IQAir HealthPro Plus XE vs Winix 5520

Winix 5520 for almost every household: AHAM Verifide 253 CFM smoke CADR, a washable pre-filter, True HEPA, Alexa support and a 2 year warranty at a small fraction of the price. IQAir HealthPro Plus XE only makes sense for HyperHEPA filtration down to 0.003 microns and its 10 year warranty.

Winix 5520, at 253 CFM smoke CADR for 392 sq ft under AHAM testing. IQAir HealthPro Plus XE publishes no CADR figure and is not AHAM Verifide, so its 1125 sq ft claim rests on IQAir's own filtration testing rather than a standardised chamber measurement.

Winix 5520 uses a washable fine mesh pre-filter, an activated carbon layer, True HEPA and an optional PlasmaWave ionizer that is better switched off. IQAir HealthPro Plus XE uses HyperHEPA filtration with activated carbon, and its pre-filter is not washable, being replaced along with the cartridge.

Winix 5520, at 50 W against 135 W for IQAir HealthPro Plus XE, which needs the extra power to push air through much denser media. Neither is Energy Star certified, and neither manufacturer publishes a filter replacement interval for these models.

Winix 5520, through the Winix Smart app with Amazon Alexa support. IQAir HealthPro Plus XE is monitored through its own app but has no documented Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit, SmartThings or Matter integration, so it cannot be pulled into smart home routines.

People with a medical requirement for ultrafine particle filtration, or homes in regions with sustained smoke or industrial pollution, who want Swiss build quality and a 10 year warranty. For pet dander, pollen and household dust, Winix 5520 does the job with verified airflow and far lower cost.