Best Winix Air Purifier for Smoke Odour at a Mid Price
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The short answer: The C545 is our top pick: it pairs 99.99% True HEPA filtration with a 4-stage setup for smoke odour, covers 360 sq ft, and at $129.99 costs $70.00 less than the 5510 and 5520. Step up to the C909 if you need the largest room coverage at 522 sq ft, or choose the C535 if you want the lowest price here at $109.99.
- Best overall: C545 — 4-stage filtration with 99.99% True HEPA, 360 sq ft coverage and 27 dB operation at $129.99 — $70.00 less than the 5510 and 5520. See price at winixamerica.com
- Best value: C535 — At $109.99 it is the lowest-priced model here, with 99.99% True HEPA, 370 sq ft coverage and 27 dB noise. See price at winixamerica.com
- Best premium: C909 — 522 sq ft of coverage is the most in this family, with 99.99% True HEPA and 4-stage filtration at $274.99. See price at winixamerica.com
- Best compact: C610 — At 8.3 lb it is the lightest model here, runs at 22 dB, and costs $129.99 with 99.99% True HEPA and 4-stage filtration. See price at winixamerica.com
| Product | coverage sqft | filter life | weight | dimensions | model name | number of fan speeds | Price now | 90-day low | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5510 | 392 sq ft | 99.99% True HEPA | 13.3 lb | 13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 | 5510 | 5 | $199.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
| 5520 | 392 sq ft | 99.99% True HEPA | 13.3 lb | 13.59 × 8.27 × 22.17 | 5520 | 5 | $199.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
| C535 | 370 sq ft | 99.99% True HEPA | 14.7 lb | 15 x 8.2 x 23.6 | C535 | 5 | $109.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
| C545 | 360 sq ft | 99.99% True HEPA | 11 lb | 13.7 x 8.4 x 20.5 | C545 | 5 | $129.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
| C610 | 4.8 | 99.99% True HEPA | 8.3 lb | 10.42 / 10.42 / 18.54 | C610 | 5 | $129.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
| C909 | 522 sq ft | 99.99% True HEPA | 17.2 lb | 16.5 x 11.3 x 23.2 | C909 | 5 | $274.99 | — | — | winixamerica.com |
5510
5520
C535
Pros
- 99.99% True HEPA filtration with a 3-stage setup for smoke odour
- Covers 370 sq ft with 5 fan speeds
- Quiet at 27 dB
- At $109.99 it costs $90.00 less than the 5510 and 5520 and $20.00 less than the C545 and C610
Cons
- 3-stage filtration is one stage fewer than the 5510, 5520, C545, C610 and C909
- 370 sq ft coverage is the second-smallest here, below the 5510 and 5520 at 392 sq ft
Who it's for: Anyone wanting a quiet, true-HEPA purifier for smoke odour in a mid-size room at the lowest price in this lineup.
C545
Pros
- 99.99% True HEPA filtration with a 4-stage setup, matching the carbon-filter smoke-odour need
- Covers 360 sq ft with 5 fan speeds and a 27 dB noise rating
- At $129.99 it costs $70.00 less than the 5510 and 5520 and $145.00 less than the C909
Cons
- 360 sq ft coverage is the smallest of the HEPA models listed except the C610
- 2-year warranty is shorter than the coverage some shoppers expect at this price
Who it's for: Smoke-odour-sensitive buyers wanting true-HEPA plus carbon filtration in a mid-priced, quiet unit for rooms up to about 360 sq ft.
C610
Pros
- 99.99% True HEPA filtration with a 4-stage setup
- Runs at 22 dB, the quietest listed among the Winix models with a noise rating
- 5 fan speeds and an LED air quality indicator
- At $129.99, costs the same as the C545 and $20.00 more than the C535
Cons
- Listed coverage is 4.8 sq ft, far below the 360-522 sq ft of the other models shown
- Weighs 8.3 lb and has no listed warranty, unlike the other models' 2-year coverage
Who it's for: Buyers who want a very quiet, compact true-HEPA purifier with a carbon stage for a small space and don't need large-room coverage.
C909
Pros
- 522 sq ft coverage is the largest in the family
- 99.99% True HEPA filtration with a 4-stage setup
- 5 fan speeds and 26.2 dB noise rating
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- At $274.99 it costs $75 more than the 5510 and 5520 and $165 more than the C535
- 17.2 lb is the heaviest unit listed
Who it's for: Buyers who need the biggest coverage area in this lineup and will pay the $274.99 premium for it.
How we chose
How we chose
We compared filtration stages, True HEPA rating, room coverage, noise and current price across the family. Every model here lists 99.99% True HEPA filtration, so the differences came down to how many stages each one runs, how much floor space it covers, how loud it is, and what it costs.
The 5510 and 5520 are identical on paper: 4-Stage filtration, 392 sq ft of coverage, 5 fan speeds, 13.3 lb, and both at $199.99. The C545 and C610 both run 4-Stage filtration at $129.99, with the C545 covering 360 sq ft at 27 dB and the C610 listed at 4.8 sq ft of coverage and 22 dB. The C535 is the only 3-Stage unit, covering 370 sq ft at 27 dB for $109.99. The C909 covers the most at 522 sq ft, runs 4-Stage filtration, and is listed at 26.2 dB for $274.99.
On price, the C535 is the lowest at $109.99. The C545 and C610 cost the same, $20.00 more than the C535. The 5510 and 5520 cost $70.00 more than the C545 and $90.00 more than the C535, and the C909 costs $75.00 more than either the 5510 or the 5520.
Who should skip these
If you need coverage beyond 522 sq ft, skip this lineup. The largest room coverage here is the C909 at 522 sq ft. The 5510 and 5520 each cover 392 sq ft, the C535 covers 370 sq ft, and the C545 covers 360 sq ft.
If you want a filtration setup other than True HEPA with a carbon stage, these are not the right fit. Every purifier listed uses 99.99% True HEPA filtration. The C535 uses a 3-Stage setup; the 5510, 5520, C545, C610, and C909 each use a 4-Stage setup.
Price is another reason to look elsewhere. The C909 is $274.99, which is $145.00 more than the C545 and $145.00 more than the C610. The 5510 and 5520 are $199.99 each, $70.00 more than the C545 and $70.00 more than the C610. If you are weighing these against each other, the C545 and C610 cost the same at $129.99, and the C535 is the lowest price here at $109.99.
How to choose the right one
Start with coverage. The C909 covers 522 sq ft, the largest here. The 5510 and 5520 each cover 392 sq ft, the C535 covers 370 sq ft, and the C545 covers 360 sq ft. If smoke odour is the concern, choose a 4-stage filtration model: the 5510, 5520, C545, C610 and C909 are 4-stage, while the C535 is 3-stage.
Then weigh noise and weight against price. The C610 is rated 22 dB and weighs 8.3 lb; the C909 is 26.2 dB at 17.2 lb; the C535 and C545 are each 27 dB, at 14.7 lb and 11 lb. The C545 and C610 both cost $129.99, the C535 costs $109.99, the 5510 and 5520 cost $199.99 each, and the C909 costs $274.99. The C545 costs $20.00 more than the C535, and the C909 costs $145.00 more than the C545.
Questions readers ask
Which of these purifiers have a true HEPA filter and a carbon filter for smoke odour?
All six models list 99.99% True HEPA filtration, and the 5510, 5520, C545, C610 and C909 use 4-stage filtration while the C535 uses 3 stages.
How much do the models cost compared with each other?
The 5510 and 5520 are both $199.99; the C535 is $109.99; the C545 and C610 are both $129.99; and the C909 is $274.99.
Which model covers the largest room?
The C909 is rated for 522 sq ft, ahead of the 5510 and 5520 at 392 sq ft each, the C535 at 370 sq ft and the C545 at 360 sq ft.
Which models are the quietest?
The C610 is listed at 22 dB, while the C535 and C545 are each listed at 27 dB and the C909 at 26.2 dB.
What warranty comes with these purifiers?
The 5510, 5520, C535, C545 and C909 each carry a 2-year warranty.
Update history
- — First published
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