Project Farm Tests 13 Air Purifiers: Winix 5510 Ranks #1 Overall

Project Farm is one of YouTube's most rigorous product-testing channels. The host buys every product himself, tests them against objective measurements, and takes no sponsorship money. When he ran 13 air purifiers through four standardised lab tests — from a $32 budget unit to a $1,200 Dyson — the Winix 5510 finished first overall.

What was tested

Project Farm purchased and tested 13 air purifiers across a $32–$1,200 price range. Prices below are approximate USD at the time of filming and may vary. The full lineup:

The Winix tested is the 5510 — confirmed by the specs shown in the video: 1,881 sq ft coverage per hour, 99.99% allergen capture, washable mesh pre-filter, and PlasmaWave technology. It was listed at $180 USD; the current Canadian price is around $229–249 CAD on Amazon.ca.

Test methodology

Four tests were run in sequence. Each brand was measured consistently under the same conditions:

• Test 1 — Air volume: CFM measured at both low and high fan speed using an air speed meter with a pitot tube.
• Test 2 — Smoke removal: A sealed 3×4×2 ft box was filled with smoke for 60 seconds (2–5 million particles at 0.3–10 µm). Each purifier ran for 3 minutes; particle count was measured before and after using a calibrated particle counter.
• Test 3 — Dust removal: Same sealed box, filled with carpet dust from an air duster. 2-minute test, same particle counter.
• Test 4 — Real room: 240 sq ft space, smoke from burnt toast, 30-minute test. Particles removed (4.3–4.7 million starting count).

Test 1: Air volume (CFM)

More CFM means the fan moves more air per minute — which directly drives a higher CADR. Winix finished third overall, behind two units that cost more (Coway at ~$229, Lavoy 200 at ~$190) while beating the ~$1,200 Dyson by 49 CFM.

Test 2: Smoke removal (sealed box)

This is the most relevant test for Canadian wildfire smoke. The particle counter measured 0.3 µm and 0.5 µm particles — the size range that matters most for lung health. Lower total = better. The Winix 5510 finished first, clearing visible smoke in 31 seconds and leaving just 115 total particles after 3 minutes. The $1,200 Dyson finished second at 135.

Test 3: Dust removal (sealed box)

Using real carpet dust in the same sealed box with a 2-minute test window. Eight purifiers achieved a perfect score (zero detectable particles). The Winix 5510 was among them.

Test 4: Real room (240 sq ft, 30 minutes)

The most real-world test: a 240 sq ft room filled with smoke from burnt toast, a fan circulating the air, and a 30-minute window to clean it. Starting particle counts were 4.3–4.7 million per test run. The Winix 5510 removed the most particles of any unit tested — nearly 700,000 more than the large Lavoy 200 which moved more air.

Overall scorecard: Winix finishes first

Project Farm converted each test into a ranked finish and averaged the results. The Winix 5510 had the best average rank across all four tests — finishing first overall. The Coway and Dyson tied for second place with an average rank of 2.3.

The only knock: noise at max speed. The 5510 measured 63.1 dB on high — one of the louder units in the test. In normal operation (auto mode, sleep mode) it runs at 28–42 dB, which is not a concern.

What this means for Canadian buyers

The Project Farm result is consistent with every other independent test of the 5510: it's the strongest flat-panel air purifier at its price point. A few things worth noting for Canadians specifically:

• The $180 USD price in the video: Current pricing on Amazon.ca is approximately $229–249 CAD. At today's exchange rates, that's roughly equivalent — still exceptional value compared to the $1,200 Dyson the 5510 outperformed.
• Wildfire smoke relevance: The sealed-box smoke test is a direct proxy for wildfire PM2.5 performance. Finishing first with 115 remaining particles (vs Dyson's 135) on a 0.3 µm particle test is meaningful for Canadian smoke season.
• PlasmaWave was likely on: The video doesn't specify. During wildfire events, we recommend turning it off — the HEPA alone is what delivered those results.

Our verdict

Project Farm's result isn't a surprise to us — the 5510 has consistently ranked at or near the top in every independent test we've tracked. What makes this particular test compelling is the breadth: 13 units including the $1,200 Dyson, four different test methodologies, and a host with a well-established methodology and no financial relationship with any brand. The 5510 won cleanly.

For Canadians buying a mid-range air purifier, it's the most performance-validated unit in the lineup. If you want the full review including filter costs, specs, and noise levels, read our detailed Winix 5510 review for Canada.