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Aesthetic Score: 8/10
It is pretty hard to call any air purifier an art piece….or even aesthetic. Typically, the less you notice it, the better. We actually quite like that this Winix unit doesn’t have any shiny chrome to make it pop. It is a simple, matte black finish. Because the air intake is at the front and sides, and the output is on top, this unit can be placed all the way against any wall or corner, which is a HUGE WIN.
From a color standpoint, you can get white, gray, or black, with black unit. The only annoyance is the LED bar which stays lit while the unit is on (white for normal mode, blue for Plasmawave). Putting a piece of tape across that bar 100% solved the issue.
Features Score: 9/10
This unit allllmost perfect from an automation standpoint. Leaving the unit on in Auto mode allows it to kick the fan on/off as necessary when it senses the air quality to be bad. Night mode similarly allows the sensing to take place, but it will limit how high it will run at night, to keep noise to a minimum. Timers are self-explanatory – run it for 1, 4, or 8 hour cycles.
This is a set and forget type unit. The one small thing we would change is to not have Plasmawave purification automatically turn on when we first turn on the unit. Once it has been turned off, however, auto mode does not re-enable it (good!). Overall, it functions just like you want it to. You set it, and it does it’s filter thing, totally hands-free.
Filtering Score: 9/10
Fantastic. The best we’ve tested. Outperformed other brands as well as our homemade filtration units (as much as we love them). There are three stage of filtration on the Winix unit. Stage 1 is a lint screen – similar to a clothes dryer – which can be scraped clean at regular intervals and very much extends the life of the second and third filters. Second is a carbon filter layer, which removes smoke, odors, and VOCs – this can be washed once or twice to make it last as long as the third stage (6-12 months). Third is the HEPA filter – there are plenty of aftermarket filters that fit well and seem to do the job.
Below are results from just one of the tests we performed, running this purifier for 30 minutes on High mode.
Noise Level Score: 8/10
This unit was the quietest of all that we tested. Running it on low or medium is altogether unnoticeable, even when going to bed. Even High is fine during the day. Max speed, however, is another beast. That fan goes. to. work. I would only run that setting if I was actively burning food, or perhaps wildfires were rampant nearby. Below are the tested noise levels at each setting, with the baseline “quiet” room getting a reading of 42dB.
“Quiet Room” – 42 dB
Low Setting – 44 dB
Mid Setting – 47 dB
High Setting – 49 dB
Max Setting – 64 dB
Servicing Score: 8/10
Aftermarket and OEM filters are affordable and readily available on Amazon. We’ve tested a couple, and the aftermarket filters seem to work just as well. Below are the 3 layers of filtration. From left to right: lint screen, carbon filter, and HEPA filter.
Our Rating: 9/10
Overall, this Winix is our favorite air purifier of all options we’ve tested or seen, though we do hear good things about the Coway Airmega as well. The shape is nice, and allows it to back all the way up to the wall or furniture, and there are 3 color options to choose from. The automation makes it a true set and forget unit, that will filter your air day and night, whether you ask it to or not.
Tested noise levels were low and tested filtration was excellent. For the price, we haven’t seen a better unit with these features. Highly recommend and will continue to utilize in our own homes!
