Blueair
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max
$349.99
Released 2022
Best Air Purifiers · head-to-head
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max vs Winix 5520
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Winix 5520 is cheaper at $259.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Winix
Winix 5520
$259.99Cheaper
Released 2022
Which is better: the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max or Winix 5520?
The Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Winix 5520 is the cheaper at $259.99. Get the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max for the stronger spec sheet, the Winix 5520 to spend less.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max | Winix 5520 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $349.99 | $259.99 |
| Brand | Blueair | Winix |
| Released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Cadr smoke (CFM) | 443 | 253 |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 674 | 392 |
| Hepa | Yes | Yes |
| Filter type | HEPASilent dual filtration (mechanical + electrostatic) + Activated Carbon, 4-layer | Fine Mesh Pre-filter + AOC Carbon + True HEPA + PlasmaWave (4-stage) |
| Noise db min | 23 | 23.5 |
| Smart | Yes | Yes |
| Energy star | Yes | No |
| Release | 2022 | 2022 |
Sources — Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max: blueair.com (verified 2026-06-15). Winix 5520: winixamerica.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max and Winix 5520?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Cadr smoke (CFM): Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max 443 vs Winix 5520 253
- Coverage (sq ft): Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max 674 vs Winix 5520 392
- Filter type: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max HEPASilent dual filtration (mechanical + electrostatic) + Activated Carbon, 4-layer vs Winix 5520 Fine Mesh Pre-filter + AOC Carbon + True HEPA + PlasmaWave (4-stage)
- Noise db min: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max 23 vs Winix 5520 23.5
- Energy star: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max true vs Winix 5520 false
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max
Only one whitelisted tester, Wirecutter, published hands-on measured results for this exact model, naming it their large-room upgrade pick. Wirecutter found it a stellar, quiet, energy-efficient large-room performer (>99.9% smoke reduction), with a durability caveat on the washable fabric cover. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Stellar large-room particle/smoke reduction (>99.9% in the 30-minute test); Very quiet for its power (<=41 dBA on its four lower speeds); Energy efficient (41 W max; 11-18 W in normal everyday use).
Flagged: Fabric cover looks shaggy over time and lost elasticity after a few washes, needing replacement; Shorter filter replacement cycle (6-9 months vs a typical year); Relatively high price and overkill for small-to-medium rooms.
Winix 5520
Only one whitelisted tester (Wirecutter) hands-on tested the exact Winix 5520, and only in its dismissed-competition section: a capable purifier that tested worse and louder than Coway's Mighty 2, with a dark, monolithic form that stands out in most rooms, a display that shuts off only on the lowest and least effective fan speed, and an ionizer that reactivates on every power-on. No lab numbers were published for this model. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Capable air-cleaning performance.
Flagged: Tested worse than, and louder than, Coway's Mighty 2; Display only shuts off on the lowest, least effective fan speed; Reverts to its ionizing function on every power-on.