Winix 5500-2 vs 5510

Between these two, choose the Winix 5510 for a new purchase if you want Wi-Fi control and app schedules, provided you can confirm an authorized seller and the exact US model. Keep a working 5500-2 unless those features matter: Winix marks it discontinued, but still lists its genuine Filter H replacement set. If the 5510 is unavailable, check the current 5520; Winix's shared 5510/5520 manual says their performance is the same, although their exteriors can differ.

Quick picks

• New purchase: 5510, for connected controls and scheduling.
• Already own a 5500-2: keep it, and order Filter H when replacement is due.
• Considering an older listing: 5500-2 only conditionally, after checking condition, included parts and seller authorization.
• No suitable 5510 offer: compare the 5520, which uses the same Filter Q family.

Winix 5500-2 vs 5510 at a glance

These are US specifications. The smoke CADR sources cover different periods; the room-size revisions below explain why older numbers should stay attached to their documents.

Compare specifications and all conditions

Status evidence

Winix 5500-2

Discontinued in Winix's warranty table

Winix 5510

Listed without that notation; verify actual stock and seller

Smoke CADR

Winix 5500-2

232 CFM, historical AHAM dataset published by EPA

Winix 5510

253 CFM, Winix product data

Room size in newer manual

Winix 5500-2

370 sq ft; earlier manual says 360

Winix 5510

392 sq ft; earlier manual says 380

Controls

Winix 5500-2

Local controls; no Wi-Fi controls documented

Winix 5510

Local controls plus Winix Smart Wi-Fi/app

Timer

Winix 5500-2

On-device, 1 / 4 / 8 hr

Winix 5510

Winix Smart app

Manual fan settings

Winix 5500-2

Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting

Winix 5510

Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting

Standard replacement set

Winix 5500-2

Filter H — 116130

Winix 5510

Filter Q — 1712-0123-00

Carbon upkeep

Winix 5500-2

Washable AOC carbon

Winix 5510

AOC carbon; newer manual says do not wash

Dimensions, W × D × H

Winix 5500-2

15 × 8.2 × 23.6 in

Winix 5510

13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 in

Weight / rated power

Winix 5500-2

15 lb / 70 W

Winix 5510

13.3 lb / 65 W

Electrical version

Winix 5500-2

AC 120 V / 60 Hz

Winix 5510

AC 120 V / 60 Hz

Full comparison table ↔

Swipe to compare. Row labels stay visible.

Buying detail	Winix 5500-2	Winix 5510
Status evidence	Discontinued in Winix's warranty table	Listed without that notation; verify actual stock and seller
Smoke CADR	232 CFM, historical AHAM dataset published by EPA	253 CFM, Winix product data
Room size in newer manual	370 sq ft; earlier manual says 360	392 sq ft; earlier manual says 380
Controls	Local controls; no Wi-Fi controls documented	Local controls plus Winix Smart Wi-Fi/app
Timer	On-device, 1 / 4 / 8 hr	Winix Smart app
Manual fan settings	Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting	Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting
Standard replacement set	Filter H — 116130	Filter Q — 1712-0123-00
Carbon upkeep	Washable AOC carbon	AOC carbon; newer manual says do not wash
Dimensions, W × D × H	15 × 8.2 × 23.6 in	13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 in
Weight / rated power	15 lb / 70 W	13.3 lb / 65 W
Electrical version	AC 120 V / 60 Hz	AC 120 V / 60 Hz

Buying detail	Winix 5500-2	Winix 5510
Status evidence	Discontinued in Winix's warranty table	Listed without that notation; verify actual stock and seller
Smoke CADR	232 CFM, historical AHAM dataset published by EPA	253 CFM, Winix product data
Room size in newer manual	370 sq ft; earlier manual says 360	392 sq ft; earlier manual says 380
Controls	Local controls; no Wi-Fi controls documented	Local controls plus Winix Smart Wi-Fi/app
Timer	On-device, 1 / 4 / 8 hr	Winix Smart app
Manual fan settings	Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting	Low, Medium, High, Turbo; separate Sleep setting
Standard replacement set	Filter H — 116130	Filter Q — 1712-0123-00
Carbon upkeep	Washable AOC carbon	AOC carbon; newer manual says do not wash
Dimensions, W × D × H	15 × 8.2 × 23.6 in	13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 in
Weight / rated power	15 lb / 70 W	13.3 lb / 65 W
Electrical version	AC 120 V / 60 Hz	AC 120 V / 60 Hz

Sources: Winix's 5500-2 manual, 5510/5520 manual, 5510 product data, warranty table and EPA's historical AHAM dataset, Table 8.

• 5500-2, historical AHAM data published by EPA232CFM
• 5510, Winix product data253CFM

Source: EPA Table 8 and Winix specifications linked above; not matched production revisions

Preferred new purchase: Winix 5510

The 5510's practical advantage is control from your phone. Winix lists the timer in its app, and its Smart setup guide describes schedules and remote changes to power, fan speed and operating mode. The manual also documents local controls and a Wi-Fi off switch, so ordinary operation does not depend on pairing a phone.

For app use, Winix requires a secured 2.4 GHz network, with login or registration. Select the 2.4 GHz band on a dual-band router. Confirm that the recipient can complete this setup before buying it as a gift.

Its supplied contents include the purifier, a pre-filter, an AOC carbon filter, a True HEPA filter, a manual and a Wi-Fi setup guide. A replacement Filter Q listing is a filter purchase; check that your order is for the complete purifier.

Choose it for: app scheduling and remote control. Reconsider it if: your existing 5500-2 already does what you need, or you specifically want its on-device timer.

See Winix's 5510 overview and model-specific manual.

Existing owners and conditional old stock: Winix 5500-2

The 5500-2 still makes sense to keep, because genuine Filter H sets remain listed by Winix. Its local timer offers one, four or eight hours, and its manual documents automatic fan adjustment and Sleep mode.

Buying another one needs more care. Winix marks the model discontinued and does not guarantee future replacement parts or repair services. A filter being available today does not promise indefinite support for the motor or controls.

Check the remote before buying. The earlier official manual includes a remote and documents its controls. The newer manual's package list omits it. That discrepancy does not prove which box a seller will ship: request the actual included-parts list if the remote is your reason for choosing this model.

An older listing merits consideration only if its condition, complete contents, return terms and warranty eligibility are clear. For a gift, we favor the connected model or the documented 5520 fallback over unresolved old stock.

Read the newer 5500-2 manual and compare the earlier remote-equipped documentation.

If the 5510 is unavailable: Winix 5520

The 5520 appears in Winix's current catalog. Its shared manual with the 5510 explicitly says performance is the same despite possible exterior differences, and Filter Q's official fit list includes both models. That makes it the first alternative we'd investigate when a 5510 seller or condition is unclear.

This does not make every nearby model number interchangeable. Filter Q also fits the 5530, but that fit list alone does not establish identical controls, included parts or performance. Likewise, Winix lists the original 5500 separately from 5500-2; use the full label when matching documentation.

Check the Winix 5520 and its included documentation. For alternatives across brands and room sizes, use our best air purifier guide.

Buying guide: airflow, filters and nighttime controls

What the CADR and room-size figures actually establish

CADR means clean air delivery rate: AHAM describes it as the volume of filtered air delivered, with separate smoke, dust and pollen ratings. Its suggested room size uses 4.8 air changes per hour. Higher ceilings need a purifier rated for a larger room; see AHAM’s CADR sizing guidance for sizing context.

For the 5500-2, EPA's published AHAM table records smoke CADR 232 CFM and room size 360 sq ft. Winix's earlier manual also says 360 sq ft, while its newer manual says 370. For the 5510, the earlier manual says 380 sq ft, while the newer shared manual and official product data say 392. These are documentation differences; the sources do not explain whether they reflect revised ratings or hardware changes.

We use the newer manual figures in the comparison, preserve the historical CADR label, and recommend checking the actual unit's AHAM seal when buying older stock. We could not retrieve individual current AHAM directory entries, so the chart is a comparison of identified published figures rather than a newly verified certificate comparison.

Winix also advertises the 5510 for 1,882 sq ft in one hour. That describes a much slower air-change basis than its 392 sq ft rating at 4.8 changes per hour. Use the latter when comparing this pair, instead of treating the larger headline as equivalent room capacity.

EPA says CADR is typically measured at the highest fan speed. Sleep mode therefore should not be assumed to deliver the table's airflow. Both newer manuals also call for 12–18 in of clearance from walls; leave room around the cabinet when planning placement.

Filter H vs Filter Q: the upkeep difference

Winix's genuine Filter H, 116130, fits 5500-2 and AM80. Genuine Filter Q, 1712-0123-00, fits 5510, 5520 and 5530. Each is sold as a True HEPA plus AOC carbon replacement set; Winix recommends replacing both elements about every 12 months, with actual intervals depending on the environment.

The washing instructions differ. The 5500-2 manual allows rinsing its washable AOC carbon filter, with cleaning every three months and drying for at least 24 hours before reuse. The newer 5510 manual marks both its AOC carbon and True HEPA filters as non-washable. Its mesh pre-filter can be cleaned; the newer manual says every 14 days, while earlier 5510 documentation says every three months. Follow the manual supplied with your unit and inspect the pre-filter regularly.

• Yes: 5500-2 → genuine Filter H, 116130
• Yes: 5510 → genuine Filter Q, 1712-0123-00
• No: Shared replacement-filter fit between 5500-2 and 5510 is not documented
• No: Washing the 5510 carbon or either model's True HEPA filter is not permitted by the newer manuals

Both filter families carry Winix's True HEPA description. That shared wording does not decide the buying choice: AHAM's CADR describes the complete cleaner's delivered airflow. Match the filter code first, then compare room-size assumptions and controls.

Auto, Sleep and PlasmaWave

Both manuals describe Auto operation and a Sleep fan setting below Low. Both also provide a PlasmaWave switch, and say Sleep mode disables PlasmaWave while allowing it to be switched back on. The 5510's Sleep mode disables its air-quality indicator light.

The newer manuals describe the automatic sensor as detecting odorous gas. Do not interpret the colored indicator as a numerical particle reading. We have no matched noise measurements for these exact units and settings, so we make no claim that either is quieter; our bedroom purifier guide covers that buying priority.

Holiday checkout: condition and support before the model name

Winix's warranty table puts both models in the two-year limited column, with the discontinued notation on the 5500-2. Its terms require purchase through an authorized seller, and explicitly exclude independent marketplace sellers from that definition. A marketplace's name alone therefore does not establish warranty eligibility.

Distinguish factory-new stock from refurbished, used and open-box offers. Do not assign a new-unit warranty to a refurbished offer without its own written terms. Winix excludes the machine's filters from its limited warranty and directs third-party purchases back to that seller for returns.

1. 1

   Read the model label

   Confirm the full US model and the complete purifier rather than a replacement-filter set.

2. 2

   Read the condition and contents

   Confirm new or refurbished status, supplied filters and any promised remote.

3. 3

   Read the seller's terms

   Confirm authorization, warranty eligibility and returns; retain the receipt.

How we choose

We researched Winix's US manuals, genuine-filter fit lists, product data, app instructions and warranty table, plus AHAM's sizing guidance and EPA's historical AHAM dataset. We compared document revisions and kept their differences visible. Recommendations reflect documented features and support, with no firsthand performance or noise results. Sources were checked November 2, 2026; seller-specific availability, condition and warranty eligibility remain checkout checks. Read our research method.

Verdict

Buy the 5510 for connected controls, keep a working 5500-2 with the correct Filter H, and investigate the 5520 when the 5510 offer is unclear. The decisive differences are the app, local timer, filter family and support terms. An older model number alone is no reason to replace a functioning purifier.

Sources

• Winix: newer 5500-2 manual and earlier manual.
• Winix: newer 5510/5520 manual, earlier 5510 manual and 5510 specifications.
• Winix: Filter H, Filter Q, Smart app setup, 5520 and warranty terms.
• AHAM: CADR and room sizing and air changes per hour. EPA: historical AHAM dataset, Table 8 and CADR and fan-speed guidance.