Evalit ET066 Air Purifier Review: a no-nonsense unit that actually freshens the room

I’ve been using this Evalit ET066 air purifier for a few weeks now in a fairly normal UK flat: one bedroom, a lounge, one dog that sheds way too much, and a partner with hay fever that kicks off the moment spring arrives. I didn’t expect miracles from a brand I’d never heard of, but I was curious because of the PM2.5 display, the washable pre-filter, and the big “up to 2200 ft²” coverage claim. Usually that kind of marketing sounds a bit optimistic.

Day to day, I’ve mainly run it in the bedroom at night and then dragged it into the living room during the day when the dog’s been inside a lot or when cooking smells hang around. I’ve had other cheaper purifiers before (the basic “one button and hope for the best” type), so I had something to compare it to. My main goal was simple: less dust, less dog smell, and fewer sneezing fits for my partner.

Overall, it does what it says on the tin: it genuinely freshens the air and cuts smells down. It’s not silent in every mode, it’s not the most premium thing on earth, and the coverage figure is a bit optimistic if you have doors and walls everywhere, but in a normal flat or small house it feels pretty solid. You can actually feel and smell the difference after an hour or so in a closed room.

If you’re expecting Dyson-level build and fancy app control, this isn’t it. But if you just want something you plug in, tap a few buttons, and then forget about while it quietly pulls dust and pet hair out of the air, it’s decent. In the rest of this review I’ll go into the bits that are good, the bits that are slightly annoying, and where I think they’ve cut corners to keep the price down.

Price-wise, this Evalit ET066 usually sits in the mid-range on Amazon – not the cheapest basic purifier, not in the same league as Dyson or high-end brands either. For what you pay, you’re getting a HEPA-based system with a washable pre-filter, a PM2.5 sensor, auto mode, timer, child lock, and an aromatherapy option. That’s a decent feature set for the segment. A lot of cheaper units drop the sensor and just give you three speeds with no idea what the air is actually like.

Compared to the two cheaper purifiers I owned before (generic brands with only a power button and weak fans), this one feels like better value even if it costs more upfront. Those old ones ran constantly on one speed, made similar noise, and didn’t seem to move as much air. I also had no clue when the air was actually clean or when I was just wasting electricity. Here, the auto mode and PM2.5 readout at least give you some feedback and help the unit slow down when the job is done.

Running costs are mainly about replacement filters and electricity. The washable pre-filter helps extend the life of the main filter, which is a plus. You’ll still need to replace the HEPA filter periodically, but if you vacuum the pre-filter regularly, you can probably stretch the interval a bit. Power use isn’t huge; it’s in the normal range for this size of purifier. I’m comfortable leaving it on low or auto for hours without worrying about the bill, especially compared to bigger appliances like heaters or tumble dryers.

Overall, I’d call the value “pretty solid”. It’s not a bargain basement steal, but you’re not paying just for a logo either. If you want app control, flashy design, or a big-name brand, you’ll have to spend more. If you just want a practical unit that actually improves air quality, reduces odours, and doesn’t cost a fortune to run, this one sits in a sensible middle ground. The only real downside on the value side is that replacement filters aren’t as widely available as for big brands, so you might be tied to ordering them online from a few sellers.

Design-wise, this Evalit ET066 is very straightforward. It’s a black rectangular unit with rounded corners, front air intake and top air outlet. No glossy accents, no light show, just a small digital display and some touch-style buttons on the top panel. If you like minimal stuff that doesn’t scream for attention, that’s a plus. In my bedroom it sits next to a dresser and doesn’t look out of place. In the living room it just looks like another small appliance, not some weird sci-fi tower.

The footprint is decent: 34 cm wide and 19 cm deep means it fits easily against a wall or next to a bedside table. I wouldn’t call it tiny, but it’s not one of those huge tower units that you’re constantly bumping into. The weight is about 3.85 kg, so you can move it with one hand. I often grab it by the sides and carry it from the bedroom to the lounge; it’s light enough that this doesn’t feel like a chore, even for someone who doesn’t want to lug heavy stuff around the house.

The top display is clear enough to read from across the room. You see the PM2.5 number, the current fan speed or mode, and the timer if you’ve set one. The buttons are physical push/"digital" type, not real touch glass, but they respond reliably. The only mild annoyance is that the beeps when you change settings are a bit sharp at night. You can’t disable them, so if you’re very sensitive to noise, do your fiddling before turning the lights off and getting into bed.

Access to the filters and aromatherapy compartment is simple. The front panel pops off, the washable pre-filter is right there, and behind it is the main HEPA filter. No tools needed. The aromatherapy slot is small but easy to reach. Overall, the design is honest: they didn’t try to make a design object, just a practical box that pulls air from the front and blows it out the top. It feels thought-through enough for daily use, even if it’s not going to win any style awards.

One of the things that caught my eye on the product page was the aromatherapy function. I’ve had purifiers before that didn’t offer anything like that, so I was curious if this was just a gimmick or actually useful. There’s a small dedicated compartment where you can add a few drops of essential oil. Important point: you don’t pour oil onto the main filter, you use the little pad/area meant for it. If you start soaking the HEPA filter with oils, you’ll ruin it and probably void any warranty.

In practice, a couple of drops of lavender oil is enough to notice a light scent in a medium-sized bedroom after 20–30 minutes on low or medium speed. If you go heavy-handed and put too much oil, the smell becomes a bit overpowering and doesn’t fade quickly because the air is constantly circulating it. So I’d say start with 1–2 drops, see how it goes, and only add more if you really want a stronger smell. It doesn’t feel like a diffuser; it’s more like a background scent layered on top of cleaner air.

What I liked is that it doesn’t interfere with the main job of the purifier. It still deals with pet smells and cooking odours while adding a subtle fragrance. For example, after cooking something greasy, I ran it in the living room with a tiny bit of citrus oil. After about an hour, the heavy food smell was mostly gone, replaced by a light citrus smell that was actually pleasant, not fake or chemical. It’s not perfect – if you burn food, it’s not going to erase that instantly – but it helps a lot with normal day-to-day odours.

On the downside, there are no spare pads included for the aromatherapy part, and the manual doesn’t go into much detail about cleaning that area. I just wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth now and then to avoid old oil residues building up. Also, if you’re sensitive to scents or have asthma triggered by perfumes, I’d probably skip using oils entirely and just enjoy the purifier as is. The good thing is the aromatherapy is optional – the unit works perfectly fine without ever touching that feature.

I obviously haven’t had this purifier for years, but after a few weeks of daily use I can at least comment on build quality and how the filters hold up. The plastic casing feels standard: not premium, not flimsy. If you press hard on the panels, there’s a bit of flex, but nothing worrying. The front cover clips on and off easily, and the clips haven’t loosened with regular filter checks. I’ve moved it around a lot between rooms and it hasn’t developed any creaks or loose parts.

The washable pre-filter is the part you’ll deal with most. After about a week of running it near the dog’s sleeping area, the pre-filter was visibly covered in hair and fine dust – which is exactly what you want, because that means it’s catching stuff before it hits the main HEPA filter. Rinsing it under the tap or vacuuming it works fine. I prefer vacuuming because it dries instantly and you can put it straight back. Just don’t scrub it aggressively or bend it too much. Cleaning this regularly should help the main filter last longer and save a bit of money over time.

The main HEPA filter is not washable and will need replacing eventually. The product description doesn’t hide that, which I respect. There’s usually a filter reminder based on hours of use, but I mostly judge by visual inspection and any drop in performance. After several weeks, mine still looks okay and there’s no smell coming from the unit, which is a good sign. Replacement filters are something to check before buying; for this model, they exist but you may have to order them online rather than grabbing them in a supermarket.

In terms of electronics, the buttons still respond properly, the display is bright enough, and the fan speed changes are smooth. No flickering lights or weird sensor behaviour so far. Because it’s a corded unit with no battery or Wi‑Fi, there are fewer parts that can fail. That’s partly why I tend to trust simple devices like this more over time. I wouldn’t treat it roughly or keep it in a damp bathroom, but for normal home use, it feels like it should hold up reasonably well if you keep the filters cleaned and don’t block the air intakes.

The purifier has three manual fan speeds plus auto and sleep mode. On low, the noise is barely noticeable – more like a soft background hum. I can sleep with it right next to the bed on sleep/low mode without it bothering me. The people on Amazon saying sleep mode is quiet are not exaggerating; after a few minutes you just forget it’s on. That’s important if you actually want to run it through the night instead of turning it off because it’s annoying.

On medium, you start hearing a steady whoosh, but it’s still reasonable for a living room or office. I usually keep it on medium when I’m at my desk or watching TV; it doesn’t drown out the sound, but you know it’s there. On high, it moves a lot more air and you can feel a cool draft if you’re close to it. This is the mode I use after cooking something strong-smelling or when the PM2.5 reading spikes. It is clearly audible – you wouldn’t want this running next to you all night – but it clears the air faster. So the trade-off is simple: more noise for quicker cleaning.

The auto mode is actually useful. When the air is fine, it stays on low or medium. When it detects more particles, it ramps up. I like that it defaults to auto when you turn it on, so you don’t have to remember to set it every time. For energy use, that’s good because it doesn’t sit on max speed all day for no reason. I leave it on auto most of the time in the living room and only force it to high when I know I’ve made a mess, like frying something greasy or doing a lot of cleaning that stirs up dust.

The timer (1–12 hours) is handy, especially at night or when leaving the house. For example, if the room smells like paint or heavy cooking, I’ll set it to 2–3 hours on medium, close the door, and come back later to noticeably fresher air. So far there’s no sign of overheating or weird noises after longer runs. The motor sound is consistent, no rattling or vibrations on a flat floor. Overall, performance is solid: it moves enough air, gives you several usable modes, and the noise levels are manageable as long as you understand that the top speed is quite audible – which is normal for this type of device.

When you open the box, there’s no big ceremony. You get the purifier itself, the main filter already installed, a basic manual, and that’s pretty much it. No remote, no spare filter, no fancy extras. For me that’s fine – fewer things to lose – but if you like lots of accessories, this is pretty bare-bones. The unit is pre-assembled: you only need to open the front, peel the plastic off the filter, and you’re ready to go. That first step is important; if you forget to remove the plastic, it will run but barely filter anything.

The control panel on top is all push buttons and a small digital display. You’ve got buttons for power, speed, timer, mode (including auto and sleep), and a child lock. The PM2.5 reading shows up as a number, and there’s usually a colour indicator to give you a quick idea of air quality. It’s not complicated, which I like. Within two minutes I knew how to use all the functions without reading the manual in detail, apart from checking how to set the timer properly.

One thing to mention is the size versus the claimed coverage. The unit is around 43.5 cm high, 34 cm wide, and 19 cm deep. For something that’s supposed to cover “up to 2200 ft²”, it’s fairly compact. In practice, I’d say it’s perfect for a bedroom, decent for a living room or open kitchen area, but if you’ve got a huge open-plan space, don’t expect it to magically clean the entire floor in minutes. I usually keep it in one room for a few hours rather than trying to cover the whole flat at once.

In terms of first impression, it feels like a mid-range, practical device: no app, no Wi‑Fi, just physical buttons and a few modes. I actually prefer this to app-only stuff because anyone in the house can walk up and use it. The manual English is the usual slightly awkward phrasing you get from products made in China, but it’s clear enough and covers the basics: cleaning the washable pre-filter, when to change the HEPA filter, and what the different PM2.5 values roughly mean.

This is where it matters. All the features are pointless if the air still feels dusty and smells like dog. In my case, I’ve got a medium-sized dog that sheds and brings outdoor smells inside, plus a partner who reacts to pollen and dust. After running this Evalit purifier regularly, the difference is pretty clear. The bedroom no longer smells “doggy” in the morning, and there’s less fine dust visible on dark furniture, especially around the unit’s intake area where it used to settle quickly.

The PM2.5 sensor isn’t lab-grade or anything, but it’s useful as a rough guide. For example, when I open the window on a busy street, the reading climbs, the fan speeds up in auto mode, and after 20–30 minutes with the window closed again, the value drops back down. Same thing after cooking: the number jumps up, and you can hear the unit ramp up to clear the air. It’s not magic; it just reacts based on how dirty the air seems to be. That already puts it ahead of the very basic purifiers that only have fixed speeds and no idea what the air is like.

Allergies-wise, my partner noticed fewer sneezing fits in the morning after about a week of running it nightly on sleep mode. It doesn’t completely remove hay fever symptoms – that would be unrealistic – but it takes the edge off. Less itchy eyes, less waking up with a stuffy nose. For me, the most noticeable change is in odours: cooking smells, dog smells, and that slightly stale air feeling after keeping windows shut in winter all get reduced quite a lot if you give the purifier time to work.

Is it perfect? No. If you have a very big open-plan space or keep doors open everywhere, the effect is more diluted. I find it works best if you treat one room at a time and let it run for at least an hour or two. Also, the “2200 ft²” claim feels a bit optimistic in real-world homes with walls and corners. Still, for normal bedrooms, offices, and living rooms, it gets the job done and feels like a genuine step up from the cheaper, sensor-less units I tried before.