Head-to-head

Levoit Core 300S Smart Air Purifier vs Levoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Humidifier

Levoit Core 300S Smart Air Purifier8.3Around £140Amazon

Levoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Humidifier7.7Around £50Amazon

The short answer

These two solve completely different problems, so start by working out which one you have. The Core 300S filters particles such as dust, pollen and pet dander out of the air. The Dual 150 adds moisture. Neither treats a cold, and the NHS's advice on colds in babies doesn't mention either.

A cheap hygrometer is the tie-breaker. If the nursery regularly reads dry, the Dual 150 is a quiet, affordable fix with a humidistat to stop it overdoing things. If humidity is fine but you're near a busy road, have pets or have hay fever in the family, the Core 300S is the better buy. If you're seeing condensation and mould, you need neither: you need better ventilation and possibly a dehumidifier.

My call: most families should buy neither until they've measured. If you must pick one blind, the purifier carries less risk, because it can't make a room damp.

Point by point

Measure	Levoit Core 300S Smart Air Purifier	Levoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Humidifier
Tech Dad Score	8.3	7.7
Hygiene & nursery safety	9.0	7.0
Humidity & air-quality control	8.5	7.5
Output for a nursery	8.5	7.5
Night-time noise & light	8.5	8.0
Price & running costs	7.0	8.5
Typical price	£140	£50
Type	HEPA air purifier	Ultrasonic cool mist
Warranty	2 years	2 years

★ marks the stronger of the two. Scores are out of 10.

Read the full reviews

Levoit

Levoit Core 300S Smart Air Purifier

Quiet, properly specified and sensibly priced: the purifier I'd put in a nursery.

8.3

Gold StarAround £140

Best for Families near busy roads, with pets or with hay fever in the house who want cleaner air at night.

Read the review Amazon

Levoit

Levoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Humidifier

A quiet cool-mist humidifier with a humidistat and a top-fill tank, for around £50.

7.7

Value StarAround £50

Best for Parents whose nursery genuinely reads dry on a hygrometer.

Read the review Amazon

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See every nursery humidifier or air purifier I've scored