Levoit Vital 100 Vs Honeywell HPA100 – Comparison (2022)

In this article, I will compare two air purifiers of very similar construction but with not many other similarities. Levoit Vital 100 and Honeywell HPA100 are devices that come from two popular and reliable companies.

Although almost identical in dimensions, the Vital 100 is slightly stronger in terms of airflow and covers larger rooms, up to 300 sq. ft., which is almost twice as much as 155 sq. ft. how much does the Honeywell HPA100 cover.

Levoit uses 3-stage filtration, while Honeywell uses 2-stage filtration. This difference in filtration stages is best noticed in performance tests, where Levoit showed better results.

Honeywell reminds me a bit of industrial design, which makes Levoit a little more modern. In addition, Levoit is available in white and gray, while Honeywell is available in black and white. The quality of workmanship and plastic is ok on both devices.

Please keep reading and find out which of these two air purifiers has more exciting features, better performance, which one is quieter at work, and which is my absolute recommendation for buying.

Levoit Vital 100 Vs Honeywell HPA100 Specifications

Levoit and Honeywell Features

Regarding features, I want to say that these two devices do not have many advanced features, but they still have enough to make your daily usage easier.

None of them have a smart app, air quality sensor, auto mode, or similar features that would take them to a higher level. Below I will single out and describe the most important features of these two air purifiers.

Timer

A timer is an option that adorns both devices. It is used to set the time for which the air purifier is going to turn itself off.

The timer on these works identically, and they both offer the ability to set the timer to 2h, 4h, or 8h.

Filter Reset Indicator

What I like about the Levoit and Honeywell is that you don’t have to track when it’s time to replace the filter. Why? Simply, because these two air purifiers have a filter reset indicator that will remind you when to replace old filters.

At Levoit Vital 100, this indicator is located on the control panel. It is essentially an indicator that will light up red, after which you should replace the old filters as soon as possible.

Honeywell HPA100 has two different filter reset indicators. The first relates to the replacement of the HEPA filter, while the second relates to the replacement of the pre-filter and carbon filter combination, which changes slightly more frequently than the HEPA filter.

Display Off / Dimmer

Since neither of these two air purifiers has a sleep mode, which is somehow a disadvantage, especially for the Honeywell, which is much louder than Levoit on the first speed, I must say that Levoit’s Display Off and Honeywell’s Dimmer are really good options to have.

Basically, these options are used to turn off or change the brightness of the indicators on the devices. This can be very useful if you are sensitive to light or if you plan to use the device in the bedroom and you want to turn off the indicators.

Airflow

Due to their very similar design, I must say that the airflow in these air purifiers is not that much different.

Both air purifiers draw air through openings at the front, which is then filtered and exits through the grilles at the top.

Warranty

When it comes to warranty, it is where Honeywell is far ahead of Levoit. The reason is that the Honeywell HPA100 comes with a 5-year warranty, while the Levoit comes with a 2-year warranty.

I would recommend registering the product on the manufacturer’s website immediately after purchase in case of both. Registering devices will confirm and secure the warranty.

Filtration Technology

As I mentioned at the beginning of the comparison, the Levoit Vital 100 uses 3-stage filtration, including a pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter. Honeywell HPA100 uses 2-stage filtration, including a pre-filter and odor-reducing filter combinations and a True HEPA filter.

The filters on both air purifiers are rectangular, with Levoit having slightly larger filters than Honeywell.

The first stage of filtration on Levoit is pre-filter, the second stage is pellet-based carbon filter, and the last stage is True HEPA filter. On Honeywell, the first filtration stage is the pre-filter and odor-reducing combo filter, while the last stage is the True HEPA filter.

The filters on both devices are very high quality, and I really like that they have a True HEPA filter, and I think that’s one significant plus. In my opinion, Levoit has a slightly higher quality carbon filter that is pellet-based, which is the reason for slightly better results in performance tests.

Both devices are CARB certified, do not produce ozone, and are entirely safe to use.

How to Replace Filters?

Since these two devices do not use washable filters, it is necessary to change old filters from time to time. Fortunately, both devices have a filter reset indicator that will notify you when it is time to replace the filter.

On Levoit, filters last 6-8 months on average, while on Honeywell, they last up to 12 months (True HEPA), and about 3 months (Pre-filter / Carbon).

In addition to regular filter replacement, I would recommend everyone to clean the pre-filter at least once a month, in the case of both air purifiers.

I have described the detailed process of replacing the filters in the individual reviews, which you can find at the links below.

Noise Test

Honeywell HPA100 has 4 fan speeds, while Levoit has 3 fan speeds. I measured the noise levels of these two air purifiers at all speeds, and I compared the results and determined which device is generally quieter.

I find it interesting that the Levoit is much quieter at the first speed, where it produces a sound of just 41.9 dBA, while the Honeywell HPA100 produces a sound of 48.2 dBA. Based on these tests, I conclude that the lack of a sleep mode option on the Levoit air purifier is not a big minus because it is quieter on the first speed than some air purifiers on sleep mode. On the other hand, Honeywell is too loud on its lowest speed.

When comparing the volume at max speeds, Levoit is a bit louder than Honeywell. I am delighted that both devices use very high-quality motors, which do not produce strange sounds, no rattling or the like.

To summarize, the Levoit Vital 100 is essentially slightly quieter than the Honeywell HPA100 air purifier.

Performance Tests

In performance tests, I measured how fast these two devices can improve the air quality in specific rooms in 60 minutes of working at max speeds.

Since these two devices are designed for different room sizes, I tested them in different rooms, but I did one test in a 194 sq. ft. room.

In addition to the tests I’ll show below, I’ve tested these two devices in everyday use, and I have to say that the Levoit Vital 100 performed slightly better, especially in neutralizing odors. For example, the Vital 100 neutralizes cooking odors much faster and more efficiently than the Honeywell HPA100. I guess it’s because of the better and higher quality carbon filter.

194 sq. ft. Room Tests

In the first test, in a room of 194 sq. ft., in 60 minutes of operation at max speed, the Levoit Vital 100 improved air quality by about 95%, while the Honeywell HPA100 improved air quality by about 89% within the same time and under identical conditions.

Although I expected Honeywell to do worse than Levoit, I am still surprised at how much Levoit showed better performance on this test.

Other Tests

In addition to the mentioned test, I tested these two air purifiers in some other rooms that are closer to their recommended dimensions.

So the Honeywell HPA100 improved the air quality in a room of 120 sq. ft. by about 93% in 60 minutes of operation at max speed.

Levoit Vital 100 improved the air quality in 320 sq. ft. by about 92% in 60 minutes, working at max speed all the time.

I have to say that the air purifiers made a fantastic performance on these two tests and that Honeywell did slightly better than on the previous test.

Operating Costs

The Levoit Vital 100 uses a 55W motor, while the Honeywell HPA100 uses a 50W motor. Honestly, I expected these devices to have weaker motors.

At top speed, Levoit consumes about 57.9W, while Honeywell consumes about 32.7W. This means that if you left these two devices running at max speed, 24 hours a day, and so on for a month, your electricity bill would be increased by about $ 5 in the case of Levoit and by about $ 2.9 in the case of Honeywell.

In addition to electricity consumption, there is also the cost of replacing filters, which is almost the same for both. Because the filter price is almost equal, the price of electricity consumption, which is slightly lower for Honeywell, is definitely a deciding factor in this section and is what makes the Honeywell HPA100 air purifier a little cheaper to maintain annually than Levoit Vital 100.

Which One Does It Better?