APEC ROES-50 Essence Series Review

The ROES-50 Essence Series keeps things refreshingly simple, and that's a big part of its appeal. This five-stage RO setup uses long-lasting sediment and carbon block pre-filters, a 50-GPD Dow Filmtec membrane, and a dedicated post-carbon filter to polish the final taste. Everything fits into classic canister housings, which not only feel sturdy but also let you swap individual filters instead of tossing out whole cartridges (even if it feels like a bit more work than other RO systems). The ROES-50 integrates well into most kitchens, offering a dedicated faucet, flexible tubing, and hardware designed for solid compatibility with common plumbing setups. It takes a bit of DIY know-how to get this setup, but a lot of buyers report it being a lot simpler than expected.

Contaminant Removal

The ROES-50 is one of the most reliable performers we've tested for eliminating the contaminants that matter most. It reduced every critical contaminant in our panel — lead, PFNA, arsenic, and uranium — to completely undetectable levels.

Its fluoride performance is also excellent for a standard RO membrane, typically hitting 97–99% reduction in normal tap conditions. As with most RO systems, it won't completely zero it out. This level of purification makes it a strong fit for households concerned about long-term exposure to industrial or municipally sourced contaminants.

Heavy Metal & Trace Element Removal

For heavy metals, the ROES-50 again ranks at the top of its class. It removed nearly all common measured metals — including barium, copper, lithium, nickel, iron and aluminum — with consistent near-zero readings across our test cycles.

This system did seem to have a problem with boron. Because boron becomes an uncharged molecule in very acidic water, the RO membrane can't trap it effectively—so in low-pH conditions, boron can slip through the filter and even appear higher after filtration due to normal testing variability.

In the end, this system is especially impressive in how evenly it performs across metals with very different chemical behaviors, which speaks to the quality of its membrane and the stability of its pre-filter stages.

Taste

Taste feedback on the ROES-50 is overwhelmingly positive, with most users describing the water as crisp, neutral, and even better than bottled. Our in-house team found a similarly clean flavor, noting that the system effectively strips away bitterness and chlorine taste. The included post-carbon polishing filter helps round out the flavor, though some users noticed warmer water directly after filtration, which can exaggerate subtle flavors.

Taste is very subjective, and most negative online reports mostly came from people citing poor-tasting water, where a faint aftertaste sometimes lingered despite filtration. Out of all the filters we ran through taste tests, this model earned the top spot, along with, surprisingly, our lowest overall rated RO system, the Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System.

Maintenance & Setup

This is one area where the ROES-50 lags behind modern designs. Installation is more involved than that of tankless or quick-connect RO systems, as it requires drilling into both your countertop/sink and drain line. The multi-canister layout also takes up significant under-sink space, and filter changes require unscrewing housings, a process that can easily cause spills if not handled carefully.

Once you've got the housing removed, though, removing and dropping in new filters is simple.

The silver lining is that filters last a long time (6–12 months for pre-filters and up to four years for the membrane), so maintenance is infrequent once the system is running.

Operating Cost

Although the initial setup and complete filter sets look expensive at first, the ROES-50's replacement schedule is infrequent enough that its yearly cost ends up lower than many tankless RO systems. Pre-filters are inexpensive and need changing only once or twice a year, and the membrane and polishing filter can last 2–4 years, depending on water quality. If your tap water is decent, you'll fall on the low end of the cost spectrum; homes with very high sediment or TDS will see higher operating expenses. Over the first five years, our tester estimates you'll spend somewhere between $150 - $330 on filter replacements.

Should You Buy the APEC ROES-50 Essence Series?

The APEC ROES-50 Essence Series is a solid pick for anyone who wants top-tier contaminant removal without paying premium RO prices. It's ideal for households concerned about lead, PFAS, chlorine, or other common pollutants and for DIYers comfortable with a standard under-sink installation.

It's not the best fit for buyers with very limited cabinet space, those who want ultra-efficient water usage, or anyone looking for the quickest, easiest filter changes—its traditional setup and maintenance are a bit more hands-on than modern twist-and-go systems.

What Other Water Filter Should You Consider?

If you're looking for an RO system but the APEC ROES-50 seems a bit bulky for your space, check out the tankless Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System — it scored nearly as high in all filtration metrics and is significantly easier to install. You might end up paying a bit more in the long run for filter replacements, but it's a small price to pay for not having to renovate your kitchen for an RO system.