In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

TaoTronics TT-AH002 Review

Not as effective as some, but very quiet and cost effective
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TaoTronics TT-AH002 Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $38 List
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Manufacturer:   TaoTronics
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Bob Wofford  ⋅  Sep 16, 2018
62
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ease of Cleaning - 45% 5.0
  • Effectiveness - 25% 7.0
  • Noise - 20% 9.0
  • Ease of Use - 10% 4.0

Our Verdict

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 is a small ultrasonic humidifier with quiet operation and two-way mist diverter. This unit has a lower list price than much of the competition and a decibel reading of less than 40. We like that it comes with a cleaning brush for the smaller spaces and a filter to decrease the number of minerals released as white dust. On the downside, this unit has an on light that you can't turn off, and the tank needs support during filling because of its odd sloping top. The TaoTronics didn't perform well in our testing for effectiveness, and its lack of features means you can't program humidity levels or output. It does have auto shut-off, however, so at least it won't run when empty. While the TaoTronics failed to win an award, we do think it is notable as a potential option for parents on a budget who favor quiet operation above higher levels of humidity.
REASONS TO BUY
Quiet
Budget-friendly
Effective
Small footprint
REASONS TO AVOID
Challenging to clean and not as easy to use
Always on light
Update — July 2020
The TaoTronics TT-AH002 has been discontinued.

Our Analysis and Test Results

TaoTronics distributes a variety of products from wireless headphones and humidifiers to water floaties and almost everything in between. While the company website offers little in the way of company information or history, it seems to be a distribution company as opposed to a company that designs or creates anything independently.

Performance Comparison



taotronics tt-ah002 - the taotronics comes with a small detail brush designed to help...
The TaoTronics comes with a small detail brush designed to help clean the crevices and ultrasonic plate on the base of the unit.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


The TaoTronics has smaller crevices that can house mold and a mist tube that narrows so significantly it's virtually unreachable. To clean the tube, you'll need the longest bottle brush you can find, but it will also have to be one that can squish down considerably, and ours didn't.

taotronics tt-ah002 - the mist diverter on the taotronics can be split in two to direct...
The mist diverter on the TaoTronics can be split in two to direct moisture in different directions, but the smaller openings can get mineral buildup and pink mold if you don't clean them regularly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This unit comes with a brush that works well to reach the smaller spaces, but it means you'll be spending more time on the details to ensure all the nooks are free of buildup and mold. The base and mist diverter both can be challenging, and the tank is awkward to scrub because you need one hand to hold it while the other cleans.

taotronics tt-ah002 - the cap of the taotronics has an included filter that will need to...
The cap of the TaoTronics has an included filter that will need to be maintained for proper use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Effectiveness


This humidifier was reasonably effective during testing of moisture output. The TaoTronics comes with a filter built into the tank cap that all of the water must pass through before reaching the sonic plate. This filter theoretically should reduce the amount of white dust and mineral deposits without impacting the effectiveness of the unit to create humidity. While this unit has similar results to the competition after one hour of use, it provides less moisture in the beginning 20 minutes than other top performers. If you don't need immediate results and are happy with the long-term production, then it could be an option that works well for your situation.

taotronics tt-ah002 - the taotronics is one of the quietest options in the group we tested.
The TaoTronics is one of the quietest options in the group we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Noise


The TaoTronics is one of the quietest options in the group with decibels under 40 during testing on the highest setting. Outside of the occasional glugging sound common in all ultrasonic humidifiers as the water moves from the tank to the base, this product makes no other discernable sounds. It is the least expensive, quiet product in the group.

taotronics tt-ah002 - the single variable moisture control dial on the taotronics is easy...
The single variable moisture control dial on the TaoTronics is easy to use but lacks real control over the amount of moisture being produced.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The TaoTronics is challenging to use compared to the competition. Its test results could be somewhat misleading, indicating that the user interface is a head-scratcher. Still, in reality, the continuous dial that controls the humidity level is easy to operate.

What hurts the ease of use score for this unit is the lack of programmability, which could result in frequent in-person monitoring of humidity levels and an oddly shaped tank that requires support during filling. The filter also needs regular maintenance, which increases the upkeep of this unit over other competitors. If the tank could be refilled in place or stood on its own, the entire unit would be more user-friendly.

Juliet Spurrier, MD and Bob Wofford