Coway Airmega Pedestal Fan P50 Review: Anti-App

I have tested approx 45 WIRED fans over the past two years, so I can say this with some authority: Your fan doesn’t need an app. If the app helps you connect the device to your smart environment for voice control, that’s fine, but the fan needs to blend seamlessly into the background of your life, not taking up leftover household waste on your phone or in your brain.

Coway, the creator of some of us your favorite air purifier (which I’ll also note has no software), agrees with this, which is why its stand-alone fan, the P50 pedestal fan, eschews software-based controls. Turn the heater on or off, change the direction, or change the speed up and down with your voice or the remote control – no phone or Wi-Fi required. It’s a solid idea from a brand that has proven its reliability and build quality, but after having this fan for the past two weeks, I’m not sure its marquee design is its biggest selling point.

Basics, Well Done

The P50 is not the first Coway fan. That distinction goes away Airmega Aima combination air purifier/fan that looks like a small projector and is not too controversial for large spaces or rooms that need a lot of ventilation. The P50, however, is Coway’s first stand-alone, producing an adequate but not particularly impressive 866 feet per minute at its highest speed. (To explain, competition Dreo’s similar size PolyFan 508 pedestal it goes up to 1,040 feet per minute.)

The P50 has 12 speeds, and at 26 decibels on the bottom (68 on the top), it’s the quietest fan I’ve tested so far. Coway says this is due to the “eagle” design of its blades (which is not like a falcon) and the brushless motor, a very popular choice that I first saw last year. Dreo’s 519 platform fan. Brushless motors are quieter, more efficient, and often last longer than conventional fans, which use carbon or graphite brushes to transfer electricity as the motor spins. Like most new fans, the P50’s head cabinet also comes out for easy cleaning of the interior.

One of the first things I noticed about the P50’s assembly is that the cable doesn’t go through the middle, like some fans – it comes out about an inch behind the control panel on the screen. That’s because the panels can be removed to make the fan taller or shorter—from 23 inches to 41 inches, which adds a lot of flair. This is an approved portable system that includes a fan outlet, and it also helps that it weighs a little under 14 pounds, and is easy to move by holding the loop on the back. The size of the fan is enough that it is not too heavy and it is not easy to drop, one of the biggest risks is the floor fans.

Airmega, We Need to Talk

The voice control was probably the most impressive part of this fandom, although it was the most popular part. To activate the command, one must say, “Hello, Airmega” or “Hello, Airmega.” (“Moni” or “Hello” is important. Shouting “Airmega!” repeatedly in frustration will not get a response.) Next, one should expect to hear “Hello! This is Airmega!” back in Alexa voice memory + “sassy teen”. I have been referred to in other words as “intolerable”. When it’s time to send your request – as long as it’s one of the 30 or so words they understand. You’ll know when it understands because it will shout “Airmega is there!” before giving instructions. If it doesn’t understand, well… it won’t do anything.

The first few times I used the P50 I had the included Voice Command guide close at hand, except for the frustration of waiting for the “Hello, This is Airmega!” and “Airmega is there!” feedback, fan control and sound went well. I was sitting in another part of the living room, away from the Word of God, when things started to go downhill. “Airmega! Turn it on!” I did.