The TCL Breeva A3 air purifier is a powerful device from the well-known global brand TCL, designed for rooms up to 246 sq. ft.
This model is packed with advanced features, including smart app connectivity, the innovative breevaShield™ system, and external ambient light.
As the largest model in this series, you can expect top-notch performance from the A3.
TCL recently launched the A2 and A3 air purifiers as successors to the A1 model. With their unique design, these new models have garnered quite some attention and were even successfully funded through Indiegogo.
In this article, we’re going to delve deeper into the various features and capabilities of the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier to help you understand its performance, noise, and operating costs.
TCL Breeva A3: Specifications
The TCL Breeva A3 Air Purifier has numerous features to enhance your air purification experience.
Here’s an overview of its key specifications:
- Manufacturer: TCL
- Model: Breeva A3
- Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 18.9 inches (25 x 25 x 48 cm)
- Filtration Technology: Pre-filter, medical-grade HEPA H13 filter, activated carbon filter, and breevaShield technology
- Filter Longevity: 3-6 months
- Room Coverage (4.8 ACH): 246 sq. ft.
- Number of Fan Speeds: 4 (Sleep Mode, Speed 1, Speed 2, Speed 3)
- Power Consumption: 38W
- Warranty: 1 year
TCL Breeva A3: Design
Intuitive Controls and Light Indicators
The A3 air purifier comes with easy-to-use touch-sensitive buttons on the top, featuring light indicators for quick identification of active options.
These buttons include power, mode, timer, filter, air quality indicator, filter reset indicator, breevaShield, child lock, and ambient light.
To adjust panel lights, hold the Wind Speed button for three seconds, which will auto-off within 10 seconds if not touched again.
360-Degree Airflow System
The Breeva A3’s cylindrical shape is divided into two parts, with a 360-degree filter in the lower half.
This allows it to draw air from all around, filtering it using the classic 3-in-1 filtration and the breevaShield Ionizer and UV-C light if activated.
The purified air is released through the grilles on the top.
Compact yet Spacious
Measuring 25 x 25 x 48 cm (9.8 x 9.8 x 18.9 inches), the Breeva A3 balances compactness with ample space for its air filtration system.
Its modern design ensures it will fit well in any setting.
Unboxing your Breeva A3
When you receive your Breeva A3, you’ll find it includes the air purifier, an adapter, a 3-in-1 filter, a happy card, and a user manual.
Remember to remove the filter from its plastic packaging before use to prevent motor overheating and ensure proper function.
TCL Breeva A3: Features
Laser Dust and VOC Sensors
In the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier, you’ll find both dust and odor sensors, which is quite uncommon in air purifiers.
This dual sensor can detect all sorts of particles more effectively than devices with only one type of sensor, whether it’s dust or noxious gases.
The air quality sensor of the Breeva A3 is conveniently located inside the device, next to the filter, so it doesn’t need a separate motor.
Remember that these sensors might need periodic cleaning to maintain their accuracy and prolong their life.
Air Quality Display
This feature works together with the smart sensors to show the real-time air quality in your room.
When the indicator is white, the air quality is excellent; yellow indicates medium quality, and red represents poor air quality.
Auto Mode
The automatic mode function works hand-in-hand with the smart sensor, adjusting the fan speed according to the room’s air quality.
You can simply turn on the air purifier and let it take care of everything for you.
BreevaShield Technology
BreevaShield is a specific technology implemented in the A3 air purifier that combines an ionizer and UV-C light to enhance filtration and make your room’s air even cleaner.
Soothing Ambient Light
The Breeva A3 air purifier features a warm yellow ambient light that creates a relaxing atmosphere, especially when using the device at night in your bedroom.
Child Lock
With the child lock feature, you can prevent accidental button presses and ensure your settings remain undisturbed.
Just hold the child lock button for 3 seconds to activate or deactivate the lock.
Timer Function
You can set a timer on the Breeva A3 air purifier to automatically turn off after a specific time, ranging from 1 to 8 hours.
Compatibility with Smart App, Alexa, and Google Assistant
This air purifier can be connected to the TCL Home app for easier operation and access to advanced settings.
Furthermore, it is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Filter Reset Indicator
The filter reset indicator eliminates guesswork when it’s time to change the filter.
The device will show a red light and beep three times to let you know it’s time to replace the filter.
Certifications
TCL Breeva A3 is certified by SGS and CADR, ensuring the performance and room coverage of this model.
In the future, securing a CARB certification would further confirm that the A3 produces safe ozone levels.
TCL Home App
Connecting Breeva A3 to the Smart App
To link your Breeva A3 air purifier to the TCL Home App, start by downloading the app on your smartphone and creating an account.
Then, press “Add Device” and follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to enable Bluetooth and connect both your air purifier and smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network.
Keep your phone close to the air purifier during the pairing process.
If you encounter any issues, the app provides troubleshooting assistance.
Air Quality Index, Basic Info, and Control Commands
Once your Breeva A3 is connected to the TCL Home App, you can access extensive settings and control options.
On the app’s home screen, you can view your air purifier’s air quality sensor readings and the current indoor air quality status.
Other useful information available on the app includes filter lifespan and indicators for most of the device’s options.
You can use the app to change modes, toggle panel lights on or off, adjust ambient light intensity and enable or disable the breevaShield and child lock features.
Furthermore, the TCL Home App offers a favorite mode, allowing you to customize and save your preferred settings for easy one-click access.
The Breeva A3’s compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant also enables seamless integration and voice control functionality.
Room Coverage and CADR
The Breeva A3 can handle rooms as large as 246 sq. ft., making it suitable for various spaces, be they slightly larger or smaller.
You should find its performance impressive, even in larger living rooms.
This air purifier boasts a strong CADR of 270 m³/h, ensuring that it efficiently covers a room with an area of up to 246 sq. ft.
As a result, the Breeva A3 is able to clean up to 5X more air per hour than a conventional air purifier.
This enhances air purification and contributes to a healthier indoor environment with a better air quality index (AQI).
Filtration Technology
Essential 3-in-1 Filtration
The heart of the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier lies in its primary filter, the 3-in-1 filter. This oval-shaped and hollow filter efficiently purifies air in three stages:
- Pre-filter: The first stage focuses on capturing large dust particles, pet fur, and other substantial particles to extend the life of the HEPA filter.
- H13 HEPA medical filter: The second stage uses an H13 HEPA filter, eliminating up to 99.97% of allergens and pollutants.
- Activated carbon filter: The third stage neutralizes gases and odors with the help of an activated carbon filter.
Remember to replace the filter when the filter reset indicator turns on for optimal performance.
Always buy genuine filters for the best results.
BreevaShield System
The BreevaShield system is an additional layer of filtration in Breeva air purifiers.
While this system is switched off by default, you can activate it by pressing the BreevaShield button.
When enabled, the air purifier works with a five-stage filtration process, activating the Ionizer and UV-C light alongside the basic filtration.
An SGS laboratory test confirms that the A3’s UV-C sterilization has a virus kill rate of more than 99.99%.
As for the Ionizer, TCL has confirmed that it is safe and doesn’t produce unauthorized amounts of ozone, adhering to the maximum permissible ozone concentration of 0.050 ppmv over 24 hours.
Together, the 3-in-1 filter and BreevaShield system efficiently eliminate dust, pollen, pet dander, odors, smoke, VOCs, and particles from the air, providing clean and fresh air in your space.
How to Replace the TCL Breeva A3 Filter
Operating for around 2160 hours, the TCL Breeva A3 filter can last between 3 and 6 months, depending on your usage patterns.
Factors such as how often you use the air purifier, air quality, and regular pre-filter maintenance can influence its lifespan.
Changing the filter is necessary to ensure optimal performance, and your air purifier will alert you when it’s time to show a red filter reset indicator.
To replace the filter, follow these simple steps:
- Disconnect the air purifier: Unplug the device to ensure safety.
- Access the filter: Turn the purifier upside down and unscrew the cover on the bottom.
- Remove the old filter: After taking off the bottom cover, carefully remove the used filter.
- Clean the interior: Use a vacuum cleaner to eliminate excess dust particles in the air purifier.
- Install the new filter: Unpackage the new filter and place it in the purifier. Close the lid and secure it by screwing the cover back on.
- Reset the filter indicator: This can be done either through the TCL Home app or manually by pressing and holding the filter reset indicator for 3 seconds. The indicator will turn white once the reset is successful.
Taking care of your TCL Breeva A3 filter is easy to maintain and essential for better air quality in your space.
Always be sure to replace the filter as needed, and you’ll be breathing fresh and clean air in no time.
Noise Test
The TCL Breeva A3 operates at four different speeds: sleep mode, speed 1, speed 2, and speed 3, offering a range of noise levels.
To measure these noise levels, a specialized noise measurement tool was used.
You’ll appreciate the sleep mode, which not only reduces the brightness of all indicators by 50% but also features a soothing bright yellow night light.
This combination creates the perfect ambiance for a bedroom or any dark room, ensuring both clean air and a pleasant atmosphere.
However, it would be better if the A3 were a bit quieter in sleep mode.
The noise levels are as follows:
- Sleep Mode: 41.8 dBA
- Speed 1: 46.5 dBA
- Speed 2: 60.7 dBA
- Speed 3: 65.8 dBA
At maximum speed, the Breeva A3 could be somewhat loud for those sensitive to noise.
Keep this in mind when selecting the appropriate speed for your environment.
Performance Tests
You might be curious about how the TCL Breeva A3 performs in a real-life situation.
Well, I had the opportunity to test it in a 320 sq. ft. room, which is even larger than the recommended room size of 246 sq. ft.
Here’s what I found.
During the test, I set the air purifier to its highest speed and let it run for 60 minutes.
The results were impressive – the Breeva A3 improved air quality by approximately 94%, reducing the AQI (Air Quality Index) from 107 to 6.
This means that the air you breathe will be less polluted, potentially alleviating allergy and asthma symptoms.
| Starting Baseline | After 60min | |
|---|---|---|
| PM 2.5 | 81 | 4.7 |
| PM 10 | 113.4 | 6.6 |
| Particles | 117,477 | 6,881 |
| AQI | 107 | 6 |
Interestingly, the air purifier continued to maintain the same level of air quality after the initial 60 minutes, even when switched to fan speed 2.
For optimal air purification, it’s suggested to run the Breeva A3 at maximum speed initially and then switch it to automatic mode or a lower speed after about 10 minutes.
Operating Costs
The TCL Breeva A3 air purifier operates efficiently at a power of only 38W, which demonstrates the skilled work of its engineers.
With a well-optimized 28W motor, this device balances energy usage and performance.
In standby mode, it consumes about 1.2W, and at Speed 3, it consumes about 28.8W.
You can find energy usage for various speeds in the table below:
| Speed | Power Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| Stand-by | 1.2W |
| Sleep Mode | 2.4W |
| Speed 1 | 5.8W |
| Speed 2 | 17.7W |
| Speed 3 | 28.8W |
Note that when you turn on the ambient light feature, the device requires roughly 2.4W more power, and activating the breevaShield function will add up to 1W of power consumption.
Based on these figures, if you were to run the Breeva A3 air purifier at its maximum speed for 24 hours a day, the estimated monthly electric cost would be approximately 2.5 USD.
However, remember that your most significant expense will be the replacement filter, which must be changed every 3 to 6 months on average.
Considering the room size that the A3 is designed for, the cost of replacement filters, and its power consumption, you can comfortably say that the maintenance costs for this air purifier are reasonable, landing somewhere in the medium range.
Technical Support and Warranty
TCL is known for providing reliable technical support for their products.
They’re responsive through various channels like Facebook chat, email, or phone.
For quicker responses, you might want to try reaching out to them via Facebook chat or their smartphone app.
As for the warranty, TCL offers 12-month coverage for your air purifier.
To activate the warranty, simply register your product using the form available on their website or through the TCL Home app.
This ensures that, in the event of any issues or a firmware update, you’re covered by the manufacturer’s support and services.
Remember, keeping your warranty active and updated is important to maximize your investment.
TCL Breeva A3: FAQs
What is the CADR rating of the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier?
The TCL Breeva A3 air purifier has a CADR rating of 150 for smoke, 160 for dust, and 170 for pollen.
Can I control the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier with my smartphone?
Yes, the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier is Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled with the TCL Home app on your smartphone.
Does the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier have an auto mode?
Yes, the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier has an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality in your space.
What is the noise level of the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier?
The TCL Breeva A3 air purifier has a noise level of 32 decibels on the lowest fan setting and 55 decibels on the highest fan setting.
Does the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier emit ozone?
No, the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier does not emit ozone, making it safe for use in your home.
How long is the power cord for the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier?
The power cord for the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier is 6 feet long.
What is the warranty on the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier?
The TCL Breeva A3 air purifier comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
TCL Breeva A3: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Laser Dust Sensor and VOC Sensor ensure air quality monitoring
- Designed for rooms up to 246 sq. ft. and works well in larger spaces
- 3-stage filtration features pre-filter, HEPA, and activated carbon filter
- BreevaShield system adds UV-C and Ionizer for enhanced protection
- Great price-quality balance
- Performs well across tests
- Budget-friendly maintenance
- Compatible with TCL Home smart app
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Ambient Light feature for visual appeal
Cons
- Lacks a carrying handle
- Occasionally buggy smart app
- User manual could be more detailed
- Slightly noisy on the highest speed setting
TCL Breeva A3: Our Verdict
After experiencing numerous air purifiers, the TCL Breeva A3 stands out with its impressive performance and advanced features that simplify your daily use.
Not only does it have low power consumption, but it also works well in larger rooms, such as living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.
You might notice it being slightly louder at the highest speed, but that’s a minor trade-off for its efficiency.
If you need something for a slightly smaller room, consider the Breeva A2, a more compact and budget-friendly option with similar performance.
With the TCL Breeva A3 air purifier, you’re making a worthwhile investment in your home’s air quality.
It’s likely to leave many satisfied customers in the future.
Remember, a cleaner and fresher indoor environment contributes to your overall well-being, and the Breeva A3 is here to help you achieve that.
Keep this top choice in mind while searching for the perfect air purifier.
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