Coway AP-1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m Air Purifier Comparison 2022

In this post, I am going to be comparing two currently very popular air purifiers on the market – the Coway AP-1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m. Indoor air pollution is becoming an (alarmingly) increasing issue in recent years. As a result, many people turn to air purifiers as their primary solution for clean indoor air. But with so many different products and choices out there, it can be hard selecting the right one for your needs.

If you clicked on this post, chances are that you have already done some research on different kinds of air purifiers and found a few potential winners. If you are deciding between the AP-1512HH and Airmega 200m – I’ve got you covered.

As usual, I am going to start this review with a side-by-side comparison of product specifications, where I will list all the technical details of both devices. The main portion of this review will be dedicated to the analysis and comparison of the features and product specifications.

Coway AP-1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m – product specifications

Let us start things off with a basic side-to-side comparison of the technical product specifications for both Coway AP-1512HH  and Coway Airmega 200m.

As you can see, there is not much of a difference – in fact, the dimensions and weight of both devices is exactly the same! AP-1512HH was released earlier than Airmega 200m (which is supposed to be a small upgrade). While the shape and size is the same, I personally do not really like how cheap the Airmega 200m looks (the grey front plate, to be exact). This, however, is a pure matter of opinion and should be taken as such.

Both of them come in either black or white, and the front side design is the only difference between them. Under the front plastic plate, you will find a big amount of air vents, which serve to suck polluted air inside, where the filtration process begins. Both devices also have an electronic control panel on the top side.

The only difference which I would like to highlight here is the Energy Star qualification. More specifically, Coway AP-1512HH is Energy Star qualified, while Coway Airmega 200m is not. Energy Star qualification means that the device complies with the strict energy performance set by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). In simple terms, this means that the Cowayp AP-1512HH is more energy-efficient than the Coway Airmenga200m, which saves you some money long-term.

Coway AP-1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m – Comparison of Features and Effectiveness

This is my comparison’s focus- I will discuss all of the main product features and analyze them, one by one. As a general overview, I have first prepared a short and simple side-by-side feature comparison. This should make it easier for you to see all of the differences summarized in one place.

Filtration system

Both Coway AP-1512HH and Airmega 200m come with the same 4-stage filtration system which consists of:

1. Pre-filter. Both have a permanent and washable pre-filter, which is there to capture the largest particles, such as dust.
2. Activated carbon filter. Both devices also include the same activated carbon filter, which is designed specifically to remove odors, VOCs, and gasses. You can think of this is a deodorizing function.
3. HEPA filter. Again, both devices have an H13 HEPA filter, which is in the highest quality tier of HEPA filters. This means that you get superior air cleaning abilities as H13 HEPA filters are truly great at removing particles that are sized above 0.3 microns, with 99.97% effectiveness. This is as close to perfection as you can get.
4. Added optional air ionizer function. An air ionizer is basically a negative ion generator, which adds another layer of air cleaning to an already powerful combination.

There is no mention of negative ion emission for both models, even tho they use the same ion technology. This would have been a great piece of information to know, as the effectiveness of ionic air purifying function is directly correlated with the emission of negative ions. The higher the number of negative ions, the more effective air cleaning will be. The only difference here is that Coway AP-1512HH is California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified, while Coway Airmega 200m is not. CARB certification is relevant for ozone, which many air ionizers release as a byproduct. This released ozone is bad for your lungs, so you should always look for the lowest amount of ozone byproduct. A CARB certification basically guarantees that the device produces close to zero or well below the standard amount of ozone.

Other than that, there is no other difference in the filtration system for both of these devices.

Room coverage

Sadly, there is nothing a lot I can debate here in terms of differences or comparisons. As you can see from the above-displayed comparison chart, both Coway AP-1512HH and Coway Airmega 200m have the same CADR rating for all 3 categories. As a result, they are both equally as effective for rooms of up to 361 square feet. This is good enough for any medium or even large sized-room. CADR rating for pollen is 240, for dust 246, and for smoke 233. If you are curious more about CADR or what exactly it is, feel free to look at my other post here. In short – CADR stands for clean air delivery rate and it measures an air purifierË™s air cleaning effectiveness.

The only slight difference here is the maximum amount of air moved, which we normally measure in CFM – cubic feet per minute. AP-1512HH model has a cfm of 268.39, while Airmega has a 287.8 cfm rating. Cfm is basically a measure of air cleaning efficiency in a time interval (in this case minute). A higher cfm rating indicates better air cleaning efficiency.  The small cfm number difference between the two models here is only due to the front cover design of AirMega 200m which offers a little bit more air intake and air output, with the goal of maximizing the fan power.

ACH, which is also the same, is 4x. This means that in the span of one hour, the air purifier will exchange the room air 4x – so every quarter of an hour you can expect the air to change.

Noise

In connection with the previous paragraph, noise levels between both models are a bit different too. Coway AP-1512HH has a noise range between 24.4 dB – 53.8 dB and Coway Airmega 200m has a noise range between 24.4 dB – 55.1 dB. As you might already suspect, Coway Airmega 200m has a slightly higher noise range due to the more “exposed” front cover of the device. This alone is the cause for the small number difference, despite using the same filtration system.

As for the sound itself – it is quite standard compared to other similar air purifiers. The noise level depends on which of the 3 fan speeds you are using. On max fan speed setting, Coway Airmega 200m is a little bit less than 2 dB (decibels) louder than AP-1512HH. Anything above 45 decibels can give us a problem sleeping at night, so you probably do not want to have it set up next to your bedroom at night, with max speed on. Some people compare it with white noise, which can actually help you fall asleep. This is more of a question of individual preference. On low settings, you would have no problem sleeping next to both of these Coway models.

If you are interested in learning more about this subtopic, you can check my other post in which I wrote about air purifier noise.

Control panel

The control panel is the exact same in both the Coway AP-1512HH vs Airmega 200m. You get a power on/off button, a single button for different fan speeds + eco mode + auto mode, an air ionization button, a timer (1,4,8 hour), a filter reset indicator, and an air quality indicator. The exact same control panel, with the exact same buttons, in the exact same order. The only difference is the button icons, which are a bit different.

In general, this is a pretty impressive control panel for an air purifier at this price tier. Eco mode lets you save quite a bit of energy, as the device shuts off if it does not detect any indoor air pollution within half an hour. Auto-mode, as the name already suggests, automatically changes your fan speed settings based on the air pollution levels. Higher detected indoor air pollution = higher fan speed (to push more clean air faster); and vice-versa.

A built-in air quality sensor is a feature that I just love as well, as it gives you real-time feedback on the state of the air quality in your room. It works great with an automatic sensor, giving you a more hand-free approach where you just turn on the machine and let it do its job based on the situation, without constantly having to micromanage its settings.

Replacement filters

Since both devices have the exact same dimensions and use the same filtering system, the most I can do here is give you an Amazon link to the replacement filters.

As I have already mentioned somewhere at the start of this comparison – you need to change only the HEPA filter once a year, and the carbon-activated filters twice per year (every 6 months). This is really important to do, as worn-out filters are not nearly as effective as newer ones. The pre-filter is washable and does not need to be replaced at any point.

Quite a few air purifiers of this price range need their filters changed more often (every 3-6 months), so you do get some quality filters with a very decent lifespan.

Coway AP-1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m – Conclusion

Both AP-1512HH and Airmega 200m models are made by Coway, one of the bigger players in the air purifying industry. Headquartered in South Korea, they have been making quality air purifier products for over 30 years now. You can not go wrong with either of these models. AP-1512HH is a bit older than the Airmega 200m model. There is a reason Coway air purifiers make it to pretty much everyone’s top air purifier list. A very effective air filtration system, great room coverage, and some pretty amazing additional features make these two air purifiers one of my top selections for a mid-tier air purifier.

In terms of size, performance, and features, there is no difference between the Coway AP1512HH vs Coway Airmega 200m. You could say that the AIrmega 200m is just an AP-1512HH in an alternative style. If you already own an AP-1512HH, there is absolutely no need for you to “upgrade” over to the newer Airmega 200m. If you are deciding between the two, I would still go for the AP-1212HH over the Airmega 200m. This is simply because Coway AP-1512HH is just a staple of a great mid-level air purifier. What also gives it a slight edge (other than the style, which is a personal preference) is the Energy Star certification and CARB certification, which the Airmega 200m lacks. Products that are Energy Star certified will save you a little bit more money long-term.

Is the Airmega 200m still a good choice? Absolutely, if the Coway AP-1512HH temporarily goes out of stock, then you can get the Airmega 200m, which is almost an exact copy. You can also choose to take the Airmega 200m over Coway AP-1512HH based solely on the design style, but I will leave this up to your individual preferences. The two certifications, 2 dB of noise, and a slight difference in cfm rating will not impact the performance in a noticeable way.

Current price and availability of Coway AP-1512HH :

Current price and availability of Coway Airmega 200m: