Levoit Core 600S review

If you’ve been shopping around for a new air purifier, you will no doubt have come across the brand 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 and low prices. It all began with the immensely popular Core 300 model in 2019 and has since expanded to provide purifiers to different-sized spaces using Levoits signature technology such as VortexAir™, QuietKEAP™ and AIRSIGHT™. The Core 600S is the largest and most powerful unit in the range.

This air purifier is designed to clean the air five times in an hour in spaces as large as 615 sq. ft. and the ‘S’ in its name means that it comes with smart functions and app connectivity. On paper, this is a great device so I was very excited to put it to the test.

As with all the air purifiers we have reviewed here at HouseFresh, we bought the Levoit Core 600S with our own money so we could run all our usual tests on it and report on our results without any ties to the brand, ensuring our unbiased opinion.

Intro out of the way, let’s get on with this review, shall we?

Looking for the highlights? Here are my key findings from reviewing the Levoit Core 600S. 

Powerful performance doesn’t come in small packages

The 600S has impressive features and a design that blends easily into the home.

The 600S is exactly what you’d expect an air purifier to look like. It’s a simple white appliance with a tall, boxy design. 

Compared to other air purifiers, it may seem a little bland when placed next to the Blue Pure 211+ or Levoit’s more premium EverestAir.

But this paired back design is shared by its siblings in the Core range, which are hugely popular amongst millions of households, with many appreciating the neutral aesthetic.  

It’s worth noting that this is a large unit, but that is to be expected for such a powerful purifier. Despite its size, it remains relatively lightweight, so isn’t too tricky to move around the home.

A sleek-looking control panel makes the 600S easy to use, with intuitive capacitive icons to cycle through the settings. 

The icons include an on/off button, a filter replacement indicator, a fan to switch between the 3-speed settings and a padlock to lock the controls. 

Where things get interesting is in the 600S additional features. Here, you can set a timer between 1 and 24 hours, activate the ultra quiet and light-free sleep mode, or utilize the Auto function, which monitors your space’s air quality and adjusts the settings automatically.

This has proved to be very useful as it allows you to sit back and relax while the unit does all the heavy lifting. It works by using an AirSight sensor, which is impressively accurate and even relays real-time data back to you through the PM2.5 digital display and color-coded rings on the unit or directly to the VeSync app. 

Indicator Color	Air Quality	Auto Mode Fan Speed	PM2.5 Range
Blue	Very Good	Sleep Mode	0-35 ug/m³
Green	Good	Low	36-75 ug/m³
Orange	Moderate	Medium	76-115 ug/m³
Red	Bad	High	>115 ug/m³

 I found the app easy to install on both Android and IOS devices and straightforward to use.

Once you’ve connected your device (requiring a wifi connection and close proximity), you can then program your purifier remotely. This allows you to adjust settings, set timers and schedules or just check in on the space’s air quality readings while you’re out and about. 

Through the app you can also input data on the room you’re using the purifier in. This allows for a tailor-made Auto setting that calculates the precise time to complete an air change in the space and can make your unit run much more efficiently. 

Big filters to capture the smallest particles

Levoit’s 3-in-1 filter effectively removes minuscule particulates and VOCs.

The Core 600S uses a 3-in-1 filter that combines a pre-filter (a), primary filter (b) and activated carbon filter (c) to combat the wide range of pollutants in the home.

The pre-filter captures large particles, such as hair or dust, which helps prolong the primary filter’s lifespan. Levoit recommends cleaning the pre-filter using a vacuum cleaner every 2-4 weeks. However, I found it slightly annoying to remove the particle build-up due to the cylindrical design which doesn’t detach from the main filter. 

The primary filter is the lynchpin of your air purifier. This removes the smallest PM1 particles, such as fine dust, smoke and allergens. 

When the Core 600S was first released, this primary filter was advertised as meeting the H13 HEPA standard. Following a complaint by Dyson, this terminology has since been removed, leaving question marks over the quality of the filter.

Although this is a fair concern for any consumer, when we tested the filter for ourselves, we found it quickly removed minuscule particles, which certainly put our minds at ease. 

We are also happy to confirm that its marketed CADR score matched up with the lab results from AHAM. You can see its full report on Energystar.gov, but it had the following CADR scores based on the AHAM/ANSI AC-1-2002 test procedure based on how fast the device removed pollen, dust and smoke:

Smoke CADR	377 cfm
Dust CADR	373 cfm
Pollen CADR	437 cfm

Finally, the carbon filter is designed to remove odor and VOCs from your space. To do so, it needs lots of carbon substrate to lock in gaseous particles. The standard filter included with the 600S contains 160g of carbon, which isn’t a huge amount considering the size of the filter itself. 

You can upgrade this filter to the Pet, Toxin or Smoke option, each containing 360g of carbon that will be much more effective against household odors, but these quantities are still lower than what you’ll find on the 400S or EverestAir. 

Installing and replacing the filter on the Core 600S couldn’t be easier. Simply twist the body of the unit and slot in the filter with the tabs facing up. Check out our video below to see just how easy it is. 

The Core 600S cleared our test room in 22 minutes

It cleared our 728 cubic ft. test room faster than the Levoit Vital 200S, the Winix 5500-2 and the Smart Air SA600

Every air purifier featured on HouseFresh undergoes the same clean air speed test. 

This is where we fill a 728 cubic foot space with incense smoke and time how long it takes for the unit to reduce levels of PM1.0ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10.0 ug/m3 to zero, measured using our PurpleAir air quality monitor. 

The 600S got to work instantly and removed all PM1 particles in just 22 minutes. This time was so fast we had to repeat the test straight after to truly believe the results. 

To date, this time makes the Levoit Core 600S the third fastest air purifier we’ve ever tested, beaten only by the Smart Air Blast Mini ($599) Levoit EverestAir ($499.99) and AirDoctor 3000 ($629).

Looking at air purifiers in a similar price range, the 600S beat the Mila, Coway Ap-1512hh and the Bueair Blue Pure 211+, making it the standout option in its class. 

Noise levels test results

Sound can be a crucial factor in how often people use their purifiers, with loud and distracting units left to collect dust – and not in a good way. 

To help you understand how loud a purifier runs before you purchase, we record the decibels created at its lowest and highest fan speeds. 

The Core 600S creates 40.9 dB when at the lowest fan speed and peaks at 61.4 dB at top speed. To put this into perspective, these levels range from the sound of the hum of a refrigerator to an air conditioner. 

These sound levels are similar to other units in its price range, ranking marginally quieter than the Honeywell HPA 300 and Smart Air Blast Mini but not quite as low as the Alen BreatheSmart 75i or Coway Ap-1512hh.

Hearing really is believing when it comes to noise levels, so check out our sound guide below. 

The cost to run a Levoit Core 600S: $191.49 per year

Low long-term costs make the 600S a truly cheap investment. 

1. Electricity costs = $51.51 per year

Before purchasing a new electrical appliance, it’s always wise to consider how much energy it will use. 

After connecting the Core 600S to our energy use monitor, we recorded 49.27 watts when used at its highest speed setting. 

This is surprisingly efficient for a powerful unit that delivers a CADR of 410 CFM and 2 air changes per hour in a 1588 ft² space. Even if you used the purifier at top speed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it would cost you less than $6,25 a month. 

2. Filter costs = $139.98 per year

Another key cost to consider is filter replacements. All mechanical filters, like those used in the 600S, have a finite lifespan as they will eventually become saturated with particles and lose efficiency.  

Levoit states that their filter will last between 6-12 months if used around the clock. Replacement filters retail at $59.99, which is reasonable considering the level of protection they provide. 

In my experience, Levoit’s primary filters meet the upper end of their estimated lifespan if used in the average home, which should cap replacement costs to just 60 bucks a year but we will use the 12 month estimate for calculation.  

As the 600S is such a popular model, there are plenty of non-branded filters to consider too. Opting for generic filters can save you even more money, with options available for as little as $31.50 per unit. 

Bottom line

Unrivalled speed and high-tech features make the Core 600S a steal. 

If you’re looking for an air purifier to work in a large room without a huge budget to spend, then the Core 600S is the best option for you. 

It delivers clean air quicker than any other unit in its price range and even beats the Alen BreatheSmart 75i and IQAir Healthpro Plus which cost more than double its price tag.

You’ll also find useful features like an Auto mode and app compatibility, while using the purifier incurs low costs, making this unit a great option long into the future.

While it may not be as stylish as the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ or come with a CADR score as high as the Smart Air Blast Mini, it’s hard to overlook the 600S’s value for money and adaptability to the modern home. 

SOURCES

We calculated yearly costs associated with running the Levoit Core 600S for 24 hours a day, 365 days per year utilizing the Energy Appliance Calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy as of June 2024.