Levoit Core Mini-P Review

The undisputed champion of efficiently purifying air in smaller spaces, the Levoit Core Mini-P is small, sleek, and energy efficient. Though it doesn't filter tiny particles as quickly as larger models in our lineup, its quiet fan, great portability, and excellently low operating cost make it a fantastic pick for those on a strict budget or those seeking dedicated air purifier for their bedroom or home office.

Air Cleaning Performance

Although it excelled in every other metric, air cleaning performance is the one place where the Levoit Core Mini-P had a middling score of only 4.8 out of a possible 10. Its small size makes the unit incredibly portable and energy efficient, but that smallness also means that it simply cannot filter air for pollutants like pollen and smoke as quickly as larger, heavier (and pricier) models. Because this is the most essential metric when selecting an air purifier, we've weighted it to be 40% of a product's final score.

In the first 10 minutes of running our air cleaning tests, the Core Mini-P cleared out roughly one third (31.8%) of particles larger than 2.5 microns, while only 22.2% of small particles (under 2.5 microns) had been eliminated.

At the end of our test, focusing on the time it took to eliminate 99% of particles in a medium sized room, this purifier took roughly three hours for the smallest particles, and two hours for larger particles. As such, our testers feel that this would be a great addition to an office or bedroom, where it can be left on for many hours in the background, and its whisper-quiet functionality will be an asset.

While this isn't the strongest choice for a medium or large room, its results are promising for a smaller space. If you are set on using this in a larger room, one strategy is to place two or three units throughout the area. That way, you not only increase its coverage, but you have the flexibility to move the additional units into smaller rooms throughout your house when you don't need them all together.

Noise

No one wants an air purifier with a distracting, rattling fan. The Levoit Core Mini-P was among the quietest we tested, boasting a mere 42.3 decibels of sound output from a measured six feet away on its highest fan setting.

For reference, the folks at International Noise Awareness Day note that a quiet office or library setting is roughly 40 decibels, and a home refrigerator produces about 50 decibels of sound. The Levoit Core Mini-P sits between these two benchmarks, providing a wonderfully peaceful environment while the air is slowly being filtered of harmful particles, like mold and allergens.

Ease of Use

Even the most powerful air purifier can falter when it comes to setup and functionality, and we weighted our Ease of Use metric as 20% of every product's final score. The tiny but mighty Levoit Core Mini-P was in the middle of the pack in this category, namely because of its simple interface that only provided fan speed options (low, medium, and high).

Our testers found the Core Mini-P to be incredibly lightweight and easy to set up. This purifier weighs a feather-light 2.2 pounds, which makes it one of the lightest on our list. It would be a great option for people who don't want to lift a heavier, bulkier model or who know they will likely move the unit from room to room throughout the day.

Its small, sleek design only has a single top panel that allows users to change the fan speed or turn it off. There is no associated mobile app with this air purifier.

Operating Cost

Due to its small size and ultra-efficient fan, the Levoit Core Mini-P scored very well in our Operating Cost metric. It was easily one of the most energy-efficient of the air purifiers our team tried out for this article, with an estimated annual operating cost (running 24 hours per day, 365 days per year) of just $30.36, including one filter change. This is an incredible savings when compared to larger models, which also cost more up front.

When measuring our annual operating cost metric, we assumed that each air purifier would be running 24/7 on a mix of high, medium, and low settings. Even when churning away on its highest fan speed, the Mini-P only pulled a measly 6.6 watts when we measured its energy draw with a power meter. Combined with its uber-low sticker price and its $25 filter replacement, that is only required once a year, this is an amazingly affordable machine to run and maintain.

Should You Buy Levoit Core Mini-P Air Purifier?

The Levoit Core Mini-P is a great option for those who value price and quiet above all else. It would also work wonders in a smaller space, like a home office or bedroom. Though it wasn't the most powerful or fastest when it came to actual air cleaning performance, you could put two or three of these Mini models into a larger room, like a studio apartment, for additional filtration power.

What Other Air Purifier Should You Consider?

If you're after a do-it-all purifier, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max is our choice for most households. While it has a more expensive up-front cost, it has an excellent operating cost and is very quick at cleaning, so you won't have to run it constantly. Also, though it's expensive, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i offers a decently quiet decibel rating and great energy efficiency.