Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| CADR | 500 m³/h | 415 m³/h |
| Coverage | 35 m² | 33 m² |
| Min noise | 23 dB | 27 dB |
| True HEPA H13+ | true | false |
Between the Blue Pure 311i+ Max and 5500-2, the Blue Pure 311i+ Max comes out ahead in cadr / coverage, while the 5500-2 wins on several specs. Overall, the Blue Pure 311i+ Max scores 77.4 and the 5500-2 scores 60.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Blue Pure 311i+ Max is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 17.3 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Blue Pure 311i+ Max if you care most about cadr / coverage. The biggest gaps in its favor are cadr, coverage, min noise, among others. The single most decisive one: CADR — 20.48% more. 500 m³/h vs 415 m³/h.
The 5500-2 similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable activated carbon, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Blue Pure 311i+ Max is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max or Winix - 5500-2?
Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max leads the current Mars Score by 17.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare cadr, coverage, true hepa h13+, min noise against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max if…
Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max has the measurable edge on cadr m3h, coverage m2, noise db min.
Choose Winix - 5500-2 if…
Winix - 5500-2 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max wins
- ▲CADR — 20.48% more. 500 m³/h vs 415 m³/h.
- ▲Coverage — 6.06% more. 35 m² vs 33 m².
- ▲Min noise — 4.00 dB less. 23 vs 27.
- ▲Has True HEPA H13+.
Why Winix - 5500-2 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Performance
| Spec | Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| CADR | 500 m³/hlead | 415 m³/h |
| Coverage | 35 m²lead | 33 m² |
| True HEPA H13+ | truelead | false |
| Activated carbon | true | true |
Smart & Noise
| Spec | Blueair - Blue Pure 311i+ Max | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Min noise | 23 dBlead | 27 dB |
| Air quality sensor | true | true |
| Smart app | truelead | false |