I often recommend the Levoit Vital 200S and the Austin Air HealthMate Jr., but for different purposes and needs.
Why? Because one is better at tackling airborne particles, while the other excels at neutralizing bad odors.
Also, the Levoit offers far more advanced features, whereas the Austin Air doesn’t have any.
The Levoit also has a higher CADR of 245 CFM (416 mÂł/h), meaning it can cover larger rooms.
Keep reading to find out which one performed better in our tests—and which one I absolutely recommend!
Our Verdict
In general, both these air purifiers are top-notch, each one does the job it’s made for.
On one side, we have the very expensive Austin Air HealthMate Jr., while on the other, there’s the budget-friendly Levoit Vital 200S.
Overall, the Levoit Vital 200S performed better in airborne particle removal tests, offers many more features, and has a higher CADR, which is why I would call it the winner in this comparison.
However, if your primary goal is to neutralize bad odors, I’d still choose the Austin Air HealthMate Jr.—especially since this model is unrivaled when it comes to dealing with bad odors, and it has a much higher-quality carbon filter than the Levoit.
If you have any questions about these two air purifiers, feel free to leave a comment in the section below the article.
Specs: Levoit Vital 200S Vs Austin Air HealthMate Jr.
| Product Image |  16% off |  |
| Manufacturer | Levoit | Austin Air |
| Model | Vital 200S | HealthMate Plus Jr. |
| Dimensions (inches / cm) | 15.6 x 8.5 x 19.8 inches (39.6 x 21.7 x 50.2 cm) | 11 x 11 x 16.5 inches (27.9 x 27.9 x 41.9 cm) |
| Weight (pounds / kg) | 13.2 lb (6 kg) | 21 lb (9.5 kg) |
| Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) | 245 CFM (416 mÂł/h) | - |
| Coverage (4.8 ACH)
Room Coverage Explanation: ACH is a measurement used in indoor air quality management to indicate how many times the air within a defined space is changed/moved through the filter media.
For more details, visit our ACH calculator tool. | 380 sq. ft. (35 m²) | 185 sq. ft. (17 m²) |
| Performance Ratings Performance Ratings Score Summary: 8.3 - Average Score (91 products) 9.9 - Best Score (1 products) 1 - Worst Score (1 products) We use the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter to test the particle removal efficiency of every air purifier. It measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Filtration Technology | Pre-filter, Main Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter | Large Particle Pre-filter, Medium Particle Pre-filter, Activated Carbon and Zeolite, and True Medical Grade HEPA |
| Filter Replacement Indicator | Yes | No |
| Filter Life | about 12 months | up to 5 years |
| Power Consumption
Power Usage Summary: Our extensive testing of 91 air purifiers revealed the following power consumption insights:
Check out our power consumption calculator tool. | 50W | 60W |
| Operating Costs Ratings Operating Costs Ratings Score Summary: 9 - Average Score (91 products) 10 - Best Score (2 products) 1.7 - Worst Score (1 products) We measure the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculate how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we use an energy price of $0.12 per kWh. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Number of Fan Speeds | 5 – Sleep Mode, Low, Medium, High, and Turbo | 3 – Speed 1, Speed 2, and Speed 3 |
| Air Quality Sensor Air Quality Sensor Summary: Out of 91 air purifiers tested, only 44 have the air quality sensor. | Yes | No |
| Air Quality Indicator | Yes | No |
| Auto Mode Auto Mode Summary: Out of 91 air purifiers tested, only 45 have auto mode functionality. | Yes | No |
| Smart App Smart App Summary: Out of 91 air purifiers tested, only 26 have smart app functionality. | Yes | No |
| Voice Control Voice Control Summary: Out of 91 air purifiers tested, only 25 have voice control functionality. | Yes | No |
| Other Features | Light DetectionDisplay OffDisplay LockTimer | No |
| Noise Level (low – high) | 41.0 – 62.2 dBA | 40.6 – 54.7 dBA |
| Noise Ratings Noise Ratings Score Summary: 9.3 - Average Score (91 products) 10 - Best Score (1 products) 8.2 - Worst Score (1 products) We use a special noise measurement tool to test the noise level of the air purifier at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale. You can read more about our testing methodology here. | ||
| Best Suited For | Pets Living Rooms Bedrooms Kitchens Allergies Dust Smart Home Integration | Kitchens Smoke Neutralizing VOCs Small Spaces Odors |
| Warranty | 2-year | 5-year |
| In-Depth Review | Levoit Vital 200S | Austin Air HealthMate Plus Jr. |
| Price |
Performance Test – Comparison
We placed these two air purifiers in our airborne particle removal tests, in which we measured how much they would improve air quality in 60 minutes while working at the maximum speeds all the time.
However, as the Levoit Vital 200S covers rooms of up to 380 sq. ft. (35 m²) and the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. covers rooms of up to 185 sq. ft. (17 m²) we tested them in different room sizes.
Particle Removal Tests - Comparison
We placed the Levoit Vital 200S and Austin Air HealthMate Jr. in two separate tests and measured their performance using the Temtop laser particle meter.
In the test in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m2) room, the Levoit Vital 200S improved air quality by 96%, while the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. improved air quality by 86% in the 194 sq. ft. (18 m2) room.
It’s clear that the Levoit is much better in airborne particle removal, which is proven in our airborne particle removal tests. We measured air quality improvements using the Temtop laser particle meter.
Noise Level Test – Comparison
The Austin Air is an older model that hasn’t changed its design in decades, even some of the newer models from this brand have kept the exact same design.
However, that’s not the only issue. This air purifier also lags behind in advanced features, which is why it only offers three fan speeds.
On the other hand, the Levoit Vital 200S has five fan speeds plus an auto mode.
We tested noise levels at all speeds and compared which of these two air purifiers is better optimized for noise.
Noise Levels - Comparison
Comparison of noise levels at all fan speeds between the Levoit Vital 200S and Austin Air HealthMate Jr. air purifiers.
At the lowest speed, the Levoit Vital 200S produces a sound level of 41.0 dBA. By comparison, the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. is slightly better optimized at the lowest speed, with a sound level of 40.6 dBA.
When it comes to noise levels at maximum speed, the Levoit Vital 200S produces 62.2 dBA, while the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. produces 54.7 dBA.
| Fan Speed | Austin Air (dBA) | Levoit Vital 200S (dBA) |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep Mode | - | 41 dBA |
| Speed 1 (Low) | 40.6 dBA | 44.4 dBA |
| Speed 2 (Medium) | 47.3 dBA | 45.7 dBA |
| Speed 3 (High) | 54.7 dBA | 57.9 dBA |
| Speed 4 (Turbo) | - | 62.2 dBA |
It’s clear that the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. is somewhat better optimized for noise than the Levoit Vital 200S, but it’s important to note that the Levoit has more than double the CADR of the Austin Air.
Operating Costs – Comparison
When we compare the specifications of these two air purifiers side by side, it’s easy to see that they use motors of similar size.
The Levoit Vital 200S has a 50W motor, while the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. uses a 60W motor.
Interestingly, even though the Austin Air has a more powerful motor, it has a much lower CADR and covers smaller spaces.
Monthly Power Consumption Cost - Comparison
Comparison of monthly power consumption costs for the Levoit Vital 200S and Austin Air HealthMate Jr. air purifiers at all fan speeds.
If you were to use both of these air purifiers at maximum speed, 24 hours a day, for one month, your electric bill would increase by about $4.22 for the Levoit and around $2.45 for the Austin Air.
There’s also the cost of replacement filters to consider. Filters for the Austin Air are a bit more expensive but keep in mind that they need to be replaced only every five years on average, while the Levoit’s filters typically need to be replaced once a year.
| Fan Speed | Austin Air (W + $/month) | Levoit Vital 200S (W + $/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Standby | 0W ($0) | 1.4W ($0.12) |
| Sleep Mode | - | 3.5W ($0.3) |
| Speed 1 (Low) | 12.4W ($1.09) | 5.8W ($0.5) |
| Speed 2 (Medium) | 13.8W ($1.21) | 7.9W ($0.69) |
| Speed 3 (High) | 28W ($2.45) | 26.3W ($2.3) |
| Speed 4 (Turbo) | - | 48.2W ($4.22) |
All things considered, even though the Levoit uses a bit more power at max speed, the fact that it has a much higher CADR makes the Levoit Vital 200S more cost-effective to maintain in the long run.
I have a few questions after reading the review:
1) It sounds like the 200s is better at handling particulates and the Healthmate Jr. is better at handling VOCs, but how specialized are they in those areas? Which model would be a better “general purpose” pick if you want something that can effectively handle both particles and VOCs? To put it another way: is the 200s better at handling VOCs than the Healthmate Jr. is at handling particles, or vice versa?
2) If I understand the results of the particle removal tests correctly, after testing the 200s had 4% of starting particles still in the air while the Healthmate Jr. had 14% still in the air. That would mean the Healthmate leaves more than 3x as many particles in the air as the 200s. Is this correct?
3) Levoit is offering special “Toxin Absorber” filters for the 200s that they claim improve its effectiveness with VOCs. Have you tested the performance of these filters, and if so how much does it improve the performance of the 200s in comparison to the Healthmate Jr?