Winix 5520 (New Generation of 5500-2) Review
by Winix
$189.99
Estimated Annual Filter Cost: ~$80/year
Summary
The Winix 5520 modernizes the beloved 5500-2 with a small CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) bump, Wi-Fi smarts, a more modern look, and the same low-cost pellet-carbon filters. It’s an excellent wildfire-season and allergy workhorse for spaces up to ~400 ft², whisper-quiet on low yet powerful when smoke rolls in, with an easy off-switch for its PlasmaWave ionizer.
Here's what this purifier does best
- High CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) per dollar: 250 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) at a reasonable price—fast particulate removal without premium pricing.
- Ultra-quiet sleep mode: 23.5 dB lets even light sleepers run it bedside.
- Thick pellet carbon: AOC (Advanced Odor Control) stage excels at wildfire and cooking-odor reduction.
- Smart-app control: Wi-Fi + AQI (Air Quality Index) history and scheduling absent on older Winix models.
- Low annual upkeep: $80 genuine filter set, 12-month life keeps annual spend in the $50–$100 tier.
Consider these trade-offs
- Marketing overreach: “1,872 ft²” spec is based on only 1 ACH (Air Changes per Hour)—ignore for health-grade use.
- Ionizer anxiety: PlasmaWave adds optional ozone (<50 ppb) that some users prefer off.
- Turbo gets loud: ~56 dB on max—TV-level sound during heavy smoke events.
- New filter SKU: Filter Q is newer and less ubiquitous than classic Filter H; third-party options limited.