Shark NeverChange HP152 Review

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes

The undisputed king of sensors, the Shark NeverChange is one of the smartest purifiers on the market, for users who take air quality seriously.

We were impressed by its quiet, premium filtration system, which is well-built to tackle everything from smoke and odors to allergens and viruses. It boasts a removable (and cleanable) debris blocker, a pet dander barrier, an activated carbon filter (with full on 90 grams of pellets), and a True HEPA filter, for high-quality air cleaning that goes beyond what many competitors offer. Given the density of filters and compact size, we found it runs a little slower than some competitors, but it's fully capable of cleaning small to medium-sized bedrooms or living spaces between 100-700 ft².

Unlike other high-end purifiers, which display air quality based only on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), this swanky purifier gave us four separate readouts: coarse (PM10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM1), and total percent clean air. This allowed us to better understand the types of pollution affecting our space, from ultrafine allergens and smoke to coarse dust and pollen.

Its premium feature set, easy setup, and compact size make the NeverChange one of the easiest purifiers to use around the house. It has a timer, an auto mode, and a sleep mode, so you can set it and let it do all the thinking for you. We also appreciate the child lock that kept our kids and cats from adjusting the settings and the memory that kept our preferences saved, even after we unplugged it.

Another standout feature of the NeverChange is the low operating cost. It has a generous 5-year filter life and consumes very little energy, even in turbo mode. If you can look past the outrageously high list price, this purifier becomes more affordable to operate over time.

Dislikes

The HP152 contains an Odor Neutralizing Cartridge, which is marketed to “guard against odors.” But rather than trapping odors, it just masks them with a sea foam scent. While some of us liked the smell, others found it too strong. If you're sensitive to the scent, you can adjust the dial to release less smell or remove the cartridge entirely for fragrance-free odor cleaning.

It's also important to note that while the main HEPA filter can go years before needing to be replaced, the Odor Neutralizing Cartidge requires more frequent replacements, every 3-6 months. The cartridges aren't terribly expensive, but the frequent changes undercut the “NeverChange” promise a bit. We're also skeptical whether the carbon filter's odor-clearing capabilities will last the full 5 years.

Should You Buy The Shark NeverChange HP152?

Even though it costs a bit more upfront, our team loved the Shark NeverChange for its full suite of features and money savings over time. When used in small spaces, it's well-built to tackle heavy-duty allergens, smoke, and odors, while making minimal noise. However, its scented odor-neutralizing cartridge may be a turn-off for some, and it's not the most powerful compact unit we've tested.

What Other Air Purifiers Should You Consider?

If you're looking for something with better air-cleaning performance and fragrance-free, the Levoit Core 300-P is a great value option. Or if you have a bigger space, we also like the Winix 5510, which boasts a larger HEPA-grade filter.