Air Purifiers · Head to head

Shark BreatheClear HP162 vs Shark BreatheClear Max HP362

Full Smart Air Purifiers comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Shark site.
2026 verdict
For a large living room or an open-plan home, the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 is the better of these two Shark air purifiers.
Shark BreatheClear Max HP362
Winner
Shark BreatheClear Max HP362
$369.00$449.9918% OFF

Last recorded price

Buy on Amazon USA
It is the bigger machine of the line, covering about 344 sq ft at the AHAM standard of 4.8 air changes per hour, and it is the only one of the pair that adds 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, app control, automations and a My Air IQ history of particles, VOCs, temperature and humidity. Both share Shark NeverChange HEPA-exceeding filtration rated for up to six years, the washable Debris Defense pre-filter, five fan speeds, the same particle, VOC, temperature and humidity sensors, and an LCD with auto and sleep modes, so the choice is really about room size and connectivity. The Shark BreatheClear HP162 wins on price and footprint: at 3.8 kg it is the one to carry between rooms and it runs on 25 W, while the Max draws 60 W and needs more floor space. Pick the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 for an open living area and app control, and the Shark BreatheClear HP162 for a bedroom or office where a small, quiet, offline unit is enough.
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FeatureShark BreatheClear HP162Shark BreatheClear Max HP362Winner
Price$229.99$369.00Shark BreatheClear HP162
Rating4.54.6Shark BreatheClear Max HP362
ConnectivityNone2.4 GHz WiFiShark BreatheClear Max HP362
Warranty2 years2 yearsTie
FiltrationHEPA Filter, Activated Carbon Filter, Washable Pre-FilterHEPA Filter, Washable Pre-FilterTie
SensorsPM1, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, Temperature, HumidityPM1, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, Temperature, HumidityTie
Auto ModeYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Room coverage

Shark sizes the Shark BreatheClear HP362 for about 344 sq ft at the AHAM standard of 4.8 air changes per hour, against roughly 156 sq ft for the Shark BreatheClear HP162. The smaller unit cleans a bedroom or office well but has to work harder in an open room, so the bigger Max is the one that keeps pace there.

Wi-Fi and app control

The Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 adds a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio with app control, automations and a My Air IQ history, while the Shark BreatheClear HP162 has no Wi-Fi, no app and no account at all, with every control on the machine. If you want schedules or remote checks from a phone, only the Max offers them, though its Alexa, Google Home and Matter paths are not documented.

Power draw

The Shark BreatheClear HP162 draws 25 W and the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 60 W at their top speeds. Run around the clock, the smaller purifier costs noticeably less to keep going, which fits a room where it will simply be left on.

Size and weight

At 3.8 kg and 267 x 262 x 378 mm the Shark BreatheClear HP162 slips onto a shelf or beside a bed, while the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 is a 6.15 kg, 327 x 322 x 594 mm tower that needs a floor spot. The HP162 is the one you will actually move from room to room.

Fan mode and automations

Both purifiers have auto mode and five speeds, but only the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 lists a directed fan mode and automations, and only it stores air-quality history. The Shark BreatheClear HP162 keeps its controls local, with no per-device rules to set up in an app.

Which one to buy if

Upgrading from the Shark BreatheClear HP162?

Moving up from the Shark BreatheClear HP162 to the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 buys two things: airflow and connectivity. The NeverChange filter rated for up to six years, the washable pre-filter, the sensors, the LCD and auto and sleep modes are the same, so a bedroom that the HP162 already keeps clean has nothing to gain. The Max roughly doubles coverage to about 344 sq ft and adds Wi-Fi app control, automations and the My Air IQ history. Step up if the purifier now sits in a bigger space, runs at its louder speeds all day, or you want to check and schedule it from a phone; otherwise the smaller unit is the better buy.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Shark BreatheClear HP162
  • Shark BreatheClear Max HP362

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 or Shark BreatheClear HP162?

The Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 for most rooms, because it covers far more space and adds Wi-Fi app control and air-quality history. The Shark BreatheClear HP162 is the better pick for a small room where you want a lighter, quieter unit with no app and no account.

What is the biggest difference between the Shark BreatheClear HP162 and the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362?

Room coverage and connectivity. The Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 is sized for about 344 sq ft at 4.8 air changes per hour and adds a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio with app control, while the Shark BreatheClear HP162 covers roughly 156 sq ft and has no Wi-Fi, app or voice control at all.

Do the Shark BreatheClear HP162 and Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 use the same filter?

Yes. Both use Shark NeverChange HEPA-exceeding filtration, which the brand rates for up to six years and says captures 99.98% of particles at every speed, and both include the washable Debris Defense pre-filter.

Does the Shark BreatheClear HP162 need Wi-Fi or an app?

No. The Shark BreatheClear HP162 has no Wi-Fi radio and no companion app. Its LCD shows particles, VOCs, temperature and humidity, and auto and sleep modes run on the sensors on the machine. Only the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362 offers app control and automations.

Who should buy the Shark BreatheClear HP162?

Anyone cleaning a bedroom, nursery or home office who wants the same NeverChange filtration and sensor set as the bigger model in a lighter, lower-power unit, and who prefers to keep the controls offline with no account.

Who should buy the Shark BreatheClear Max HP362?

Homes with a large bedroom or an open living area, where the higher coverage keeps up, and buyers who want Wi-Fi app control, automations, a My Air IQ history and a directed fan mode.

Full comparison table

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