Actually, to decide which air filter, you just need to know the following facts:
Haze particles are about 2.5 microns or smaller.
N95 masks can effectively filter fine particles that are about 0.1 – 0.3 microns.
A HEPA filter can remove particles up to 0.3 microns. Today, the market sells a HEPA12 and HEPA13. HEPA12 filters up to 99.5% of the pollutants while HEPA13 filters up to 99.97% of pollutants.
A True HEPA filter is the ultimate filter that adheres to the strictest standards. If you are a kiasu parent, True HEPA is the best. That is why Honeywell filter is so popular because it used True HEPA and they are found in almost all hospitals.
So my conclusion is:
1) If your family members have no respiratory problems, get any air filter that has a HEPA filter. HEPA12 is already good enough but if you are a little kiasu go for HEPA13.
2) If you have family members with respiratory issues like asthma, etc. Get an air filter with True HEPA filter and nothing else.
From what I know, Honeywell and Novita offers True HEPA filter and other brands like Sharp, Hitachi and Toshia offers HEPA filter.
How about other features found in the products like UV rays, Ionizer, Plasma Cluster, etc? Heck, if you are looking just to clear the haze, these things are not important.
I got my Sharp Plasma Cluster with HEPA12 last night and it works. I didn’t even turn on the Plasma Cluster thing.
I hope this helps you to decide.