Coway AP-1512HH Air Purifier – The Best For Allergies?

Full Review

I’ve done a lot of research on the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty, and it was one of the air purifiers I’ve always wanted to buy and review. 

The price that the Coway AP-1512HH offers can hardly be beaten by some other air purifiers, especially considering that it’s one of the best-performing air purifiers out there.

It covers rooms of up to 361 sq. ft. (33 m²), uses a four-stage filtration technology, has some advanced options, and offers quite affordable replacement filters.

Apart from the must-have tests we put the Coway through, I also used it for some time in my living room and other rooms, and the only thing I can say is that this is one of the few air purifiers that I would use in my home.

Keep reading the article to find out how it performs in our tests, how loud it is, and if there are any better options available.

How We Tested the Coway AP-1512HH?

1. For the filter efficiency testing, we used the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter, which measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI.

2. We placed the Coway AP-1512HH in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) room. Then, we recorded the initial air quality values using the Temtop laser particle meter and let the Coway AP-1512HH run at maximum speed.

3. After 60 minutes, we measured the new values using the Temtop laser particle meter and saved the data.

4. Next, we placed the Coway AP-1512HH in a glass box, which we then filled with smoke. Then, we measured how much time was needed for the air purifier to remove all the smoke from the box.

5. Using a special noise measurement tool, we tested the air purifier’s noise level at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale.

6. Finally, we measured the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculated how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we used an energy price of $0.12 per kWh.

The Coway AP-1512HH is an air purifier designed for rooms of up to 361 sq. ft. (33 m²), in which it will clean the air 4.8 times in one hour, which is also an industry standard.

Accordingly, we tested this air purifier in a room of the same size as recommended and measured how much it improved the air quality over a certain period.

In addition to this test, we also evaluated its performance in real-life conditions. Personally, I used it for some time in my living room, and what I noticed is that it’s not such a great option for dealing with heavy smoke. However, it proved to be a fantastic option for capturing airborne pollen and other allergens.

Just to clarify, I haven’t activated the ionizer in any test, mainly because I tend to avoid using this technology and believe its benefits are limited.

Testing in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) Room

We tested the Coway AP-1512HH in a 320 sq. ft. (30 m²) room. It ran for 60 minutes at maximum speed, and afterward, we measured how much it improved the air quality.

Frankly, the Coway AP-1512HH made one of the best results in this test, placing it among the top-performing air purifiers we tested.

It improved the air quality by about 96% and reduced the PM2.5 particles in the air from 113.8 to 4.7µg/m³.

What’s interesting here is that our highest-rated air purifier, the Levoit Vital 200S, also achieved a 96% improvement in air quality in the same room size and duration of testing. However, it’s not just the Vital 200S; the Winix 5500-2 and the Levoit Core 400S also demonstrated the same 96% efficiency in this test.

Among the competitive air purifiers, there aren’t many with similar nor better results. For example, the popular Levoit Core 300S improved air quality in the same room size by about 92%, which was somewhat expected due to its lower CADR compared to the Coway. I’ve compared these two models in detail in a standalone article.

What’s also impressive is that the premium Molekule Air performed much worse than the Coway AP-1512HH. It improved air quality in the same room size by just 88% (that’s about 8% lower).

We also tested how the Coway AP-1512HH functions when the auto mode is activated. In the same test, while operating in auto mode, the Coway improved air quality by 90%, which is a lower result than at maximum speed but still acceptable. Perhaps adjusting the sensitivity of the air quality sensor could produce better results.

Performance – Smoke Removal Test

I must say that the Coway AP-1512HH truly surprised me in the smoke test. Even though I initially considered it not suitable for heavy smoke, it still delivered outstanding results, ranking among the best in the smoke test.

The Coway AP-1512HH cleared all the smoke from the smoke box in just 18 seconds, which is 2 seconds faster than the Winix 5500-2 (read our comparison between the Winix 5500-2 and Coway AP-1512HH), and also 12 seconds faster than the powerful Alen FLEX.

Our top-performing air purifier, the Levoit Vital 200S, removed all the smoke from the smoke box in 15 seconds.

The first thing I want to say is that I don’t like the fact that the Coway AP-1512HH doesn’t have a sleep mode. However, it’s very quiet at the first speed, so you probably wouldn’t need the sleep mode.

Also, this isn’t a device I would primarily suggest for bedrooms or similar rooms where you would need a sleep mode feature. I would rather recommend the Alen FLEX, which has a sleep mode and is much quieter overall than the Coway AP-1512HH.

I would recommend the Coway for living rooms, kitchens, playrooms, or other similar rooms.

At the first speed, the Coway AP-1512HH produces a sound of 41.4 dBA, making it definitely the loudest device at the lowest speed compared to some top competitors (see the chart above). The Winix 5500-2 produces a sound of 40.6 dBA, while the Levoit Vital 200S produces a sound of 41 dBA, both at the lowest speed.

On the other hand, at the maximum speed, it’s relatively quiet compared to competitors and produces only 63.5 dBA.

What I also like about it is the good quality motor; there is no buzzing or similar irritating sounds.

Overall, I’m delighted with the noise levels of the Coway air purifier, even though it doesn’t have a sleep mode.

Given a not-that-huge CADR and a room coverage of 361 sq. ft. (33 m²), I expected it would use a motor with much lower power; 77W is too much. However, it has the ECO mode, which will adjust the power usage somewhat, but I would still prefer it to have a smaller power motor.

If you leave the Coway AP-1512HH running at the maximum speed, 24 hours a day, for a month, it would increase your electrical bill by about $6.05, making it one of the largest energy consumers among tested air purifiers.

In comparison, the Levoit Vital 200S would cost you only $4.22, and the Levoit Core 400S even less, about $3.06. Check the chart below to see how it compares to other similar air purifiers.

Electrical power cost isn’t the only thing to consider when determining the operating costs of this model. We should also consider the price of replacement filters. Luckily, you only have to replace the Coway AP-1512HH filters once per year, and they are reasonably priced.

Overall, the Coway AP-1512HH uses too much power and would definitely increase your electrical bill more than some competitive air purifiers. However, it doesn’t require frequent filter replacement, which is why I would consider it an air purifier that’s somewhere in the mid-range in terms of operating costs.

Filtration Technology

The Coway AP-1512HH uses 4-stage filtration. The first stage of filtration is the pre-filter, the second stage is the carbon filter, and the third stage of filtration is the true HEPA filter. The fourth stage of filtration is optional, and that is the Ionizer.

Pre-filter

The pre-filter is the first stage of filtration. The primary purpose of the pre-filter is to capture animal fur, large dust particles, and hair.

The pre-filter is washable and should be cleaned on average between 14 and 28 days. This will protect other filters, extend their lives, and make the device more comfortable at work. My recommendation is that if you have pets, clean up the pre-filter regularly and check it as often as possible.

Carbon filter

The carbon filter is not made up of carbon pellets. The carbon filter in the Coway AP-1512HH is a fibrous filter coated with carbon. Carbon filters’ primary purpose is to reduce VOCs, cigarette fumes, harmful gas, pet odors, food odors, and odors.

Coway, for odor filtration instead of carbon, uses the word deodorization filter. I usually say carbon because I think readers better understand what I mean by that. The name “deodorization filter” may confuse some readers. So, let’s call it a carbon filter; after all, that’s what it is.

True HEPA filter

The HEPA filter is the third stage of filtration. True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne allergens, including pollen, mold spores, dust, pet dander, microbes, and smoke. It captures all the particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. A true HEPA filter is not washable, and under no circumstances should it be washed in water. 

Ionizer

Coway did not write much information about this technology in the manual or on the online product presentation. I contacted Coway to get as much information as possible about this technology.

Here is what Coway says about Ionizer:
Coway air purifiers have built-in, autonomous ionizers that trap airborne particles and clean the air more efficiently in your home.

When the Ionizer is turned on, voltage is applied to a series of built-in needles, generating electrons that are discharged into the air. When these electrons attach to air molecules, ions are formed.

These negative ions are dispersed into the room where they attach to dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, and pet dander to form more massive particles, which can more easily be trapped by the Coway air purifier. However, these particles can also descend to the floor to be vacuumed later.

How to Replace Coway AP-1512HH Filter?

Coway AP-1512HH filters should be replaced when the filter reset indicators light up. Coway has two indicators to reset the filter. One informs that it is time to replace the HEPA filter, which needs to be changed every 12 months.

The second indicator informs that it is time to replace the carbon filter, which should be changed every 6 months.

Besides, my suggestion is to check every now and then the filter condition and whether the pre-filter is dirty. It is necessary to clean the pre-filter every 2-4 weeks. You can clean it with a vacuum cleaner, with a cloth, or simply wash it.

Total time: 10 minutes.

Room Coverage and CADR

Coway AP-1512HH is designed for rooms up to 361 sq. ft. It is ideal for rooms where people stay daily, such as the living room, kitchen, or office.

Thanks to ECO and auto mode, you can use the Coway AP-1512HH in smaller rooms, and you don’t have to be afraid of wasting electricity. In the table below, I will show you the CADR ratings for the Coway Mighty air purifier.

Design and Size

Coway AP-1512HH is defined by top-quality craftsmanship. The plastic is of excellent quality. Every part lies in its place, and everything is sealed correctly.

Coway Mighty can be bought in white or black color. But it is also possible to combine the frame’s color located on the front panel. AP-1512HH is built in a squared form with rounded edges. It looks elegant. 

There is a carrying handle on the back right at the top of the device. I noticed something similar in Winix 5500-2 and Winix C535 air purifiers. Because of the handle, Coway AP-1512HH is easy to carry, and there is no possibility of it just slipping out of your hand.

Due to the choice of colors and its luxurious look, the Coway AP-1512HH will fit into almost any ambiance. At the top of the device is a control panel with buttons and indicators, which I will write more about in the next section.

Control Panel

All buttons are located on the control panel (power button, speed control button, ionizer control button, timer button, and filter reset button). There are indicators above each button. If you place the Coway AP-1512HH in front of you, on the control panel, all the way to the right, right next to the filter reset button, is the Air Quality Indicator. The buttons do not light. Only the indicators above the buttons are lightened. A beep is heard at every push of a button.

What I really liked about the Coway AP-1512HH model are the combinations you can do with buttons. For example, you adjust the air quality sensor’s intensity by pressing the speed and ionizer buttons for 2 seconds.

Or, if you want to turn off the Air Quality Indicator, you need to hold your finger on the ionizer button for 3 seconds. I will explain the air quality sensor’s intensity in more detail in the next chapter of the Coway AP-1512HH review.

Airflow

The Coway AP-1512HH draws air directly from the front and through vents on the left, right, and bottom. After that, the air is filtered through 3 basic filters and through the Ionizer if it is turned on. Filtered and clean air comes out on the upper side of the device, vertically upwards.

Size and Dimensions

The AP-1512 air purifier weighs 12.34 lb. When I compare it with other devices, it is a bit heavier. However, transferring from location to location will not be a big problem, as the transfer handle is convenient. The exact dimensions of the device are 16.81 x 9.56 x 18.30 inches.

What’s in the box?

When you buy Coway Airmega, you will get 1x Coway AP-1512HH, 1x True HEPA filter, 1x Carbon Filter, 1x User Manual, and 1x Warranty Guide.

Personally, I think that the significant disadvantage is that only one carbon filter comes with the device because this filter needs to be changed on average every 6 months. Since the True HEPA filter needs to be changed every 12 months, I think it would be great if more than one carbon filter comes with the device.

Features Overview

Air Quality Sensor

This kind of option is expected from a quality device like the Coway.

However, I didn’t expect the air quality sensor to be this advanced and that you could adjust sensor sensitivity. The Coway AP-1512HH offers the ability to fix the sensor’s sensitivity at three different levels. The options you can choose are sensitive, standard, and insensitive. The names themselves say how sensitive it is. The sensor will measure the air quality in the room where the device is located.

The current air quality will be displayed on the Air Quality Indicator located next to the filter reset button. The Air Quality Indicator can show three different colors. When the indicator is blue, the air is of good quality. When the indicator is purple, the air is ordinarily polluted. When the indicator is red, the air is highly polluted.

How to Adjust Air Quality Sensor?

By default, the Coway air purifier is set to standard sensitivity. If pollution levels are high after two hours of working or if the pollution level is low but the air quality does not seem good to you, you can adjust the air quality sensor.

You can adjust the air quality sensor by following these steps:

1. Press the speed button and Ionizer for two seconds
2. After that, you will hear a beep in 1-second intervals. The speed indicator will blink and show you the sensor sensitivity.
3. Now you can set the desired sensitivity level by pressing a speed button. Go for low sensitivity if the room’s pollution stays at the highest level for longer than one hour. 
4. In the end, you need to hold for two seconds the ionizer and speed button to resume regular operation.

How to Maintain The Air Quality Sensor?

The air quality sensor should be cleaned every two months.

The cleaning process is straightforward. Open the sensor cover located on the side. Using an ear-cleaning brush, clean all parts of the sensor and remove unwanted dirt.

Auto Mode

While running in auto mode, the Coway AP-1512HH will automatically adjust the speed of the device. Auto mode works by collecting data from the air quality sensor and then adjusting the fan speed accordingly.

I used Coway on both auto mode and ECO mode. While I used it in the living room, I liked auto mode more, and Coway did a great job operating in auto mode. However, when I used the Coway air purifier in the study room or in the bedroom, I always used it in ECO mode.

ECO Mode

ECO mode is a fantastic option and, personally, my favorite on the Coway AP-1512HH. If I wanted to simplify the way ECO mode works, then I could say that ECO mode is the same as auto mode. However, ECO mode has additional functionality that makes it very different from auto mode. Namely, when Coway is switched to ECO mode, the device will monitor air quality all the time via the air quality sensor. If the air quality during the last 30 minutes is excellent, the device will automatically turn off. In that way, it will save electricity, reduce noise, and, of course, save filters.

And that’s not all. The device will stay in stand-y mode, but the air quality sensor will still work, and if the air becomes lousy again, the Coway will turn on automatically and continue the air purification process.

Vital Ion System

I got this info from Coway support: This Coway model features an ionizer. The Ionizer has a switch for on and off. When the LED is illuminated by the button, the Ionizer is on. When the button is not illuminated, it is off. As part of the four-stage filtration process, the bipolar Ionizer produces an electrochemical response that reduces air particles.

I like that the Ionizer is not turned on by default, so anyone can use it as needed. I will explain more information about Ionizer technology in the filtration section.

Timer

A timer is an option that will leave the device running for a certain amount of time and then turn it off automatically. The timer can be set to 1h, 4h, or 8h. This is an excellent option for users who want to run the air purifier for a specific time.

Filter Reset Indicator

This is an option that is standard with almost every air purifier. The filter reset indicator will notify you when it is time to replace the filter. That way, you don’t need to think about a replacement, because Coway does everything for you. My advice is to periodically check the filter for dirt even if the filter reset indicator is not on. This way, you will keep Coway AP-1512HH at maximum performance.

Does Coway AP-1512HH Produce Ozone?

There is not much info online about ozone production, so I asked them again. Here is the answer:

When utilizing the Ionizer feature of select Coway purifiers, they produce a tiny amount of ozone. The 8hr. TWA ozone for Coway products is 0.0011 ppmv when tested in a 30M/3 chamber.

Coway Mighty (AP-1512HH) Ionizer will produce 1 million or 10^6 pcs/cm3 32ft. This product complies with the maximum allowable concentration of ozone of 0.050 parts per million by volume (ppmv) in 24 hours. The Health Canada Guideline 2010 recommends that the maximum exposure limit, based on an average time of 8 hours, is 0.020 ppmv or less when tested in a sealed, controlled room, approximately 30 m³.

The sticker of the product indicates this product is 0.0011 ppmv, as you found. So this product passed the regulation, and the amount of ozone is much lower than the regulation demands. All of the electrical and electronic products generate a tiny amount of ozone. 

Coway Warranty and Customer Service

Coway offers a 3-year limited warranty for this model. To register, you need to go to the Coway Mega website and enter your purchase details.

I contacted Coway support via Email and via Facebook. I waited a little longer for an answer via Facebook. However, I received a quick, efficient, and pervasive response via Email. Email support is very accommodating, and they are ready to explain any ambiguity in detail and solve any problem together.

Contact email: info@cowaymega.com

Contact phone number: 1-800-285-0982

My recommendation is to contact them via Email. Because that way, you will get the most comprehensive and detailed answer. For all urgent questions, there is, of course, telephone support.

FAQ About Coway AP-1512HH