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Coway Airmega 1512HH Review

The small footprint paired with big performance makes this a compelling option
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Coway Airmega 1512HH Review
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $230 List
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Manufacturer:   Coway
By Genaveve Bradshaw, Max Mutter, and Ryan White  ⋅  Oct 25, 2024
81
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 11
  • Air Cleaning Performance - 40% 8.3
  • Noise - 30% 7.6
  • Ease of Use - 20% 8.3
  • Operating Cost - 10% 8.3

Our Verdict

The Coway Airmega 1512HH air purifier provides exceptional air cleaning performance. It's quiet (except on the high setting), efficient, and it looks pretty nice too. We loved the tactile interface because it has everything you need without feeling confusing or overwhelming, and the feel of the buttons was quite nice. On top of that, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to run daily, monthly, or even yearly. While it won't quickly cover the biggest rooms (its listed coverage is 1,748 square feet), it should prove more than adequate for most people's needs. It's a bit loud on the highest setting, but the sound emitted was not grating or annoying to our testers who found it pleasant enough. It would've been great to have multiple filter options for different cleaning applications (smoke, odor, etc.); however, this didn't seem to hold it back in any way in our performance tests. Basically, you can't go wrong with this particular model as we found it to be a great experience overall with only the smallest caveats.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent air cleaning performance
Quiet operation
Reasonable lifetime cost
REASONS TO AVOID
Noisy on high settings
One filter option
No child lock

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Air Purifier for Most
Best Buy Award
Best Value for a Smart Air Purifier
 Best Buy Award
Best Value for Small Rooms
 
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Bottom Line It's tough to find an air purifier that can do it all, but rest assured that this one canThis app-compatible model is user-friendly and comes with an assortment of programmable featuresReasonably priced with a minimal yet effective design, this air purifier is definitely worth a lookAn affordable, high performing option that is ideal for smaller spacesIt boasts a low price and silent operation and excels in smaller room sizes
Rating Categories Coway Airmega 1512HH Levoit Core 400S Blueair Blue Pure 3... Levoit Core 300 Levoit LV-H132
Air Cleaning Performance (40%)
8.3
9.4
8.3
7.8
6.0
Noise (30%)
7.6
6.8
7.8
7.0
8.6
Ease of Use (20%)
8.3
7.9
7.6
7.4
6.8
Operating Cost (10%)
8.3
6.7
6.7
7.8
8.2
Specs Coway Airmega 1512HH Levoit Core 400S Blueair Blue Pure 3... Levoit Core 300 Levoit LV-H132
Measured Annual Cost $110.16 $148.14 $144.30 $96.81 $84.79
Airborne Particulate Reduction After 1 Hour (%) 100.00% 100.00% 99.99% 99.92% 95.30%
CADR 234 (Smoke)
248 (Dust)
232 (Pollen)
Sleep: 59
Speed 1: 88
Speed 2: 118
Speed 3: 177
Speed 4: 260

*Per Levoit, their stated CADR ratings for this product are the same for Smoke, Dust, and Pollen but differ for fan speeds
250 (Smoke)
250 (Dust)
250 (Pollen)
141 (Smoke)
140 (Dust)
145 (Pollen)
40 (Smoke)
40 (Dust)
40 (Pollen)
Measured Dimensions 9.6" x 16.8" x 18.3" 10.8" x 10.8" x 20.5" 12.5" x 12.5" x 19.0" 8.7" x 8.7" x 14.2" 7.9" x 7.9" x 12.6"
Measured Weight 13.1 lbs 10.4 Ibs 7.9 Ibs 7.3 Ibs 5.4 Ibs
Measured Cord Length 6' 6" 6' 3" 7' 6' 3" 5' 10"
True HEPA (99.97%) Yes No Yes No Yes
Estimated Lifetime Cost (5 years) $550.81 $740.70 $721.50 $484.03 $423.93
App Control No Yes Yes No No
Air Quality Sensor Yes Yes Yes No No
Measured Decibels 55.9 51.8 49.2 52.3 46.1
Energy Star Certified Yes Yes Yes Yes Not Listed
Listed Coverage 1,748 sq. ft 1560 sq. ft 1,800 sq. ft 219 sq. ft 129 sq. ft

Our Analysis and Test Results

One of the main draws of the Airmega 1512HH is its effectiveness and ease of use. We appreciated how effortless the interface was to navigate and how intuitive the controls were. In a world of touch screens, the tactile feel of these particular buttons was a welcome change.

Performance Comparison


The Coway Airmega showing its worth during our testing protocols.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Air Cleaning Performance


The Coway Airmega 1512HH delivers top-notch performance, and we had no complaints during testing. We conducted several tests to evaluate its effectiveness at its most crucial function: cleaning the air. First, we put on our PPE, and then filled our test room full of smoke by burning paper until the room reached an air quality index (AQI) of at least 500, which is considered hazardous.


coway airmega 1512hh - we built an air quality testing rig to measure how long it took each...
We built an air quality testing rig to measure how long it took each purifier to remove particulates from our test room. The Coway did not disappoint.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 240 is on the higher end and provides enough power for most rooms up to 1,748 square feet. No model that we tested was particularly effective at removing odors, and the Coway Airmega actually did quite well in that regard. It put a dent in the smoky smell of our testing room, but it was still somewhat noticeable. The Airmega 1512HH was able to lower the AQI significantly after just 45 minutes. After an hour had passed, 100% of particulates were removed from the air. Very few air purifiers were able to surpass this impressive performance.

Our smoke test reveals how effective each air purifier can be.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Noise


Some air purifiers can be quite noisy and cause disturbances while trying to sleep, study, or go about daily life. To help you choose a model with the least amount of sound, we tested each and every purifier using a decibel reader to gauge their noise levels.


As if top-notch cleaning wasn't enough, the Coway is also one of the quietest operators amongst our testing models. When on its high setting, it produces a medium-high hum that is somewhat loud, but the pitch tends to fade into the background, and we didn't feel it would disrupt any audio-based enjoyment like listening to music or watching TV. If you're using it in your bedroom, it can double as a pleasant white noise machine. The only slight annoyance is the lack of any type of sleep or nighttime mode. Many models we tested had this quality of life feature, but it is absent here.

coway airmega 1512hh - the noise emitted from the coway ap-1512hh didn't prove to be...
The noise emitted from the Coway AP-1512HH didn't prove to be disruptive and should feel comfy in any living room.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Pulling the Coway back down to medium ratchets both the pitch and the volume down. This deep purr gets close to silent but is still noticeable. Kind of like the quiet hum always emanating from a refrigerator. If you click it down to low, the Coway is virtually silent. You'll likely forget that it is on, even if you're just sitting quietly and reading a book.

Ease of Use


Air purifiers provide a relatively basic function. We believe the interface should be straightforward and unobtrusive, ensuring a frictionless experience when navigating its features. Thankfully, the Coway achieved this, allowing us to breeze through the control layout with ease.


The Coway features a no-frills, clean interface with a range of straightforward controls. A series of buttons on the top of the unit allows you to cycle through fan speeds, toggle the ionizer, and set a timer for one, four, or eight hours. The fan settings include low, medium, high, and eco modes. Additionally, it has a built-in air quality meter that automatically adjusts the fan speed based on the detected air quality. We found this air quality monitor to be the most accurate among our selection. Unlike other models where the air quality meter often failed to respond to increases in pollutants, the Coway consistently adjusted its fan speed in response to changes detected by our external air quality meter. To top it off, there is also an app you can download to monitor and control this air purifier. Thanks for the great interface it's wholly unnecessary, but for those that enjoy app connectivity it's a great addition.

coway airmega 1512hh - the interface design of the coway ap-1512hh is clean and easy to...
The interface design of the Coway AP-1512HH is clean and easy to understand.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weighing 13.1 pounds, the Coway isn't particularly lightweight, but it features convenient carrying handles that make it relatively easy to move around. The handle is located on the back of the machine near the top, featuring an indentation designed for gripping. It's ideal for short carries or lifts. For longer distances, you might find it easier to carry the unit from either side of the body.

coway airmega 1512hh - weighing each air purifier is an important factor to help you...
Weighing each air purifier is an important factor to help you determine portability and storage footprint.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Operating Cost


The Coway has a good operating cost and won't run up your electric bill. That said, there are some more economical models out there with lower operating costs.


coway airmega 1512hh - we used a kilowatt meter to measure how much electricity each unit...
We used a Kilowatt meter to measure how much electricity each unit would use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Using only 0.01 kWh of electricity per hour of operation, it's one of the most efficient models in our testing. This factors out to about $4.16 per year in most homes. However, its replacement filters are somewhat pricey, and we typically found them for $60, though sometimes cheaper options are available. The best replacement packs come with one HEPA filter and two carbon filters, which are enough to last for one year according to manufacturer recommendations. Its list price is also a bit above average, so you have to pay a little more upfront. But, we expect that from such a high-performing machine.

coway airmega 1512hh - persistent costs like filter replacements can add up, but overall...
Persistent costs like filter replacements can add up, but overall, the cost of running the Coway 1512HH remains quite low.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Coway Airmega 1512HH?


Given that the Coway excels in every test and offers an estimated lifetime cost that represents great value, we believe it's more than worth your consideration. Generally, we would expect a product of this caliber to command a premium price for its performance, but the Coway's costs are very reasonable. If you can make the initial (relatively small) investment, you'll benefit from high-end performance at a reasonable price in the long run. In other words, put this on your short list of potential devices because it's that good.

What Other Air Purifiers Should You Consider?


For even more efficient cleaning, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i is a good choice. Although it will cost you more in the long run due to less overall efficiency, its air-purifying power can't be overlooked. If you need to clean a much larger space, the Coway Airmega 400S is the beast you need. The upfront costs are considerably higher than many other air purifiers, but it will also do the job better than nearly any other model. Finally, if you desire something with a small storage footprint that still cleans effectively, the Levoit Core 400S is deserving of your consideration. It proved to be one of the best performers in terms of pure cleaning power, has great smart functionality, and won't take up precious space. But, be prepared for an investment because the Levoit Core 400S is one of the most expensive models we tested.

Genaveve Bradshaw, Max Mutter, and Ryan White