Brita Ultramax Dispenser with Elite Filter Review

The Brita Ultramax is an upgrade from your standard household pitcher filter. Its large size is a great option for families or users with high water demands. Plus, its long-lasting Elite filter removes more impurities than the standard Brita Original Filter. The Elite filter doesn't capture quite as much as some competing brands, but we think it's a worthy setup for the price.

Lead & Metals

Equipped with Brita's top-notch Elite Filter, the Brita Ultramax did a pretty darn good job in our lead test.

It removed 99% of lead, bringing crazy high, health-concerning levels (17 times above the EPA's limit) down to nearly nothing. It's also certified to reduce lead. While ideally we'd like to see 100%, between our test results and the certification, we think the Ultramax is a great choice for anyone concerned about old leachy lead pipes.

The Ultramax Dispenser won't protect against many other metals, though. It failed to capture arsenic, uranium, and lithium in our tests, other common metals that can impact your health. If you need broader protection, there are better dispenser options.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

The Brita Ultramax also performed well in our PFAS removal test.

It didn't catch absolutely everything, but it still nabbed around 90% of two common PFAS substances (PFNA and PFBA). That's a huge improvement, especially if you live in the city, and should be enough to keep most PFAS spikes below the EPA's safety limit.

However, if you prefer even better protection against these long-lasting, harmful substances, you'll want to stick with a filter that's certified to remove PFAS (as of July 2026 the Elite filter is not).

Microplastics

Although the Brita Elite isn't certified to reduce microplastics, it filters out more of these tiny particles than most filters we tested. And it is certified to remove BPA.

The Ultramax grabbed all the larger microplastics and let only a teeny tiny amount of the smallest bits pass through. Our lead water tester dubbed it a “highly effective microplastics shield.” While we're still not entirely sure how harmful they are to our overall health, we think limiting our exposure is a win.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Fluoride, nitrates, and sulfates are finicky impurities to remove. So, like most pitchers and dispensers we tested, the Ultramax failed to catch them. It's just not what it was built to do.

You should be concerned about these impurities if you live near a farm, drink from a private well, have rotten-egg-smelling water, or prefer to avoid fluoridation. If any of these sound like you, it's best to enlist a heavy-duty reverse osmosis system to do the job.

Taste & Chlorine

The Brita Elite received positive feedback in our taste test. Our panel of in-house testers and hundreds of Amazon reviewers find the flavor is much improved, with one noting, “The Elite filter provides a pronounced taste upgrade — my water tastes smoother, lighter, and more refreshing. Much more enjoyable to drink.” While most people agree it helps remove that icky chemical-chlorinated taste from your tap, a small fraction felt it made no difference or imparted a weird taste. You can't please everyone.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

The Brita Dispenser scored about average in daily use and upkeep costs.

Getting it set up is super easy. And we loved that its generous 27-cup capacity means we didn't have to refill it as often as a standard pitcher. For a household of two that uses filtered water for cooking and drinking, we estimate you'll only need to refill it once or twice a day. If you only use it for drinking, you can get away with far less.

That said, when it's time to refill, it's not the most convenient. You have two options: 1) refill it in the sink (if it fits), then carry all 15 pounds of it to its permanent home, or 2) refill it at its permanent home by making trips back and forth to your sink with a household pitcher. It filters water relatively fast, but the process still takes some time.

We also like that the Brita Dispenser requires very little maintenance. Aside from the occasional cleaning, you'll only need to change the filters a few times a year. The Elite filters cost a little more than most, but they also last longer, so the price evens out to about average.

For smaller households running through 40 gallons a month, filters cost around $70 a year. For larger households, you may end up spending closer to $260. If you're going through this much water, it's much more cost-effective to install a faucet or undersink system.

Should You Buy the Brita Ultramax Dispenser with Elite Filter?

The Brita Dispenser with Elite Filter is a convenient, installation-free way to keep the whole crowd hydrated with cleaner water. It's not top-of-the-line filtration, but it's close enough to meet most users' needs. As long as your space permits, we think this is a worthy option. If you have serious contamination concerns or high water needs, though, you may want to look into a more permanent filtration solution.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?