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CriterionWinix 5500-2Austin Air HealthMate
US price$199.99Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review$715Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review
Three-year ownership estimate$349.96

Incomplete known subtotal.

Not included: energy use.
$952

Incomplete known subtotal.

Not included: energy use.
Choose ifA bedroom or living room up to about 390 ft² where you want app control and one filter change a year.You want a steel purifier with lots of carbon for odors and a filter change only every few years.
Main trade-offIt isn't in ENERGY STAR's certified list, and Winix's AHAM and CARB claims couldn't be checked in either registry.You pay $715 or more without a CADR, room size, noise or wattage figure to judge it by.
Key specifications
  • 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
  • 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
Exact variantUS 5510, the closest current model to the discontinued 5500-2HealthMate standard model
Dimensions13.59 × 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.14.5 L × 14.5 W × 23 H in; 47 lb.
InstallationNo 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.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.
MaterialsFour 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.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.
WarrantyWinix 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.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.
ReturnsOrders 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.30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Austin Air doesn't say who pays return shipping.
Unresolved questions
  • 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
  • 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

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.