Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier Review

Our Verdict

The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is one of the most successful products from the Winix brand. With its powerful air purification performance and exclusive PlasmaWave technology, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier has created a sensation on Amazon, even becoming the first “Amazon’s Choice” product made in Korea. Furthermore, this product has also received the Energy Star certification as an assurance of its energy efficiency during operation.

That’s what people advertise about the Winix 5500-2, but what’s the truth? Is the Winix 5500-2 a strong contender in the budget air purifier segment as everyone praises it to be? We will help you answer that right in this article. Read through the review below and consider whether or not you should own this product.

Why Can You Trust Our Review?

With the desire to provide readers with the most honest reviews, we always personally purchase and experience the products for a certain period. For the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, we had one month to conduct various tests, including a performance test, noise level test, and power usage test. These tests were all carried out in real-world environments like the kitchen and bedroom.

Not only that, we also bring you objective comparisons of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier’s features with other air purifier products in the same segment. These comparisons will serve as a reference for you before making a purchasing decision.

Furthermore, our reviews are based on gathering feedback from customers on Amazon, so you can rest assured that there is no exaggerated praise in this article.

After testing the product, we found the following pros and cons:

Pros

• Cheap price: The Winix is available for $249.9, making it competitively priced in the budget segment.

• Remote control: The Winix 5500-2’s remote control feature allows you to turn it on/off, adjust the fan speed, and switch to auto or turbo mode with the push of a button on the remote.

• Impressive filters: According to our assessment, not every budget product is equipped with up to 4 main filters like the Winix 5500-2. Moreover, this device features an exclusive Plasma Wave filter.

• Multiple prestigious certifications: The product holds several respected certifications, including Energy Star certified, AHAM certified, and UL certified.

• Extremely effective in 360 square feet of room: Convenient for use in spacious areas like living rooms, bedrooms, offices, etc.

Cons

• A little noise at max power: When the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is set to level 3 or 4 in a quiet room, it produces a somewhat bothersome noise. So, if you run it overnight, it’s advisable to keep it on the lower setting to ensure it doesn’t disrupt your sleep.

• Unable to turn off all LED indicator lights: Some LED indicator lights in the system cannot be turned off.

• Limited warranty: In our research, most air purifiers come with warranties ranging from 3 to 5 years. However, the Winix 5500-2 has a shorter 2-year warranty, which might be a drawback for some potential buyers.

Product specifications

After referencing information from the manufacturer, we have compiled the most important technical specifications and standout features of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier in the table below:

Design

Our initial impression of the design of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is its minimalism. Some people might say this design is somewhat outdated, but we suppose that the charcoal grey color of the product gives it a more elegant appearance.

Moreover, the Winix 5500-2 is quite heavy, about 15 pounds. After the BlueAir HealthProtect 7470i, this air purifier was the second heaviest device we tested. We guess to prevent the weight of the Winix 5500-2 from becoming its disadvantage, the manufacturer has designed an additional handle under the top lip and does not have any protruding plastic parts that can hamper your moving.

Compared to older versions like the Winix 5300-2 and other Winix air purifier models, we didn’t notice many differences in design, except for the color. However, the control panel of the Winix 5500-2 is more modern and convenient, featuring a touch-sensitive interface, unlike the mechanical button controls of other Winix models.

According to the design of the Winix 5300-2 air purifier, air enters from the front and both sides of the device. Afterward, the purified air is released from the top. In our opinion, this is a fairly reasonable design because with a high-capacity air purifier like the Winix 5300-2, if the purified air were to be released from the front, it could be uncomfortable for someone standing in front of it.

Finally, let’s look at the main settings of this device. Essentially, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier includes an auto mode, a night mode that dims the front light, and four manual fan speeds. In addition, the device is also equipped with a timer that automatically powers off the device in one, four, or eight hours despite on your demand. One thing we quite like about this air purifier is that it has an air quality sensor with an indicator light.

Specifically, blue represents stable air conditions, orange means normal air quality, and red means poor air quality. And the device will need to increase the air filtration speed in case the indicator light is red. In addition to the above modes, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier also has a button on the top of the device for you to start Winix’s exclusive Plasma Wave mode.

Durability

We have to be honest with you: the Winix 5500-2 is one of the few air purifiers we tested that is not made in China. And we are truly amazed at how meticulously crafted each part is in every detail. An acquaintance of mine has been using the Winix 5500-2 air purifier for 5 years and he said that up to now, this purifier still runs very smoothly, with no signs of damage.

This air purifier reminds us of two other devices, Austin (made in USA) and IQAir (made in Switzerland). All three of these devices are well-built and durable. However, one point that makes the Winix 5500-2 weak compared to these two devices is warranty time. While the Winix 5500-2 only has a one-year warranty, Austin has a 5-year warranty and IQAir has a 10-year warranty (if you register the warranty period with the manufacturer).

So, Winix 5500-2 is the right choice in case you want to look for a highly durable air purifier. However, suppose you still have doubts about the quality of this device and want a longer warranty period, you can consider choosing other products in the same price range.

Ease of use

As we mentioned above, one disadvantage of the Winix 5500-2 is cannot turn off all the lights on its control panel. Even when sleep mode is activated, the indicator sleep mode light also lights up. This can affect our sleep. However, on the market, many air purifiers are designed not allowing turn off all the lights. Even high-priced devices (about $900) like the IQAir HealthPro Plus are also in this situation.

Of course, on our market, there will still be air purifiers that do not have this drawback, such as the Honeywell HPA line or Levoit air purifiers. However, we need to emphasize to you that, despite overcoming this drawback, the above machines still have many other disadvantages such as high power consumption or loud noise.

Compared to many other air purifiers such as Coway Mighty (weighs about 11 pounds), and GermGuardian AC4825 (weighs less than 10 pounds), the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is quite a “heavier” device. However, due to the manufacturer’s clever handle design, you can quite easily move it to different spaces in your home.

Another aspect we want to mention in this argument is that the Winix 5500-2 is equipped with all the features you would expect in an air purifier at a mid-range price. We even think this machine can exceed your expectations. We can see that air purifiers with lower prices like GermGuardian AC4825 often do not come with air quality sensors, automatic timers, or timers. Naturally, these things may put us in some trouble.

Therefore, it can be said that the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is convenient for you to use and definitely within your family’s affordability.

Advanced 4-stage filtration

Let’s explore what’s special about the 4 filters of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier!

• Washable Fine Mesh Pre-Filter: This pre-filter is considered the first line of defense for the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, and I found it to be quite effective at capturing pet hair. we have two long-haired cats at home, and before using the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, their hair would be everywhere, from the floor to the sofa. With the Winix 5500-2, we noticed a significant reduction in scattered pet hair. When cleaning the air purifier, we found a large amount of cat hair trapped in this filter.
• Washable AOC™ Carbon Filter: After testing the product in the kitchen, we found this filter to be effective at reducing cooking odors. We’ve tried turning on the Winix 5500-2 air purifier while cooking strongly scented dishes like fried potatoes or seasoned fried chicken, and we felt that it could reduce cooking oil odors by 70-80%. Additionally, the manufacturer claims that this filter can reduce VOCs and help prolong the life of the True HEPA filter.
• True HEPA Filter: After large particles in the air, like pet hair, are trapped in the pre-filter, the Winix True HEPA filter is responsible for capturing tiny pollutants in the air. This filter can even remove fine dust, allergens, or pollen from the air, so it needs to be replaced periodically. Our family lives on the 20th floor of a city-center apartment, and a lot of fine dust infiltrates our home. This is the reason for my worsening allergic rhinitis. However, since using the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, we’ve noticed a significant reduction in symptoms like itchy nose and sneezing (caused by airborne dust). The HEPA filter likely plays a significant role in improving our respiratory health.
• PlasmaWave® Air Cleaning Technology: As mentioned earlier, PlasmaWave is an exclusive filter developed by Winix. According to the manufacturer, PlasmaWave technology uses a natural cleaning process to create positive and negative ions, breaking down pollutants and dangerous viruses at the molecular level without emitting ozone gas. We used an ozone concentration meter to verify this claim and obtained the results as shown below:

We can see that during the operation of the Plasma Wave filter, the amount of Ozone emitted is 0.

Air quality indicator

The Winix 3500-3 is equipped with an air quality indicator feature that uses different colored indicator lights. Some people may consider this feature unnecessary because, regardless of the air quality, the air purifier will still perform its air-cleaning function. However, for us, this is an important feature. When selecting an air purifier, we prioritize this feature because having an air quality indicator allows us to adjust the air purifier’s operating speed to high or low. This also helps us save on electricity consumption, reducing monthly costs.

Sleep mode operation

A feature that intrigued us with the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is its ability to automatically activate sleep mode when the room is dark. This mode ensures that the air purifier operates at just the right level, producing minimal noise and conserving energy. The machine will return to auto mode when the room is illuminated again.

However, it’s unfortunate that the indicator light indicating that sleep mode is active cannot be turned off. We’re sure those who have the habit of sleeping in a completely dark room without any lights will find this feature quite bothersome.

Remote control

It’s fantastic that I can easily control the operation modes of the Winix air purifier from a distance. We know that most air purifiers in the same price range as the Winix 5500-2 lack remote control functionality. For families with individuals who have limited mobility or difficulty walking, like our family, this feature is a significant advantage.

Air cleaning performance

 As we’ve shared in the product’s pros, the Winix 5500-2 is suitable for large rooms, with a coverage area of up to 360 square feet (verified by AHAM – Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers).

However, to enhance transparency, we conducted a small test in a 360-square-foot room, showing that within 60 minutes, when the Winix 5500-2 air purifier was set to turbo mode, the AQI decreased from 140 to 4. Air quality improved by approximately 96%. This figure confirms that the performance of the Winix 5500-2 is not just an unfounded rumor.

Air Quality Index (AQI) after 60 minutes of operating the Winix 5500-2 air purifier

Furthermore, when we verified the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), as expected, the Winix 5500-2 performed well in handling smoke, pollen, and dust, with CADR ratings of 232, 243, and 246, respectively.

Through extensive research and testing, we have compiled the air performance rating of other air purifiers compared to the Winix 5500-2 in the chart below:

Besides the CADR, the CFM of this device is also a point that we are interested in and tested. With a 250 CFM and HEPA filter, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier was able to clean the air in our test room in just 9 minutes. This period is equivalent to Winix 5300-2 because basically, these two devices have quite similar capacity and functions. We also performed a similar test with Coway Mighty – another air-purifying device that also has CFM 250. Then, we obtained the result that this device can clean the air after 10 minutes – slightly lower than Winix 5500-2.

However, you also need to understand that the higher the CFM index, the faster the air purifier can clean. For example, in the same test room area as above, the GermGuardian AC4825 with CFM 140 would take 23 minutes to clean the entire room.

Regarding the ability to remove harmful particles from the air, we tested three devices at the same time: Winix 5500-2, Coway Mighty, and GermGuardian AC4825.

In detail, our testing is conducted by leaving the air purifiers running indefinitely, to measure what is the lowest overall particle concentration per cubic ft. If the device can achieve a result of 100 particles/cubic ft, we can consider that the air is now free of harmful particles.

 We have compiled the results into the following table:

Thus, with higher CFM, the Winix 5500-2 and Coway Mighty devices achieve extremely low indoor particle concentrations, showing the excellent air filtration efficiency of these two devices.

Filter replacement indicator

Before conducting in-depth testing of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, a colleague in our lab had been using this device for about 2 years. He mentioned that the filter replacement indicator serves as a lifesaver for busy or forgetful individuals. Additionally, in cases where indoor air contains more dust than usual, the filter may need replacement sooner than the manufacturer’s recommendation. In such situations, without the filter replacement indicator, it would be challenging to determine the most appropriate time for a replacement.

Noise levels

The Winix 5500-2 has noise levels that are considered quite user-friendly. In sleep mode, it seems as though you can’t hear the motor running, and the noise generated is only about 40.6 dBA. However, if you use the air purifier at a higher setting, it may become a bit noisy. For us, this is a drawback that many customers will consider when purchasing the product, especially for families with small children who require a quiet environment.

However, we also need to remember that all air purifiers on the market – when operating at their highest level – emit louder noise. Therefore, you should find out if the air purifier you want to buy makes an unpleasant sound when turned on in turbo mode, or if it is simply wind noise.

Through testing, we found that the Winix 5500-2 air purifier makes a noise quite similar to the Coway Mighty. Therefore, when measuring the noise of these two devices at the highest mode, we received results of Winix 5500-2 and Coway Mighty of 67.5 dB and 66.1 dB. When we set the fan to the second highest speed, both the Winix 5500-2 and the Coway Mighty emitted a noise of 48.9 dB. This noise is significantly reduced compared to the turbo mode. Thus, the lower the mode, the more “silently” the Winix 5500-2 air purifier operates.

You can refer to the noise levels at different speeds of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier in the table below:

Noise levels of the Winix 5500-2 in reality are slightly higher than the Winix 5300-2 version – The average noise levels of the Winix 5300-2 range from 27 dBA to 60 dBA. Furthermore, the noise levels of the Winix 5500-2 are slightly higher than some other air purifiers in the same segment, like:

• Coway AP-1512HH Mighty: Approximately 24.4-53.8 dBA; 
• Blueair Blue Pure 411: Approximately 17-46 dBA; 
• Levoit LV-H132: Approximately 32-50 dB,…
  ….

We have compiled the noise ratings of some typical air purifiers and posted them on a chart so you can visually compare the noise level of the Winix 5500-2 with other devices.

Ongoing cost for Winix 5500-2

Currently, on the Winix official website, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier is priced at $249.9. When purchasing on Amazon, we can enjoy a slightly lower price, around $159.9. We believe it’s challenging to own an air purifier with such exceptional features and performance at such a budget-friendly price. This product deserves to be the star of the mid-range air purifier segment, offering strong price competitiveness compared to rival products. However, when buying this product, you need to consider two additional cost types: operating costs and filter replacement costs.

Operating cost

The Winix 5500-2 is a large air purifier with a power consumption of 70W per hour. Naturally, due to its larger air cleaning capacity, this product consumes more energy than some smaller air purifiers. However, it is still Energy Star certified – indicating that it is an energy-efficient product for your home.

We have compiled a table of power consumption at different speeds of the Winix 5500-2 for your reference.

Compared with the Coway air purifier: At the lowest fan speed, the Coway only consumes 3.2 Watts, while the Winix 5500-2 consumes about 6.4 Watts, which is double the consumption of the Coway. In terms of proportion, this may make us think that the Winix 5500-2 air purifier consumes a lot of electricity. However, the numbers 3.2 Watts or 6.4 Watts are both very tiny and insignificant. So we think you don’t need to worry about this consumption level of Winix 5500-2.

If you want to save more energy, you can turn your Winix 5500-2 air purifier on to the highest level to quickly clean your room. Then, you set the fan mode to a lower level to maintain air quality without consuming too much power.

So, assuming an electricity cost of $0.12 per kW/h, we would spend about $73.58 on electricity to operate the Winix 5500-2 for one year.

In the chart below, we can see that the Winix 5500-2 has an average power consumption, with not much difference compared to the GermGuardian AC4825E True HEPA filter air purifier (the lowest power consumption in the table).

With the wide coverage area of the Winix 5500-2, we find that the one-year electricity cost for this product is not too expensive. Furthermore, during usage, you don’t always need to run the air purifier at the highest speed, so this cost can be lower than $73.58.

Filter cost

Due to the four filters in the Winix 5500-2, we conducted research and concluded the filter cost as follows:

– True HEPA Filter: This filter usually needs replacement every 12 months. The cost of replacing the True HEPA filter for the Winix 5500-2 can range from $20 to $60, depending on the brand and where you purchase it.

– Activated Carbon Filter: Typically, carbon filters in air purifiers need replacement every 3 to 6 months, depending on usage and air quality. However, the carbon filter in the Winix air purifier is designed to be washable, so it should last about 12 months before needing replacement. Replacement carbon filters for the Winix 5500-2 can range from $10 to $30.

– Pre-Filter: The pre-filter should be replaced every 3 months. Replacement pre-filters for the Winix 5500-2 are relatively inexpensive and typically range from $10 to $20.

– PlasmaWave Filter: The PlasmaWave filter in the Winix 5500-2 is permanent. However, it requires periodic cleaning following the manufacturer’s instructions.

So, the maximum filter replacement cost for the Winix 5500-2 is around $110 – a figure that we consider not to be overly expensive.

Comparison: Winix 5500-2 vs. Winix 5300-2

The Winix 5500-2 is an improved version compared to the Winix 5300-2. Overall, these two air purifier models from the Winix brand share many features and design similarities.

However, two points make the Winix 5500-2 stand out from the Winix 5300-2. These differences may explain why the Winix 5500-2 is slightly more expensive than the Winix 5300-2, which is sold for $199.9 on the official website:

• Remote control feature: We have had experience using the Winix 5300-2 air purifier. While its control panel is user-friendly, adding a remote control feature, as seen in the 5500-2 version, would greatly enhance the overall user experience.

• AOC carbon filter: Besides the remote control feature, the Winix 5300-2 is not equipped with the AOC carbon filter, a feature available in the 5500-2. Many people opt for the Winix 5500-2 mainly due to this filter. The reason is simple – it’s a washable filter that only needs replacement after about 12 months of use, and it can save you up to 1/4 of the filter replacement cost every year. Additionally, through our research, we know that the Winix 5500-2’s carbon filter has activated carbon pellets for better adsorption of gases while the Winix 5300-2’s carbon filter is comprised of a fibrous material that is only coated with carbon.

As an enhanced version in terms of features compared to its predecessor, the Winix 5500-2 is truly worth the money. If you’re still considering between the two Winix air purifier models, the Winix 5500-2 is a much more sensible choice.

Value

The value we want to mention here is what you get for the money you spend. With Winix 5500-2, you will receive the best air filtration features with the most economical money.

At the time we wrote this review, with a price of about $160, no air purifier on the market can give you as effective as the Winix 5500-2. We have to say that there are so many great things that the manufacturer put into this budget device: HEPA filter, CMF 250, pellet carbon air filter, washable pre-filter, and remote control function.

Let’s make a comparison:

Although the Winix 5300-2 air purifier has a cheaper price – about $120, this device does not have a remote control function or a pellet carbon air filter. The Coway Mighty costs a little more, but it also doesn’t come with a remote control function, and it’s worth remembering that this device uses a fiber carbon filter.

With more advanced options, such as Austin HealthMate or IQAir HealthPro Plus, of course, the air filtration ability of these air purifiers will be better than the Winix 5500-2, but we see not so much difference here.

In short, in terms of value, we find the Winix 5500-2 to be the most valuable air purifier you should own.

Final Thought

After using the Winix 5500-2 air purifier for a while, we have to give our strong compliments to this product. With a very affordable price, the Winix 5500-2 has exceeded our expectations with its powerful air purification capabilities and many excellent features, competing effectively in the mid-range air purifier market. Although there are some drawbacks like noise, we believe that they are acceptable.