Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review

Dreo, one of the biggest manufacturers of household appliances in the US, has released a new air purifier tower fan. Featuring a novel dual-motor design, the Dreo MC710S promises to outperform competitor Dyson appliances with a stronger air outlet and reduced noise levels — and with a $299.99 price tag, it also costs half the price of the Dyson Purifier Cool. But is this budget alternative worth investing in?

This Dreo air purifier tower fan boasts an ultra-long 40-feet range and a dual H13 True HEPA filtration system that can trap up to 99.97% particles as small as 0.3 microns. It also features a whopping total of 12 fan speeds and four fan modes, which is far more than what you typically see in even some of the most premium tower fans. Moreover, this appliance can be controlled with a remote, connected app, and even a voice assistant. Based on specifications alone, the Dreo MC710S is a strong contender for a spot in our roundup of the best air purifiers on the market. 

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan: Design

• Bland-looking plastic exterior
• Its flimsy and unstable build makes it easy to topple over
• Bright, colorful display and intuitive controls
• Easy to use and clean

The Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan appears to look good from a distance. Its inconspicuous, narrow build and toned-down colors are easy on the eye and can easily fit in with a range of home decors. However, a closer inspection of the appliance reveals a rather bland-looking plastic exterior, and even its bright, colorful display does not hide the fact that you are dealing with a budget product. Moreover, the Dreo MC710S features a somewhat fragile and unstable build, making it prone to getting damaged or toppled over. But if you can look past its underwhelming looks and flimsy build, this air purifier tower fan has much to offer.   

Weighing 17.82 lbs and measuring nearly 47 inches in height, the Dreo MC710S looks chunky but has a small footprint. This air purifier tower fan can easily be tucked into a corner (as long as you place it at least 15 inches away from the walls), or right in the middle of the room thanks to its 7-feet long cable. Moreover, the Dreo MC710S features an impressive 120-degree oscillation, so it can be positioned in a way that achieves the most optimal airflow no matter the room layout.

Moving the unit around is tricky because the small ridge that is supposed to function as a carrying handle is too shallow and awkward to grip. We struggled to pick up such a big appliance with one hand so those with mobility or strength issues may find it hard to maneuver. Eventually, we opted to move the unit around by lifting it from the bottom but the plastic cover felt fragile when doing so.

The Dreo MC710S was easy to operate. Controls on the panel at the top of the unit were intuitive to use and responsive to touch and we experienced no problems controlling it remotely either via the supplied remote control or the Dreo app. Cleaning and maintaining the unit was also fairly effortless. The shell and outer pre-filter can be cleaned with a soft brush, while the rear grills can be easily removed, dusted off and rinsed under running water.

According to the brand, the filters should be changed every six to nine months. We liked that this was easy to do and that the replacement filters are reasonably priced — $39.99 per one change, which is cheaper than its competitors.

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan: Features

• 12 fan speeds, four fan modes
• Three purification intensities and an automatic mode
• Multiple smart features

The Dreo MC710S is both a tower fan and air purifier but appears to be more geared towards air cooling than air cleaning.

This 2-in1 appliance features 12 fan speeds and four fan modes: Normal, Auto, Sleep, and Breeze. In Normal Mode, the fan blades operate at a constant speed, providing a steady airflow, while in Auto Mode their speed is automatically adjusted based on the room's temperature and humidity. Sleep Mode is tailored for nighttime use with slower and quieter fan speeds and a dimmer display. Breeze Mode, on the other hand, alternates between different fan speeds and patterns to mimic the sensation of a natural breeze. This mode is designed for winter use, or when the room temperatures drop below 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celcius).

The Dreo MC710S also features four air purification modes: Three manually controlled intensities and an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the strength of purification based on the air quality readings.

The direction of airflow can be easily adjusted to suit specific needs. The air vents can either move continuously throughout its 120-degree range, within a custom range, or they can maintain a targeted airflow. The timing of the airflow can also be scheduled with a handy 24-hour timer. Moreover, the device features a child lock and an auto-brightness setting, which causes the display to adapt automatically based on lighting conditions.

Controlling the air purifier remotely with the Dreo app was convenient. The app allows you to set detailed schedules and monitor temperature and air quality, both in real-time and in the past 30 days and we experienced no issues with connectivity or data transfer.    

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan: Performance

• Surprisingly quiet when in use
• Good air-cleaning performance on Auto settings
• Maximum fan settings give great air-cleaning results

The tower fan did a good job of keeping us cool during an unusually warm and humid spring. We liked its powerful and refreshing airflow and we found it easy to adjust it exactly as we pleased. It also appeared to have good sensitivity to indoor pollutants. Whenever we cooked, sprayed cosmetics, or used cleaning chemicals, it swiftly kicked into action to reduce the smells and bring the air quality back to normal.

We also liked that it was surprisingly quiet. We expected the Dreo MC710S to make a loud mechanical buzz typical of circular blade fans. But what we heard instead was more of a gentle hum. When we measured the device with a decibel-counting app we recorded just 32 decibels (dB) when set to medium fan speed (equivalent to a whisper) and 59 dB on the maximum settings — which is on par with a conversation level.

We then conducted a series of performance tests using an industry-grade air particle monitor — a piece of equipment capable of detecting air pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. In each test, the oscillation remained switched off so the results were comparable with other static air purifiers we have previously reviewed.

First, we conducted an ambient air test in a medium-sized room. We measured the baseline air quality and then ran the Dreo MC710S on its Auto fan and purification mode. After 15 minutes, the air particles measuring 0.3 microns were reduced by 71%, while the 2.5-micron pollutants decreased by 70%. After half an hour, these values rose to an impressive 90% and 91%, respectively. When we repeated the test in a smaller room, the results were on average better by a couple of percentage points. Our air particle monitor did not detect any 10-micron particles at any stage of the tests.

Then, we exposed the Dreo MC710S to heavy air pollution. We started with burning 10 matches in quick succession, then running the air purifier on its Auto modes. After 15 minutes, the particles measuring 0.3 microns were reduced by 66%, the 2.5-micron particles decreased by 72%, and the particles measuring 10 microns dropped by 81%. After 30 minutes, these values rose to 85%, 89%, and 97%, respectively. We obtained similarly good results after exposing the Dreo MC710S to incense smoke, and when we repeated the same smoke tests on maximum settings, we removed all of the pollutants within 30 minutes.

Overall, we found that the Dreo MC710S offers a good air-cleaning performance. While it may not boast the same cutting-edge capabilities as some of the more premium air purifiers we have tested, we discovered it still delivers decent results.

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan: User reviews

The Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with more than three-quarters of customers awarding it the highest score. Positive reviews praise this air purifier tower fan for its quiet yet powerful airflow, ease of use, and value for money, with many buyers saying they received excellent customer service from the company. Many users compared the Dreo MC710S to the competitor Dyson products, often concluding that it is cheaper and more efficient. As one user commented, “This is a Rolls Royce!!! LOVE IT!”.

Negative reviews often cite the cheap-looking plastic exterior and the size of the unit. As one user said, “It's needlessly bulky, taking up much more space than it needs to. However, it does look a little like you have R2-D2 sitting in your living room, which might appeal to you.”

Should you buy the Dreo MC710S?

✅ The Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan strikes a good balance between efficiency and affordability, making it a great budget alternative to more premium Dyson models. This appliance may not be a looker, but it offers a wealth of smart features, great air-cleaning capabilities and a refreshing airflow that can be easily adjusted in strength and direction.

❌ However, if you are looking for stunning looks and exceptional durability, the Dreo MC710S may fall below your expectations. This air purifier tower fan features a rather flimsy plastic build, and the unit itself is available in only one color option. The Dreo MC710S is also not particularly portable, so if you want an air purifier that can be easily moved around, consider investing in a smaller appliance with handles or deep ridges.

If Dreo MC710S is not for you

Air purifier tower fans are still a fairly novel product, so there are not many models on the market that could serve as a suitable alternative to the Dreo MC710S. However, the Dyson Purifier Cool is one of the few models that we can wholeheartedly recommend. It is quite pricey, but it offers exceptional air purification capabilities, and it boasts a stylish design, too.

If you are willing to forego the tower fan feature, consider investing in the Levoit Core 600S. This powerful appliance tops our guide to the best air purifiers on the market thanks to its unbeatable performance, unobtrusive design and smart features. But if you are looking for something more budget-friendly, check out the GermGuardian AC4825E. This compact tower air purifier features a HEPA filter, UV-C sanitizer and intuitive controls — and it costs only $99.99.

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan: How we tested

We spent over two weeks testing the Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan, assessing its design, ease of use, maintenance requirements, portability, performance, and connectivity with third-party devices. We also checked the cost of its replacement filters and used a decibel-counting app to measure how loud it was on different fan settings. 

Lastly, we conducted a series of performance tests to assess its air-cleaning capabilities. We used an industry-grade air particle monitor — a piece of equipment capable of detecting air pollutants as small as 0.3 microns — to measure how the Dreo MC710S handles ambient air conditions and heavy smoke pollution caused by burning matches and incense sticks. In each test, we measured the air quality before and after running the air purifier for 15 and 30 minutes.