Winix 5500-2 vs Honeywell HPA200
Quick take: The Honeywell HPA200 costs $10 less; the Winix 5500-2 moves more air (232 CADR, 16% more cleaning power); the Winix 5500-2 is the quieter bedroom unit (28 dB on sleep mode); the Winix 5500-2 has a particle sensor with auto mode, so it actually responds to cooking smoke and pollen spikes on its own; the Winix 5500-2 includes an ionizer — some buyers avoid these (see its cons for the ozone note).
| Spec | Winix 5500-2 | Honeywell HPA200 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$160 | ~$150 |
| Rating | — | 4.6★ (130) |
| Type | Large Room | Medium Room |
| CADR (smoke) | 232 CFM | 200 CFM |
| Honest Coverage (AHAM) | ~360 sq ft | ~310 sq ft |
| Claimed Coverage | 360 sq ft | 1,500 sq ft |
| Noise (sleep) | 28 dB | 45 dB |
| Noise (max) | 65 dB | 64 dB |
| Filter Cost / Year | $50 | $55 |
| Filter | True HEPA + washable AOC carbon | True HEPA (2x Filter R) + carbon pre-filter |
| Filter Life | 12 mo | 12 mo |
| Max Power | 70W · Energy Star | 87W · Energy Star |
| Auto Mode | Sensor + auto | Manual only |
| Ionizer | Yes | None |
| WiFi Control | None | None |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs | 13.9 lbs |
| Maintenance | Front panel lifts off tool-free. The mesh pre-filter needs a vacuum every couple of weeks, and the washable AOC carbon filter should be rinsed and sun-dried every 3 months — that washability is why annual cost stays near $50 for the yearly Filter H kit (HEPA + fresh carbon). Wipe the sensor inlet occasionally. PlasmaWave is toggled with one button if you want it off. Winix has committed to producing 5500-2 filters through 2032 despite the model's discontinuation. | Two separate consumables, and the trap is forgetting the second one: the pair of Filter R True HEPA cartridges swaps annually, but the HRF-A200 carbon pre-filter sheet needs replacing every 3 months — skip it and dust cakes straight onto the expensive HEPAs. Budget roughly $55/yr with genuine filters, less with the huge third-party ecosystem (this platform has been sold for over a decade). The front grille pops off tool-free. No sensor to clean because there is no sensor — it's a manual 4-speed machine with a filter-check light. |
| Warranty | 2 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Winix 5500-2
- ✓Best CADR-per-dollar in the mainstream class, per HouseFresh testing
- ✓Washable pelletized carbon filter — genuine odor removal, no extra cost
- ✓Fast, accurate auto mode with a responsive particle sensor
- ✓PlasmaWave ionizer is one-button switchable
- ✓Cheap to run: ~$50/yr OEM, filters produced until 2032
- ✓Sleep mode dims lights and drops to 28 dB
- ✓Regularly discounted to $130-140
- ✗Officially discontinued — inventory is sell-through only (successor: Winix 5510)
- ✗Loud 65 dB on turbo
- ✗2-year warranty trails Coway's 3
- ✗No Wi-Fi or app
- ✗Heavier and bulkier than the Coway at 15.4 lbs
- ✗Carbon filter must be re-washed quarterly or odor performance fades
Honeywell HPA200
- ✓Industry-best 5-year warranty
- ✓AHAM-verified 200 CFM smoke CADR — honest 310 sq ft coverage
- ✓Excellent particle-removal-per-dollar in independent testing
- ✓Dead-simple controls with nothing to pair, update, or troubleshoot
- ✓Massive OEM and third-party filter availability after a decade on shelves
- ✓Frequently $130-150 at big-box stores
- ✓No ionizer of any kind
- ✗No air quality sensor or auto mode — manual speeds only
- ✗45 dB minimum is the loudest noise floor in the class; no real sleep mode
- ✗Power-hungry 87 watts on turbo
- ✗Thin carbon pre-filter does little for odors
- ✗'1,500 sq ft' box claim is 1-ACH marketing; honest coverage is 310 sq ft
- ✗Two-part filter system doubles the chances of forgetting a replacement