Levoit LV-H132 Review
Pros: Quiet, low operating costs, excellent price
Cons: Lower power for larger rooms
Manufacturer: Levoit
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Levoit LV-H132 | |||||
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| Awards |  | ||||
| Price | $90 List $76.46 at Amazon | $100 List $99.98 at Amazon | $100 List $98.69 at Amazon | $40 List | $60 List $58.49 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Quiet, low operating costs, excellent price | Quiet, low operating costs | Good air cleaning performance, low overall cost | Inexpensive, low operating costs | Not terribly loud, compact |
| Cons | Lower power for larger rooms | Mediocre power, few settings | Somewhat expensive replacement filters | Poor air cleaning performance, flimsy construction | Poor air cleaning performance, high operating costs for a machine of its size |
| Bottom Line | It's quiet, well designed, and relatively inexpensive, but is suitable for smaller room sizes | An inexpensive, decent overall machine with few notable qualities | A great combination of good performance and low cost make this a great budget option | A low cost model with correspondingly poor performance | A compact model with relatively poor performance and no redeeming attributes to make that up |
| Rating Categories | Levoit LV-H132 | Pure Enrichment Pur... | GermGuardian AC4300... | Holmes HEPA Type De... | Hamilton Beach TrueAir |
| Air Cleaning Performance (40%) | |||||
| Noise (25%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (25%) | |||||
| Operating Cost (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Levoit LV-H132 | Pure Enrichment Pur... | GermGuardian AC4300... | Holmes HEPA Type De... | Hamilton Beach TrueAir |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 7.5" x 13" | 10.8" x 6.9" x 12.1" | 8.88" x 6.38" x 22" | 13" x 10" x 5.5" | 9.5" x 7" x 15" |
| Weight | 8.45 lb | 6.5 lb | 9.45 lb | 4.7 lb | 4.9 lb |
| CADR | 110 CFM | 80 CFM | 100 CFM | 70 CFM | N/A |
| True HEPA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Estimated Lifetime Cost | $323 | $279 | $495 | $143 | $573 |
| Airborne Particulate Reduction After 1 Hour (%) | 95.66% | 93.58% | 99.39% | 89.49% | 89.49% |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Air Cleaning Performance
When we filled our 150 square testing room with smoke, it took the LV-H132 thirty minutes to remove 77% of the airborne particles, and after an hour, it had achieved a reduction of 94%. For comparison, the top-performing Coway removed over 99% of particles in just half an hour. The similarly priced GermGuardian AC4300BPTCA was also able to remove over 99% of the particles, though it did take the full hour to do so. The similarly quiet PureZone was also slightly better, reducing airborne particulate by 96% over an hour.
This means that the LV-H132 is really only cut out for smaller rooms of around 100 square feet. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, this machine would be an excellent option.
Noise
This is the LV-H132's strong suit; we found the noise it produced to be nearly imperceptible when on its lowest setting. On medium and high, it can produce a noticeable hum, but it has a white noise kind of frequency that is somewhat similar to the sound of a normal fan. While we love this lack of cacophonous noise, the PureZone is similarly quiet and slightly more powerful than the LV-H132.
User Friendliness
The LV-H132 is a barebones model. It has a very simple set of controls with a power button, a button to select between the three fan speeds, a button to turn the included LED nightlight on and off, and a light that indicates when the filter should be changed. While this is really all you need, it is sometimes nice to have a few special features like a remote control and an automatic off timer. However, it is small and light and boasts an excellent price. At just 6.5 pounds, it is easy to move around, though the cylindrical shape sometimes feels a bit difficult to grip.
Operating Cost
This is another area where the LV-H132 excels. It lists for $90, the replacement filter cost just $15, and it uses just 0.015kWh of electricity per hour. This works out to an estimated lifetime cost of just $279 (for this calculation, we assumed a five-year lifespan). This was one of the cheaper estimated lifetime costs that we calculated.
Value
The LV-H132 is fairly inexpensive and offers a decent overall value; it's the highest-scoring competitor with the lowest price. You will want to weigh its relatively average air cleaning performance alongside its low level of noise, ease of use, and price tag. If you're searching for an air purifier for a smaller room size, the H132 may be just what you're after. For just a little more money, you can get the PureZone, which is just as quiet and noticeably better at removing airborne particulates.
Conclusion
While the LV-H132 is quiet and inexpensive, its average air cleaning performance and inability to keep up with larger rooms may be a dealbreaker for some. However, if you're looking for an air purifier to clean a room size of 100 square feet or less, this is an affordable option to consider.
— Buck Yedor, Max Mutter, and Steven Tata