Winix Review: Air Purifiers

Winix, a South Korean company established over 50 years ago, specializes in developing and manufacturing healthy home appliances. Their product range includes air purifiers, water filtration systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and other comfort-focused devices. Their air purifier lineup includes 16 options.

Standard features across the range

Winix sells air purifiers in three room sizes: small, medium, and large. You'll find some common features in all Winix air purifiers, no matter their size. These include:

• True HEPA filtration (captures 99.97% of airborne particles)
• PlasmaWave Technology (advanced air cleaning, but see our notes below)
• Air quality indicator with LED lights
• Auto mode (adjusts based on air quality)
• Filter replacement indicator
• Multiple fan speeds

Two small models at $120

The small models, A231 and A230, are both priced at $119.99 and work for rooms up to 230 square feet. Users like them because they can be used right out of the box (after putting in the filters) and for how quiet they are.

Medium-sized models offer more features at varying price points

The medium-sized models, including the C535, C545, 5300-2, AM90, and 5500-2, are designed for rooms up to 360 square feet. Prices range from $149.99 to $249.99. Some models, like the C545 and AM90, have smart features like WiFi and Alexa compatibility. The bestseller is the C535, which is also the cheapest model in this size. If the reviews on Winix's website are to be believed, it has an average of 4.7 stars from 132 ratings. Nothing in these reviews jumped out at us - people are generally happy with how this model performs.

Large models cater to bigger spaces with advanced features

For larger rooms, Winix offers the 9800, XLC, and XQ models. These are priced from $329.99 to $1,099.99 and are suitable for rooms from 500 to 698 square feet. All large models feature 4-stage True HEPA filtration, WiFi connectivity, and Alexa compatibility. The highest priced XQ model has the highest Clean Air Delivery Rate ratings (419 for smoke) and includes additional features like a child lock and triple smart sensors. Unfortunately, though, 0 out of its 5 reviewers would recommend it. Apparently, this thousand-dollar air purifier has a tendency to work just past its 2-year warranty and then die. Winix won't budge on the timeframe, either - if it's out of warranty, it's out of warranty.

PlasmaWave Technology: more hype than help

PlasmaWave Technology in Winix air purifiers is a bipolar ion generator that is claimed to neutralize air pollutants. This technology breaks apart water molecules to create positive and negative ions that combine with pollutants. It's essentially an ionizer, which can produce small amounts of ozone. (Ozone in your air purifier? That's a bit like fighting fire with... more fire.) Recent studies have shown mixed results for this technology. Some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) decreased, while others increased. If you have asthma or other lung conditions, you might want to be cautious - ozone can trigger symptoms, and many people choose to turn this "feature" off due to potential side effects like nausea and headaches. (To these customers' chagrin, PlasmaWave has to be manually turned off every time you power on your air purifier for most models.) While Winix claims PlasmaWave is safe and doesn't produce harmful ozone levels, some experts suggest it may not significantly improve air quality and could even slightly degrade it. (In other words, it might be more marketing hype than actual help for your air quality.)

Replacement filters are stunningly expensive

Perhaps the most concerning thing about Winix is the markup on their replacement filters. Where most air purifier companies charge around $30 each, Winix's base prices are as high as $80 to $150, depending on the model. One angry customer (who was otherwise satisfied with their air purifier until the filter died 3 months in) rants, "Let's do some basic math. Walmart sells a purifier with 2 filters for $150 or I can come to Winix and buy a filter for $80? That's so dumb. Disgusting what greed does to people."

Bad grade from the BBB

It's a similar story in the "Complaints" section of Winix's Better Business Bureau listing, where they have a "D-" grade. One reviewer hopes "they end up in a class action lawsuit for price gouging." Another calls customer service "a joke". According to that reviewer, Winix's customer service agents are neither professional nor polite.

2-year warranty dependent on using Winix filters

Winix offers a standard 2-year warranty for most of their air purifiers, but don't get too excited. While they promise to repair or replace defective parts, the fine print is where things get tricky. You'll need to use only authorized dealers, stick to their manual religiously, and use only genuine Winix filters (which, don't forget, are outrageously expensive). As for returns, you've got 30 days, and you'll be footing the bill for shipping it back. And if you're thinking about getting an extended warranty? Tough luck - Winix doesn't offer them.

Bottom line: Winix air purifiers aren't worth the hassle

The drawbacks of Winix's air purifiers are far more obvious than the benefits. You'll face exorbitant filter replacement costs, questionable customer service, and a restrictive warranty. The touted PlasmaWave technology may do more harm than good. Despite some positive user experiences, the overall value proposition is weak. You're better off exploring other brands that offer similar performance without the (perhaps literal) headaches and hidden costs of Winix air purifiers.

Learn More  ➜

On the Winix website