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I was not necessarily in the market for a new air purifier when I went shopping last week, but as trips to Costco usually go, I left the bulk-shopping megastore with many unexpected wonders—one of which was the Shark NeverChange. I was lured in not only by its low price (since I was at Costco, after all), but the promises on the box: I wouldn't have to change the filter for five years and the machine would "neutralize" odors on top of cleaning my air. After using it for a week, I love this thing, even though I never meant to buy it. I was hesitant to recommend it, since I got mine at a retailer known for low prices that not everyone may have a membership to, but then I saw that after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's still on sale from other sellers, like Amazon, so now is the time for me to hype it up.
There are two things I've noticed and appreciated most since bringing the Shark NeverChange home. First, it's super easy to set up and use. The instructions included with the device couldn't have been clearer and I really didn't have to do much beyond removing a few stickers and one sheet of plastic wrapping over the interior filter. Then, I just had to plug it in. The interface is simple, with big buttons and obvious controls. Both on the machine itself and on an included remote, I have the option to increase or decrease fan speed (which influences not only how much effort it puts into air purifying, but how noisy it is) and even dim or brighten the lights on the console, which is huge for me as someone who can't sleep if there's even a speck of light in the room.
The second thing I noticed was that, unlike other air purifiers I've used, this one makes me feel like I'm actually doing something good for the space around me. Remember how I said the control panel was super easy to see and navigate? It also features a big display that tells me how much of my air is clean, using a simple percentage. When the percentage is between 0 and 69, there's a red ring around the display. From 70 to 84, the ring is orange and from 85 to 100, it's blue. Just by glancing over at the NeverChange and taking note of the color of the ring, I can get a quick gauge of how good (or bad) the air around me is.
I know it works because the display reacts quickly (and, honestly, harshly) any time something new is introduce to the air, like smoke. Being able to see the proof that it's identifying particles and filtering them makes me feel more assured about the purchase.
The odor neutralizer turned out to be a little scent cartridge that attaches to the top of the machine. I can adjust how much scent is given off by twisting it. There are two pre-filters on the sides of the device—which easily slide out for quick cleaning—and the big, hearty, "NeverChange" filter is inserted through the bottom.
There are different sizes and capacities available for the Shark NeverChange. Right now, a 650 square-foot-cleaning model on Amazon is on sale for just $150, down from $250.
The one that cleans up to 1,400 square feet is $250, down from $330, on Shark's website. Two odor-neutralizing cartridge replacements are $25 on the site, though I've found third-party ones for cheaper.
