The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier Review

What the reviewers like:
The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier is relatively quiet, energy efficient, nearly ozone-free and inexpensive to maintain.

What the reviewers don’t like:
In measured performance tests, The Sharper Image Hybrid GP air purifier lags behind units that cost far less.

The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier review highlights

Owners and reviewers agree that the The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier is a something of an improvement over the Ionic Breeze Quadra, which performed poorly in tests by Consumer Reports and Air-Purifiers-America.com. However, this unit still turns in a performance that's well below average, and far below that of cheaper standard HEPA air purifiers. Ed Sherbenou of Air-Purifier-Power.com says this electrostatic air purifier -- which precipitates pollutants onto a charged array inside the unit -- is energy efficient and produces a low amount of ozone. Furthermore, filter replacement costs are low and noise levels are also low. However, in lab tests, the Whirlpool Whispure AP51030 (*est. $300), which costs much less, is better at actually removing allergens from the air, and this unit produces no ozone at all.

We found the most thorough review of The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier at Consumer Reports. Editors test this model alongside others in a November 2007 roundup, but Consumer Reports has also chronicled the performance of other Sharper Image units through the years. Another review site, Air-Purifier-Power.com, rates and compares dozens of different machines, some of them after extended use. The only other reviews we could find about the Hybrid GP are a positive reference on YouTube vis-à-vis the Oreck XL Professional Tabletop Air Purifier, and comments from about 10 owners posting to Amazon.com.

Also see full report: Air Purifiers

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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Air Purifiers
Editors of Consumer Reports
Nov. 2007

Editors at Consumer Reports include The Sharper Image Hybrid GP in comparison tests with 35 other air purifiers. Using an empty test chamber, editors measure air purifiers on their ability to filter those particles in given time intervals. Noise and ozone production are also measured.

2. Air-Purifier-Power.com
The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier Review
Ed Sherbenou

A year after panning the The Sharper Image Ionic Breeze, Sherbenou proves his fair-mindedness by praising the Hybrid GP: "It’s nearly ozone free, has fan-forced air flow, uses far less energy for work done than any air cleaner on the market, has no filter replacement costs, and is quiet enough to run on high speed 24/7." However, Sherbenou does not conduct performance tests.

3. YouTube.com
Oreck XL Professional Air Purifier Review
Xaves511
7-Jun-07

This thorough video review of the Oreck XL Professional Tabletop Air Purifier concludes with a plug for The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier. For the same price as the Oreck, he says, the Hybrid GP is quieter, more effective and easier to clean.

4. Amazon.com
The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

Most of the owners posting at Amazon.com are pleased with The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier, but one (who goes into great detail) has concerns about the durability of its four brushless fans. There are also some complaints about this machine’s high price tag.

Also see full report: Air Purifiers

The Sharper Image Hybrid GP Germicidal Air Purifier Review