If you’re on the hunt for a new water ionizer, and you’re here right now, then you want to know who wins the battle of Bawell vs Kangen.
I’m Pete, the host, content creator, researcher, and one-man wrecking ball here at Alkaline Water Machine Source.
In today’s article, I break down the features of both Bawell and Kangen Water ionizers to see who wins.
By the end, you’ll know which is the better water ionizer for your home.
Bawell’s most popular ionizer is its Platinum model 2195.
If this is your first visit to our site, our helpful Bawell ionizer review is worth a look to make your decision even easier.
If you’re already up to speed, let’s put Bawell’s Platinum up against Enagic’s Leveluk SD501 Platinum.
After researching Enagic ionizers, we found that the Leveluk SD501 model is the closest to the Bawell Platinum.
First, let’s go over where each machine is manufactured.
Where are Enagic water ionizers made?
All Enagic products are manufactured in Japan, which is a huge pro in my opinion.
Japan is the leader in research on ionized water.
However, the fact that Kangen products are manufactured in Japan is a bit of a double-edged sword.
I’ll get to the reason why later in the comparison.
Where Are Bawell Ionizers Made?
Bawell water ionizers are assembled in Hong Kong and designed in America.
Of all the places in China something could be manufactured, Hong Kong is probably the best place.
These ionizers certainly aren’t being assembled in sweatshops or other factories with poor working conditions.
If you think manufacturing in Hong Kong is bad, flip over your iPhone and see where it’s made.
Designed in California – Assembled in China
Now that we know where both ionizers are made, let’s look at the features.
Bawell vs Kangen Feature Comparison
| pH Range | Max ORP | Self-Cleaning? | # of Filters | # of Plates | Water Settings | Warranty | |
| Bawell Platinum | 3.0 – 11.5 | -800 mV | Yes | 2 | 7 | 35 Presets | Lifetime |
| Leveluk SD501 | 2.5 – 11.5 | -800 mV | Yes | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5-Year |
As you can see, most of the key features are the same.
A couple of features not mentioned in the table are the LCD panel and voice prompts.
The Bawell 2195 and Leveluk SD501 Platinum both have those features.
We explain further why the surface area is important in the following sections.
Next, let’s explore the pros and cons of each unit.
Bawell Platinum 2195 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Larger platinum-coated titanium plates
- More water settings
- More affordable
- Better filtration out of the box with two filters
- Lifetime Warranty and 60-day 100% Money-Back Guarantee
- A faster flow rate of up to one gallon every 30 seconds
Cons
- Larger than the Kangen Leveluk SD501 Platinum
- Not made in Japan
- A less attractive design for some people
- The need to replace 2 filters
Kangen Leveluk SD501 Platinum Pros & Cons
Pros
- Made in Japan
- Smaller and lighter than the Bawell 2195
- Speaks 5 languages (English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish)
- One replacement filter instead of two
- A slightly more acidic option
Cons
- Super expensive
- 5-year warranty instead of lifetime
- Smaller platinum-coated titanium plates
- Slower flow rate
Price Comparison
Now that you’ve seen the features of each unit, let’s take a look at the price.
Click Here #ad to see the current price for the Bawell Platinum 2195 at Amazon.
The Bawell Platinum water ionizer sells for almost 3X less brand-new. That’s obviously a massive difference.
On Enagic’s website, the current price of the Leveluk SD501 Platinum 5-Language edition is exorbitant for any ionizer.
Click Here #ad to check the current price at a trusted Kangen water ionizer seller.
It’s up to you whether you think it’s worth paying nearly 3X the price of the Bawell Platinum for the Kangen ionizer.
This goes back to the double-edged sword I mentioned earlier.
Does Enagic think its machines are worth 3X the price for the same features just because they’re manufactured in Japan?
The Importance of the Platinum-Coated Titanium Plate Surface Area
Earlier, we mentioned that the Bawell’s plate surface area is larger than the Kangen Water machine surface area.
This factor is the most confusing.
One of the most expensive parts, if not the most expensive, is platinum-coated titanium.
For this reason, alkaline water machines with more plates and more plate surface area are normally more expensive.
Outside of the brand name, we don’t see anything inside the Kangen unit that makes it worth thousands more.
The platinum-coated titanium plates are the key ingredient inside any quality water ionizer.
This is why the max negative ORP is important.
Remember, Kangen and Bawell tie in max ORP value with a negative ORP of -800 mV.
Videos of Each Ionizer
It’s always a good idea to see what something looks like in action.
As mentioned earlier, you may find that the Kangen Leveluk SD501 Platinum ionizer is a better match for your kitchen decor while other people will find that the Bawell Platinum ionizer looks better in their kitchens.
First, here’s a video provided by Bawell for its Platinum 2195 model:
His voice is a bit abrasive, but he does give a solid presentation.
The gentleman in the video below gives a nice presentation of the Kangen Leveluk SD501 Platinum in action:
Our Thoughts
We’ve spent hours upon hours researching alkaline water machines, ionizers, and the water they produce, so we feel as though our opinion is worth more than a couple of cents.
We think Kangen is indeed a great ionizer and the fact that it’s produced in Japan appeals to us since Japan is the leading authority on alkaline water.
However, we just can’t justify the added cost.
Let me put it this way.
I used to always jump at buying the latest iPhone.
Eventually, I realized that I only use my phone for a few things.
I’ve also felt the burn of having a nearly brand-new iPhone stolen on more than one occasion.
While living in Asia, I decided to buy a much cheaper Huawei phone.
It ended up being a great decision, and I saved hundreds of dollars.
Let’s apply this lesson to ionizers.
There’s only so much going on inside a water ionizer.
First, the water is filtered.
Then, it enters the ionization chamber with the titanium plates to undergo electrodialysis.
This process is what produces alkaline ionized water with alkaline minerals in it.
Why pay thousands more for something that’s doing the exact same thing?
Well, for some people, the amount of money doesn’t matter when they buy a brand they love.
It’s up to you to decide which brand you prefer and if the extra money for the Kangen Water machine is worth it.
Are Bawell owners happy?
There are enough reports by people who chose Bawell over Kangen to say that a majority of owners are happy with their choices.
Currently, there are positive customer reviews of Bawell at BBB.org.
What are Kangen Water machine owners saying?
One of the biggest pros for some people is Kangen’s A+ BBB rating.
Plus, they’ve been in business for 15 years.
Although, I just looked at the customer reviews, and it looks like a mixed bag, with mostly positive reviews.
Some of the negative feedback regarding a bad customer service experience is offputting.
There are other people who are extremely happy and have used their Kangen Water machines for years without any problems.
Bottom Line
We think both Bawell and Kangen ionizers are two of the finest alkaline water machines on the market.
However, due to Kangen’s hefty price, we have yet to recommend it as a top-rated water ionizer on our site.
We’ve seen other reviewers call the Kangen Water Machine an outright scam, which we don’t believe to be true.
Yes, the price is too high, but we do think the Kangen Leveluk SD501 Platinum model is a quality unit.
The mixed customer service reviews of Kangen are certainly a drawback to consider before you buy one.
We found more negative customer service experiences with Kangen than with Bawell.
In the battle of Bawell vs Kangen, the winner is the Bawell Platinum Water Ionizer all the way.
If Enagic Kangen can prove exactly why its units cost so much more, our opinion could change, but considering the body of research we’ve accumulated on alkaline water machines, there’s a very slim chance of us changing our mind anytime soon.
