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Portable air purifier

Austin Air HealthMate

HealthMate standard model

$715US price, checked Oct 13, 2026

Heavy steel purifier with lots of carbon, five-year filters and no published CADR

Check price at Austin Air Full review →

Portable air purifier

Winix 5500-2

US 5510, the closest current model to the discontinued 5500-2

$199.99US price, checked Oct 13, 2026

Discontinued, with the 5510 as the closest current model for rooms near 390 ft²

Check price at Winix Full review →

Criterion	Austin Air HealthMate	Winix 5500-2
US price	$715Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review	$199.99Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review
Three-year ownership estimate	$952 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: energy use.	$349.96 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: energy use.
Choose if	You want a steel purifier with lots of carbon for odors and a filter change only every few years.	A bedroom or living room up to about 390 ft² where you want app control and one filter change a year.
Main trade-off	You pay $715 or more without a CADR, room size, noise or wattage figure to judge it by.	It isn't in ENERGY STAR's certified list, and Winix's AHAM and CARB claims couldn't be checked in either registry.
Key specifications	CADR (smoke, dust, pollen): Not published by Austin Air Room size: Not published. Austin Air says only that it can clean large rooms Filter: One 4-stage filter: two pre-filters, 780+ cu in of carbon and zeolite (up to 15 lb), 60 sq ft of HEPA HEPA efficiency (maker's claim): 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron and 99% down to 0.1 micron Filter life and price: Up to 5 years in normal home use; $395 per replacement Fan: 3-speed centrifugal; motor rated for continuous use Power draw and noise: Not published. The manual gives only the outlet: 120 V AC, 60 Hz Wheels: The manual lists easy-roll wheels on standard-size models Size and weight: 14.5 × 14.5 × 23 in; 47 lb	CADR (smoke, dust, pollen): 253, 252 and 247 Room size: 392 ft² at 4.8 air changes an hour (8 ft ceilings). Winix also says it cleans 941 ft² in 30 minutes and 1,882 ft² in an hour Noise: 23.5 dB on the slowest speed. No figure for higher speeds Power draw: 65 W rated. No figures for each speed or standby Filters: Washable fine mesh pre-filter, AOC carbon filter and True HEPA filter, plus PlasmaWave you can switch off Filter life and price: HEPA and carbon 12 months each. A Filter Q set is $49.99 on sale ($79.99 regular) Controls: 5 fan speeds (Low to Turbo, plus a slower Sleep speed), auto mode, light-sensing sleep mode, filter light, WiFi and Alexa. The timer is only in the Winix Smart App Size and weight: 13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 in; 13.3 lb
Exact variant	HealthMate standard model	US 5510, the closest current model to the discontinued 5500-2
Dimensions	14.5 L × 14.5 W × 23 H in; 47 lb.	13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 in (width × depth × height). It weighs 13.3 lb. The 5500-2 was wider, taller and heavier, at 15 × 8.2 × 23.6 in and 15 lb.
Installation	No installation. It plugs into a standard 120 V outlet. Austin Air says to set it on a flat, dry, stable surface at least four inches from any wall, with the vent facing away from the wall. It's meant to run 24/7.	No installation. It plugs into a standard 120 V, 60 Hz outlet. Winix's manual says to leave 12 to 18 in from walls, and never less than 12 in while it runs. Leave the same gap from TVs, radios and other electronics. Use it indoors on a hard, flat surface, out of direct sunlight.
Materials	Steel housing with a 360° perforated intake and a baked-on powder-coat finish. The filter has a large-particle pre-filter, a medium-particle pre-filter, over 780 cubic inches of activated carbon and zeolite (up to 15 lb), and 60 sq ft of HEPA media.	Four stages: a washable fine mesh pre-filter, an AOC carbon filter made of carbon pellets, a True HEPA filter and PlasmaWave. Winix says the HEPA filter was tested to IEST-RP-CC0007. The manual says the carbon filter can't be washed. Housing materials aren't stated. It's made in Korea.
Warranty	Five years on the unit against defects in material and workmanship, under normal home use. Coverage depends on returning the warranty registration. The filter has its own five-year pro-rated warranty, and Austin Air doesn't explain how the pro-rating works.	Winix gives the 5510 and 5520 a 2-year limited warranty, valid only in the US and Canada. If a part is defective, Winix will repair or replace the part or the unit. You need proof of purchase from an authorized retailer. Independent sellers on Amazon, eBay and similar sites don't count. Non-Winix filters void it, and the filters themselves aren't covered. Claims start with a form in your winixamerica.com account, and you may pay for spare parts or shipping. The manual lists repair services as not available and says no spare parts will be made after the warranty ends. The discontinued 5500-2 is still on Winix's 2-year list.
Returns	30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Austin Air doesn't say who pays return shipping.	Orders from winixamerica.com can be returned within 30 days of purchase. Returns must be in the original packaging with all filters, manuals and parts. You pay the return shipping, and Winix asks you to mark the return authorization number on the box. If you bought from another retailer, its policy applies. Restocking fees aren't mentioned.
Unresolved questions	CADR for smoke, dust and pollen, and the room size it suits Power draw at each speed, so running cost is unknown Noise at each speed How the pro-rated filter warranty is calculated Why Austin Air's two stores list different prices Whether it's in AHAM's Verifide directory or on CARB's certified list	Power draw at each fan speed and on standby, and which speed the 65 W rating refers to Noise on Low, Medium, High and Turbo Whether AHAM's directory lists the 5510 at Winix's CADR figures. The directory couldn't be read Whether CARB certified the 5510 or 5520. The readable part of CARB's list showed only the 5530 Whether PlasmaWave is on when you first switch the 5510 on. The 5500-2 manual says it was Whether there's any timer without the app Shipping cost from Winix's store How long the $199.99 and $49.99 sale prices last How the 5510 does in independent testing

These comparisons use published specifications, not head-to-head tests. Prices and terms are dated. Unknown costs are not zero. Check the exact variant before you buy.