If you’ve been shopping around for a new air purifier, you will no doubt have come across Levoit.
Having emerged on the scene in 2017, they’ve become one of the most popular manufacturers on the market, with an array of air purifiers to suit different needs and budgets.
Levoit’s Core line has sold millions of units thanks to impressive performance at affordable prices. The Core 600S is the largest and most powerful unit in the range, with a particle and gas filter capable of providing five air changes per hour in spaces up to 562 sq. ft.
I have been using my 600S at home since 2022. But after over a hundred air purifier tests, is it still a top contender all these years later?
The overall score for the Levoit Core 600S incorporates first-hand data results from our battery of tests, as well as our ratings for customer service, brand transparency, and design & UX. Check out the full scorecard below to see the split of categories.
Search for the 600S (or any other model you are researching) to see where it ranks:
The pros and cons of the Levoit Core 600S
A summary of our top-level findings after testing this air purifier, following our methodology.
“The Core 600S is the biggest air purifier in Levoit’s Core range, with an estimated PM1 CADR at top speed of 375 cfm that matches the newer, fancier Levoit EverestAir. The main difference? The Core 600S costs less than $300.
I have been using my 600S since 2022 without any issues. In 2025, I re-tested everything about it and found that it still is a good option for those who want an air purifier with smart features and excellent raw air cleaning power at a low initial price.”
HouseFresh Founder
& Lead Tester
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 375 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 156 cfm – AHAM PM2.5 CADR: 398 cfm (dust) |
| Filter technology: | Bonded particle filter with a layer of pelleted activated carbon and a pre-filter mash wrap. |
| Recommended room size: | 562 sq. ft. (5 air changes per hour) |
| Dimensions: | 12.3 x 12.3 x 23.6 inches (31.3 x 31.3 x 60 cm) |
| Weight: | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleep: 37.9 dBA Speed 1: 44.4 dB Speed 2: 45.9 dB Speed 3: 53.8 dBA Speed 4: 62.3 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby mode: 1.3 watts Sleep: 4.33 watts Speed 1: 7.46 watts Speed 2: 10.7 watts Speed 3: 20.29 watts Speed 4: 48.1 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | 6-12 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
Filtration technology
The Core 600S comes with a 3-in-1 cylindrical filter that captures particles and helps reduce mild odors.
The large cylindrical filter has three layers: an outer pre-filter mesh, a particle filter, and a layer of pelleted activated carbon on the inside.
Be aware that using a bonded filter means you will need to replace both the particle and carbon filters, even if only one needs replacing — usually the carbon, as it will likely fill sooner than the HEPA.
When it’s time to replace your filter, you can choose the standard filter or upgrade to the Pet Allergy, Smoke Remover, or Toxin Absorber.
The specialized filters all come packed with 360g of activated carbon instead of the 160g you get in the Standard filter.
When I bought my Core 600S in 2022, Levoit advertised it as a HEPA H13 filter. Today, you won’t have ‘H13’ mentioned anywhere. The change in marketing occurred in 2023, when Levoit discontinued HEPA claims for its products following a Better Business Bureau challenge brought by Dyson.
The bad news is that Levoit seems to have misrepresented the grade of their filters. The good news is that, HEPA or no HEPA, the particle filtration of the 600S is excellent.
Installing and replacing the filter on the Core 600S couldn’t be easier. Twist the body and slot in the filter with the tabs facing up. Check out our video below to see just how easy it is.
Design, controls and app features
A large cylindrical air purifier with smart functions that is lightweight and easy to move around the room.
It is the largest in the Levoit Core range, which includes the 200S, 300S, and 400S.
It weighs 13.7lbs (6.2 kg) but is easy to move around thanks to handles on each side.
It comes with Levoit’s Airsight Plus, which is a laser dust sensor on the side of the device.
It is quicker to react to PM2.5 particles than optical sensors, and doesn’t need to be cleaned every few weeks.
The LED ring on top changes color based on your air, from blue (very good) to red (bad).
Inside the ring, you get real-time PM2.5 particle readings in micrograms per cubic meter.
When I first tested the Core 600S back in 2022, the VeSync app worked well, but it was pretty simple compared to what it is now.
Levoit has clearly invested in its app in the last few years, and all improvements have been rolled out across old models. The most exciting change in my view is that I can now adjust the auto-mode settings on my old 600S 🙂
Standard auto-modes often cap the air purifier to a set speed threshold, which is usually below the top speed. This makes regular auto-modes less efficient, as they don’t reach top speed even when air pollution levels are high.
Now, Levoit allows you to customize your auto-mode, offering choices for Default, Quiet, Eco and Efficient. My preference is the efficient mode, as you can set the size of your room, and the air purifier will reach full speed to provide a full air change before returning to the default auto-mode.
I can also see the sensor and the Core 600S in my Home Assistant app, which is good news for those who want to integrate their air purifier with Home Assistant.
The warning covers 900 toxins and carcinogens that, if exposed to, can result in adverse health effects. The 1986 act now covers any goods sold in California, which has enforced labels on everything, from bread to Starbucks coffee.
Regarding the 600S, and air purifiers in general, the warning usually relates to the electrical components inside, with solder known to contain chromium and circuit boards often found to contain lead. These are trace amounts and won’t pose any danger through normal use. The Core 600S is FCC-compliant and CARB-certified, ensuring compliance with federal and California health and safety standards.
Air cleaning performance
We tested the Core 600S in our 728 cubic ft. test room, tracking how fast it removed all PM1 particles from the air after we filled the space with incense smoke.
When running at top speed, our PurpleAir Zen sensor shows that the 600S needed 16 minutes to reach PM1 zero. Based on the natural ventilation of our test room, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 375 cfm.
This makes it powerful enough to provide five air changes per hour in large rooms up to 562 sq. ft.
When we compare this against other similarly priced and similar performing air purifiers, you see what a good deal you get with a 600S:
The only cheaper model that matches the top speed performance of the Core 600S is the AirFanta 3Pro, with its four PC fans and four E11 filters that you can buy for less than $160.
We repeated our particle removal test three times across all available fan speeds, which allowed me to estimate PM1 CADR at each fan speed:
BUT air cleaning performance alone won’t tell us the full story…
Sound levels
The sound levels of the Core 600S range from 37.9 dBA to 62.3 dBA — considerably louder than popular large air purifiers like the Winix 9800 or the Levoit EverestAir.
Here’s the thing: if your air purifier is too loud, you will turn it off eventually. That is why we use a sound meter to measure how much noise in decibels the Core 600S generates at each fan speed from 3 ft. away:
But I know that sound can be subjective, so please have a listen for yourself:
The Core 600S runs loud, hitting 62.3 dBA at top speed.
Every other air purifier I’ve benchmarked it against is quieter than this, with the loudest one of the pack being the Xiaomi Elite (61.5 dBA).
The 600S generates 44.4 dBA at speed 1, so I repeated the particle removal test at this speed, and it took 38 minutes to reach PM1 zero.
We estimate a PM1 CADR of 156 cfm, based on the natural ventilation of our test room.
When we compare this to other similarly priced devices, you can see that the 600S offers generally low performance at low fan speeds compared to other large units — with the exception of the Blueair 211+, which took much longer to clean the air.
Long-term running costs
Running a Levoit Core 600S will cost you $173.30 per year, combining energy and filter replacement costs.
We used our energy meter to record how much electricity the 600S pulls at each fan speed and also while on standby.
At top speed, the Core 600S pulls 48.1 watts, so if you were to leave it running 24/7, it will add $53.32 to your yearly energy bill, based on the average U.S. electricity price as of September 2025.
When comparing against other similarly powered and similarly priced devices, it becomes clear that the 600S is one of the most energy efficient high CADR traditional air purifiers.
But let’s look at the other main factor affecting yearly running costs: filter replacements.
According to Levoit, you need to change the filter in your Core 600S every 6-12 months. As always, I will take the lowest estimate for my calculations here. The original standard 600S filter is available for $59.99. That means that you can expect to spend $119.98 each year on filter replacements alone.
We can add this to energy costs to work out the total yearly cost and compare it with the other devices I’m benchmarking the 600S against:
The Levoit Core 600S sits right in the middle of the comparison here — it isn’t the most expensive, but it’s also not the cheapest to run in the long term.
Bottom line: Should you get a Levoit Core 600S?
After re-testing everything about this air purifier, I can confidently say it still holds its own against newer models — especially given its price.
I calculated how much money you can expect to pay on year 1 of owning a Core 600S and it goes to show how good a deal you get, considering its raw air cleaning power.
And this is based on the list price of $319.99, which is usually higher than what you can find the 600S selling for online.
Now, it doesn’t come without its downsides:
- It is loud at top speed hitting 62 decibels.
- Its only sub-45 dBA fan speed is speed 1 and at that speed it is not as powerful at cleaning the air.
- It comes with a bonded filter so you will need to replace it once the carbon is full, which might happen sooner than the particle filter needs replacing.
But if you’re not too bothered about noise and are looking for a powerful unit under $300 that comes with smart features and smartphone connectivity, then the Levoit Core 600S is a solid choice.
I have mine running in a corner of the basement, as I don’t care about noise down there, it is a hardy unit and I can set automations so it only comes on when it detects particles in the air.
The big standout benefit and a big win for existing owners has been the investment that Levoit has made to the app. You now can adjust the way the Auto mode works, which was one of my main bug bears around auto-modes in general.
The fact that you can create automations using just the sensor’s information to switch it on the 600S is a game-changer. Whilst I am sure there are plenty of home automation enthusiasts out there that can do this type of thing, the fact that this works out of the box and is as simple as a few clicks is impressive.
Now, if sound is important to you and you don’t care about smart features, then you should definitely look into the PC fan kits like the AirFanta 3Pro or the Luggable XL-7 from CleanAirKits.
And if you’re looking for a more traditional air purifier that is quieter than the 600S and does have an auto mode, then the Winix 9800 might be a better option.
However, for those who value app connectivity and raw air cleaning power at a low initial price, then the Levoit Core 600S is well worth considering.
If you decide you like this model and want to support the channel, be sure to use the affiliate links I included throughout this article. We will get a small commission at no extra cost to you that will allow me to continue to buy, test and review air quality products in the future.
