The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is an air purifier intended for small to medium-sized rooms that occupies a middle ground within Shark's BreatheClear lineup in terms of both size and air-cleaning performance. It uses a four-stage filtration system consisting of a mesh dust filter and a main filter assembly with a separate pet barrier pre-filter, activated carbon, and HEPA-Advanced layers. Shark claims this main filter assembly can last up to six years, which reduces ongoing maintenance compared to many competing air purifiers. It also includes an air quality sensor, automatic fan speed adjustment, and adjustable display brightness. However, it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity and companion app support.
Our Verdict
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is an okay option for pet owners. Its pet barrier pre-filter helps capture pet hair and larger debris before they reach the main filter, which can reduce maintenance in homes with shedding cats and dogs. It also operates quietly enough for continuous use, making it less likely to disturb pets throughout the day. However, its particle filtration performance is only adequate, so it will remove finer pet allergens like dander more slowly than stronger-performing alternatives and will struggle to keep up in larger spaces like kitchens or living rooms. Its activated carbon layer also doesn't contain much in the way of activated carbon, so it won't have much impact on persistent pet odors.
Overall quiet operation across all fan speeds.
Air quality sensor with automatic fan speed adjustment.
No Wi-Fi connectivity or companion app support.
Lower fan speeds significantly reduce air-cleaning performance.
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is a very good choice for smaller bedrooms. While its clean air delivery rate isn't particularly high, it's sufficient for continuous air filtration in compact spaces where rapid air cleaning isn't a priority, such as a small bedroom or nursery. Its quiet operation makes it easy to leave running throughout the night without becoming a distraction, and its adjustable display brightness can be dimmed or turned off completely to minimize annoyances as you sleep. Its compact size also makes it easy to place on a nightstand, dresser, or shelf. However, it lacks a remote control and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can't adjust settings, check air quality, or turn the unit on and off from bed. It also doesn't offer a dedicated timer for general operation; the only timer function is tied to Sleep Mode.
Overall quiet operation across all fan speeds.
Compact size is easy to place on desks, dressers, and nightstands.
Air quality sensor with automatic fan speed adjustment.
No Wi-Fi connectivity or companion app support.
Lower fan speeds significantly reduce air-cleaning performance.
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 has a satisfactory particle filtration rate. While its clean air delivery rate is adequate for maintaining cleaner air in smaller rooms, it lacks the performance needed to quickly clear particles from larger living spaces. Its low-noise filtration performance is particularly weak, meaning you'll need to run it at higher fan speeds to achieve meaningful air cleaning outside of very small rooms.
Air quality sensor with automatic fan speed adjustment.
Clean air delivery rate is insufficient for larger spaces.
Lower fan speeds significantly reduce air-cleaning performance.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Shark BreathClear HP162 comes in three color variants: 'Charcoal (HP162BK),' 'Dove (HP162),' and 'Dune (HP162SD).' We tested the 'Dove' model, though we expect the other variants to deliver similar overall performance. You can see the label of the unit we bought and tested.
If you encounter another variant of this device, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Air Purifier Comparisons
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is an air purifier designed to clean small to medium-sized spaces. Compared to the smaller Shark BreatheClear Compact Pro HP062, the HP162 delivers noticeably stronger air-cleaning performance and cleans the air more quickly in broader room sizes. Against the Shark NeverChange HP152, the overall cleaning performance is similar, but the HP162 runs quieter, making it a better fit for bedrooms and overnight use. It does fall short of other compact competitors like the Winix C610, though, which can clean well over twice as much space in the same time and adds Wi-Fi connectivity with smartphone app control.
If you're interested in alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best air purifiers, the best air purifiers for pets, and the best air purifiers for bedrooms.
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 and Levoit Core 200S deliver similar overall air-cleaning performance, and both are best suited for smaller rooms. The Shark has a slight edge in particle filtration and runs quieter, particularly at higher fan speeds, and its air quality sensor with automatic fan speed adjustment lets it respond to changes in air quality without user intervention. The Levoit, on the other hand, offers a more feature-rich experience with Wi-Fi connectivity, companion app support, scheduling, timers, and voice assistant compatibility. It also has a smaller footprint and comes in at a significantly lower price, making it a compelling alternative if smart features are a priority.
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 and Shark NeverChange HP152 offer very similar overall performance. Their clean air delivery rates are closely matched, making both best suited for smaller rooms. However, the HP162 operates noticeably more quietly, particularly at higher fan speeds, and delivers slightly better particle filtration performance. The HP152 does have a slightly smaller footprint, making it a little easier to place on a desk, dresser, or shelf. Otherwise, the two share many of the same strengths and weaknesses, including long-life filters and a lack of Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Winix C610 is a better air purifier than the Shark BreatheClear HP162. Its substantially higher clean air delivery rate allows it to clean the air more quickly and cover much larger spaces, making it the stronger overall performer. The gap becomes even more pronounced at quieter fan speeds, where the Winix maintains far better air-cleaning performance while the Shark's filtration rate drops off significantly. The Winix also offers Wi-Fi connectivity and companion app support, allowing you to adjust settings, monitor air quality, and create schedules remotely. That said, the Shark operates noticeably more quietly, particularly at higher fan speeds, and its long-life filter system requires less frequent replacement.
The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is a better air purifier than the Shark BreatheClear Compact Pro HP062. Neither unit delivers particularly impressive air-cleaning performance, but the HP162's higher clean air delivery rate makes it noticeably more practical for everyday use in bedrooms, home offices, and other small rooms. In comparison, the Compact's particle filtration performance is extremely limited, and it struggles to make a meaningful impact outside of very small spaces. Both models operate quietly and share a similar feature set, including air quality sensors, automatic fan adjustment, and long-life filters.
Test Results
This unit's display brightness can be adjusted through the settings menu, with options ranging from Bright to completely Off. However, unlike many smart-enabled alternatives, it doesn't offer a dedicated timer function for general operation; the only available timer is tied to Sleep Mode and can't be used independently.
This air purifier has a four-stage filtration system:
- Mesh Dust Filter: Captures larger airborne debris before it reaches the main filter.
- Pet Barrier Pre-Filter: Traps pet hair, dander, and other larger particles.
- Activated Carbon Layer: Intended to reduce household odors and gases, though the amount of activated carbon within is very limited, and is unlikely to have a big impact.
- HEPA-Advanced Layer: Captures fine airborne particles like dust, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander.
Shark advertises the combined activated carbon and HEPA-Advanced filter assembly as lasting up to six years under normal use before requiring replacement. While replacement filters don't appear to be consistently available through Shark's website, Shark customer support may be able to provide replacement options when needed.
