Coway AP-1512HH Vs Levoit Core 300 (2023): Real Comparison!

Looking at the Coway AP-1512HH and Levoit Core 300 purifiers, one might think that these two are larger versions of a Bluetooth speaker. Well, before you put on the neon lights and get the party started, you might wanna turn your purifier ON, in case you don’t want to see what goes on in the air you breathe. And that’s why I’m here. To give you a comparison of two great and yet completely different appliances, which you can already tell from the picture comparison.

Coming from a very popular brand, Levoit Core 300 is a simply designed small purifier, with only 7.5 lb, that covers up to 219 sq. ft. of space and, according to the manufacturer, all it needs is a home. 

If your eye is stuck on Coway AP-1512HH, then you should know that this purifier, besides having such a neat and elegant look, is equipped with loads of additional features, giving this appliance the ‘’Mighty’’ nickname. When I say loads of features, I must point out the Air Quality Sensor, Auto Mode, and Eco Mode. It covers up to 361 sq. ft. of your space. 

And if you are in some sort of image dilemma, it is good to know that they both come in a black and white version, promising you a warranty for 2 years, in the case of Levoit, and a 3-year warranty given by Coway. 

Coway Vs Levoit Specifications

Features Overview

In spite of how it may seem at first, these two purifiers actually do share a lot of features. One of the most useful features is surely the Filter Reset Indicator, which lights up to inform you that you should replace the filter. The difference is that while Levoit has only one indicator, Coway has two of them. One shows the replacement time of the True HEPA filter and the other of the Carbon filter. 

With its numerous extra features, the Coway AP-1512HH promises to deliver one more, it will seamlessly fit into your lifestyle. On the other hand, Levoit Core 300 ensures less power consumption while providing lower costs of purchase and maintenance. 

I will be giving you a detailed comparison of other features in further lines.

Air Quality Sensor

As the title itself already says, Coway Mighty uses a very sophisticated and precise smart sensor, able to detect only particles in the air, but not the odors. The sensor can be easily adjusted to three levels, thus completely coherent with your needs. 

The Air Quality Sensor has been programmed to collect data in real-time. Based on that data, the Air Quality Indicator, placed in the top right corner of the Coway purifier, lights up in different colors depending on the detected air quality. 

Air Quality Sensor is something that Levoit Core 300 doesn’t have. But that shouldn’t discourage you since its successor Levoit Core 300s, has this and many more other features that could easily stand up to Coway AP-1512HH. 

Auto Mode and ECO Mode

Do you remember that color-switching I mentioned while talking about Air Quality Indicator? Well, putting Coway AP-1512HH into Auto Mode means the purifier will change in a way that depends on the air quality. For instance, if the air quality is satisfying, the purifier will automatically be switched to Speed 1. On the other hand, if the air is extremely polluted, the purifier will speed up to the 3rd level.

Speaking of ECO Mode, I think of it as an advanced version of Auto Mode. Basically, they do work and are used for the same purposes, but ECO Mode differs because it kind of saves resources by keeping the appliance OFF when necessary. That means it will put the Coway purifier into standby mode if the quality of air was satisfying for the last 30 minutes. The minute it estimates that the air is polluted more than allowed, it turns the purifier ON. 

Levoit Core 300 is missing both of these options. 

Vital Ion System

Another feature that the Levoit Core 300 is missing is Ionizer, which Coway Mighty uses as an extra filtration stage. What this bipolar Ionizer produces is actually an electrochemical response that reduces air particles, but the thing I really like is that Coway keeps the Ionizer OFF, letting you decide whether you want to turn it ON. 

Coway AP-1512HH has a CARB certificate making it safe for use without fear of creating prohibited amounts of ozone. 

Timer

Neither of these two appliances has some sort of advanced smart app control available for the end-user, but the good thing is they both have a Timer option. This option can be used in order to set the time when the purifier shuts down. The timer that Coway AP-1512HH has can be set to 1h, 4h, or 8h, while Levoit Core 300 can adjust its timer to 2h, 4h, 6h, and 8h. 

Sleep Mode

Unlike Levoit, which has Sleep Mode, Coway doesn’t have this option. I think this is a great feature and here is why. If you turn on Sleep Mode, the purifier will not only be more silent, but it will put to the minimum all of the lights that come out of the appliance. This way, the purifier can easily be placed in your bedroom during the night, without getting distracted.  

Airflow

As far as the airflow goes, it mostly depends on the shape of the purifier. You’ve already noticed the square shape of the Coway AP-1512HH. This purifier has its filters taking the major part of the surface and the way it works is that the polluted air enters the purifier from up to five sides: frontally, both left and right side, downside, and centrally. The air is being filtrated and released through the upper side of the purifier. 

Meanwhile, the Levoit Core 300 is roundly designed in a way that the air is being suctioned from the bottom part of the purifier, then goes through the filtration process, and is finally released into the room through bars on top. 

Warranty

I’ve already mentioned the warranty feature in this article, but let me be more specific. If you buy Levoit Core 300, you will receive a 1-year warranty with an extra year of coverage if you register on their website straight upon purchase. So, it’s totally of two years of warranty. But if you buy Coway AP-1512HH, you will be generously given a 3 years warranty.

Filtration Technology

I’ll start by saying that both appliances have a three-stage filtration, but they do vary. 

If you’ve seen any of my previous reviews on Levoit products, it will be no news to you that this Core 300 version also uses a 3-in-1 filtration system, with a bit smaller cylindrical filter that is hollow on the inside. Stages of filtration are simply divided into pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and Activated Carbon Filter.

Coway Mighty uses the pre-filter at first, which is washable by the way, making it easier to clean the purifier. The second stage belongs to the Carbon filter, with the True HEPA filter as the third stage of filtration.

What I would strongly recommend is for you to clean the pre-filters at least once a month, and trust me, it will extend the performance and durability of the True HEPA filter, which is pretty important, let us agree. 

How To Replace Filters on These Air Purifiers?

If you maintain your Coway AP-1512HH the right way, by washing its pre-filter regularly, you can most definitely rely on its durability for up to 12 months. 

On the other hand, given the fact that Levoit Core 300 does not have an option to wash its pre-filter, you can expect the filter to be ready for replacement in around 6-8 months. 

Noise Tests

As opposed to Coway Mighty’s 3 fan speed levels, Levoit Core 300 has 3 speeds and an extra Sleep mode. But both purifiers do work pretty well when the speed is at its lowest. The sound is pleasant with no cracking whatsoever. 

On the contrary, if you leave them working on maximum speed level, don’t be surprised if you hear a bit louder sound than you expected. 

My conclusion is that both purifiers on average produce quite the same noise since Levoit tends to be more silent while in Sleep mode and Coway quieter when on maximum speed. Basically, it all comes to the same. See for yourself in the volume range table below. 

Performance Tests

Don’t mind me repeating myself by saying how Coway AP-1512HH is intended for spaces up to 361 sq. ft. as opposed to Levoit’s Core 300, which is designed for 219 sq. ft. rooms.

Somehow I wanted to make the testing easier and more relevant to readers, so I decided to choose one room or space to test these purifiers.

320 sq. ft. Room Tests

Although both appliances have different room coverages, my choice was to test them in a 320 sq. ft. room, for an hour at a maximum speed level. 

Test results have shown that Coway Mighty has slightly better performance and better airflow thanks to its larger motor that allows greater room coverage. By working constantly for 60 minutes Coway improved the air quality by about 96%, as opposed to Levoits’ 92% end result. 

Levoit is a much smaller purifier and, in my opinion, its best performance would be felt in smaller rooms. 

Operating Costs

There’s a reason why it’s called Mighty, for Coway AP-1512HH works with a 77W motor. By putting it to a constant work mode for an entire month, the total cost came to about $6, which can be a pretty big deal considering the price of the filter.

But, the interesting thing is that Coway will spend approximately 9 times more energy while working on Speed 3, contrary to Speed 2. Even though you might consider it a bit too much, the truth is that the third-speed mode does provide the best airflow. Another useful thing to know is that you can use the ECO mode to optimize your costs and level of energy consumption. 

Nevertheless, Levoit Core 300 with its 45W motor still remains an advantage due to its energy savings, lower initial price, and annual maintenance costs (3.8$ on a monthly basis).