Levoit Core 200S review

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Our verdict

Yes, it looks good. Yes, it has smart features that aren’t found on older models. And yes, it utilizes Levoit’s signature 3-Stage Filtration Technology too. But if you want a unit that will take care of contaminants in a room any larger than a small home office, you’d be better off forking out a little extra on one of Levoit’s larger units like the Levoit Core 300S.

On the other hand, if you have a small room and want a unit that’s easy to use and looks stylish, the 200S will take care of your needs without breaking the bank.

Levoit is a brand launched in 2016 by Vesync Co., a company originally called Etekcity that began trading in the U.S. in 2011 as an Amazon seller of small home appliances.

If you look through our air purifier reviews, you’ll notice a few different models from Levoit pop up. This is no coincidence. Since 2016, Levoit has proven that high-performing air purifiers, with plenty of smart features, can be produced at a price we consumers love.

The Levoit Core 200S is aimed toward a new generation of mini air purifiers, a trend that the Molekule Mini propelled. Even though the Core 200S outperforms the Molekule without it even being switched on, it still doesn’t do quite enough for us.

These are our opinions

We don’t take bribes.

The lowdown on the Levoit Core 200S


danny
“If you hace a small room and want a unit that is easy to use and looks quite stylish, then the Core 200S will take care of your needs without breaking the bank.”
— Danny Ashton, HouseFresh Founder & Senior Writer
Levoit Core 200S Living Room

HouseFresh rating:★★★★☆
Time to clean our 728 cubic feet test room (with the device running at top speed):25 minutes
Air purifier technology:3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles, high-efficiency activated carbon filter for odors and gasses)
Recommended room size (4.8 air changes per hour):360 sq. ft.
Clean air delivery rate (CADR):Dust: 274 CFM
Smoke: 284 CFM
Pollen: 287 CFM
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):12.5L x 12.5W x 23.6H in (31.8 x 31.8 x 60 cm)
Weight (in pounds / in kg):21 lbs (9.5 kg)
Filter life:6 months
Noise level in decibels (as reported by manufacturer):Speed 1: 28 dB
Speed 2: 36 dB
Speed 3: 46 dB
Speed 4: 54 dB
Electricity consumption in watts (as reported by manufacturer):Lowest fan speed: 0.8 watts
Highest fan speed: 28.1 watts
Estimated running cost (electricity consumption + official filter replacement):$155.43 per year
Cost per CADR cfm (based on dust CFM as reported by AHAM):$0.91
Manufacturer’s warranty:2 years
Country of manufacture:China

Don’t want to read the full review? Here are the main pointers from our performance test of the Levoit Core 200S.

What we really like

It’s not big so can fit snug in the corner of an office or bedroom.
The control panel is easy to navigate.
The app is simple to set up.
The fan sound is barely noticeable on sleep mode.
It’s incredibly light at just 6.6 lbs.

What we think could be better

I’d like to see it with an air quality sensor.
Would look cool if it came in different colors.
There are better-performing units from Levoit at a little extra cost. 

The specifications

One reason why Levoit is one of the market leaders is because of its price point. They manage to cover all bases with units for different-sized rooms whilst keeping costs down. The 200S retails at $89.99*, which, compared to other units catering for the same room size like the Medify MA-15 at $129* or Blueair’s Blue Pure 411 at $119.99*, makes this unit very attractive.

HouseFresh Rating:★★★☆☆
Time to clean our test room:61 Minutes
Air purifier technology:Levoit 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-filter for large particles, main filter for airborne particles, high-efficiency activated carbon filter for odors and gasses)
Recommended room size:183 sq. ft.
Clean air delivery rate (CADR):118 CFM
Dimensions (in inches / in cm):12.6H x 8.07W x 8.07D inches (32H x 20.5W x 20.5D cm)
Weight (in pounds / in kg):6.6 lbs (3 kg)
Filter life:6 – 8 months
Noise level (low – high):Speed 1: 39.6 dB
Speed 2: 43.7 dB
Speed 3: 49.1 dB
Estimated energy consumption:$43.32

Sleek and modern design

If you’ve seen any other units in the Core range like the 300 or 400S, you’ll notice that they nearly all have a cylindrical design. The Core 200S is no different. 

Levoit Core 200S Kitchen Close Up

It’s sleek, it’s modern, and it’s unintrusive, but it still only comes in white and can’t be disguised as anything other than an air purifier.

I know it’s only a budget unit but, for me, Levoit could put a little more effort into making their units more attractive to the eye (hence why I’ve tried to be a little arty with the pictures).

Levoit Core 200S Front logo 2

It’s not a bad-looking air purifier by any means. This is only my humble opinion. But if you had a little more money to spend, and design is a key factor, I would go for BlueAir’s Blue Pure 411 or the Medify MA-25.

The 200S comes well packaged. Levoit has ensured that it won’t suffer any damage at the hands of cavalier delivery drivers when shipped. My only objection is that each component is wrapped in a lot of plastic which isn’t particularly needed. Come on Levoit, think of the turtles!

Levoit Core 200S Filter inside bag logo 1

3-stage filtration technology

The filters and the fan are the key components in every air purifier; bad filters = bad air. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about filter technology when buying a Levoit Core 200S.

Levoit Core 200S Filter logo

Each of Levoit’s units in the Core range comes equipped with a 3-stage filter to maximize the filtration of nasty airborne pollutants nobody wants in their home:

  • Stage one: Nylon pre-filter
    The pre-filter is designed to be the first line of defense. It captures the larger particles that float around your home like dust, hair, pet dander, and lint. Not only is it trapping these particles, but it’s also prolonging the life of the main filter allowing it to concentrate on smaller particles instead of being bombarded by everything.
  • Stage two: Main filter
    This is where the magic happens. Levoit’s Main Filter captures at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size (one micron is equivalent to one one-thousandth of a millimeter, so yeah, small). This takes care of fine dust, smoke particles, and pollen for all you fellow hay fever sufferers.
  • Stage three: High-efficiency activated carbon filter
    This is the part of the filter that takes care of odors. To remove odors like smoke, cooking smells, and other ominous smells from your home, you’ll need an activated carbon filter that’s packed full of charcoal to adsorb those VOCs.

Levoit has shown us that they can do filters right… very right; just check out our review of the Core 600S.

The 200S contains the exact same filter as the 600S, but there is a big difference. This comes down to size rather than the filter itself.

In this smaller unit, the Core filters don’t have nearly the same cleaning ability.

Levoit Core 200S Filter 2 logo

I’m sure you will have worked it out, but I still need to remind you. Remember to remove all the packaging from the filter before turning the air purifier on. If you don’t, you’ll notice two things;

  1. The air in your home won’t get any cleaner
  2. After a while there’ll be a strange burning smell coming from the unit, that’s plastic your smelling… not cool

Controls that are easy to navigate

After you’ve unwrapped everything, you’re pretty much ready to go. Simply plug the 200S into a wall socket and switch it on. The controls are really easy to navigate.

Levoit Core 200S Controls logo 1

When I look at an air purifier, I’m always thinking about how easy it is to use. Not just changing the fan speed but also navigating its features. Levoit has always been great at setting out its controls to maximize space and usability. 

The 200S keeps this tradition alive.

The circular touch panel is very user friendly and is set out with clear icons for each function. There are no physical buttons that tend to stick over time, and each setting is spaced out enough that you’re not hitting the wrong one by accident.

Here’s what each one does:

ButtonFunction
IwEU0Wf6NlNtdIpQXUL09xCJJ4B57nV4cDa7zBT4bFjdFDjEy37EP1mb6aFi6znkKR091BeKAjnN2ztB8Eym1L8utq8hUl w6DZ3Turns the air purifier on/off. Press and hold to configure the air purifier.
Y6BQwDGLFblVck31A6RM8Ioj9oBJIH ajSD X8hkeRrf3QB3H uAyL4uQlVjo R6bW Kcilq9GSxu8BKHDTRUVEHq eW2aU5CjiRI rclELa7HX gR1Y87Nf6zScPgOY4erWWp2O6Xhrpmi3dgTurns on, off, or blinks to indicate configuration status.
m33VZAloCr32ZphijJ5AFykGipj3U4owyvHPYMySJlc4X59gOsLREIO3813Gaw8GSg6Cycles through fan speeds: I (low), II (medium), and III (high). Tapping the Fan Speed Button while the air purifier is in Sleep Mode will exit Sleep Mode
v8 Ad4AAMPLKzstXtaWL5Kn5 DzpKo3pZk7MKTnyXrk9suk qO9X2Tch8L0F DZ6UiQaHFTTF3yn3KYoiYgK7YLIsQpNLzz9UYJ7q6Gt6WyFNoUJy744Turns Sleep Mode on. Press and hold for 3 seconds to reset the Check Filter Indicator.
Wmipac7AfpIkoemo6je2Dh2PCO4XpqsECHdVBwdkYsUHMwG8SpG9KikFlxnudHxRPZZ9PerGgO2AIicic9GvsUBiF2RWZsePrU 1zMNCycles through timer options.
aTTl0vnVHYGh3B48d6sFJ0EjDUHVK63At85bqStlkyWulW8FDWvhZ9DdnUoy5D0SRYt7TU9lcMzp76Pdh40fs6 jDXc3kOGzIBKnl4774CI2XoMTIcG3NSuzdkUZHqjLelN1RDfogq9kttn8cATurns the night light on/off.
ADmTn5opZeJFurCKAQrbMwMrXfmgFC7Zhvq3qs4DUEDtVm6wFFdCvhMAKbCR0YBGMa5kG4fy3oocag2XAZBGDpXTFUaLG gNjtWaAaTlEJDqSZkJVzRN0SWGSWKJP4rD7LoqZtHnS hJp9ED gTurns the display off (not including the night light).
Prevents current settings from being changed. Blinks when any other button is tapped to indicate that Display Lock is on.
VjDS5zu4rVv1FnlJP7 B1132ehe7ba1ykmP7X23TAC6HijEkI3KM3x hrhjVD9ta0xLolx1X0fEqrkJ 7oKpfgHq7Wp5nvVBJF4kYUarheTHFLDcbhzAqcNmvwH1KJkEi1PwVpvDoCHmzB86ywLights up when the filter should be checked.  Reset the Check Filter Indicator light by pressing and holding the Sleep Mode button for 3 seconds.

You’re in luck if you’re anything like me and like to use an app wherever possible. 

You can connect the 200S to the Levoit smartphone app through Wi-Fi. It’s the same app Levoit uses for all their units, so if you’ve already used it on a previous device, you’ll know your way around. If you’re new, don’t worry. The app is easy to navigate and doesn’t take too long to set up.

Levoit Core 200S App logo

Here, you can control fan speed, set the timer, monitor the filter life, and turn the unit on/off, as well as schedule it to come on when needed. Unfortunately, as the 200S doesn’t have the AirSight Plus™ air quality sensor like the 600S, you cannot monitor the air quality in your room from another location.

After testing it with the Android version, I found it handy, but there is no real smart tech. It’s just a remote control you can take anywhere. Also, they try and sell you stuff on the app, which lets it down for me.

The Levoit Core 200S cleared our test room in 61 minutes

We put every air purifier we buy through the same set of tests. We do this so we can get accurate results of how well it performs in a real-world scenario and also so we can measure it against other units we’ve tested.

Levoit Core 200S Performance test logo 2

When it comes to air cleaning performance, the test is simple: we placed the Core 200S in our 728 cubic ft test room and filled that room with incense stick smoke so we could measure how long it takes this specific unit to clear the room of those contaminants when running at its highest fan speed.

Here’s what we found out about the Core 200S:

As you can see from the graph, it took 61 minutes for the Core 200S to clean the air in our testing room.

Air cleaning performance compared

Because of the size of the 200S, we were never expecting it to outperform our top-tested units like Levoits powerhouse 600S or Blueair’s Blue Pure 211+ as they’re in completely different leagues. So we would need to compare it to similar-sized units.

Looking at the 200S side by side with similar air purifiers shows that this isn’t a bad-performing little unit, especially for the price.

Noise levels test results

As for noise, Levoit is pretty good at keeping their purifiers to a reasonable level. The Core 200S at its highest level hits 49.1 dB and 39.6 dB at its lowest. This means noise levels are pretty average, which is not a bad thing in itself.

The cost to run the Levoit Core 200S: $95.3 per year

1. Electricity costs = $43.32

When buying an air purifier, you have to consider the extra costs that come with it. One is how much it costs to plug it in and use it daily. With rising energy prices hitting households, it’s paramount that clean air in your home isn’t going to make a dent in your wallet.

Luckily, most air purifiers on the market are specially built to be energy efficient. Energy Star is a company that tests each unit for efficiency and offers a seal of approval to appliances that pass their tests which the 200S wears with pride.

We used the latest average energy prices reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Department to calculate the annual cost of using the Core 200S daily. On full power, this unit pulls 28.4 watts which will cost you around $43.32 annually.

This is okay for a unit of this size but not amazing. You are unlikely to have your air purifier on 24 hours a day, all year round, so it shouldn’t cost you that much. 

2. Filter costs = $51.98

Another running cost to consider is replacing the filters in the unit.

Air purifier filters work best when they are brand new. Over time they begin to get blocked with all the particles they’re trapping and become less efficient. To counter this, you need to replace the old filters with new ones to keep efficiency high.

Different units use filters with different life spans, so it’s good practice to check how often you’ll need to replace them when looking to purchase an air purifier.

The filter life for the 200S is 6-8 months, depending on how often you use it. Don’t worry about checking the filter every day, there’s a light indicator on the unit which will tell you when yours needs replacing.

A new filter will set you back around $25.99, which is average for purifiers of this size. You can purchase filters for this model made by different brands, but we can’t vouch for their performance. 

LEVOIT Core 200S-P Air Purifier Replacement Filter, 3-in-1 Filter, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon, Core 200S-RF, 1 Pack, White
Technology
3-in-1 True HEPA, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon, Core 200S-RF
More information
Price
$25.99
LEVOIT Core 200S-P Air Purifier Replacement Filter, 3-in-1 Filter, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon, Core 200S-RF, 1 Pack, White
Technology
3-in-1 True HEPA, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon, Core 200S-RF
More information
Price
$25.99


Bottom line

At the end of the day, Levoit is a great brand to invest in when it comes to air purifiers. They have the technology, the performance power and, to top it off, a great price point.

Levoit Core 200S Close up logo

While the 200S showcases many things that make Levoit units great, it’s hard to see why you would choose this air purifier over other Levoit Core models. I get that they want a unit in their line-up to reflect the “mini purifier” trend, but looking at the performance levels, you could get so much more out of the Core 300S for a little extra cost.

This unit would fit your home if you have a small bedroom or office with little room to place a larger unit. It connects to the Levoit app so can be controlled from anywhere and doesn’t cause a nuisance with noise levels. 

Any air purifier with these features and the reliability of the Levoit brand name at under $100 should never be sniffed at.


SOURCES

We calculated yearly costs associated with running the Levoit Core 200S for 24 hours a day, 365 days per year utilizing the latest average energy prices as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of $0.174/kWh as of April 2024.

Last update on 2024-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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About the author

Danny Ashton

Danny is the founder of HouseFresh and has been writing about air purifiers since 2010. He is our lead tester and reviewer, and is also the human in front of the camera in our YouTube channel.

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