HEAPETS P358 Pet Air Purifier Review: a compact unit that actually helps with fur and smell

I live in a smallish house with two cats and a medium dog, and the combo of fur, litter box smell, and general dust was starting to get on my nerves. I’ve used cheaper air purifiers before, but they usually either sound like a hairdryer or don’t do much beyond making me feel better psychologically. I picked up the HEAPETS P358 mainly because it’s pitched as a “pet” purifier with a washable pre-filter and a big coverage area, and I wanted to see if that’s just marketing or if it actually changes anything day to day.

I’ve had it running for a bit in the main living area, which is open to the kitchen and where the litter box sits in a corner. That’s also the room where my dog likes to shake himself off after walks, so if a purifier is going to prove something, it’s in that space. I’ve rotated it between the living room and the bedroom to see how it handles different situations: cooking smells, pet odor, and dust in a quieter room.

What interested me on paper was the combo of a H13 HEPA filter, a pet-focused carbon filter, and the washable double-sided pre-filter. The claim about covering up to 2500 sq ft per hour sounded a bit optimistic, but my main concern was whether it could noticeably cut smells in a normal-sized room and keep fur from floating around everywhere. If it could also be quiet enough to sleep near, that’d be a bonus.

So this review is basically how it behaved in real life: what worked, what was just okay, and what annoyed me. I’m not going to dress it up. It’s a pretty solid unit in some areas, but it’s not perfect, and there are a couple of details that you only notice after running it for a while.

Price-wise, the HEAPETS P358 sits in that middle zone: more expensive than the tiny desktop purifiers, cheaper than the big-name smart units with apps and voice control. For what you get—H13 HEPA, pet-focused carbon, dual-sided intake, PM2.5 display, and a decent CADR—the value is pretty good if your main concern is pets and smells rather than fancy features. You’re basically paying for airflow, filtration, and some basic smart modes, not for an ecosystem.

The separate pre-filter and main filter setup is where it scores some points in value. Filters are usually where purifiers bleed your wallet over time. Here, the brand’s pitch is that you stretch the main filter life from around 3 months to roughly 6 months by swapping or cleaning the pre-filter. In practice, I can see that being realistic in a normal home. If you actually keep up with cleaning the pre-filter, you’ll buy fewer composite filters per year, which does save money over time. It’s not half-price miracles, but it’s a noticeable difference if you run the unit daily.

Compared to other purifiers I’ve had, this one gives more features for the same rough price: real-time air quality display, auto mode that actually reacts, pet lock, full light-off sleep mode, and coverage that feels legit for a standard living room or bedroom. What you don’t get are app controls, scheduling from your phone, or integration with smart assistants. If that matters to you, there are other brands that offer those, but you’ll usually pay more or sacrifice filter size.

So, value depends on your priorities. If you want a no-nonsense purifier that actually helps with pet hair and odor, and you don’t care about Wi‑Fi, it’s good value for money. If you already have a solid purifier and just want a tiny upgrade, this might feel more like a sideways step unless you really need the pet-focused features. For someone with multiple pets, mild allergies, and a normal-sized home, I’d say it’s a practical buy rather than a luxury purchase.

The design is pretty simple: white-grey body, vertical shape, and a U-shaped air inlet on both sides. In real life, it looks like a normal home appliance, not a sci‑fi object. That’s actually a plus for me; it blends into a living room without drawing attention. The dual-sided air intake is the main design feature that matters. Compared to my older purifier that only pulled air from the back, this one seems to move more air at lower fan speeds, probably because it’s pulling from both sides.

The top panel has touch buttons and a digital PM2.5 display. There’s also a color indicator ring that changes from green to yellow to red depending on air quality. It’s easy enough to read from across the room. The buttons are responsive, and I never had to jab them multiple times. There’s a pet/child lock, which I actually used because my cat tried to walk on the top a couple of times. Once locked, you don’t accidentally change modes when dusting or bumping it.

One design detail I appreciated is the sleep mode with all lights off. In a bedroom, bright LEDs are annoying, and this thing actually goes dark. You still get airflow, but no glowing ring or display. Noise-wise, the design keeps it very quiet on the lower settings. On P1 and sleep mode, it’s basically a soft hum that fades into background noise. On P4 (max), you know it’s on, but it’s more like a strong fan sound than a jet engine.

Physically, it’s easy to move. There’s no big handle, but the weight is low and the shape is narrow enough to grab from the sides. The only design downside is that the plastic doesn’t feel premium; it’s standard hard plastic. It doesn’t creak or bend, but if you’re expecting something very high-end in terms of materials, this isn’t that. For a practical home unit that sits in a corner, though, the design is functional and low-key, which is basically what I want from this type of product.

In terms of build, the HEAPETS P358 feels like standard mid-range plastic. Nothing fancy, but nothing flimsy either. I moved it around between rooms almost daily for a while, grabbed it by the sides, bumped it lightly into a table once, and it didn’t rattle or show any signs of damage. The casing fits well, no weird gaps, and the side panels for filter access open and close without fighting them. It’s not the kind of product you’d baby, and it seems fine with normal household handling.

The interesting part for durability is the filter design. You’ve got a washable or replaceable electrostatic pre-filter cotton and then the main composite HEPA + carbon filter. The idea is that by cleaning or swapping the pre-filter, you extend the main filter life from about 3 months to roughly 6 months, depending on how hairy and dusty your home is. In practice, after a couple of weeks with two cats and a dog, the pre-filter had a clear buildup of hair and dust. A quick vacuum and light rinse got it back in shape. That’s definitely cheaper than tossing a whole filter every time it gets clogged with fur.

The main filter itself feels sturdy enough, with dense pleats and a decent amount of carbon. I haven’t hit the end of its life yet, but based on how much the pre-filter catches, I can see it lasting longer than in a purifier without that extra layer. Replacement filters are not dirt cheap, but the split system (pre-filter vs composite filter) does cut costs over time. You just need to remember to check and clean the pre-filter every couple of weeks if you’ve got heavy shedders.

Long-term, I don’t see any obvious weak points aside from the usual: if you slam the unit around or yank the cord, you can break it like any appliance. The fan doesn’t make any weird grinding noises, and the electronics (buttons, display, sensors) have been consistent. The fact that it’s CE, EPA, ETL, FCC, CARB, and CA65 certified at least tells me it’s not some random off-brand box with zero standards. I’d still like to see how it looks after a full year, but based on initial use, durability and filter system design seem pretty solid for the price range.

Day to day, I mostly left the HEAPETS on Auto and only touched it when cooking or dealing with a bad smell. On Auto, it usually sits on a low fan speed with a green light and a PM2.5 reading between 5 and 15 in my place. When something kicks up dust or odor, it bumps the fan speed on its own. It’s not instant, but within a minute or two you hear it ramp up. For example, when I vacuumed, the reading jumped and the fan went up one level. Same when I sprayed a strong cleaning product nearby.

Noise levels are decent. On sleep mode and P1, you barely notice it unless the room is dead silent. I had it about 6 feet from my bed in the bedroom, and I could sleep with it on all night without any problem. On P2 and P3, it’s a noticeable but still reasonable fan sound; fine for the living room while watching TV. On P4, it gets loud enough that you’ll hear it clearly over conversation, but that’s expected for maximum airflow. I usually only used P4 for short bursts when I really wanted to clear a smell quickly.

The timer is basic but useful: you can set it and forget it if you don’t want it running all day. I used the 4-hour setting a few times when I left the house after cooking. The filter reminder is also handy, though I haven’t hit the full filter life yet. You can also turn off the lights in sleep mode, which is great if you’re light-sensitive. The pet/child lock did its job; no accidental presses when my cat jumped on it or when I brushed past it.

In terms of raw airflow, the claimed CADR of 176 CFM feels believable. In a medium living room, you can feel a gentle movement of air if you stand near it, but it doesn’t blast you. It’s more about steady circulation. Compared to a cheaper small purifier I had before, this one definitely cycles the room faster. The PM2.5 display also gives some confidence that it’s doing something, even if the numbers aren’t lab-grade accurate. Overall, performance is strong for a home unit at this size: good balance between noise and airflow, and the auto mode is actually usable, not just a gimmick.

Out of the box, the HEAPETS P358 is pretty straightforward. You get the main unit, the filter already installed, and a small manual. No app, no Wi‑Fi, no weird extras. The unit is lighter than it looks on photos, around 8 pounds, so you can move it from room to room with one hand. It’s about 16 inches tall with a footprint slightly bigger than a sheet of A4 paper, so it fits easily next to a couch or in a bedroom corner without taking over the space.

The manual is basic but clear enough. It explains the 5 fan speeds (Auto, P1 to P4), the timer, the child/pet lock, and the filter reminder. It also mentions the PM2.5 display and color ring that changes based on air quality. What I liked is that you don’t need to be a tech nerd to run it: plug it in, hit Auto, and it does its thing. I had it set up and running in under five minutes, including unwrapping the filter and reseating it.

The one thing that’s a bit annoying at the start is finding exact info on replacement filters. The listing and manual mention separate pre-filter cotton and composite filter, with different product codes (B0DT6CWC1K and B0DT5RNTPV), but you have to go search them manually. It’s not hard, just slightly clunky. On the plus side, the idea of a separate electrostatic pre-filter you can swap or clean to stretch the main filter life to around six months is actually practical if you’ve got hairy pets.

Overall, the product feels like a mid-range purifier: not cheap junk, but also not some premium connected device. The pitch is clear: big coverage, pet hair handling, and decent odor reduction without too much fuss. If you expect a whole ecosystem with an app and detailed graphs, this isn’t it. If you just want a plug-and-go box that shows air quality and has a few modes, it fits that description pretty well.

This is the main point: does it actually clean the air in a noticeable way? In my case, yes, especially with pet smells and cooking odors. I tested it in the living room with the litter box about 8–9 feet away. Normally, after the cats use the box, there’s a clear smell for a good 15–20 minutes. With the HEAPETS on Auto, the PM2.5 reading usually jumps a bit, the fan ramps up, and the odor drops in around 5–10 minutes instead of lingering. It doesn’t make the room smell like nothing, but it cuts the strong edge enough that you don’t notice it unless you stand right by the box.

Same story with cooking: I did a pan-fry session with bacon and onions, which usually leaves the living room smelling greasy. I manually put the purifier on P4 during cooking and left it running for an hour. After about 20–30 minutes, the heavy smell was mostly gone, and after an hour the room just smelled neutral. Compared to my older small purifier, this one clearly moves more air and clears the smell quicker. The PM2.5 display also reacts: numbers go up while cooking or when I open the window to a dusty street, then come back down as it runs.

On the pet hair and dander side, the U-shaped intake and pre-filter do help. I noticed less fur floating in the air when the dog shakes off, and when I opened the side to check the filter after a week, there was a visible layer of hair and fine dust on the pre-filter. That’s exactly what I want: hair caught in the filter instead of stuck on furniture or floating around. My partner, who usually gets sniffly around dust and cats, said she sneezed less in the living room when it was running for a few hours.

It’s not magic, though. If you skip vacuuming for a week and your dog sheds heavily, the purifier won’t suddenly give you a hair-free house. It reduces what’s in the air, not what’s already on the floor, couch, and blankets. Also, in a very large open space, you shouldn’t expect the entire 2500 sq ft to feel fresh; realistically, it’s very effective in the room it’s in and somewhat helpful in the adjacent area. For a normal living room, bedroom, or small open-plan space, the effectiveness is pretty solid for both smell and fine particles.