Budget-Friendly & Large Coverage Air Purifier: THE LEVOIT VITAL 100
Written By: Dr Fahad Yasin
- Updated On:
BUDGET-FRIENDLY & LARGE COVERAGE AIR PURIFIER
The Levoit Vital 100 isn’t about being flashy or fancy. It’s the Moneyball of air purifiers – undervalued, but its performance metrics speak for themselves. In a room up to 500 square feet, it quietly does its job without demanding your attention or digging deep into your pockets, but if you can live without the bells and whistles (ex: Auto mode, Sleep mode, Wifi connectivity), then it could be a great option for many different types of spaces. It performed well in our purifier tests, reducing PM2.5 and PM10 to 0.3 and AQI to 0.
Pros
- Good area coverage (up to 500 sf.)
- Easy to use touch-LED controls
- Filter indicator lets you know when it’s time to replace
- Solid purification performance, reducing PM2.5 to 0.3
Cons
- Lacks a ‘Sleep Mode’ as well as an ‘Auto Mode’
- No real-time air quality data
- No wifi connectivity
Levoit Vital 100 Design
Think of Apple’s sleek aesthetic, but for an air purifier. Glossy, white shell with rounded edges and compact – it’s the Steve Jobs’ turtleneck of the purification world.
It has short, raised legs for the base and control panel and air intake present on the top.
The Filters
Three-Phase Filtration System: Like a triathlete, this air purifier is conditioned for different stages:
- Washable Preliminary Filter: Entraps pet fur, hair, and lint.
- Activated Carbon Filter: Takes in odors from pets, cooking, and smoke like a sponge.
- True HEPA Filter: A formidable opponent against 99.97% of airborne nuisances as small as 0.3 microns.
The Controls
Top-located touch-LED buttons, easily accessible and user-friendly:
- Power on / off
- Adjust fan speed (low, medium, or high)
- Turn display lights on / off
- Timer (2, 4, or 8 hours)
- Filter change notification
When it’s time to replace the filter, the “Filter” button will illuminate a red LED light.
The Modes
Eschewing the bells and whistles, it offers three straightforward operational modes, hinging on fan speeds:
low, medium, and high.
For Sleep…
- Quiet to operate (as low as 23 dB)
- Dimmable display lights
What about an auto mode?
The Levoit Vital 100 may not be the right choice for you,, if you’re specifically looking for an air purifier with an auto mode as it has to be controlled manually.
Size & Dimensions
It’s not about size, but efficiency. Though half the size of the hefty Levoit LV-H133, it’s just as effective. Easily placed on floors or sizable tables, this purifier has dimensions of:
- Width: 12.8″ wide
- Depth: 6.4″ deep
- Height: 16.1″ tall
- Weight: 10.25 lbs.
The Levoit Vital 100 can treat large rooms up to 500 square feet in 30 minutes or smaller rooms (approx. 300 sf.) in as little as 18 minutes.
Accessories & Parts
The Levoit Vital 100 air purifier comes with everything you need for basic operation and air purification.
What’s in the Box?
- Levoit Vital 100 air purifier
- Washable pre-filter
- Carbon & HEPA combination filte
Performance
Testing Series
Our testing for this air purifier starts by taking an initial air quality measurement in a medium sized room. Next, we run the purifier for an hour and then take a new measurement. The results are documented and the change in air quality shows the effectiveness of the purifier.
Good vs. Bad Air Quality
What were the results?
Starting Baseline
PM2.5: 3.0
PM10: 4.3
Particles: 126
AQI: 12
After 1 hour
PM2.5: 0.3
PM10: 0.3
Particles: 19
AQI: 0
Starting with an AQI of 12, PM2.5 of 3.0, and PM10 of 4.3, this purifier impressively reduced the numbers to AQI:0, PM2.5: 0.3, and PM10: 0.3.
This translated to a whopping 86% reduction of air particulates in a test room.
Setup & Usability
Getting up and running with the Levoit Vital 100 is easy, right from the beginning.
You simply:
- Unbox the purifier and remove all packaging.
- Plug it in.
- Select your fan speed.
- If you want to set a timer or dim the controls, you can do that as well.
Maintenance
Here, the purifier requires basic upkeep. A quick wipe down of certain components such as the grills and timely filter replacements every 6-8 months will keep it at its optimal performance.
The Filter Change Indicator also lights up to let you know when it’s time to replace the filter. Filters can be purchased directly from Levoit or via a third-party website like Amazon.
Is the Levoit Vital 100 a good value?
So overall, how is the value of the Levoit Vital 100? I’d say the value is quite decent.
The narrative isn’t about having the most features; it’s about efficacy and affordability. With impressive area coverage and an economical price point, it might lack the flashy features of its competitors but is a silent warrior in the battle against air impurities.
Levoit Vital 100 Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Levoit |
| Model | Vital 100 |
| Width | 12.8" |
| Depth(inches) | 6.4" |
| Height | 16.1" |
| Weight | 10.25 pounds |
| Filters | 1; 3-phase |
| Wi-Fi Compatible | No |
| Room Coverage | ~500 sq. ft. |
| Returns | Varies by retailer. |
| Warranty | 2 years limited |
| Price | Check Price |
Should you buy the Levoit Vital 100 Air Purifier?
Overall, I would recommend the Levoit Vital 100 if you’re looking for an air purifier with the following features:
- Compact Size
- Big area coverage
- Don’t need auto mode
