Water filtration is a booming category, and at-home units come in a range of formats: under-sink attachments, whole-house systems, water filter pitchers and countertop dispensers.
Ever the innovator, Ninja has jumped into the category with the launch of HydraSense, a slim countertop water filter that removes more than 80 contaminants (including forever chemicals, lead, microplastics and pharmaceuticals) and does a few things its competitors don’t.
The Best Countertop Water Filters, Lab-Tested by CNET
I got a firsthand look at the HydraSense at Ninja’s New York headquarters, where the product team walked me through its unique features and showed off the filter’s pure power by running a batch of Kool-Aid through it.
Here’s what it does.
Filters out the bad stuff but leaves the good
Reverse osmosis filters are the best for pure filtering power. The knock is that they strip water of minerals, which can leave water tasting bland. HydraSense’s oversized and especially dense activated carbon filter preserves naturally occurring minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium, for better-tasting water.
I sipped some fresh from the spout, and it tasted as crisp and clean as any I’ve had from the many filters I’ve tested.
In a demo, the product team filtered a batch of freshly made red Kool-Aid through the HydraSense. What emerged was perfectly clear liquid that tasted like clean water with no residual fruit punch flavor.
Filters 80+ contaminants, with certifications to prove it
If you’re wondering how well the filter works, you don’t have to take Ninja’s word for it. The HydraSense is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, the most rigorous water filter testing body, to remove chlorine, chloramine, lead, volatile organic compounds, PFAS (forever chemicals) and microplastics.
Loads of filters on the market claim to reduce or eliminate these contaminants via in-house or third-party testing, but regulatory certifications leave nothing in question.
Lets you know when the filter needs changing
The bulk of the water filters I’ve tested have no system to let you know when the filter needs changing. It becomes a guessing game, and keeping track of how much water you’ve put through the machine is pretty much impossible.
HydraSense has a built-in monitor that lets you know when the filter is nearing the end of its life so you don’t end up changing it too soon or not soon enough. A single filter is good for 120 gallons, and replacements cost $40.
Filters fast. Like, really fast
When testing countertop water filters for CNET, one downside for most of the machines was slow filtering time — sometimes as much as an hour or more to filter a gallon. The HydraSense uses a unique pressure system to push water through the filter so it dispenses immediately. The feature is especially handy for power hydrators and families that burn through drinking water fast.
While water comes out fast, there’s a handy slow pour setting so you can fill ice trays without making a mess. You can also set the machine to dispense water in any ounce pour you want (up to 18 ounces).
The price is right, too
At $200 — currently discounted to $160 for launch — the HydraSense represents one of the best-value water filters I’ve seen. Reverse osmosis systems like the AquaTru Carafe cost nearly twice as much. Gravity filters such as the Rorra and Boroux, which work well but slowly, typically start at around $300 and go up from there.
It’s closest competitor is the $120 Brita Hub. It too is certified to filter roughly 80 contaminants and does so quickly using a similar pressure system. But there’s no filter life monitor or slow pour settings, and the plastic build is notably cheaper.
The HydraSense is available now on Ninja’s website.
