Air purifiers have become an increasingly popular way to improve indoor air quality. Two of the top brands on the market are Levoit and Coway. But which one is better?
Here we’ll compare the key features, technology, performance, designs, warranties, prices, and real customer reviews of Levoit and Coway air purifiers.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Levoit | Coway |
| Room Size Options | Small, medium, large, XL | Small, large, XL |
| Filtration Tech | Pre-filter, True HEPA, Activated carbon. Ionizer & UV light extras optional. | Pre-filter, Activated carbon, True HEPA. Optional ionizer. |
| Design & Features | More plastic materials, LCD displays, air quality monitoring, app connectivity | Sophisticated tower shape, manual controls only, pollution sensor |
| Noise Levels | 24 – 55 dB | 22 – 53 dB |
| Energy Use | 35W average, Energy Star models available | 24 – 77W range, no Energy Star |
| Warranty Length | 2 years | 3-5 years |
| Average Pricing | $100 – $300 | $230 – $650 |
Key Takeaways:
- Both Levoit and Coway make high-quality air purifiers that effectively clean the air using proven filtration technology like HEPA and activated carbon.
- Coway offers larger room capacity air purifiers, while Levoit has more compact options to purify smaller spaces.
- Levoit air purifiers tend to have more features like air quality monitors and app connectivity, but Coway products boast sleeker, more modern designs.
- Operating costs, noise levels, and overall customer satisfaction ratings are comparable between the two brands.
- Coway air purifiers usually have longer warranties, but Levoit is generally the more affordable option especially for budget shoppers.
How They Work To Clean The Air?
All air purifiers work to filter out air pollutants, allergens, and particles through mechanical filtration methods. This includes features like:
- Pre-filters: Catch larger particles like hair, dander, and dust
- HEPA filters: Remove 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size
- Activated carbon filters: Adsorb odors, gases, and smoke
Most Levoit and Coway models contain these key mechanical filter types to effectively clean the air passing through the system. They pull contaminated air in, filter it, and push clean air back out. Some models also feature additional filtration methods and “smart” technology features.
Key Differences Between Levoit And Coway Air Purifiers
Size Options and Room Coverage
A key factor when choosing an air purifier is making sure you get one that’s correctly sized for the room(s) you need to purify. Both Levoit and Coway offer air purifiers in a range of sizes suited to small, medium, large, and extra large spaces.
Levoit Room Sizes
- Small Room: Up to 129 ft2
- Medium Room: Up to 322 ft2
- Large Room: Up to 485 ft2
- Extra Large Room: 760+ ft2
Coway Room Sizes
- Small Room: Up to 355 ft2
- Large Room: Up to 700 ft2
- Extra Large Room: 1556+ ft2
As you can see, Coway offers models with larger coverage capacities more suited to very big spaces, while Levoit has options that can purify smaller rooms.
Filtration Technology
The types and quality of filters used impacts air purification performance. Here’s how Levoit and Coway compare:
Levoit Filtration Technology
- Pre-Filter: Catches hair, dander, lint
- H13 True HEPA Filter: Removes 99.97% of airborne particles
- Activated Carbon Filter: Eliminates odors and smoke
- Optional Ionizer & UV Light: Additional contaminant removal
Coway Filtration Technology
- Pre-Filter: Traps larger particles
- Carbon Filter: Reduces fumes and odors
- True HEPA Filter: Captures 99.97% of particles
- Optional Ionizer: Emits negative ions to further clean air
As you can see, both brands use very effective multi-layer filtration with pre-filters, activated carbon, and true HEPA filtration. Coway relies on this triple filtration process alone in most models, while Levoit adds in some extras like UV sterilization and an ionizer in certain higher-end units.
Design and Features
Air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of bonus features. Here’s how Levoit and Coway models compare:
Levoit Design & Features
- Tower and compact shapes
- LCD displays showing air quality
- Auto, sleep, and turbo fan modes
- Air quality monitoring
- Portable sizes and handle for moving room to room
- VeCAD technology senses and auto-adjusts fan speed
- App connectivity on some models
Coway Design & Features
- Sleek tower designs
- Air quality indicator ring
- Auto, eco, and jet fan modes
- Pollution sensor adjusts fan speed
- Built-in handle for easy moving
- Timer settings
- No app connectivity
The designs and interfaces are quite different between the brands. Levoit goes for function over form with some more plastic-y designs but useful LCD displays and app controls. Coway focuses more on seamless, sophisticated tower shapes with simple controls directly on each unit.
Noise Levels
No one wants a loud, distracting device continuously running in their home. Noise levels vary across different models and fan speeds. But in comparing Levoit and Coway brands generally:
- Levoit noise levels range from 24dB(sleep) to 55dB(turbo)
- Coway noise levels range from 22dB(eco) to 53dB(jet)
The decibel ratings indicate very similar ranges from near-silent operation up to moderate ambient noise. Both brands quiet down to comfortable backgrounds levels for sleep. And have the option to bump up the fan power for faster air purification.
Energy Efficiency
Operating an air purifier for hours each day can use quite a bit of energy over time. So energy efficient models can make a difference. Here’s how Levoit and Coway compare:
Levoit Energy Efficiency
- Use about 35 watts on average
- Energy Star certified models available
- Lower electricity bills around $35/year typical
Coway Energy Efficiency
- Use 24 watts to 77 watts depending on model and fan speed
- No Energy Star ratings available
- $17 to $60 per year estimated operating costs
Coway air purifiers appear to use less energy on average. Estimated annual electricity costs indicate they can be slightly cheaper to run long-term. However, Levoit still produces very cost effective options.
Warranties
The warranty coverage provides assurance that the air purifier will actually perform reliably for years before needing repairs or replacement filters. Here are the warranties offered:
Levoit Warranty
- 2 year limited warranty
- 60 day money-back return period
Coway Warranty
- 3 year limited parts warranty
- 5 year warranty if registered quickly after purchase
Coway provides longer warranty periods overall. Their standard 3 years of coverage beats Levoit’s 2 years. And Coway offers a 5 year warranty option for fast registrants.
Pricing Differences
Air purifier pricing can range from very affordable around $100 on up to $500+ for larger units with the latest tech. Comparing MSRP prices of Levoit vs Coway models:
Levoit Pricing
- Core 300 (small room): $99
- LV-PUR131 (large room): $189
- LV-H135 (XL room): $299
Coway Pricing
- AP-1512HH (large room): $230
- Airmega 400 (XL room): $648
There’s quite a lot of overlap around the $100 to $300 range where both brands offer very competitively priced options.
However, the premium for Coway’s largest capacity mega-powered units can jump much higher in the $600+ range.
So Levoit maintains some advantage for shoppers wanting maximum purification without the max price tag.
Customer Reviews
Taking a look at real customer reviews can provide unbiased insight into actual performance, ease of use, and longevity.
Levoit Reviews
- 60,000+ Amazon reviews, averaging 4.7 / 5 stars
- Praised for quiet operation, effectiveness for allergies
- Some complaints of units breaking over time
Coway Reviews
- 32,000+ reviews, averaging 4.5 / 5 stars
- Well-rated for removing smoke smells fast
- A few reviews mention confusing controls
Both air purifier brands earn very high marks and satisfaction ratings from customers. Levoit garners slightly higher overall ratings based on a much larger volume of reviews. Though Coway also performs well for real-world users with great feedback on quickly handling stubborn smells like smoke.
FAQs About Levoit and Coway
Based on performance ratings and customer reviews, the Levoit Core 300 consistently ranks as one of the most recommended entry-level air purifiers. It cleans well for small rooms, runs quietly, minimizes costs, and earns rave reviews. Coway also manufactures well-recommended mid-range and premium options.
Yes, Levoit air purifiers are designed and manufactured in China. However, they meet all electrical safety standards for the US market and maintain responsive customer service based in the US as well.
Yes, Coway is well-respected as a high-quality air purifier brand. Their filtration technology is top-notch and real customer reviews attest to good performance and durability over years of use.
Levoit air purifiers are manufactured by a company named VeSync that specializes in smart home devices. Their purification device assembly and production facilities are located in China.
Closing Remarks
In comparing two of the most popular air purifier brands, Coway and Levoit, both emerge as great options.
Coway air purifiers feature excellent all-around performance and very streamlined, modern designs. Their systems effectively clean air to capture allergens in both small and very large rooms. Plus, long warranties provide peace of mind. However, the pricing on some Coway models can be a turn off for budget buyers.
For consumers wanting an affordable workhorse air purifier, Levoit can’t be beaten. Their air purifiers match Coway on core performance metrics like filtration efficiency. And they cost significantly less for basic whole home models. Though some extras like app controls are missing from Levoit devices.
Ultimately there’s no universally “best” air purifier between these two brands. Shoppers need to weigh their own priorities – whether that’s getting marathon cleaning power for giant spaces, or keeping things simple and inexpensive for household-wide purification.
Use the helpful comparisons above to decide whether a Levoit, Coway, or even different brand air purifier is the right choice your personal needs.