If you’re focused on keeping compact tech devices, baby items, and other smaller household objects germ-free and safe to use, phone sanitizers like the Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer (also known as the Coral UV 2) offers a compelling solution. This second-generation model brings UV-C LED technology to the average home in a box-like build that the manufacturer promises is safe, odor-free, and energy-efficient. Designed to eliminate 99.9 percent of bacteria and backed by third-party lab results, the Coral UV 2 could be the ideal solution for quickly sanitizing high-touch items you use every day.
Design: Modern with some limitations
The Coral UV 2 comes with a clean and straightforward design that’s easy to blend in with your home decor. Available in a single white color, this box-like device is streamlined and doesn’t draw too much attention on a countertop, side table, or desk. The square build does require a surface with at least 9 inches of clearance (plus a few extra for the lid to open) and at least 12.5 inches wide and 11 inches deep. At 8 pounds, it’s not overly bulky if you need to move it around to the right spot. However, the cord is relatively short, so it’s not a great candidate for a long reach to a wall outlet. I also experienced a sticky Open button throughout use, making it so that the lid didn’t pop open. I had to nudge and lift it while pressing the button. The streamlined aesthetic extends to the top of the device, with a simple touch menu of options for choosing the cycle type and setting cycle duration. The back of the device houses the HEPA filter with a child-proof cover. HEPA filters are designed to last approximately 3 months, according to Coral UV. The UV-C LED lights are also capable of running 30,000 10-minute cycles. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend that customers attempt to replace the bulbs, which is a departure from the first model.
Setup Process: A few simple steps to get up and running
The setup process is relatively minimal, though it involved more than I had expected. After removing the packaging and inserts, Coral UV recommends first wiping the inside of the unit with a damp cloth, drying it, and then running a 70-minute drying and sanitizing cycle. All of this went off without a hitch. I did notice a sort of chemical, new appliance sort of smell after this initial cycle (and when I unboxed the product). This odor dissipated after a few sanitizing and sanitizing plus drying cycles.
What’s New: Emphasized efficiency, safety, and convenience
The Coral UV 2 is the follow-up to the original Coral UV Sterilizer and Dryer, which is considerably smaller and slightly taller at 5.7 pounds, 10.5 inches long and deep, and 10 inches tall. The manufacturer placed care in producing a safer and more efficient version with the Coral UV 2 by replacing mercury bulbs with six energy-efficient 12-megawatt LEDs. Coral UV claims that this swap removes odor and mercury exposure risk, two requests made by customers. The larger size of the Coral UV 2 also accommodates bigger items such as plush toys and even more baby bottles, a popular application for the original Coral UV sanitizer.
Performance: Easy to use and presumably effective
The Coral UV 2 averages 268nm UV wavelengths, which the manufacturer and its lab tests indicate removes 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses. For the average user, it’s virtually impossible to know for sure if even the best phone sanitizers, wands, or boxes like the Coral UV 2 are getting the job done. While it’s difficult to see the efficacy of the UV technology in the Coral UV 2 with most objects, I did experience a more tangible confirmation by using the sanitizing and drying function with non-medical cloth masks. The Coral UV 2 doesn’t eliminate the need for washing items with stains or cloth items (such as masks) that benefit from soap or detergent, but it offers another level of peace of mind. After hand-washing and wringing cloth masks dry, I placed two in the provided tray compartment for the upper part of the device and arranged the other two on the bottom. A 60-minute sanitizing and drying cycle effectively dried the masks and provided that clean, out-of-the-dryer sensation. Other items I felt confident tossing in for sanitize-only cycles included smartphones, tablets, keys, and sunglasses. Menu prompts were responsive and easy to cycle through, and the lights and sounds are easy to follow. The unit does make a slight motorized sound when running, but it’s very quiet. It also offers a pleasant dinging sound when cycling through the menu items and turns off automatically when the cycle is complete.
Features: Multiple cycles, little guidance
The only major issue I had with using the Coral UV 2 is the lack of guidance in the user manual or online about the cycle length recommendations based on the type of object. While the manufacturer suggests that their testing shows that the briefest setting, 10 minutes, effectively kills most contaminants, cycles range from 10-20 minutes of sanitizing only or up to 70 minutes of both drying and sanitizing. The manual indicates that the sanitize-only setting is best for items that can’t be washed and don’t need to be dried, but there’s little information about when to apply longer cycles or the 24-hour storage setting. This mode sanitizes and dries for 50 minutes and sanitizes continuously every 2 minutes for the whole cycle. This 24-hour option is extensive, and it would be great to have more explicit guidance about the appropriate use for that mode. On the flip side, there’s a lot of power in the user’s hands about cycle duration, something the manufacturer acknowledges was a user request based on the original model. For those who prefer a more scientific approach to choosing cycle modes, those answers aren’t crystal clear at this point.
Price: Fairly poised against competitors
The Coral UV 2 retails for $169, which is $20 more than the original Coral UV, but less than competing models such as the HomeSoap ($200 MSRP) or the Homedics UV CLEAN Portable Sanitizer Bag, which retails for $100 or less. The Homedics option, since it’s a pouch, has an edge because it’s portable, but it lacks the space and the possibilities for sanitizing items that the UV 2 offers. The costlier HomeSoap is more similar to the UV 2, but it trades space for extra bells and whistles.
Coral UV 2 Sanitizer vs. PhoneSoap HomeSoap
The PhoneSoap HomeSoap is the larger alternative to the PhoneSoap 3, specifically designed to disinfect smartphones. While you could certainly throw your smartphone in the HomeSoap, the rectangular case fits larger items, including tablets, remotes, and baby bottles. For those with limited counter space, the narrower 5.96-inch build could offer more versatility. The 14.9-inch depth and 11.5-inch height accommodate taller items in a way that the boxier Coral UV doesn’t quite match. And while it lacks as much room for multiple items, the HomeSoap’s 360-degree UV-C LED lights eliminate the need for rotating devices and running repeat cycles, which is something you may have to do with the Coral UV 2, depending on the item. Unlike the Coral UV 2, the HomeSoap offers a single 10-minute cycle without any additional drying, lengthier cycles, or HEPA filtering. But the HomeSoap does come with USB-A and USB-C ports to charge devices while cleaning them. If charging while sanitizing doesn’t matter to you over more space, drying, and filtration, the Coral UV 2 offers the better answer.
Similar Products We’ve Reviewed
PhoneSoap XL PhoneSoap 3
The Coral UV LED Sanitizer and Dryer is a roomy sanitizer for households that require a lot of room for disinfecting and drying everyday items. It comes with a discreet design that blends in and is generally straightforward to use. With numerous settings for sanitizing, drying, or performing both, those who like the option of taking control over the best sanitizing modes and lengthier cycles for particular items will find that with the Coral UV 2.
