Levoit is currently one of three brands for Vesync Co which has offices in Los Angeles, USA, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, China, and is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Running since 2012, its revenue last year was $458 million, and it has 1.24k employees, according to financial data.
The Levoit Core series really changed up the game in the world of air purifiers. Previously, cheaper units performed poorly and it was often better to recommend consumers avoid them. With the Levoit Core 300, Levoit brought a really good CADR score for less than $100 and forced other manufacturers to improve their game. Unlike many cheaper units, the Levoit Core series contains no ionizer functions and just relies on efficient fans with good-quality air filters.
The Levoit Core Mini is still a “Core” unit but is much smaller than any other air purifier in the series. I expected this unit would start a new trend for “mini air purifiers,” and I was right. Since the Core Mini was launched, various smaller units from other manufacturers have been released.
As with all the tests and reviews we do here at HouseFresh, we bought this Levoit Core Mini with our own money to avoid any biases of accepting free goods in exchange for reviews. Our ultimate goal is to share the data and let you decide if this air purifier sounds like a good fit for you. If an air purifier sucks, we have no problem saying it.
- In our home lab of 728 cubic feet, we light an incense stick to generate particle pollution and VOCs.
- We set up our trusted Purpleair Indoor Sensor with the latest Bosch gas sensor to track levels of PM1ug/m3, PM2.5ug/m3 and PM10ug/m3 and VOCs in the air.
- We switch the air purifier to its highest speed and measure how long it takes to get our room air quality down to PM1 level to 0.
- We use an energy meter to measure precisely how much electricity is used when running the unit at the lowest and highest fan speed settings.
- We track sound levels emitted by the air purifier at different fan speeds with the help of a commercial sound meter.
The lowdown on the Levoit Core Mini
I get that not everyone needs to read every aspect of my review for this air purifier, so in a nutshell, here are my thoughts:
What we really like
What we think could be better
The specs
This CADR range is a fairly new category for air purifiers, so there aren’t many units to compare. You could compare it against the Levoit LV-H132, which has 40 CFM and costs more in both initial costs and long-term costs.
| HouseFresh Rating: | ★★★☆☆ |
| Time to clean our test room: | 1 hour and 53 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: | 178 sq. ft. |
| Clea; you delivery rate (CADR): | 32 CFM |
| Dimensions (in inches / in cm): | 10.4H x 6.5D x 6.5W inches (26.4H x 16.4D x 16.4W cm) |
| Weight (in pounds / in kg): | 2.2 lbs (1 kg) |
| Noise level (measured from 3 ft. away): | Speed 1: 37 dB Speed 2: 38 dB Speed 3: 44.5 dB |
| Filter life: | 4 – 6 months |
| Electricity consumption (kilowatt-hour): | Standby mode: 0 kWh Speed 1: 1.2 kWh Speed 2: 2.8 kWh Speed 3: 5.9 kWh Speed 4: 6.4 kWh |
| Estimated running costs (electricity consumption + filter replacements): | $88.81 per year |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
Pocket-sized simplicity in design
I am a big fan of the simplicity of Levoit units, and the Levoit mini matches this style.
The Core Mini matches its name, weighs just over 2.2 lbs, and stands only 10 inches high. Nobody would have a problem bringing this air purifier with them on a trip, as you could use any bag to carry it.
The Levoit Core Mini is the smallest unit in the Levoit Core range. In the photo below, you can see the size comparison against the Levoit Core 300S, which is a small to medium-sized unit by Levoit.
One unexpected feature of the Levoit Core Mini is the ability to diffuse essential oils. While I don’t believe many of the outrageous claims about the “science” of essential oils, it is a nice feature for an inexpensive air purifier. I expect many people will use it in combination with the cleaning power of the filters.
Simplicity is the name of the game with the Levoit Core Mini. It has a total of four buttons, including three fan speeds and the on/off button. That’s it.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Core Mini doesn’t have any app support. Personally, I’m happy with that as I feel it would just add to the cost but have little value in the day-to-day.
Be aware that the power cable is slightly different because it unplugs directly into the unit. I believe this is due to the smaller wattage size not requiring the same power level to perform.
Honestly, the first thing that interested me when I read about the Levoit Core Mini was its size. The first time I bought an air purifier, I imagined I would get something small like this based on the photo, but I got a big, chunky appliance instead. The reality is that most air purifiers on the market are fairly big, with the smallest options still being larger than the Mini, like the popular Core 300 or the Medify-25.
BUT there is a reason for larger sizes, however, and that is where the power of the air purifier lies. In simple terms, air purifiers are just a fan and a filter, so the bigger the fan and the bigger the filter, the better the performance. I will take you through the air cleaning performance results later in the review, but I just want you to keep this in mind.
Levoit’s signature three-stage filtration
The Levoit Core Mini has a pre-filter, a main filter and an activated carbon filter.
The Core Mini uses a main filter that captures particles and an activated carbon filter to capture small amounts of odors and VOCs.
What you need to know is that Levoit used to advertise the filters in their Core series as True HEPA filters but discontinued the mentions of HEPA in their advertising after Dyson challenged their claim in front of the BBB National Programs National Advertising Division (NAD). This doesn’t change the fact that these filters work, but it is important to highlight that they are not HEPA-certified.
Another thing worth mentioning is that these filters are very small and are on top of a small fan, which means that the Levoit Core Mini won’t be nearly as powerful as other units in the Core series like the Core 300 or the Core 400S.
Levoit covered the filter in a plastic bag to ensure it arrives unused when you buy your Core Mini. Otherwise, the filter would start cleaning any air that is around it, even while sitting unused inside a box.
Always remember to take the filter out of the box before turning on your Levoit Core Mini for the first time. You will be amazed at the number of people who forget to remove the plastic and then complain that the air purifier doesn’t work.
The Levoit Core Mini cleared our test room in 113 minutes
A good option for cleaning the air in small spaces like RVs and campervans
The science of air purification is very clear. Activated carbon and HEPA can do a great job of removing particles, odors and VOCs. Don’t get caught up in the latest technology fad (there are plenty), as they don’t usually live up to expectations and almost always cost consumers more money in the long run.
Anyone can take a few pictures of an air purifier and call it a review. Here at HouseFresh, we see no value in this approach. We push the units to their limit to see what they can do so we can check that the marketing message matches real-world usage.
We first tested the air cleaning performance of the Levoit Core Mini by simulating pollutants with an incense stick in our test room of 728 cubic ft, so we could calculate how long it takes the Core Mini to clear the air. Next, we measured sound levels generated and electricity consumption when running the Mini at its highest fan speed.
To measure the air cleaning speed, we used our Purple Air Indoor sensor (which can track PM1.0 μg/m3, PM2.5 μg/m3 and PM10.0 μg/m3) to track how long it takes the Core Mini to bring PM1.0 levels back to zero. The great thing about this method is that we’re replicating a common use case for an air purifier at home: removing common household pollutants from the air.
So, how did the Levoit Core Mini perform?
I have to say I am impressed as its size and power requirements are so low I was expecting a much slower time. It took 113 minutes to remove the pollutants in our test room completely. That is one hour and 53 minutes.
But how does this compare to other air purifiers we have tested? Time to find out.
Air cleaning performance, compared
The Levoit Core Mini took a little longer than the GermGuardian AC4825e, which cleared the test room of PM1.0 particles in 104 minutes. Remember that the AC4825e is much bigger and uses much more power.
Noise levels test results
It was also much better than the Molekule Air Mini we tested cleaned the room in 141 minutes, and was so loud I worried it might hurt my ears and cost 5 times as much.
A top level of 44dB is impressive but to be expected with the reduction in size and power usage. 44dB is similar to a bird call, so a welcome addition to our list of the best quiet air purifiers.
The cost to run a Levoit Core Mini: $88,81 per year
1. Electricity costs = $6.31 per year
Cost of energy is not something that is usually discussed when buying a new gadget, but it should be when you think about air purifiers. They will often be used for many hours per day, and electricity usage can build up, especially with older, less efficient units.
When we tested the Levoit Core mini with a power meter connecting to our electricity supply, we found that it used a maximum of 6.4 watts. We calculated that this would cost you $6.31 per year, according to the Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator.
The Levoit Core Mini is one of the lowest-priced but well-performing air purifiers that we have tested here at HouseFresh. In comparison, the older Levoit Vital 100 pulled 46.3 watts, which would cost over $48.36 a year in the same period.
2. Filter costs = $74.91 per year
If there is any fly in the ointment for this review, it would be the cost of new filters. These are much smaller filters, will require more regular replacement and don’t come cheap. They are priced similarly to large units like the Core 300S, which has much better performance and still not super high electricity costs as you could use it on a slower speed.
Assuming replacement every four months, that’s $74.91 a year, which is a lot more than the initial cost of the air purifier. In comparison, you would be paying $60 for the Levoit Core 300S, cleaning much more air in the same period.
Bottom line: Should you buy a Levoit Core Mini?
With a CADR of 35 CFM, you won’t be able to use the Core Mini in a large space.
I like the Levoit Core Mini, but I do worry that it’s likely not the best air purifier for everyone.
It’s too small for medium to large rooms, and the costs of filters will add up over time. But it costs less than $50, which equates to $0.7 per 1 CFM, which is okay for a unit of this size.
It is perfect for smaller spaces like an RV or a car as it’s portable, and so if you are looking for super quiet or an air purifier for travel – the Levoit Core Mini would be my number one choice.
If you are looking for the best $ to performance, then look at the older Levoit Core 300 as it has much better performance and similar filter costs. The mini is aimed at those with smaller spaces who don’t need such regular usage that filter costs will become an issue.
SOURCES
We used the Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator to calculate yearly costs associated with running the Levoit Core Mini for 24 hours a day for 365 days. We ran this calculation utilizing the U.S. average utility rate of $0.12/kWh as of March 18th, 2024.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
