Levoit Vital 200S Review: A New Standard in Air Cleaning?

Levoit has finally decided to expand the Vital series with some new devices. Plenty of advanced options, improved design, and better build quality are just a few characteristics that adorn the new Levoit Vital 100S and 200S models.

In this review, I will present a detailed overview of the Levoit Vital 200S, as it’s the first one I purchased and decided to try out. The Vital 200S falls within the range of mid-size air purifiers, covering rooms up to 380 sq. ft. (35 m²). It uses a three-stage filtration technology and boasts plenty of advanced features.

This air purifier retains the foundation of the Vital 100 model, so at first glance, the shape of the Vital 200S might remind you of it. However, I have a feeling that almost everything else has changed and that the Vital 200S is a class above its predecessor. Frankly, the Levoit Vital 200S is currently the best Levoit air purifier I have tested so far.

I’ve tested this air purifier for some time, using it in my home, and thoroughly examined it during that period. What it’s like, how it performed, and whether it’s worth purchasing – these questions, along with many others, will be answered in the following review.

Setup & Installation

Before you start using the Levoit Vital 200S for the first time, you need to make some preparations. Once you’ve unpacked the air purifier from the shipping box, remove all protective straps and start the filter preparation.

Open the front cover of the device, remove a pre-filter, and take out the main filter. Next, unwrap the main filter from the plastic wrapping and place it back into the device. Also, place the pre-filter as it was, and close the front cover. With these steps, you’ve completed all the necessary procedures to prepare the Vital 200S air purifier for the first use.

Lastly, place the air purifier in your desired location, plug it in, and turn it on. Thanks to its rectangular shape and specific design, you can easily place it even against the wall. However, ensure that you do not block the airflow vents under any circumstances.

Design

The Vital 200S is characterized by a rectangular design, somewhat unusual for Levoit, but not as uncommon for the Vital series, especially since its predecessor, the Vital 100, also features a rectangular design.

The build quality is outstanding, with solid plastic construction, everything in its place, and there are no deviations. In fact, it even seems that the build quality surpasses some premium devices. This model is available only in white, though not entirely white, as it’s adorned with some black details. The control panel is black, as well as some details on the sides of the device and under the front cover.

Another unique design feature is that the Vital 200S has improvised carrying handles, making it very easy to move from room to room.

Overall, the Levoit Vital 200S is a modern air purifier that I’m sure will fit almost any environment!

Controls and Display

This air purifier offers two options for control. The first option, which I’ll touch on in this section, involves direct control through the control panel on the upper part of the device, while the second option for controlling the device is through the VeSync smart application, which I’ll describe later in the review.

When it comes to the physical controls, they are touch-sensitive, responsive enough, and very well-arranged. 

On the control panel, you’ll find buttons for Auto Mode, Sleep Mode, Fan Speed, Power, Timer, Display Lock, and Display Off. Each button has its own indicator, and some, like Fan Speed, even have an indicator above them to display the current option status.

In addition to the controls, there’s an air quality indicator and a WiFi indicator in the middle part of the control panel. What I can also say is that I really like how buttons are arranged on the panel, but I personally prefer control via the smart application. This is why I hardly use the controls on the air purifier itself.

Airflow

The Levoit Vital 200S is rectangular in shape, with air intakes on the front side.

The air drawn in through these openings is then filtered and released through grilles on the top of the device. What I would suggest to everyone is never to obstruct the airflow in any way, as doing so could potentially damage the device.

Size and Dimensions

My general impression of the Levoit Vital 200S is that this air purifier falls into the middle range when it comes to size: 15.6 x 8.5 x 19.8 inches (39.6 x 21.7 x 50.2 cm).

The same is true with the weight of just 13.2 lb (6 kg); it doesn’t seem too heavy. Add to that the carrying handles for moving it from room to room; it’s an easy-to-move device.

What’s in the box?

When you purchase the Levoit Vital 200S, you get 1x air purifier, 1x True HEPA and Activated Carbon Filter, 1x Washable Pre-filter, AC adapter, and user manual.

Before the first use, you must unpack the filters and prepare them for operation. I explained the procedure in detail at the beginning of the review.

Features Overview

The Vital 200S is a smart air purifier equipped with plenty of advanced features. Even though it’s not as feature-rich as some other premium Levoit air purifiers, it has enough features to meet the basic needs of the average user.

Below, I will describe all the key features that this air purifier has. I strongly recommend paying attention to each feature, as there might be something you haven’t noticed/ or have missed (like tricks, tips, or hacks).

Air Quality Sensor & Indicator

The Levoit Vital 200S uses the AirSight air quality sensor, just like other smart Levoit air purifiers, but with one significant difference: in the Vital 200S, this sensor is an infrared dust sensor, while in many other Levoit air purifiers, it’s a laser sensor (a more reliable one).

The difference between these sensors is huge. The sensor in other Levoit devices, like the Core 300S or Core 400S, is far more reliable and provides more accurate data. While the infrared sensor in the Levoit Vital 200S is slightly less precise and visually resembles the one in the Coway AP-1512HH air purifier.

This also implies that with the Levoit Vital 200S, you can’t directly check the current concentration of PM2.5 particles in the air or any other precise air readings. 

The only way to assess the current air quality on this device is through the display on the control panel and via the VeSync smart application. Essentially, the Vital 200S indicates the state of the air quality but not the exact level of pollution.

For instance, if the air quality indicator is blue, it means the air quality is excellent; if it’s green, it’s good; if it’s orange, it’s moderate; and if it’s red, the air quality in the room is extremely poor.

It’s important to note that the air quality sensor continues to operate even when the air purifier is in standby mode. This means you can continuously monitor the current air quality through the smart application, even when the air purifier is turned off.

All in all, while this sensor might not be as powerful as those in some other Levoit air purifiers, it’s still useful and is well-integrated with other features.

Auto Mode

Auto mode is another feature besides the air quality indicator that works in combination with the air quality sensor. Essentially, if the device is in auto mode and the air quality in your room is poor, the device will automatically increase the fan speed.

Conversely, if the air quality improves, the device will decrease the fan speed.

In the table below, you can see how the air purifier, when in auto mode, determines which speed to switch to based on the current air quality.

Color	Air Quality	Auto Mode Fan Speed
Blue	Very Good	Sleep Mode
Green	Good	Low
Orange	Moderate	Medium
Red	Bad	High

It’s important to note that the Vital 200S never switches to turbo fan speed when in auto mode. 

Moreover, you can change Auto Mode settings in the VeSync smart app and set it to Efficient or Quiet auto mode. I’ll provide more information about these options in the section where I explain the functioning of the smart application.

Sleep Mode

Sleep mode, as the name suggests, is a mode that switches the device to its quietest operation. After pressing the half-moon button, the air purifier will switch to sleep mode after 6 seconds.

In addition to running at its quietest fan speed, producing only 41.0 dBA, this mode will dim all the indicators on the device.

Light Detection

This is one more sensor built-in in this air purifier, which isn’t usually included in many air purifiers. I think the last time I saw such a sensor was on the Winix 5500-2 and perhaps a few other devices.

This sensor essentially monitors the ambient lighting in the room. If the room is dark, the device will automatically dim all its indicators.

Additionally, the high and turbo fan speeds will be blocked if the room is dark and the device is set to auto or sleep mode. However, as soon as it detects light in the room, all limitations will be removed, and the auto mode will continue functioning as usual.

Filter Reset Indicator

The filter reset indicator is another useful feature designed to notify you when it’s time to replace the filters.

Essentially, when this indicator is active (lights in red), it’s a sign that it’s time to change the filters.

The average filter life is about 12 months, so this sensor will light up approximately once a year. Of course, assuming you maintain the filters correctly.

VeSync Smart App

Like many smart Levoit air purifiers, the Vital 200S works with the VeSync app.

In essence, when you connect the Levoit Vital 200S to the smart app, you unlock a range of new possibilities for your air purifier. These include features such as detailed monitoring of the current air quality, auto mode adjustments, remote control, scheduling, voice control, and much more.

I’ll explain this incredibly useful feature in detail later in the review.

Timer

A timer is a feature that enables you to set the duration for which your air purifier will remain operational before automatically turning off. On the Levoit Vital 200S model, you can set the timer for 2, 4, or 8 hours.

However, this physical timer might be unnecessary, mainly due to the advanced scheduling feature available through the VeSync app. 

Also, there’s an advanced timer function within the app that allows you to set a timer for any duration between 1 and 24 hours.

The timer indicator will light blue when it is activated.

Display Off

As the name suggests, this simple option is used to dim all the indicators on the device.

After pressing the display off button, all the indicators will dim unless you press any other button within the next 6 seconds.

It’s important to note that if the filter reset indicator is active, this option won’t affect it.

Display Lock

This is a great feature that allows you to lock the current settings and prevent any changes. It’s particularly useful if you have young children who might accidentally press a button on the control panel and alter the already set settings (fan speed, timer, sleep mode, auto mode, etc.).

To activate the display lock feature, hold your finger on the button for 3 seconds. After that, the device won’t respond to any presses, and you won’t be able to change any settings unless you disable the display off feature.

Warranty

Levoit offers the same warranty terms for all the air purifiers they offer, and the same is for the Vital 200S, which comes with a two-year warranty.

However, to activate and confirm the warranty, it’s necessary to register your device on the Levoit website. I suggest doing so shortly after purchase. 

Keep in mind that registering your air purifier on the Levoit website is the only way to expand your warranty to two years.

Room Coverage and CADR

Room coverage is often subject to data manipulation, which is why I, in every review, strive to clearly explain in detail the room sizes that a specific air purifier can cover. Regarding the Levoit Vital 200S air purifier, it has a CADR of 245 CFM / 416 m3/h, making it suitable for rooms up to 380 sq. ft.

In a room of the recommended dimensions, this air purifier will clean the air 4.8 times (4.8 ACH) within one hour, which aligns with AHAM’s recommendations.

However, the Vital 200S will clean the air 2 times within an hour in a room of 950 sq. ft. and once in a room of 1900 sq. ft.

In essence, this air purifier will be effective even in slightly larger rooms than the recommended dimensions. However, I personally wouldn’t use it in much larger rooms than the recommended ones, especially in highly polluted environments.

Filtration Technology

The Levoit Vital 200S uses the standard 3-stage filtration technology that’s characteristic of almost every Levoit air purifier. However, what sets the Vital 200S model apart is the washable pre-filter, which is something new in Levoit air purifiers.

This air purifier doesn’t include an ionizer or any other filtration stage that might produce ozone, making it entirely safe to use. Moreover, it’s CARB-certified, meaning it can be sold in California and comply with rigorous California regulations.

What’s different, aside from the washable pre-filter, when compared to the previous Vital 100 model, is the order of the filters. In the Vital 200S the filters are placed in this order: washable pre-filter, True HEPA, and then the activated carbon filter. In contrast, the Vital 100 model has the activated carbon filter in the second position.

Overall, the Levoit Vital 200S uses exceptionally high-quality filtration technology, which is proven in performance tests.

Pre-Filter

The first filtration stage in this air purifier is the pre-filter, designed to capture large particles such as dust, lint, fibers, hair, and pet fur.

By doing so, this filter not only extends the lifespan of the HEPA filter but also contributes to the overall quality of filtration.

Because the pre-filter is the first line of defense, it’s recommended to clean it at least twice a month, perhaps even more frequently if used in places with pets.

What’s good to know is that Levoit specifically targeted pet owners with this pre-filter, which is why this filter is washable and easy to clean.

True HEPA Filter

The True HEPA filter is the second filtration stage and is undoubtedly the most important stage in this device. This filter captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including fine dust, smoke particles, pollen, and pet dander.

This is an exceptionally high-quality filter, and I honestly don’t have any shortcomings to point out regarding it. After all, Levoit has earned a reputation for having affordable and quality HEPA filters.

Activated Carbon Filter

The activated carbon filter is the final filtration stage and is primarily responsible for neutralizing bad odors.

What I really like about this filter is that it’s pellet-based, which is based on many testings much more reliable and efficient than fibrous filters coated with carbon.

In essence, this filter physically absorbs smoke, odors, and fumes by adsorbing compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and VOCs.

I’d also like to highlight that I tested the Levoit Vital 200S in my kitchen for some time, and I strongly believe that its exceptional performance in removing cooking odors can be attributed to this pellet-based activated carbon filter.

Noise Test

The Vital 200S has four fan speeds and a sleep mode, representing the device’s slowest and quietest setting. Using a noise measuring tool, I tested the noise levels at each speed individually.

What’s quite interesting is that this air purifier operates very quietly in sleep mode, producing a sound level of only 41.0 dBA, which falls within the range of some of the quietest air purifiers I’ve tested. As for the noise made by the Vital 200S at its maximum fan speed, I must say that it’s not overly loud and produces only 62.2 dBA. It’s also well-optimized across the other speeds, as shown in the table below.

The Levoit Vital 200S is generally a quiet air purifier, especially at lower speeds, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms and similar spaces.

Performance Tests

The Levoit Vital 200S is designed for large rooms, more precisely for spaces up to 380 sq. ft. (35 m²). It can clean the air in such a room 4.8 times in one hour. This coverage is similar to the Levoit Core 400S model, and interestingly, these two devices have made nearly identical results in performance tests.

Not only did the Vital 200S achieve excellent results in performance tests, but it also showed its capabilities in everyday use. I had the opportunity to use the Vital 200S in my home for a while, and I must say I’m thoroughly impressed by its performance.

It effortlessly neutralizes dust, effectively combats kitchen odors, and is well-suited for bedroom use due to its well-optimized motor noise levels. It has all the qualities required of a top-class air purifier.

Without further ado, let’s jump to the performance tests I performed on the Levoit Vital 200S.

320 sq. ft. Room Test

In the first test performed in a room of 320 sq. ft., which is slightly smaller than the recommended dimensions, the Levoit Vital 200S showed exceptional results.

Within just 60 minutes of operation at its maximum speed, this device improved the air quality by an astonishing 96%, a performance level comparable to many top-class air purifiers I’ve tested so far.

Although this test was managed in a slightly smaller room than the recommended size, it doesn’t diminish my enthusiasm for the performance of this device.

560 sq. ft. Room Test

In the second test, I placed the device in a room of 560 sq. ft. This is slightly larger than the recommended dimensions, and I expected that the Vital 200S might struggle. However, it exceeded my expectations (again), and one more time performed exceptionally well.

In just 60 minutes of operation at its maximum speed, the air purifier improved the air quality by about 92%, which is a very impressive result, especially considering the room size. Some much larger models from Levoit, such as the Core 600S, achieved just slightly better results (4% better).

All this shows the quality of the Vital 200S air purifier, as well as the excellence of the filtration technology it uses.

Operating Costs

When analyzing operating costs, I always consider motor power, electricity consumption, and the price of replacement filters. 

What pleasantly surprised me with the Levoit Vital 200S model is its well-optimized motor of just 50W. Consequently, this model consumes around 48.2W at its maximum speed, which translates to a reasonable cost in terms of electricity, especially given the high airflow it provides.

Let’s do some calculations! If you were to run the Vital 200S at its maximum speed, 24 hours a day, for a month, your electricity bill would increase by an estimated $4.2, which is quite reasonable for this large air purifier.

For power usage at other speeds, refer to the table below.

With its relatively low electricity consumption, the Vital 200S also uses an affordable filter that lasts approximately 12 months on average.

Considering all these factors, the Levoit Vital 200S is one of the most cost-effective air purifiers for maintenance that I’ve had the opportunity to test.

FAQ on Levoit Vital 200S

Pros and Cons

To revise, here are the advantages and disadvantages of the Levoit Vital 200S:

Final Conclusion: The Best Levoit Air Purifier!