Our editors checked out the Sterra Moon Air Purifier, a no-frills smart, effective and aesthetically pleasing air purifier. Here’s what we found:
The Sterra Moon Air Purifier, which I just bought, tested, and will talk about in this review, is very different from the other air purifiers we’ve looked at, mostly in how it looks and how it works.
I like that it is much more automated than some of the other models we’ve looked at, that it uses smart technologies a lot more, and that it uses very high-quality filtration technology for less than SGD300.
This small air purifier cleans the air in rooms up to 35 square meters (376 sq. ft.), uses 3-stage filtration technology, and is available in Ion Exchange or UV-Tech model. In my case, I opted for the Ion Exchange version.
Overall, I think I will look into brands like Sterra in the future. I will try the Sterra Breeze with a bigger coverage area for my living room. Now sit back, relax, and keep reading to find out how good the Sterra Moon Air Purifier is, how it did in tests, and whether or not you should buy it.
Breathing in clean air has never been so front of mind or important.
Modern indoor spaces can be full of allergens, viruses, bacteria, and harmful gases that can cause respiratory infections. Some allergic reactions to these things include sneezing, watery eyes, a stuffy nose, and a runny nose.
Since we spend a lot of time out and about interacting with other people, in our bedrooms, homes, and offices, it might be a good idea to pay attention to the air quality in these places.
How to Setup and Install the Sterra Moon Air Purifier?
Even though every air purifier needs to be set up before it can be used for the first time, I was surprised to learn that the Sterra Moon needs almost no setup. It is straightforward, and yes, you could say it’s “dummy-proof”.
Since the filter is already in the device and ready to go, you only need to take the power adapter out of the box, plug it in, then plug the device in and turn it on. I would also suggest putting the air purifier on a flat, hard surface and moving it at least 8 cm away from walls or other objects.
What Do I think of the Sterra Moon Air Purifier Design?
My first thought when I took the Sterra Moon Air Purifier in hand was, “Wow, how light is this air purifier”. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s not good if it’s light, but it’s simply that the technology has advanced, the motor is of better quality, and there aren’t many metal parts inside the device, which in the end makes it lighter.
The plastic on this model is excellent, and so is its build quality. Everything is elegantly designed and thoughtfully placed. There are no separations and no sharp edges and awkward gaps. I like that the plastic is matte, so the device does not slip out of your hands. I could tell a lot of thought went into the product design process.
The device is almost all white, except for the silver “orb” that controls it and the part that lets air out. I like that there are rubber “studs” on the bottom of the device to keep it from moving around on smooth surfaces.
The Sterra Moon Air Purifier is a stylish and modern air purifier that I’m sure looks good almost anywhere. It also comes in the colour Space Grey. I chose white, though, so it would go with my standing fan and my grey cabinet doors.
Easily use Sterra Moon Air Purifier with One-Touch Control
Sterra Moon is a modern air purifier you can set up and use easily to purify air at home with just one touch. Just tap the sensor on the “control-sphere” or the “orb” to turn it on/off. And when you want to increase or decrease its fan speed, simply tilt the “orb” up or down.
Air Flow, Room Coverage and CADR (How large should my room be for the Sterra Moon Air Purifier to work well?)
The Sterra Moon is in the shape of a cylinder, and the cylinder-shaped filter is in the bottom of the device. The air intakes are at the bottom of the unit and are spread out in all directions. When air comes in through these openings, it is cleaned and then goes out through the grilles on top.
Sterra says this air purifier can be used in a room up to 35 square metres in size (376 sq. ft.). According to the AHAM standards, this air purifier would work best in rooms up to 300 sq. ft., where the Sterra Moon can clean the air 8 times in an hour.
The Sterra Moon has a CADR of 280m3/h, which is good for such a small air purifier. Based on this, it’s easy to figure out that this air purifier can clean the air in a 600 sq. ft. room four times in one hour. I think this small, stylish air purifier will work in many rooms, and will work especially well in a small living room, bedroom, kitchen, or office.
Based on my tests, I think this air purifier is good for rooms that are around bigger than 350 to 400 sq. ft.
Sterra Moon’s Filtration Technology
The Sterra Moon uses a 3-stage filtration system that is “medical grade.” It has a primary filter, a medical grade HEPA 13 class filter, and an activated carbon filter. The filter is in the shape of a cylinder and is hollow in the middle. It is on the bottom of the unit and takes up almost half of the space.
I don’t have much to say about the filter itself because cylindrical air purifiers have become a standard, and most of them look exactly the same. However, the technology used to filter the air and the technology that goes with it are different.
As for the overall quality of the filter on the Sterra Moon, I’m very happy with it. It’s a very good filter, which helped the Sterra Moon do well in the performance tests.
Pre-Filter
The first step in filtering is the pre-filter. Its main job is to catch large particles in the air, like pet hair, pollen, and dust. This makes the True HEPA 13 filter last longer and, of course, makes the filtration better. It is basically a nylon mesh filter that is stuck to the True HEPA filter and catches all large particles easily.
I think the biggest benefit of this filter will be seen by people with pets (because the filter will catch a lot of hair) or a lot of dust in the room. I’d like to point out that this filter gets dirty very quickly, so I suggest that you clean it often with a dry cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
True HEPA-13 Filter
The second and most important level of filtration is the True HEPA filter. This filter catches 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, such as dust, pollen, smoke, and pet odours. Electrostatic technology is used to fuse PP fibres together in Sterra’s filter. By making the spaces between the fibres bigger, the filter can let more air through.
Activated Carbon Filter
The activated carbon filter is the last step in the filtering process. Its job is to get rid of smells in the room. I like that this filter is made of pellets, which makes it work much better. Still, I’d like to add that I would have liked to see more carbon pellets inside the filter, which would have made it work better and last longer.
Ion Exchange Tech Model
The model that I bought is the Ion Exchange model. This model releases healthy ions to bind with airborne viruses, dust particles, free radicals and pollen for easy cleanup.
Some articles say that these ions help get rid of static electricity, improve your mood, and keep you from getting tired.
UV Tech Model
The UV Tech model of the Sterra Moon Air Purifier is equipped with UV-C led to kills or inactivates airborne bacteria, mould, viruses and pathogens by destroying their DNS/RNA using UV-C light spectrum.
How do I replace the Sterra Moon Air Purifier’s filter?
The filter on the Sterra Moon can’t be washed, so you have to replace it. On average, this is between 6 and 12 months, but it depends on how often and where you use the air purifier.
The good news is that the machine will tell you when the filter needs to be changed. When it’s time to change the filter, the “orb’s” light ring will change to red and will start to flash. However, the best way to see this is through the Smart Life app, where you can monitor the percentage of wear on the filter in real-time.
The filter can be changed without much trouble. Turn the bottom cover to open it, then take out the old filter and put in a new one.
Sterra Moon’s Noise Level Test
Before I talk about the results of the test, I want to point out that this is one of the best motors I have tested so far. Even though it gets louder at some speeds, the sound it makes is so smooth and pleasant that there is no humming, popping, or anything else that might bother or annoy you.
The Sterra Moon Air Purifier is quiet and uses less energy because it has a brushless DC motor with carbon brushes.
I tested how loud this air purifier is when it’s in sleep (low speed) mode, medium and at full speed. I think this is enough to figure out how loud this model is. The sound level tester was placed one meter away from the air purifer.
In the sleep (low speed) mode, this air purifier makes only 30 – 37 dBA of noise, which is pretty quiet. So, you can use it without any problems in a bedroom or a similar room. In medium speed, Sterra Moon records 45 – 48 dBa of noise. At its fastest (high) speed, the Sterra Moon makes only 52 – 56 dBA of noise, which is much less than some other air purifiers in the same class.
Overall, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is a very quiet air purifier and one of the quietest I’ve tried. This is important to know if quietness is a key factor for you when choosing an air purifier.
Sterra Moon’s Intuitive Air Quality Sensor and Indicator
The Sterra Moon is equipped with a sensitive high-performance PM2.5 air quality sensor. This laser particle sensor works in real-time to measure the air’s dust content. It can also find certain VOCs and smoke.
The control sphere or the “orb” has a light-ring that makes it easy to see how clean the air is. For instance, blue light means that the air quality inside is good. An amber light means that air pollution is moderate, and a red light means that air pollution is severe. The colours on the “orb’s” light ring also make it easy to tell when the air purifier’s filters need to be changed. The light will change to red and start flashing.
The light-ring will turn blue when the PM2.5 concentration level is below 75, indicating that the air quality is satisfactory. The indicator will turn amber if the level of PM2.5 is between 75 and 150, indicating moderate air quality. The indicator will turn red if there are more than 150 PM2.5 particles.
If you want to see more detailed statistics of the Air Quality, simply download the Smart Life smart app.
Sterra Moon Air Purifier Tobacco Smoke Test
The Sterra Moon Air Purifier can clean the air in a space up to 376 sq. ft. This coverage comes from the manufacturer. But I’m more interested in how well the Sterra Moon works against tobacco smoke than in testing the air quality based on room size.
Overall, I am very happy with how well this device works and how well it has done in all of the tests. In a short amount of time, the Sterra Moon can get rid of the smell and lower the PM2.5 particles (the readings from the Air Quality Tester are dropping). I am also very surprised that the Sterra Moon was able to pick up the tobacco fume even when I was standing 2.5 meters away.
Pros and Cons of the Sterra Moon Air Purifier
- Modern design
- Air quality sensor
- Air quality indicator
- Automatic mode
- 3-stage filtration technology
- Medical-grade HEPA 13 Class Filter
- Ion Exchange or UV Tech option
- Smart App
- Ultra-low power consumption
- Excellent performance
- CARB Certified
- Not very loud when working
- Excellent price/quality ratio
- Long-lasting filters
- Easy to maintain
- Easy to use
- It would be good if the warranty was longer
- Lack of some controls on the control panel
Sterra Moon Air Purifier
- Futuristic design
- Very reasonably priced
- Uses an Advanced Smart App
- Can be controlled by Smart Phone,
- Connect to Google Assistant & Alexa
- Can be scheduled to turn on and off
- Efficient and affordable HEPA 13 Class Filter
- 3-stage filtration
- CARB Certified
● Dimensions (HxWxD): Diameter 244 mm x H 544 mm
● Energy consumption: 2 – 45 Watts
● Sound level: 33 – 64 dBA
● Air outlet: Top (Cylindrical)
● Air inlet: Cylindrical
● Filter Type: Pre-filter + medical-grade HEPA filter (incorporated with an Activated Carbon layer)
● Recommended filter change: Every 6 – 12 months depending on your environment (the device will inform you when to change)
● Recommended room size: 30 m2
● CADR: 280 m³/h
Editor’s Opinion and Review: Do we recommend it?
Are you looking for an air purifier that is compact, lightweight and modern? Then you should check out the Sterra Moon Air Purifier. This air purifier is good for rooms up to 35 square metres. The Sterra Moon can clean up to 4,666 litres of clean air in a room in one minute, and it can filter with a CADR of up 280 m3/hr of pollen, allergies, hair, dust, smoke, and dander.
The Sterra Moon is cylindrical in shape with dimensions of 24.4cm in diameter and 54.4cm in height and can be put anywhere in the house without getting in the way. The Smart Life app or Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant can be used to control the air purifier. The light ring on the “orb” makes it easy to understand air quality and operating mode in real-time. More detailed information such as air quality, indoor temperature, humidity level, operating mode, and filter status is available via the smart app.
The Sterra Moon uses a 3-in-1 medical-grade HEPA-13 filter which consists of Pre-filter + HEPA Filter + Carbon Filter. Hence, the air purifier gets rid of all the dirt and smells in the air at a CADR of 280 m3/h. Additionally, you can choose between the Ion Exchange or the UV-Tech model. The difference is how it “kills” the viruses in the air and the need to replace an additional filter (You will need to replace the UV-C LED over time).
There are four modes to clean the air. In the automatic mode, the air purifier’s laser sensor (PM2.5 sensor) look at the air in the room and figures out how to clean it. It then works on its own when it needs to. In “sleep mode” (low speed) the unit makes only 35 decibels of noise so you can get a good night’s sleep.
Because it has a high-efficiency medical-grade filter, it only uses 45 watts at full power, which is slightly above 1 kWh in 24 hours. Because of this, the Sterra Moon Air Purifier is a green and cheap alternative to bigger air purifiers.
The HEPA filter lasts for 6 to 12 months and is easy to change after that. When the filter needs to be changed, the smart application or the flashing light ring lets you know. If you are looking for a quality quiet air purifier, the Sterra Moon is a great choice. In fact, when the Sterra Moon is on quiet mode, it only makes 30 dB of noise, which isn’t extremely quiet for a small room.
My unequivocal advice is to get a Sterra Moon Air Purifier for its performance, features, sleek look, and lastly, affordability.
Why is Medical Grade H13 HEPA Filter Better? Compare the Sterra Moon Medical-Grade HEPA Filter against other Air Purifiers’ filters.
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold
- Dust mites
- Common Smoke
- Lead Dust
- Pet Dander
- Asbestos
- Paint Pigments
- Insecticide
- Anthrax
- Carbon Dust
- All Bacteria
- Tobacco Smoke
- Virus Carriers
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold
- Certain Bacteria
- Dust mites
Tech Editor’s Final Verdict and Summary on the Sterra Moon Air Purifier
I will be honest. I was first attracted to the Sterra Moon Air Purifier because of its sleek design.
After learning more about its features, how well it works, and pricing, I took the plunge on a relatively new brand and bought a unit to try out.
After my detailed testing and using the Sterra Moon Air Purifier, I have come to the conclusion that it’s a very interesting, innovative, and, most importantly, very effective air purifier that surprised me in all tests.
This air purifier is best used in rooms up to 370 sq. ft., it scores fantastic results in performance tests, runs quietly, and is very affordable to maintain. That said, I believe that the above, as well as many other reasons, are pretty enough to give the Sterra Moon my absolute recommendation for purchase.