Winix built its name on the 5500-2, a carbon-filter workhorse that is now discontinued. The 5510 replaces it, and a few older models still sell alongside.
Buy the Winix 5510: HouseFresh calls it the Winix to buy now that the 5500-2 is discontinued, and its pellet carbon handles cooking and pet smells. For a small bedroom, the Winix A230 is HouseFresh’s small-room pick. The AM90 and 9800 are older models we found no recent independent tests for.
| If you need | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most rooms | Winix 5510 | Pellet carbon; app |
| Small bedroom | Winix A230 | AHAM 230 sq ft |
| Wi-Fi, medium room | Winix AM90 | AHAM 360 sq ft; no recent independent test |
| Large room | Winix 9800 | AHAM 500 sq ft; no recent independent test |
PlasmaWave is an ionizer, which is why some buyers avoid it. You can switch it off and use the purifier as a plain filter; HouseFresh ran its 5510 tests both ways. Models sold in California must be CARB certified for ozone.
Off switch: HouseFresh re-tested the 5510 with PlasmaWave disabled for readers who avoid ionizers.Close. Winix support told AirPurifierFirst the 5510 holds the same amount of carbon pellets, and it adds an app and a better-looking body. HouseFresh found it louder on high than older mid-size Winix models.
Price cut: HouseFresh reports Winix dropped the 5510 to $179.99 after the 5500-2 was discontinued.Check the label inside your unit before ordering. Winix’s genuine Filter H is listed for the 5500-2, and our product data doesn’t confirm it for the 5510.
One year: Winix’s rated life for Filter H.These come from brand searches on Bing and from what reviewers measured. We summarize; we don’t run our own lab.
| Model | AHAM room | Carbon | PlasmaWave | App | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winix 5510 | 392 sq ft | Pellets | Yes, switchable | Yes | Most rooms |
| Winix A230 | 230 sq ft | Yes | Yes | No | Small rooms |
| Winix AM90 | 360 sq ft | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wi-Fi in a medium room |
| Winix 9800 | 500 sq ft | Yes | Yes | Yes | Large rooms |
Cards marked “Not yet independently tested” rely on listing data only.
HouseFresh’s Winix pick, with pellet carbon, an app and about 250 cfm. Full write-up in our top 10.
you cook a lot, have pets, or want a medium-to-large-room purifier with app control at a mid price.
you need a quiet top speed. HouseFresh found the 5510 louder on high than similar purifiers. Run it a notch lower, or move up to the Levoit Core 600S-P so a lower speed still covers the room.
Sources: HouseFresh, Winix 5510 review; HouseFresh, The best Winix air purifiers; Consumer Reports, Winix 5510 model page; AirPurifierFirst, Winix 5510 vs Winix 5500-2.
HouseFresh’s small-room Winix pick, AHAM-verified for 230 sq ft.
AHAM Verifide at 230 sq ft and up to 1,110 sq ft in an hour, with a True HEPA filter, a carbon filter, PlasmaWave and auto mode.
you want a cheap, simple purifier for a bedroom up to about 230 sq ft.
you want an app. The Levoit Core 300S-P has one.
Sources: HouseFresh, The best Winix air purifiers (small-room pick).
AHAM-verified for 360 sq ft with app control; no recent independent test.
AHAM Verifide at 360 sq ft and up to 1,740 sq ft in an hour, with a carbon filter, PlasmaWave, an air quality light, auto mode and Wi-Fi app control.
you want a Winix with Wi-Fi in a medium room and see it on sale.
you want the current Winix to buy. The Winix 5510 covers a bit more room.
Sources: Amazon listing data.
AHAM-verified for 500 sq ft with dual sensors; no recent independent test.
AHAM Verifide at 500 sq ft and up to 2,420 sq ft in an hour, with dual sensors, a light-activated sleep mode and 26.2 dB on the lowest speed.
you want the biggest Winix with an app for a large room.
you want a tested big-room purifier. The Levoit Core 600S-P has independent tests behind it.
Sources: Amazon listing data.
The 5510 adds app control and a new body, and Winix says it holds the same carbon as the 5500-2. The 5500-2 is discontinued, per HouseFresh.
The Winix 5510. It covers more room, 392 sq ft against 360, and has the more recent independent tests.
Yes. The pellet carbon in the Winix 5510 handles pet smells, and the washable mesh pre-filter catches hair.
Winix quotes 23.5 dB on the lowest speed. HouseFresh measured 35.2 to 67.2 dBA across its speeds and found it louder on high than similar purifiers.
The 5510, AM90 and 9800 work with the Winix app. The A230 doesn’t.
Winix rates Filter H for one year. Wash the mesh pre-filter when it looks gray.