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Levoit LV-H132 Review

Quiet and relatively inexpensive, but feels a bit underpowered
Levoit LV-H132
Credit: Levoit
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Price:   $90 List | $79 at Amazon
Pros:  Quiet, low operating costs
Cons:  Somewhat weak
Manufacturer:   Levoit
By Max Mutter and Steven Tata  ⋅  Jun 9, 2018
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71
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#5 of 14
  • Air Cleaning Performance - 40% 5
  • Noise - 25% 9
  • Ease of Use - 25% 8
  • Operating Cost - 10% 8

Our Verdict

The Levoit LV-H132 has some strong suits, but in our opinion it falls short of carving out a meaningful niche for itself. Its ideal use would be in a small bedroom occupied by someone who is sensitive to noise. However, we feel the PureZone 3-in-1 is a better overall choice for noise-sensitive, small bedroom dwellers. The GermGuardian AC4300BPTCA is also much more powerful and costs the same, though it is noticeably louder. Therefore we wouldn't put our stamp of recommendation on the LV-H132, not because its a bad product, but just because it isn't the best at anything.

Compare to Similar Products

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Levoit LV-H132
This Product
Levoit LV-H132
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award   
Price $90 List
$78.99 at Amazon		$250 List
$159.99 at Amazon		$230 List
$222.29 at Amazon		$250 List
$245.00 at Amazon		$250 List
$134.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Quiet, low operating costsExceptional air cleaning performance, very quiet operation, simple user experienceExcellent air cleaning performance, quiet operation, average lifetime costGood air cleaning performance, seperate air quality meter, quietGood air cleaning performance, very quiet, simple to use
Cons Somewhat weakCan be expensive when not on saleExpensive up front costExpensive upfront cost, no CADR ratingSomewhat expensive filters
Bottom Line Low price and silent operation can't completely make up for the relative lack of air cleaning performanceSuperb air cleaning performance and quiet operation make for a great overall experienceHigh end performance with an average lifetime cost make this a great choice for almost anyoneEffective for those looking for relief from common airborne allergensGood air cleaning and very quiet operation at a relatively affordably price
Rating Categories Levoit LV-H132 Winix 5500-2 Coway AP-1512HH TruSens Z-2000 GermGuardian AC5350B
Air Cleaning Performance (40%)
5
8
8
7
6
Noise (25%)
9
9
9
9
9
Ease Of Use (25%)
8
9
8
9
8
Operating Cost (10%)
8
5
5
5
5
Specs Levoit LV-H132 Winix 5500-2 Coway AP-1512HH TruSens Z-2000 GermGuardian AC5350B
Dimensions 7.5" x 7.5" x 13" 8.2" × 15" × 23.6" 16.5" x 9.5" x 18.5" 12.6" x 11.6" x 25.4" 9.06" x 6.69" x 27.56"
Weight 8.45 lb 15.4 lb 12.7 lb 7.4 lb 11.25 lb
CADR 110 CFM 246 CFM 240 CFM N/A 125 CFM
True HEPA Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Estimated Lifetime Cost $323 $660 $556 $548 $542
Airborne Particulate Reduction After 1 Hour (%) 95.66% 99.99% 99.84% 99.85% 99.50%

Our Analysis and Test Results

Though the Levoit LV-H132 is a fairly well-designed machine, we struggled to come up with a situation where it would be the first purifier we reached for.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Performance Comparison


After we ran our gantlet of tests, the Levoit LV-H132's overall performance turned out to be right around average. That's not to say it didn't have some aspects in which it excelled. You can read about those below.

Air Cleaning Performance


This is the main area where we feel the Levoit LV-H132 is lacking. 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.

The LV-H132 has just enough power for small rooms, but will likely...
The LV-H132 has just enough power for small rooms, but will likely struggle in larger ones.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

What this means is 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 may work for you, but either the GermGuardian AC4300BPTCA or the PureZone would do a better job and cost about the same.

Noise


This is the LV-H132's strong suit. We found the noise it produced to be nearly imperceptible when on its lowest setting. In 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. Therefore that would be our top recommendation for those that both have a small bedroom and want a purifier that won't offend their ears.

The LV-H132 is nearly silent on low, and generates only a low hum on...
The LV-H132 is nearly silent on low, and generates only a low hum on higher settings.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

User Friendliness


The LV-H132 is completely bare bones. It has a very simple set of controls with a power button, a bottom to select between the 3 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.

The LV-H132 is small and light. At just 6.5 pounds it is easy to move around, though the cylindrical shape sometimes feels a bit difficult to grip.

The LV-H132's simple controls and optional night light.
The LV-H132's simple controls and optional night light.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Operating Cost


This is another area where the LV-H132 excels. It lists for $90, 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 5-year lifespan). This was one of the cheaper estimated lifetime costs that we calculated.


Value


While the LV-H132 is fairly inexpensive at $90, we don't feel it is a particularly good value. For just $10 more you can get the PureZone, which is just as quiet and noticeably better at removing airborne particulates. If you don't care about fan noise, the GermGuardian AC4825 is also just $10 more and significant;y more powerful. For most people shopping in this price range we would suggest one of those 2 models over the LV-H132.

Conclusion


While the LV-H132 is quiet and inexpensive, its below average air cleaning performance will likely be a deal breaker for most people.

— Max Mutter and Steven Tata