The Eleva 300X is a new tabletop air purifier from Levoit with an onboard laser sensor, separate particle and gas filters, and smart features you can customize via their app.
But how does it compare to the trusted Core 300 and Core 300S? And is it better or worse at cleaning the air than other small air purifier models from Dyson, Blueair, Winix, Coway and Xiaomi? And what about the filter inside?… Is it HEPA grade or not?
To find out, I bought one with my own money so that I could test its air cleaning performance, noise generation, energy consumption, annual running costs, and day-to-day user experience.
The overall score for the Levoit Eleva 300X 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 category breakdown.
Search for ‘Eleva 300X’ to see where it ranks, based on its air cleaning performance and value for money. You can also filter results to easily compare models in the same price range.
The pros and cons of the Levoit Eleva 300X
A summary of our top-level findings after testing this air purifier, following our methodology.
“When you compare it to other small air purifiers on the market today, it becomes clear that the Eleva 300X is a powerful little unit – with a high CADR at quiet operation.
And when you compare it to the older Core 300S, you get much better air cleaning performance and features at a cheaper price, so I recommend you go with a 300X over a 300S.I really appreciate the cheap initial price, especially considering that you not only get good performance, but also features like a laser sensor and the ability to customize the auto mode through the app.”
HouseFresh Founder
& Lead Tester
CONS
PROS
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR): | – Top speed PM1 CADR: 165 cfm – Sub-45 dBA PM1 CADR: 115 cfm |
| Filter technology: | Separate HEPA particle filter and gas filter with activated carbon pellets. |
| Recommended room size (5 air changes per hour): | 247 sq. ft. (23 m2) |
| Dimensions: | 9.4 x 9.4 x 15.1 in (23.8 x 23.8 x 38.3 cm) |
| Weight: | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Noise level in decibels from 3 ft. away: | Sleep mode: 35.8 dBA Speed 1: 36.8 dBA Speed 2: 39.8 dBA Speed 3: 44.9 dBA Turbo speed: 55.4 dBA |
| Electricity consumption in watts: | Standby: 0.65 watts Sleep mode: 1.85 watts Speed 1: 5.33 watts Speed 2: 6.91 watts Speed 3: 10.03 watts Turbo speed: 23.91 watts |
| Filter lifespan: | HEPA filter: 2 years Carbon filter: 6 months |
| Manufacturer’s warranty: | 2 years |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Country of manufacture: | China |
Filtration technology
Separate particle and carbon filters that will help reduce waste.
Most cylindrical air purifiers come with all-in-one filters that combine the particle and gas filters into one (see left). But with the Eleva 300X, you get two filters: one that captures particles and one that traps gases.
Carbon filters have a shorter lifespan than particle filters, so with all-in-one filters, you must throw both of them away when the time comes to replace just one. The Eleva 300X fixes this with separate filters.
You can customize the carbon filter based on your needs: the Essential filter has 90g of carbon, the Pet filter has 200g, the Smoke & Cooking filter has 240g and the Premium filter has 260 grams of carbon.
Keep in mind that larger amounts of carbon will restrict airflow so, unless you need to tackle serious odors, I recommend sticking to the standard filter to get the best possible particle filtration.
Levoit initially advertised their Core and Vital lines as using HEPA filters, but they later removed mentions of HEPA from marketing materials after Dyson challenged Levoit’s claims through the BBB National Programs National Advertising Division (NAD).
Now Levoit states that the Eleva 300X features HEPA filtration capable of capturing 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles, according to an independent test by SGS using the ASTM F3150-18 test standard — a test normally used for residential and commercial vacuum cleaners.
The test involves detecting if any small particles are released when a vacuum cleaner is running, so the focus is not solely on the filter itself but the entire device.
So it seems that the Levoit Eleva 300X can achieve HEPA levels of filtration when the air passes through the device.
This might explain the new rubber seals where the filter meets the body, as otherwise air could bypass the filter.
Design, controls and app features
A cylindrical air purifier small enough to fit on top of a kitchen counter or bedside table.
The Eleva 300X and the Core 300S are similar at a glance but the Eleva is a little bigger.
To access the filter on your Eleva 300X, you must twist and pull the top out before pressing a button to disconnect the filter from the head.
The control panel sits at the top, with a bright LED ring that adjusts color depending on air quality.
You get touchscreen buttons to enable sleep mode, switch between fan speeds or set Auto Mode, and turn the display off or lock the screen.
When removing the head, you also get to see the spot where the laser particle sensor is.
There is also an onboard screen at the top that shows levels of PM1, PM2.5, PM10 particle pollution, and an overall air quality score.
You can connect your Eleva 300X to the VeSync app, which is same app Levoit uses across all their smart products. On the app, you can control your device remotely, keep track of air quality readings from the sensor, set simple automated routines and get access to customizable smart modes.
With the Eleva series, Levoit introduced something they call ‘Personalized Air Purification’ through three personalized functions: Daily Comfort, Focused Care, and Advanced Care.
I personally found these modes unclear and I miss having the option to set Efficient Mode based on the size of the room as I can do it with old models like my Vital 200S.
Something I did like about the app is the introduction of the Dynamic Manual mode.
Dynamic Mode is a function that allows you to set a preferred manual speed while enabling your Eleva to kick into Turbo mode whenever the sensor detects pollutants, before returning to the manual speed you chose.
This means you get the full power of the fan ready to quickly kick into gear but once the air is clean, the air purifier will go back to your chosen manual speed – instead of going down to the lowest fan speed, as normal Auto Modes do.
Air cleaning performance
We tested the Levoit Eleva 300X in our 728-cubic-ft test room, measuring how quickly it removed 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 Eleva 300X needed 36 minutes to reach PM1 zero. Based on the natural ventilation of our test room, we estimate a PM1 CADR of 165 cfm.
This makes the Eleva 300X powerful enough to provide five air changes per hour in small rooms up to 247 sq. ft. (or 23 m2).
As you can see from the chart below, this Levoit offers excellent air cleaning performance for its price. The only small unit under $150 that outperforms it is the Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max, which uses an ionization process that cannot be disabled.
But all these numbers are based on results at top speed, and most people won’t use their air purifier at top speed 24/7 because these devices running at full power can be as loud as a vacuum cleaner.
Sound levels
The sound levels of the Levoit Eleva 300X range from 35.8 dBA to 55.4 dBA — which is a little louder than what we measured when testing the Dyson HushJet Compact HJ10.
As always, I used our BAFX sound meter to measure how much sound the Eleva 300X generates at each of its fan speeds at 3 ft away:
Reaching 55.4 dBA at top speed, the Eleva 300X is louder than the older Levoit Core 300S and newer models from Dyson and Blueair.
Running at speed 3, it reached 44.9 dBA and cleared our test room in 51 minutes. This is faster than most other small units in our benchmark.
When looking at quiet performance results, we can see just how much power this Eleva model packs… It completed the test 15 minutes faster than the old Levoit Core 300S – pretty impressive!
Long-term running costs
Running a Levoit Eleva 300X will cost you $98.38 per year, combining energy and filter replacement costs.
We used our energy meter to record how much electricity the Eleva 300X pulls at each fan speed and while on standby.
At top speed, the Eleva 300X draws 23.9 watts, so if you were to leave it running at top speed 24/7 for one year, it will add $38.41 to your energy bill, based on the latest electricity prices in the U.S. as of October 2026.
This makes the 300X more power hungry than the older Levoit Core 300S and the new Dyson HushJet Compact H10 AND the Blueair 511i Max.
According to Levoit, the particle filter ($39.99) can last up to 2 years and the standard carbon filter ($19.99) has a lifespan of 6 months. This means you can expect to spend $59.97 each year on filter replacements alone.
I added this to the energy costs and can tell you that you need to budget $98.38 each year to keep your 100S running 24/7 in your home:
Due to higher filter and energy costs, the 300X has some of the highest running costs when compared to other small air purifiers we have benchmarked it against.
But for a new buyer, the most important figure is the total investment in the first year. And here the math works in Levoit’s favor… When you add the $129.99 retail price to that first year’s running cost, your total investment is $228.37:
Thanks to its low initial cost, the Eleva 300X is the third cheapest device to buy and run in that first year of ownership – – cheaper than even the old Levoit Core 300S.
Bottom line: Should you get a Levoit Eleva 300X?
If you’re looking for a small air purifier for a room no larger than 247 sq. ft. (23 m2), then this might be it.
When you compare it to the older Core 300S, you get much better air cleaning performance and features at a cheaper price with the Eleva 300X, so I definitely recommend it over a Core 300S.
And when you compare it to other small air purifiers on the market today, we find powerful air cleaning power with fair sound levels and energy consumption for less than $130.
However, the main big benefit over other small cylindrical units is the use of separate filters.
You could get up to two years of use for the main particle filter, while you replace the gas filter as needed whenever the carbon is full. Plus, if you don’t care about odor removal, then you could just run your Eleva without the carbon filter and save yourself some money there.
I really appreciate the cheap initial price, especially considering that you not only get good performance, but also features we don’t normally see on budget-friendly air purifiers like a laser sensor.
And if you care about buying a small unit with HEPA grade filtration, then this might be it.
I’m still not sure why Levoit (and other manufacturers) continue to go to great lengths to produce units with HEPA-grade filters after we’ve seen so many examples of units with lower grade filters outperforming HEPA…
But I guess many consumers are still under the impression that HEPA means it must be better – – and all the big media newspapers and magazines regurgitating marketing materials continue to perpetuate this myth.
If you decide to get yourself a Levoit Eleva 300X, please use this link and we will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
And if you’re still unsure, you can try using our air purifier comparison tool to see how the Eleva 300X stacks up against units with similar prices:
If you have any questions about the this model or about Levoit air purifiers in general, please drop them in the comments below, and I’ll get back to you personally as soon as I can.
