Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Honeywell - HPA300 | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 44 m² | 33 m² |
| CADR | 510 m³/h | 415 m³/h |
| Min noise | 32 dB | 27 dB |
| True HEPA H13+ | true | false |
Between the HPA300 and 5500-2, the HPA300 comes out ahead in coverage / cadr, while the 5500-2 wins on min noise. Overall, the HPA300 scores 74.4 and the 5500-2 scores 60.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The HPA300 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 14.3 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 HPA300 if you care most about coverage / cadr. The biggest gaps in its favor are coverage, cadr, true hepa h13+. The single most decisive one: Coverage — 33.33% more. 44 m² vs 33 m².
Pick the 5500-2 if you care most about min noise. Its strongest claims are min noise. The single most decisive one: Min noise — 5.00 dB less. 27 vs 32.
Both ship with comparable activated carbon, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the HPA300 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: Honeywell - HPA300 or Winix - 5500-2?
Honeywell - HPA300 leads the current Mars Score by 14.3 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 Honeywell - HPA300 if…
Honeywell - HPA300 has the measurable edge on coverage m2, cadr m3h, has hepa 13.
Choose Winix - 5500-2 if…
Winix - 5500-2 has the measurable edge on noise db min.
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 Honeywell - HPA300 wins
- ▲Coverage — 33.33% more. 44 m² vs 33 m².
- ▲CADR — 22.89% more. 510 m³/h vs 415 m³/h.
- ▲Has True HEPA H13+.
Why Winix - 5500-2 wins
- ▲Min noise — 5.00 dB less. 27 vs 32.
Spec comparison
Performance
| Spec | Honeywell - HPA300 | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| CADR | 510 m³/hlead | 415 m³/h |
| Coverage | 44 m²lead | 33 m² |
| True HEPA H13+ | truelead | false |
| Activated carbon | true | true |
Smart & Noise
| Spec | Honeywell - HPA300 | Winix - 5500-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Min noise | 32 dB | 27 dBlead |
| Air quality sensor | false | truelead |
| Smart app | false | false |