Quiet, compact, and efficient, Levoit's air purifier is one of my favourite budget buys

The Levoit LV H128 Air Purifier is a simple solution for homes that have light air purifying needs. It doubles up as an essential oil diffuser too, so what’s not to love?

Asking for a desk-friendly, wallet-friendly, space-efficient air purifier would be a tad too much for most brands to muster. However, Levoit’s LV H128 Air Purifier is something of a marvel. Quiet, compact, and sleek, it’s certainly one of the best air purifiers on the market.

I’ve been putting the Levoit through its paces with my dog, copious candles, and more burnt bakes than the GBBO tent. Here’s how it scores.

Levoit LV H128 specifications

Unboxing the Levoit LV H128

True to its reputation, the Levoit LV H128 is a tiny air purifier. The box it comes in is so light and compact that I convinced myself an air purifier couldn’t possibly be inside. It was.

Inside the box, you have the pre-assembled air purifier, instructions, a plug, spare felt pads, and some polystyrene packaging. I would love to see more in the way of recyclable padding and less of the polystyrene, because it’s close to impossible to dispose of the latter sustainably, but this is a cheap, small model, so it’s not really a surprise.

The Levoit LVH138 Air Purifier is light and easy to set up. The base twists off, where you’ll need to unwrap the two filters from their plastic packaging and then re-insert them. Luckily, they have two tabs that show you which side needs to slot in where so that you get them in the right place. Underneath the top, there’s a neat place for you to squirt a few drops of essential oil, if you want your air purifier to diffuse a fragrance into the room too, which is a nice touch, especially for a budget model.

Who would the Levoit LV H128 suit?

The Levoit LV-H128 is perfect if you are short on space and you want a small air purifier to sit on your desk or table. Whilst it's not the most subtle or beautiful air purifier, it's no bigger than a vase of flowers, so if you really care about the air quality near you, this is the perfect, compact solution.

One of the real USPs for the LV-H128 is that it can diffuse fragrance into your air. There are very few models that offer fragrance extras and even fewer that let you use your own essential oils. It's a very simple, effective, and easy way to customise the fragrance in your room.

The last feature to note when you're narrowing down which air purifier you invest in is the app. You won't get any feedback on your air quality from the LV-H128 unless you download the app. If you want to be able to use this and get feedback without a screen, you'll need a different model. This is fine for leaving working in the background - it's one of the quietest and most efficient models that I've tested - but you won't graphic or numerical feedback without looking at a screen.

What is the Levoit LV H128 filtration like?

The Levoit LV-H128 features a thoughtful dual-filter design, drawing in air from both sides to maximise efficiency. It uses a three-stage filtration system—a pre-filter, a fibrous carbon layer, and a True HEPA filter—to trap common household pollutants like dust, pet hair, and pollen. The pre-filter is particularly useful for capturing larger particles, helping extend the life of the HEPA filter.

While it performs well in many areas, I was disappointed by the underwhelming carbon filter. Unlike more advanced models that use carbon pellets, Levoit opts for a basic fibrous filter coated with carbon, which in my experience doesn’t effectively remove smoke, odours, or VOCs. This, along with a relatively low CADR, limits its performance in larger rooms and its ability to distribute essential oils efficiently. I’ve also found the filters may need replacing more often than Levoit suggests, which is something to keep in mind when calculating running costs. Overall, it’s a safe, ozone-free, energy-efficient option for light air purification—but one that could be improved with a better approach to odour and gas filtration.

What is the Levoit LV H128 like to use?

Once you’ve sorted the filters and plugged in the air purifier, it’ll be ready to go. The big button on the front lets you toggle between low, medium, and sleep, with a corresponding light to tell you which setting is in use. You’ll also get a light around the button to tell you when the air purifier is on. My Levoit’s button didn’t have a very obvious click when pressed, so I ended up looping through the cycles by accident a few times, I haven’t read any other reviews in which other people found this frustrating — maybe my model is a one off.

Given that this specifically markets itself as a desktop air purifier, I was keen to keep it in my work space to assess just how easy it is to work alongside. On the low setting, it was quiet and very quickly blended into the background of both my desk and work environment. If you have a very clear desk, you’ll, of course, notice the big white box sitting by your laptop. However, for my busy worktop, it was really just part of the chaos.

I have a standard series of tests that I put every air purifier through, from clearing the air after blowing out a candle, through to cleaning away burnt toast fumes and dry shampoo. Overall, the Levoit LVh128 was speedy and efficient at working through my smaller tasks. The app told me that my air quality was restored to normal three minutes after spraying dry shampoo right beside it. Two minutes and thirty four seconds after blowing out a candle, my air was back to top quality too. The bigger tasks, exacted out by cooking a roast dinner and baking cupcakes posed more of a problem for the Levoit, but they were also pretty unfair of me. I cooked in a 48m² room, which is nearly ten times the Levoit’s 6 m² capacity. It did eventually bring the air quality down to a good level, but this took half an hour. In the same time, I would have realistically popped another fan on or opened a window.

I've read similar tests run by other reviewers who say that the LV H128 improved the air quality in smaller rooms by 88%, but it quickly drops off as your rooms get bigger than the 6m² capacity.

Over time, I came to see the Levoit as a good air purifier to have running in the background. With a low-power 6-watt motor and a maximum noise level of just 49.3 dBA, it's also one of the quietest air purifiers I’ve tested — perfect for use in bedrooms, especially since the light indicators switch off five seconds after entering Sleep Mode. The only catch is that you don’t get any real-time feedback from the purifier itself, so you will need to download the app. It’s easy to navigate and wouldn’t pose a problem for most people, but I’m very aware that it’s an extra step that less techy people might not enjoy using.

The aroma pad feature is all extra that really sets the Levoit LVH128 apart from other air purifiers and I love how simple it is to use. Levoit pre-does one pad and sends another two, which I put three drops of essential oil on. They recommend 2-3, but you’ll need at least this, if not a little more if you live in a pet home. This was actually a really effective way to fragrance my home. Even the more delicate essential oil combinations that I put on — lemon and rose, for example — wafted delicately throughout the room. It’s perfect if you’re buying an air purifier because you don’t want to burn your scented candles as much — this keeps your home smelling nice without any of the smoke or the need to worry about having open flames.

Cleaning and maintenance

Levoit says that you'll need to change the filters in the LV H128 two times a year. When this is the case, the light around the button will glow red. You can hold the button down for three seconds to reset the light and then remove the filters. You can't wash the main filters clean, so you will need to buy replacements. This will possibly be the most expensive part of the air purifier ongoing, especially because it runs on such low power. However, if you clean the outside pre-filter every 2-4 weeks, this should help to keep the filter in good condition. The pre-filters can be rinsed and wiped down, which is easy to do.

How does the Levoit LV H128 compare?

Whilst I don't have any countertop air purifiers that also offer a fragrance diffuser function (the big Shark NeverChange is the only other model I'd recommend), there are some other smaller air purifiers that I'd recommend considering before you jump into buying the Levoit LV-H128.

First, you have the Vitesy Eteria. The Levoit is compact, budget-friendly, and really powerful fir its size. It's great if you're looking for value for money, but it doesn't lean into versatility or the natural elements of air purification. The Vitesy Eteria uses a biofilter system rather than the three-stage HEPA filter. This means that it's easy to clean and refresh (you don't have to buy a replacement) and you get feedback on more markers in your room: temperature, humidity, and more. The Vitesy is also much smaller (about the size of a water bottle) and more stylish too. So, if you're after serious air cleaning, Levoit is the better workhorse; if you want a stylish, eco-conscious option with a techy twist, the Vitesy might win your heart.

The other model worth considering is the Briiv Pro 2. This follows the Eteria down a more natural air purifying route: you've got natural materials in the purifier — moss, coconut husk, and activated carbon — and a more attractive design. The Briiv could easily be mistaken for a terrarium. The Levoit is again, more traditional, stronger, and comes with no-frills, but you don't get either the natural or beautiful benefits that the Briiv offers.

Should you buy the Levoit LV H128?

If you're looking for an affordable, compact air purifier that doesn’t compromise on performance, the Levoit LV-H128 is a standout choice. It’s simple to set up, refreshingly quiet, and impressively effective at tackling everyday indoor pollutants like dust, pollen, and pet dander. While it doesn’t come with smart features or flashy extras, what it does offer is clean air, great value, and reliable performance in smaller spaces. Whether you’re easing allergies, freshening up a home office, or simply breathing a little easier at night, this little Levoit more than earns its place.

How we test

The Levoit LV-H128 proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy cleaner air at home. Compact and straightforward to use, it runs quietly in the background while effectively reducing common allergens like dust, pet hair, and pollen. It skips the smart tech and fancy add-ons, but makes up for it with dependable performance and excellent value for money—especially in smaller rooms. Whether you're hoping to improve your sleep, soothe allergies, or simply enjoy a fresher environment, this little unit delivers where it counts.

If you want to find out more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test air purifiers.