Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Under-Sink Water Filters

APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System vs Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.9). APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System is best for: households that want thorough reverse osmosis filtration at a low running cost and have under-sink space to spare. Read the strengths below before deciding.

APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Under-Sink Water Filters
APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System
1 source$190as of Oct 17

The APEC ROES-PH75 is a six-stage, tank-based under-sink reverse osmosis system rated at 75 gallons per day, with a 4-gallon tank, a dedicated chrome faucet and a final calcite remineralisation stage. Water Filter Guru scored it 8.87/10 after lab testing showed it removed every contaminant found above health guideline levels and cut dissolved solids by 93%, though its measured output and water efficiency were well short of APEC's figures. Bob Vila named it best overall, with its tester reporting clearer, better-tasting water from the first day in a home on hard municipal water. It suits households that want thorough, low-cost purification and have cabinet space to spare; anyone short on under-sink room, or keen to limit wastewater, should look at a tankless or pumped system instead.

Strengths
  • — Removed every contaminant detected above health guideline levels in Water Filter Guru's lab test
  • — Cut total dissolved solids by 93%, from 875 to 54 ppm, with no significant TDS creep
  • — Calcite remineralisation stage kept the filtered water from turning acidic
Watch-outs
  • — Wasteful without a pump: 10.6 oz sent to drain per 1 oz purified on a small draw
  • — Installation took 90 minutes and needs a dedicated faucet hole drilled in the countertop
  • — The 4-gallon storage tank fills much of the under-sink cabinet
Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+
Ranked #4 in Best Under-Sink Water Filters
Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+
1 sourceall derived$199.99as of Sep 28

The Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+ is the best all-around under-sink carbon filter, pairing NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certification with a fast-flow three-stage design that keeps healthy minerals in the water. It reduces 99% of 77 contaminants, including lead, chlorine, PFAS and pharmaceuticals, without the water waste of reverse osmosis. The trade-off is a 6-month filter life and a higher per-gallon cost. For clean, great-tasting water, it's a leading pick.

Strengths
  • — Triple-stage Claryum filtration reduces 99% of 77 contaminants including lead, chlorine, PFAS and pharmaceuticals
  • — NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certified, covering taste, health contaminants and emerging compounds
  • — Retains beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium rather than stripping them
Watch-outs
  • — Filters last about 6 months or 800 gallons, shorter than some rivals
  • — Requires a spare faucet hole or drilling for the dedicated faucet
  • — Does not reduce total dissolved solids the way reverse osmosis does

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

APEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis System

The ROES-PH75 is a reverse osmosis system, unlike the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under the Sink, which reduces contaminants without RO, and the Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+, which is a no-wait filter that keeps healthy minerals. The APEC instead strips most minerals and adds a calcite stage at the end, and it needs a 4-gallon storage tank and a drain connection that sends water to waste.

Aquasana Claryum AQ-5300+

Unlike the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage, the AQ-5300+ carries multiple NSF certifications rather than relying on third-party testing alone.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAPEC Water ROES-PH75 Essence Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemAquasana Claryum AQ-5300+
Filtration Stages6 (sediment, 2 carbon blocks, RO membrane, carbon post-filter, calcite remineralisation)—
Rated Output75 gallons per day—
Storage Tank4 gallons—
Dimensions15.5 x 5.25 x 17.5 in12"L x 4.25"W x 12.88"H
CertificationsNSF/ANSI 58 (TDS reduction), lead-free designNSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401
Power SourceWater pressure (no pump)—
Warranty1 year limited—
Filtration—3-stage Claryum
Contaminants Reduced—99% of 77 (lead, chlorine, PFAS, pharmaceuticals)
Filter Life—6 months / 800 gallons
Mineral Retention—Yes (calcium, magnesium)
Faucet—Dedicated brushed nickel included
Install Time—~30-45 min DIY
Flow—Max Flow (no tank)
Material—Metal
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