less thanks to its 3-in-1 filter with a pre-filter layer and a combination of activated carbon and a high-efficiency filter that capture 99.7% of 0.3-micron particles or larger including pollen, dust, smoke, and even pet dander.

The Myair includes a whisper mode so it's not disturbing during sleeping hours, and you can also amp things up to high speed for those nasty odors that need to be dispelled quickly. This one is ideal for home offices or kitchens, and you can be sure that its low-key look fits in wherever you decide to place it.

Buy: $93

AROEVE Portable Air Purifier

Just because it's small and portable doesn't mean AROEVE air purifier doesn't pack a punch. The small-sized purifier actually manages rooms up to 215 square feet and cain refresh the air up to 5x per hour. The AROEVE even has a 360-degree air outlet for maximum coverage. Its H13 HEPA filters particles down to 0.3 micron, and it uses dual-channel technology.

Sleep mode is super-quiet, but rest assured that it will continue to operate even if you can barely hear it. The filtered air noise drops to 22 decibels. Filters last 2,000 hours before they need to be replaced, and the red indicator light will let you know when it's time. If used regularly, you'll only need to replace it every 2 to 4 months. Did we also mention it has cool blue ambient lighting? Just one more reason to pick one up.

Buy: $60

Dyson HP04 Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier

This one is the mac daddy of air purifiers. Not only does it look like it's from the future, but the Dyson HP04 has multi-functionality as an air purifier, space heater, and fan. It automatically senses air pollution events, starts purification, and reports air quality levels on it's built-in LCD display, including ultrafine particles (PM 2.5), allergens (PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) & nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The HEPA filter removes 99.97 percent of allergens as small as 0.3 microns, eliminating allergies, pet dander, dust, smoke, pollen, and even mold spores. It also oscillates up to 50 degrees and channels airflow. The heater uses thermostatic control and can warm up a large room quickly. It also makes use of Wi-Fi, and you can schedule automatic operation and also get real-time reports via the Dyson Link app.

Buy: $678