Levoit Vital 200S Air Purifier for Pets Review (Plus Test Results)

Levoit Vital 200S Review

Picking a good air purifier for pets is never a straightforward process. If you know anything thing or two about these machines, you probably already know that you need one that can produce massive amounts of clean air with minimal noise and handle thick pet hair and allergens with ease. And one of the models on the market that fits that description is the Levoit Vital 200S.

This device comes equipped with a U-shaped air intake that’s unique to it, through which it pulls air into a three-stage filtration system and effectively captures heavy particulate matter. This protects the primary filters from getting clogged and therefore ensures that the machine continues to deliver optimal performance.

Now, you might be expecting me to provide you with a list of features from Levoit and a review based on those features, but I’m not going to do that here. Instead, I’ll break down the actual performance data, noise output, and total energy consumption as they relate to its performance in a real living space, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Specs at a Glance

Before revealing the granular details of this machine’s air cleaning performance, I’ll give you a quick overview of its official specifications:

• Dimensions: 15.6 x 8.5 x 19.8 inches
• Weight: 13.2 lbs
• Room Coverage: 380 sq. ft. (at 5 ACH)
• Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 245 CFM
• Filter Lifespan: Up to 12 months
• Warranty: 2 years

Now let’s move onto the detailed review.

Design and Build Quality

Rather than follow the cylindrical tower shape of the Levoit Core Series, the Vital 200S takes a totally different approach. It has a traditional rectangular body, and air is pulled through the front. After purifying it, it’s then pushed out through the top grille. Its rectangular body is 8.5 inches deep, 19.8 inches tall, and 16.6 inches wide, with a weight of 13.2 pounds which is somewhat heavy but makes up for it with a built-in side handle that makes moving it from living room to bedroom a lot easier.

Remember the U-shaped air inlet I mentioned earlier? That’s the most impressive design element of this machine, and its main purpose is to eliminate a major problem that pet owners face. With standard grilles, it’s easier for thick fur to gather, restrict airflow, and put the motor under undue strain. But with the U-shaped air inlet, heavy pet hair and big dust clumps bypass the outer shell and enter the main catching screen.

Another pleasing design feature I want to mention is its glossy white finish and sleek black top display. Although this won’t have any effect on its performance, it helps the machine blend into modern living spaces instead of looking like an industrial machine like some devices do.

Filtration Technology

Behind the scenes, a highly effective three-stage filtration system works tirelessly to give you clean air. This is the kind of filtration system the best models come with, and the Levoit Vital 200S doesn’t disappoint in that regard.

Here are the parts involved:

• Washable Pre-Filter: As the first line of defense built in to catch macro particles like lint, pet hair, and thick dust, this layer rarely needs replacement. It’s made of a fine mesh screen, and it’s washable, either by removing it and rinsing it in a sink or simply running a vacuum hose over it. Regular cleaning extends the lifespan of the more expensive internal filters significantly. 
• Main Particle Filter: Levoit has stopped using the term “True HEPA” to market most of its models due to updated testing standards, but I’ve seen the Levoit Vital 200S’ main filter capture 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns just like a true HEPA filter does. This main filter sits directly behind the pre-filter and traps microscopic contaminants like mold spores, fine dust, and dander easily, protecting you and your pets from allergic reactions.
• High-Efficiency Activated Carbon Filter: The Vital 200s doesn’t just focus on getting rid of contaminants in the air, it also gets rid of odors and harmful gases, and this carbon filter is the layer that does the job. It quickly removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from any air that passes through it, giving you fresh air to breathe. Many cheap air purifiers use thin carbon-impregnated fabric layers that saturate quickly and become ineffective after about a week of use, but the Vital 200S uses an actual pelleted carbon filter that features a larger surface area for absorbing odors and heavy fumes and lasts way longer than the filter in budget models.

Air Cleaning Performance (Test Results)

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the ultimate metric used to measure the amount of clean air an air purifier can push into a room, and the Levoit Vital 200S excels in that department in independent performance tests, especially given its accessible price point. Its official AHAM PM2.5 CADR of 254 CFM for dust is impressive, and it’s highly efficient at getting rid of fine particulate matter from your indoor environment.

In practical terms and at its maximum fan speed, this device is capable of reducing PM2.5 levels in a 320 square foot room by about 96% within 60 minutes. This result was obtained during one of the many tests I conducted on this machine.

For daily use, one of the most important considerations for air purifiers is how well it performs without causing excessive noise. A lot of budget models can reach their advertised ACH (air changes per hour), but only when on their loudest settings. In contrast, the Vital 200S can maintain a highly respectable PM1 CADR of 128 CFM at 45 dBA or less. What this means is that it can move a huge volume of air while remaining quiet enough to not be noticed. 

When it’s set to its fastest speed, it reaches a peak PM1 CADR of 249 CFM, which is enough to quickly clear out a room polluted with pet odors and heavy kitchen fumes.

Sound Levels

The effectiveness of air purifiers depends on how well you can tolerate them while they’re running. You don’t want to get rid of one form of pollution (air pollution) and introduce another (noise pollution) at the same time. Thankfully, the Levoit Vital 200S isn’t loud. Here’s how much noise it produced when measured from three feet away at all available speed settings:

• Speed 1: 38.3 dB
• Speed 2: 41.9 dB
• Speed 3: 53.8 dB
• Speed 4 (Turbo): 57.7 dB

I like how the noise profile scales smoothly as you go up one step in speed.

What’s the takeaway here? Speed 2 is the best setting to run this machine on because 45 dB is the sweet spot for noise levels and speed 2 produces 41.9 dB of sound. At that sound level, you can comfortably use this machine in a home office or bedroom and still make calls or sleep soundly. But what if you want to run it at the fastest (turbo) speed? 

You’ll be happy to learn that 57.7 dB is still a lot quieter than many competing models in the same CADR class, and this machine sounds like a smooth rush of wind not an annoying, grating mechanical whine, so it won’t bother you much, if at all.

Smart Features, Setup, and Installation

To get this machine up and running, you need to spend all but 5 minutes, and it’s a straightforward process as soon as it’s out of the box. You start by removing the front panel, then the internal filters’ plastic wrapping, and snapping the cover back into place. The last step is to plug it into a standard outlet, download the VeSync app, and establish a connection with your home WIFI.

With the VeSync app, you can access a wide range of smart control options. The physical top panel only gives you access to basic settings, but the app enables you to create custom operating schedules, check remaining filter life, and track air quality trends all from your smartphone. It also supports hands free voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

The Levoit Vital 200S uses an infrared dust sensor for real-time air quality monitoring, and it displays current air quality using a ring that changes color according to the current state of ambient air, rather than a specific PM2.5 numerical value. I don’t know about you, but I like the ring. If you see red, it means it’s poor. Orange means moderate air quality, green means good, and blue indicates excellent.

There’s auto mode too, and when it’s engaged, it automatically adjusts the fan speed either up or down depending on the current air quality as reported by the infrared sensor. Another feature worth mentioning is Pet Mode, which you can activate through the app. 

The purpose of this feature is to aggressively filter airborne fur and dander without constantly running the machine at its highest speed. When pet mode is activated, the machine alternates between high and medium speed for balanced but aggressive filtration. 

You’ll like the built-in Light Detection feature if you’re a light sleeper. This feature keeps the display lights turned off and limits the fan from reaching very high speeds when you turn off the lights in your room, therefore eliminating light distraction and stopping the machine from ever getting loud enough to interrupt your sleep.

Long-Term Running Costs

The true cost of owning an air purifier is determined by the amount of electricity it consumes, the cost of replacement filters, and how often the filter needs to be replaced, not just the upfront price. The Levoit Vital 200S doesn’t cost you much in the long run, so it’s an excellent pick if you’re concerned about long-term costs.

One of the top reasons why this model has low running costs is its energy efficiency. During independent tests with an energy meter, I found that it draws the following amount of power at every setting:

• Standby Mode: 0.97 watts
• Speed 1: 5.71 watts
• Speed 2: 8.01 watts
• Speed 3: 31.96 watts
• Speed 4 (Turbo): 44.55 watts

You won’t typically run this machine at its highest speed all the time, but assuming you do that 24 hours a day, your annual electricity bill will only increase by a mere $49. Don’t fixate on that figure though, as your actual bill will be much lower since you’ll most likely be running it in Auto Mode or using lower speed settings at certain times of the day.

Filter replacement is another factor that increases running costs. Many competing models have a filter lifespan rating of 6 months, but this one is rated at 12 months by Levoit. You can get a genuine replacement filter for around $60 (there are several variations with varying prices, like the Toxin Absorber and Pet Allergy options), or even get an off-brand filter at half the price (don’t recommend this, though).

You’ll replace this filter once a year. When you add the cost to the electricity bill, it comes out to $110 per year to keep this machine running at peak performance all day, every year.

Competitor Comparison: Levoit Vital 200S vs. Levoit Core 300S and Coway AP-1512HH

In order to fully comprehend how valuable the Vital 200S is, let’s see how it stacks up against other competing models on the market.

The Levoit Core 300S is the smaller sibling of the Vital 200S and offers a considerable upgrade in pure filtration power. With a CADR of 245 CFM, the Vital model offers almost twice as much the capacity of the Core model. For tiny bedrooms, the Core 300S is the obvious choice because its performance isn’t good enough for large rooms, meaning it will struggle.

The Levoit Core series which the Core 300S is part of also use a cylindrical filter, and this filter isn’t capable of accommodating the heavy-duty washable pre-filter screen you’ll find in the Vital 200S model. And since your pet(s) is one of the main reasons you’re considering buying an air purifier, it may interest you to know that the rectangular design of the Vital is superior to the cylindrical design of the Core in homes with shedding pets.

Now, let’s talk about the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty, another heavyweight model that holds its own in this highly competitive industry. It has a similar CADR rating as the Vital 200S, and its filtration system is a multi-stage one. Although Coway products have a proven track record for longevity, the Vital 200S has the upper hand in terms of smart technology. With the VeSync app, it offers detailed scheduling and air quality monitoring, features you won’t find on the older Coway model.

Other features that would make me pick it over the Coway model are the dedicated sleep mode and light detection features. For light sleepers who can’t sleep soundly unless it’s completely dark, the Vital is the better choice.

Pros and Cons

Here are the things I like and the things I don’t like about the Levoit Vital 200S, informed by the results of my thorough tests and daily usage performance:

The Pros:

• Superb CADR for the Price: Absolutely worth the money for pushing 254 CFM for dust in this price range.
• Washable Pre-Filter: The front screen can be removed and washed easily, and it excels at catching large pet hair, which protects the main filter from clogging.
• Intuitive Smart App: One of my favorite features. The VeSync app integrates well with the machine with zero lag. The app also provides some nice tools for scheduling and keeping track of air quality in real time.
• Whisper Quiet: Noise level at speed 2 is well under 45 decibels, so you’ll hardly notice it in a quiet room.
• Pelleted Carbon Filter: VOC and odor neutralization capacity is excellent due to it having real carbon pellets instead of cheap sprayed fabric.

The Cons:

• Large Physical Footprint: You’ll need more floor space for it because of its rectangular design. In comparison, slimmer cylindrical models take up less space.
• Auto Mode Lag: Occasionally, the infrared dust sensor doesn’t immediately register and speed up the fan when smoke or odors suddenly appear.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does the Levoit Vital 200S produce ozone?

If you live with sensitive individuals, children, or pets, you’ll be happy to know that this machine is completely ozone-free. Instead of using electronic ionizers or UV-C light technology, it relies only on 100% mechanical filtration.

How often should I clean the washable pre-filter?

To keep this machine in tip-top condition, you should wash or vacuum the pre-filter after two to four weeks of use. The higher the number of shedding pets in your home, the more frequently you should clean it. If there are multiple shedding pets, it should be cleaned ideally every two weeks to remove any thick fur that could restrict airflow. Getting into a regular cleaning routine is the best thing you can do to extend the life of the more expensive main internal filters.

Is the Vital 200S suitable for large living rooms?

The official AHAM rating of this machine covers 380 square feet at five air changes per hour (ACH). In a 950 square foot room, it can clean all the air in the room two times per hour, and in a massive open-concept floor measuring up to 1876 square feet, it can manage one full air change per hour. This proves that this machine is fully capable of cleaning large living rooms.

Are third-party replacement filters worth buying?

Generic replacement filters are cheaper, but they usually won’t give you the dense pelleted carbon that Levoit includes in genuine filters. So buying a generic one might make it harder for the machine to get rid of strong odors and VOCs. I recommend you buy only genuine filters generally, and if neutralizing strong pet odors and VOCs is a priority for you, then you shouldn’t even consider generic versions at all.

My Verdict

It’s difficult to find an air purifier that strikes a good balance between quiet operation and raw airflow power. After considering performance, energy consumption, and everyday usability, I’ve confirmed that the Levoit Vital 200S does that incredibly well, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most practical and efficient models on the market in its price bracket.

This machine is designed to help with the most frustrating problems you’ll face as a pet owner, like strong odors and VOCs which the genuine pelleted carbon filter deals with perfectly by actively trapping them, and heavy fur which is a walk in the park for the U-shaped air inlet and washable pre-filter.

Want a sleek, whisper quiet machine that is easy to maintain with top tier CADR ratings? You’ve found it. The Levoit Vital 200S doesn’t focus on gimmicks, it skips them completely. Levoit built a machine whose main duty is to deliver huge amounts of clean air into your living space without any significant impact on your electricity bill. This model is well worth the money, so if you like it, I strongly recommend you buy it now.