If you or someone you know smokes cigars indoors, chances are, you are familiar with the Rabbit Air brand. While not the only game in town, they have built a reputation as the go-to solution for indoor smoking air purification in the cigar smoking world. One of my first purchases after obtaining my own indoor smoking area was a Rabbit Air Minus A2. I used that machine for a nearly 8 years before replacing it for this review, and over the years, it did it’s job well. For years, that machine was the gold standard, and today, we will be looking at that machine’s successor, the Rabbit Air A3.
Info
Rabbit Air has been around as a company since 2004, and the Rabbit Air Minus A2 was released in 2007. That should give you an idea how how much of a workhorse that machine has been in the cigar world. The Rabbit Air A3 has big shoes to fill. While the Minus A2 was not created specifically for cigar smokers, it became the go-to because of the invention of their customizable filters, one of which was geared towards smoke filtration.
The Rabbit Air A3 was officially launched in 2021 featuring a complete refresh of the iconic design of its predecessor. Not only was the appearance updated, it now features a touch button panel, quieter operation, more airflow, and the ability to control everything from an app on your phone.
Specs
- Model: SPA-1000N
- Style: Tabletop / Wall Mount
- Finishes: 5 (Black, Cherry Blossom, Great Wave, Starry Night, and Vase of Flowers)
- Dimensions: 19.7″(h) x 18.9″(w) x 8.4″(d)
- Weight: 20.3 lbs.
- Effective Coverage Area: 1,070 sq. ft.
- Air Changes Per Hour (ACPH): 2
- Power: 120V AC, 60Hz
- Power Consumption: 5–60 watts
- Noise Level: 20.3–51.0 dBA
- Annual Filter Cost: $115.95
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Support: 24/7 Technical Support
- Price: $749.95 MSRP
- Filter Replacement: $115.95
Look & Feel
The Rabbit Air A3 is sleek and appealing, and I have to say the customizable color bar is a nice touch. The Minus A2 was a bit more boxy and angular, while this is more rounded and smooth. While still black, the finish is now a matte black instead of a glossy black, which I personally find more appealing to have in my room. One thing to note since this model launched is that they have recently added an all white option which may look better on certain walls and rooms. This was one complaint from others at launch was the lack of other color options. The new touch display and controls are much cooler, and useful than their predecessor. While the old controls did their job fine, they weren’t as clear as to their function and not as straight forward. Plus, who doesn’t love capacitive buttons? Fewer moving parts, and places to collect dust inside.
Performance
Performance wise, I didn’t think there would be much of a noticeable differences between the old unit and the new, but there was. Now, to be fair, it had been, umm, a while since I changed the filters of the Minus A2, so I’m sure I’m sure the difference was more dramatic, but I also know how it functions with a brand new filter. This also brings me to one of the best new features, notifications to change your filters. With the app, you can track exactly how long it’s been since you last changed your filter, and get reminders when its come to clean the pre-filter (every 3 months) and change the main filters (once per year).
For me, the single best improvement comes by way of the automatic setting, and how well it recognizes when I’m smoking. The Minus A2 was ok at detecting air quality, the A3 is spot on. Within seconds of lighting up my cigar, I can hear the unit kick into high gear and get to work. In the past, I would sometimes have to blow smoke in the general direction of the purifier, or even, gasp, hit the speed button manually. I can be much lazier in my smoking experience with the A3. This better air quality detection comes by way of their Laser Particle Sensing Technology where the machine actually uses lasers to detect particles. This also aids in the air quality redout in both the app on the touch display.
The improved air flow is also noticeable between the Minus A2 and the A3. It’s not a dramatic difference, but I can tell that it’s working harder, while taking up a smaller footprint and being quieter. When blowing smoke around the room, you can visually see it being affected by the Rabbit Air sooner, and with greater speed than the old purifier.
Other performance improvements include how well the room smells the morning after a smoking session. Coming into the room the next morning, you would be hard pressed to tell that any smoking had occurred. The old unit did a pretty good job of this as well, but every once in a while you could tell.
When controlling the unit through the app, everything is pretty straightforward. Setup was seamless getting it talking to my WiFi, and all the controls are easy to understand. You can easily view/change all the available functions of the unit, and in most cases it’s easier to do than with the touch controls on the top of the machine itself.
Overall – Rabbit Air A3 Air Purifier
Overall, I was pretty impressed by the Rabbit Air A3. It is more of an upgrade than I was expecting from the Minus A2, but the cost is also reflected in that. The A3 MSRP is $749 while the Minus A2 can be had for $549. You will have to decide for yourself if upgrading is worth the cost. If you are looking for a new unit, I would definitely recommend spending the extra money on the newer model. I was impressed with both the appearance and function of the A3, it cleans the air faster, does a better job of recognizing smoke, and does it quieter with a smaller footprint. Not much more you could ask for when looking at a successor to an already successful product.
