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The AP-1512HH Mighty is a very popular air purifier from Coway- a Korean brand. Rightly named ‘’Mighty’’, this model gets a lot of praise for its enormous space coverage, effectiveness, and quiet operations.
In this Coway AP-1512HH review, we’ll answer all your questions regarding this unit from design to performance and weaknesses.
Coway AP-1512HH is Best For:
- Asthmatic and allergic people– this unit uses a 4-stage filtration system to trap air contaminants. These include a True HEPA filter that has been proven to remove up to 99.97% of pollutants 0.3 microns small.
- Smokers– it has an Activated Carbon filter that traps smoke as well as kitchen odors.
- Those who want an air purifier for large spaces– Coway says that this air purifier is designed to cover rooms up to 361 sq.ft large. This is more space than you’d find in an average living room or bedroom in the US.
Assembly and Set up Review
The Coway AP-1512HH ships fully assembled and the air filtration kit already in place. However, these filters are individually wrapped in a plastic cover and you will need to remove it first. The front panel easily snaps off to let you access the filtration kit.
This process does not necessitate any tool, and it only takes a few minutes. It’s also the same process for filter replacement.
Construction Quality and Design
This air purifier boasts a sleek modern shell with a smooth and shiny surface that gives it a great look. The large circle budge on the front makes it look like Coway was inspired by the Apple Shuffle- only that this unit produces clean air, not music.
The shell is entirely made of seemingly high-quality plastic. The air intake air vents are neatly covered under the large circle on the front panel, while the air out grill is at the top just behind the control panel.
We like that Coway offers this purifier in both white and black choices. So, buyers can get a color that best blends with their home and office décor.
Size, Weight, and Placement Review
Well, measuring 18.3’’ (height), 9.6’’ (depth) and with a width of 16.8’’, we wouldn’t say that this is the most compact air purifier that we’ve come across.
Nevertheless, it’s not annoyingly bulky and will fit in most spaces nicely. If you intend to use it in a small room, though, we’d suggest setting it beside a couch or under a table.
This purifier isn’t so heavy too at 12.3 lbs. So, moving it from spot to spot won’t be a big deal for most people.
How the Coway AH-1512HH Works
The Coway AP 1512HH is a 3-filter air purifier. However, it also employs ionization technology as an additional step, thereby making it a 4-stage air purification unit.
When air is sucked in through the air vent, it goes through;
- Pre-filter
This is a washable metallic micro-mesh filter that captures most of the large particles, including pet fur and grease from your kitchen. In essence, it extends the life of the True HEPA filter by trapping most of the big stuff that would clog it quickly.
- Activated Carbon filter
This is a bed of activated charcoal that works by trapping odors (including pet odors), cigarette smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and food smells.
- True HEPA filter
The air then passes through a True HEPA filter. A True HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is a filter that has been proven by the US Department of Energy as being efficient enough to trap 99.97% of air pollutants up to 0.3 microns small.
- Vital Ionizer
This is a charged plate that negatively charges the air particles before being ejected. When released into the room, these negatively charged ions bond with impurities such as bacteria, allergens, and dust. This makes the pollutants heavier, thereby forcing them to fall to the ground where they can be dusted or vacuumed.
Most people don’t prefer using the ionizer because it’s known to create ozone, though. While this is true, the amount produced by the Coway AP-1512 is negligible. Even better, we appreciate that there is an ionizer ON/OFF button. So, it’s a win-win for everyone.
Control and Features
This air purifier has a pretty simple control interface with 5 nicely-labeled push buttons at the top. Some of the features that we found interesting here include an Auto Mode that detects the current level of air pollution and then adjusts the fan speed 1 through 3 accordingly.
On this note, there is a smart dust particle counter on the right-side panel. This device measures the level of air contamination in the room and communicates the results through a colored LED at the top.
Another feature worthy of mention here is the Eco-mode. This mode will automatically switch off the fan when there’s no pollution detected to cut down electricity usage.
Placement and Coverage
As mentioned earlier, this air purifier is relatively compact compared to most tower models. This means that you are free to place it anywhere, be it on a top or directly on the floor. Although Coway does not mention it, most air purifier manufacturers recommend leaving a 15-inch clearance all around for optimum air suction and ejection.
Coway AP 1512HH Performance Review
Coverage
Coway says that the AP-1512HH is designed for rooms up to 361 sq.ft. in size. There are 2 numbers that come into play when determining coverage in air purifiers: CADR and ACH.
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and refers to how fast the purifier will clean a given space. It’s measured in cfm (Cubic Feet per Minute).
ACH (Air Changes per Hour) indicates the number of times that the air purifier will exchange the air in a given room.
The AP 1512HH has an ACH of 4x and a CADR of dust 246 cfm, pollen 240 cfm, and smoke 233 cfm. These figures make this one of the most powerful air purifiers out there. However, keep in mind that neither of these 2 standards measures the effectiveness of the purifier in removing gases.
Noise
This air purifier records a noise rating of 23.4 dB at its lowest speed setting. That’s barely audible. At speed 2, it produces what sounds like a distant hum. Most previous users say that this speed creates a soothing white noise that makes this air purifier great for a bedroom.
It is notably louder at speed 3, though, and could hit levels of up to 53.8 dB. Luckily, you won’t need to keep the purifier running at its top speed most of the time. Most people have found speed 1 and 2 to be adequate most of the time.
Power consumption
This device is Energy Star rated. In other words, the US Department of Energy has found it to be effective in conserving energy. It consumes 78w per hour when working at its highest speed and 60w at its lowest setting. When you set it at eco-mode, the power consumption drops to a mere 4.9w per hour.
Even when run at the highest speed and with the ionizer ON for 8 hours every day, this purifier will cost you around $2 monthly, and approximately $27 annually.
Maintenance and Filter Replacement
Other than replacing the filters, this unit does not require any other significant maintenance needs. You’ll only need to wipe its shell with a clean cloth whenever dust settles on it.
The True HEPA filter offers a 1-year filtration lifespan. On the other hand, the Activated Carbon filter needs to be replaced every 6 months.
What we like about Coway is that they sell the 2 replacement filters as a single pack (Coway 3304899 Replacement Filter Pack). You’ll get 1 True HEPA filter that will last you a full year, and 2 Activated Carbon filters to take you 6 months each. The annual costs are comparatively low.
Warranty – Coway offers a 3-year warranty limited to manufacturer defects on malfunctions in the motor and electronic parts.
Pros
- Quiet operations at speed 1 and 2
- High-performance 4-stage air purification
- Compact to fit in most rooms
- Affordable replacement kits
Cons
- Cleaning the pre-filter can be tedious
- Several complaints regarding a malfunctioning sensor
- Air quality LED can’t be turned off
Verdict
The Coway AP-1512HH is a highly recommendable unit for homeowners who are planning to pay for a low-to-mid range product on a high-quality air purifier. This model has lots of features worth going for including a reliable air quality sensor, a 4-stage filtration system, and broader space coverage.
What’s more, the fact that you can choose to turn the ionizer function ON/OFF makes it a go-to for everybody.
❓ Dear AirHonest:
Yes. With the ionizing function turned ON, the AP-1512HH will emit low amounts of ozone. However, there’s an option to turn this function OFF if you prefer a non-ionizing purifier.
To ensure that this unit meets its intended performance, the manufacturer recommends using its original filter kit (Coway 3304899 Replacement Filters). This kit comes in a pack of 2 Activated Carbon filters and a True HEPA filter.
The Coway AP-1512HH air purifier consumes as much power as a bulb. It ranges from 4.9w when using the eco-mode, to 78w when using it at its highest speed setting. To be precise, this unit will cost you around $30 annually when running it at top speed for about 8 hours daily.
AirHonest Expert Tips
- If you like white noise when sleeping, set the purifier at speed 2
- For smokers, consider placing the purifier at a slightly elevated surface to trap the smoke much better
- Leave around 15 inches of clearance all around
- If you live in an area with high air pollution, consider cleaning the metallic pre-filter after every 2 months to increase its efficiency and prolong the lifespan of the other filters
- Use the original manufacturer-recommended filters to avoid warranty issues
