Coway Air Purifiers Review 2021: Top Picks, Pros & Cons - Healthline
Coway is a home products company that makes HEPA filter air purifiers for homes and businesses.
HEPA filters, or high efficiency particulate air filters, pull large and small particles, including allergens and viruses, out of the air. The filters contain a fibrous material that traps particles inside, so they can't be recirculated out.
Like all air purifiers, HEPA filter air purifiers remove some, but not all, the pollutants and viral droplets circulating in indoor air.
In this article, we'll go over the pros and cons of some of Coway's most popular models.
Coway is a home health technology company based in Korea. It's been operating since 1989. The company's current global operations encompass around 40 countries.
Coway makes:
- air purifiers
- water purifiers
- bidets (which Coway calls "body purifiers")
You can buy Coway air purifiers for home use. Businesses can lease them for a monthly fee.
Some models sync to the Coway IoCare app, but others don't. We'll discuss the app in more detail later in this article.
These pros and cons are specifically about Coway products, not about HEPA filter air purifiers in general.
Generally, air purifier prices vary based on the type and square footage it's designed to clean. Low-end air purifiers can be found for under $100. High-end air purifiers can cost upward of $600 or more.
Coway air purifiers range in price from around $150 to $600. The prices can also vary from retailer to retailer, so it may pay to shop around.
How much do Coway replacement filters and accessories cost?
One-year filter replacement packs for most Coway models are in the $30 to $60 range. Replacement filters and prefilters are sold separately. Their cost is not reflected in the price structure given for this roundup.
Coway also sells replacement covers, if needed. These range from around $30 to $50.
Most Coway air purifiers come with at least a 3-year limited manufacturer's warranty. Make sure to buy yours from a certified dealer, or you may not get the benefit of the warranty.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH
Price: $$
This air purifier is nicknamed "the Mighty" because it's small in size but powerful enough to operate efficiently in a 361-square-foot space.
It has a four-stage filtration filter system that includes a:
- prefilter
- HEPA filter
- odorization filter
- dual-ion system that pulls particles out of the air
The manual controls include a timer, fan speed options, and a filter replacement indicator.
This air purifier doesn't sync to an app.
It comes with a 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS
Price: $$
This updated model is similar in design to its popular predecessor, the AP-1512HH. Even though this is an upgrade, the coverage area is smaller, at 325 square feet.
This model has a three-filter filtration system that combines a prefilter, honeycomb activated carbon filter, and HEPA filter.
It also has mobile connectivity. It syncs to the Coway IoCare app and can be used with voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
Coway Airmega 200M
Price: $$
This small air purifier is nearly identical to the Airmega 1512HH. It uses the same four-way air filtration system and is designed to operate in the same amount of square footage.
The main difference between these two models is cosmetic. The Airmega 200M has a different faceplate.
The Airmega 200M also uses slightly more power, so you may feel a tiny additional pinch on your energy bill.
The cost and weight of each model is nearly identical, too. So is the cost of replacement filters.
Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier
Price: $$$
This air purifier is designed for large spaces. It can operate efficiently in an area up to 1,560 square feet.
It contains a dual filter made of one HEPA filter and one activated carbon filter, plus a prefilter. The prefilter filters large air particles so that the dual filter can operate more efficiently on fine particulate matter.
In addition to air filtration, it also reduces smells such as cigarette smoke from air.
A pollution sensor monitors your air and lets you know how clean or dirty it is in real time.
All controls are on the device, which doesn't sync to an app.
It comes with a 5-year manufacturer's limited warranty.
Coway Airmega 150
Price: $
You may consider this less expensive option one of Coway's cutest. It comes in peony pink, sage green, and white, making it a fun choice for a child's room.
It's designed to cover a smaller space of up to 214 square feet.
It features a three-stage filtration system that includes a washable prefilter, deodorizing filter, and HEPA filter.
Easy touch controls include fan speed and filter reset. Includes air quality indicator and filter replacement indicator.
Some of Coway's air purifiers sync to the Coway IoCare app. Users on multiple review sites have expressed frustration and disappointment with the app.
It has an average rating of 1.7 out of 4 stars at the Apple app store and just over 2 stars from customer ratings at the Google Play store.
Users often mention inability to connect to Wi-Fi or indicator controls that give false connectivity readings.
Coway air purifiers are available for purchase or rental on two different Coway websites. Local distributors also carry some models but may not sell the entire line.
Brick-and-mortar retailers that sell Coway air purifiers include Best Buy.
They're also available from online retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Customer service may vary from retailer to retailer and also between distributors. If possible, buy from a source you know and trust.
If you purchase your air purifier through Coway directly, you can get a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
The site is confusing since it states that a 90-day guarantee is offered, but this doesn't pertain to air purifiers.
The return policy may not extend to other retailers, so check before you buy. This is also true of the warranty, which varies from retailer to retailer.
Repairs and replacements are limited to products with defects in materials or workmanship during normal home use during the stated warranty period. Coway may opt to replace a part rather than the entire air purifier.
Coway USA, the rental arm, has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating but a low customer service track record, with 1 out of 5 stars. The company's gotten several complaints about customer service.
In general, reviews often give high marks to Coway air purifiers but low marks to the company for customer service.
Not honoring warranties is often cited. On Amazon, customers mention being unable to get phone calls or emails returned, and not getting satisfaction on broken or damaged products.
You can use air purifiers in homes, offices, or other indoor environments where people gather, such as restaurants. Air purifiers help reduce the pollution load in your home by eliminating or filtering the air found there.
Common household pollutants and irritants can include:
- pet dander
- pollen
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- phthalates
- mold
- viruses
Common air filtration
There are several types of air purifiers that may address some of those irritants and concerns:
- HEPA filter air purifiers physically remove tiny particles of matter from indoor air.
- UV light air purifiers kill viruses, bacteria, and mold with UV light.
- Ionizers give particles in the air an electrical charge, causing them to adhere to hard surfaces. Some ionizers contain a plate with an opposing electrical charge. This attracts the particles back into the air purifier, removing them from the room.
- Ozone generators are not recommended, since they can increase ozone levels in the air, making it more dangerous to breathe.
People with conditions such as asthma, allergies, and COPD may find air purifiers to be especially beneficial.
It's important to recognize, however, that air purifiers are not able to 100 percent rid your home of irritating particles. Other strategies, such as cleaning hard and soft surfaces regularly, are also important to use.
Coway is a manufacturer of air purifiers, water purifiers, and bidets. The cost of the company's air purifiers is competitive with the industry.
Coway air purifiers get high ratings from customers for being powerful, quiet, and effective. The company tends to get low marks for customer service.
Corey Whelan is a freelance writer and reproductive health professional who specializes in health and wellness content. She has spent much of the last two decades educating people about infertility and family building options. Whelan is a science nerd, and her heroes span the gamut from Temple Grandin to her wonderful mom. She shares her life in Brooklyn, NY with her all-grown-up, fascinating children and their wacky shelter dogs. Follow her on Twitter.
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