Levoit Core 300-P Review

Our Levoit Core 300-P Experience

Given its petite package and low price, we expected a mediocre performance, but this air purifier has blown us away year after year with its impressive cleaning power.

It's helped clear the smoke from our kitchen while cooking, diminished dust buildup in the living room, and removed stagnant pet odors from our bedrooms. Plus, although a tad heavy, its small size is easy enough to carry wherever we need it most.

We also like how simple it is to use and the bonus features that make it feel more premium than its price suggests. With a sleep mode, timer, and child lock, this unit is well-equipped for convenient, everyday use. And if you want smartphone control, the upgraded 300S-P has you covered.

Although it isn't powerful enough to clean the whole house, it's perfect for small to medium-sized spaces. Our one disappointment: all that power makes some noise and requires quite a bit of energy, which can add to your electricity bill over time.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Air Cleaning Performance

The 300-P isn't the highest-performing air cleaner overall, but considering its compact size and low cost, it has one of the best price-to-performance ratios among all the units we tested.

This small but mighty purifier features a 360-degree pleated filter and an activated carbon filter to capture everything from dust and pollen to smoke and VOCs. Although it doesn't have the true HEPA filtration that allergy-sufferers may prefer, its pelleted carbon filter is a huge plus for anyone looking to eliminate odors and toxic fumes.

The folks at Levoit told us it contains 45 grams of carbon, which is a huge step above the less effective carbon mesh found in most purifiers at this price point. Still, if you need more effective control of toxins, pet allergens, or smoke, Levoit offers upgraded filters with an additional carbon boost.

In our lab tests, the 300-P impressed us with its incredible cleaning power, clearing the majority of small (PM2.5, 63%) and large (PM10, 75%) smoke contaminants from our 200 ft² test space within just 10 minutes. For a full, 99% removal, it took 46 minutes. It was just as impressive in our homes, minimizing pesky urine smells embedded in the carpet from a senile cat with limited bladder control.

Given its small size, this unit is best for small- to medium-sized spaces like bedrooms and offices, where it can continuously cycle the air several times per hour. However, if you only need light cleaning, the 300-P can be used in large, open concept living and cooking spaces up to 1000 ft².

Noise

The Levoit scored about average when it comes to sound.

On the lowest setting, aka sleep mode, the fan is barely audible, measuring in at a mere 28 decibels. This is the perfect level for minimizing distractions when sleeping or working.

However, on its highest setting, the 300-P is a bit loud and doesn't exactly have that barely-there quality that you can easily tune out. Still, we found the fan comfortable to listen to at all other speeds, and you'd only need to run it on high in the worst air conditions.

Ease of Use

The Levoit 300-P is easier to use than much of the competition. It requires little setup, is super portable, and offers a handful of options to keep daily use simple, though it lacks an air quality sensor for hands-free operation.

The interface has clearly labeled buttons and a light that makes it incredibly easy to operate, day or night. If you're sensitive to light while sleeping, you can opt to turn the lights completely off for a truly dark, distraction-free sleep environment. And setting the timer will automatically shut the unit off after 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours.

Users with young kiddos will be pleased to know that the 300-P comes complete with a child lock, a vital tool for keeping those curious hands from adjusting the settings. In fact, this purifier was so discreet with the lights off and the child lock engaged that our 3- and 5-year-old testers weren't even tempted to mess with it.

Boasting a modest height of 14 inches, this purifier is petite enough to sit on a table or counter or move from room to room as needed. It's a bit heavier than it looks, but 8 pounds is still light enough to easily carry with one arm. Plus, when you plug it into a new location, it remembers your last settings—a small but perfect touch for easy portability.

Operating Cost

The Levoit 300-P consumes quite a bit of power at low, medium, and high fan speeds, which could cost you up to $50 a year in electricity alone if you're running it 24/7.

And though the filters are relatively cheap, they require replacement more often than the standard 12-month interval. If you change the filter every 8 months as recommended, you can expect to pay about $45 per year for filters, bringing the estimated annual cost to just shy of $100, which is about average for most purifiers we've tested.

Ultimately, though this unit has a low sticker price, the extra filter and electricity costs can quickly add up and eat into those upfront savings. Still, it's a solid budget-friendly pick that delivers reliable everyday air cleaning.