The Fellowes AeraMax SE (9794601) is a great air purifier on paper, with top-tier filtration specs and good fan power, AHAM and Energy Star rating, but all of that we can expect from a far cheaper Honeywell HPA5300. This is 2026, and after the AeraMax SE review, we will find out its selling point to keep Fellowes brand higher in the very competitive air purifier market.
AeraMax 300 ranks B in our air purifier ranking list. We give the biggest and most thorough database of air purifier reviews in the world.
In Breathe Quality, we have reviewed all air purifiers under these sections. Also, we guarantee that:
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Sections
- Great performance
- AHAM verified large room coverage
- Accurate Smart Sensor
- Slightly quiet
- A bit noisy
- Lacks additional features
AeraMax is the proud child of Fellowes. Founded in 1917 by Harry Fellowes in Itasca, Illinois, Fellowes Brands is a privately held, fourth-generation family company that has grown from a record storage box business into a global manufacturer of workplace solutions. Today the company operates across 24 locations worldwide, with a product range spanning shredders, laminators, ergonomic accessories, and air purification – the latter being one of its fastest-growing categories. Get ready for our latest AeraMax SE review.
Other AeraMax’s Air Purifier Reviews:
AeraMax SE Price
The Fellowes AeraMax SE is one of the most capable large-room air purifiers at its price point, if not the most capable. Its blend of filtration-focused hardware and sensor features justify its existence in a crowded market, and allergy sufferers willing to spend more can actually breathe cleaner air with the AeraMax SE.
Yes, it is more expensive than both the Honeywell HPA5300 and Levoit Core 600S for a similar performance. As a result, the AeraMax SE can only win with its better-than-average warranty, so it is advertised mainly for “small office”. We don’t buy it, but we recommend the AeraMax SE as a good alternative of the Airmega 300S or Levoit EverestAir, depending on whether you want to pay extra for “smart features”.
By the way, the AeraMax SE costs around $399, making it a competitive mid-range air purifier. We do know one thing: the AeraMax SE will only come in a white finish, very different from its home counterparts like the AeraMax 300 or AeraMax 200.
Fellowes 9794601 AeraMax SE.
The small-office air purifier with 3 fan speeds, designed for large rooms with True HEPA H13 filter, 915 square feet coverage. 1-year filter life, with 3-year warranty.
Related post: Best air purifier 2026.
AeraMax SE Design and Size
Fellowes designers clearly drew from premium home décor trends, but it’s hard not to see the transition as a concession to a more mainstream living room aesthetic, to draw in consumers who don’t want a clinical-looking appliance dominating their space. Placing the AeraMax SE in a living room won’t garner much attention from air quality enthusiasts, but guests will walk past it without raising too many eyebrows.
Yes, if you’re looking for a more modern design, the AeraMax SV should be your pick. The Fellowes AeraMax SE edges closer towards the look of home appliances with a mostly seamless tower marked with more subtle accents than its predecessors, bringing the purifier closer to the sleek (though not necessarily minimal) column form factor the category has settled on.
The AeraMax SE has the very common 360-degree air filtration system, as well as a tall height at 29.3 inches. You can think of this air purifier as a far bigger appliance than other common home air purifiers, so make sure you have a big space to accommodate the AeraMax SE.
If you want a more assertive, visible presence in the room, the floor-standing base and handle provide it, with clear access to all controls and ports, along with a neat LED indicator effect that spans the entire lower section of the unit. Top-control is really what we need for a tower-designed air purifier like the AeraMax SE.
A word of advice though: if you plan to move the unit between rooms frequently, bear in mind that its 21-lb weight and floor-standing base make it less portable than most countertop purifiers.
Related post: Best air purifiers for bedroom.
AeraMax SE Filters
To decide the performance of one air purifier, the air filtration system is the most important factor. AeraMax’s signature air filtration process again is the core of the AeraMax SE, but this time the air purifier makes use of an all-in-one air filter, so we only have 2-stage air cleaning system.
- 3-in-1 filter – Fellowes decided to make a filter combo of pre-filter, Activated Carbon filter and H13 True HEPA filter in one, to simplify the replacement process. Still, the 3-in-1 filter can trap 99.97% of any particles as small as 0.1 microns. It also includes the AeraSafe Antimicrobial Treatment – to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mildew, and fungi.
- PlasmaTrue Technology – This is one kind of ionizer that creates an ionized field to safely remove airborne pollutants. Can be turned on or off.
In 2026, we are surprised that AeraMax keeps up with the PlasmaTrue technology, the same with Winix and Sharp. This bipolar ionization adds a biological layer of protection that pure mechanical filtration can’t provide. There’s the AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment, too, which inhibits bacterial growth within the filter media itself.
The H13 True HEPA filter is the most critical stage, with a higher grade than the filters used in common no-name air purifier or HEPA-type filter. It changes the game: captures 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns, rather than the 99.97% at 0.3 microns that standard True HEPA achieves, meaning it intercepts a significantly broader range of airborne threats.
I can tell that the AeraMax SE is top-tier performance with its air filtration system, and real-life tests in Breathe Quality lab show off its results. The AeraMax SE can capture 99.92% of all particles down to 0.3 microns in 1 hour, the same as the Blueair DustMagnet 5410i.
However, the AeraMax SE filter (9787801) is recommended to replace after 1 year of use, and the filter cost is quite higher than the Airmega 300S at $153. Well, it costs higher than we expect.
Related post: Best air purifiers for allergies.
AeraMax SE Room Coverage
The AeraMax SE targets a larger room than its home brother – the AeraMax 300. Remember that the air purifier is AHAM verified, and the certified room coverage of the air purifier is 490 square feet, and with less air changes per hour, it can run in room up to 915 square feet.
The ACH of the AeraMax SE is 5X. 490 square feet is recommended for an air purifier with 5 air changes per hour.
The CADR of the AeraMax SE is 323 Dust/ 316 Smoke/ 363 Pollen (cfm). This is very strong CADR rating necessary for an air purifier at this price range, though it is still less than the Levoit Core 600S.
Related post: Best large room air purifiers.
AeraMax SE Sound
So what’s it actually like to live with the AeraMax SE? AeraMax is usually a brand of making air purifiers with good fan power, not quiet operation. The AeraMax SE takes noise level to another level with its only 3-speed setting.
We measure the noise level for our testing AeraMax SE to be 36 to 60 decibels (dB). On highest fan speed, the noise is quite high to not notice, so if you’re at small offices as the AeraMax SE advertised, you should make sure the Smart Sensor is on to keep fan speed low.
Related post: Best air purifiers for baby.
AeraMax SE Power Consumption
One of our most FAQs is “Do air purifiers use a lot of energy?” In fact, air purifiers must be used for a long time to be efficient. And power consumption is one important criterion to review in order to determine if this air purifier is good or not.
Technologies have advanced these years and the AeraMax SE consumes only about 9 watts for the lowest fan power. However, the maximum wattage at highest fan speed is 70 watts. Still, it is better than the home air purifier AeraMax 300, so kudos to AeraMax team. The AeraMax SE deserves its Energy Star rating.
To run the AeraMax SE at least 8 hours per day, you only need to pay $30 annually.
Related post: Best air purifiers for pets.
AeraMax SE Additional Features
It isn’t an AeraMax air purifier without AeraSmart – the signature Smart Sensor name of the company. Yes, the AeraMax SE must feature this signature sensor, with consistent results to clean air. It is exactly the same version of the AeraSmart sensor system found in Fellowes’ professional-grade AeraMax Pro units, like the commercial AeraMax Professional 4.
Other than that, the AeraMax SE is simple, so no extra features. You get a convenient timer to schedule the device, and a LED indicator for filter replacement. Only the basic things, right?
Related posts:
1, Best air purifiers for smoke.
2, Best air purifiers for dust.
3, Best air purifiers for mold.
AeraMax SE Customer Service
Fellowes is a long-established brand in the U.S., and one of the main reasons for their popularity is their great customer service. You can expect full support from Monday to Friday, via phone at 800-955-0959 or via live chat on their FAQ page.
They do not offer Free Shipping, and orders are only shipped one to two business days after they are placed. You can return or exchange your air purifier within 14 days of receipt. Orders may be subject to a 20% restocking fee, and all shipping and handling charges are the responsibility of the customer. If you discover what you believe is a product defect, you need to contact customer support within 48 hours of delivery. Fellowes will investigate the claim and notify the freight company of the damage, then they will process the replacement if possible.
About the warranty, all AeraMax air purifiers are covered by a 3-year warranty. It is enough for you to trust in the name of AeraMax.
Fellowes 9794601 AeraMax SE.
The small-office air purifier with 3 fan speeds, designed for large rooms with True HEPA H13 filter, 915 square feet coverage. 1-year filter life, with 3-year warranty.
Our verdict
The AeraMax SE is in the tough spot to compete, and its lack of features isn’t something that I can recommend, especially when other big air purifier brands achieved it years ago. Not a fan of fancy features? Then perhaps the AeraMax SE is a good buy, especially when you can catch a deal on Breathe Quality.
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Summary
Performance is good for the price, but the annual filter cost is high.
