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The summer months are horrendous for those with allergies and the winter months are full of viruses. The air in our homes can also become smoky, smelly and unhealthily stale. Ventilation is important but it won’t necessarily clean the air.
The Blueair Classic range is the winner of the Excellent Swedish Design Award as well as being some of the most effective on the market. We are going to compare the Blueair 403 vs 503. We will cover all of their specifications such as appearance, clean air delivery and technology. There will be a comparison chart for a quick recap, and we will include some pros and cons of each before deciding on the better buy.
There are a couple of similarities between the Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503, we will start here.
Blueair 403 vs Blueair 503 – Similarities
Quick Glance
The comparison chart below shows all of the features side by side.
Blueair 403 | Blueair 503 | |
| Image |  |  |
| Size | 23 x 20 x 11 inches | 26 x 20 x 13 inches |
| Weight | 34lbs | 35lbs |
| Design | Galvanized Swedish steel housing with blue power light | Galvanized Swedish steel housing with blue power light |
| Room Size | 365 sq ft./5 air exchanges per hour | 580 sq. ft/5 air exchanges per hour |
| Clean Air Delivery | Smoke 235 CFM/dust 253 CFM/pollen 240 CFM | Smoke/dust/pollen 375 CFM |
| Air Flow Rate | 260 CFM/ Dynamic air flow | 414 CFM |
| Speeds | 3- dial knob | 4- dial knob |
| Timer | Not Stated | Not stated |
| Noise Levels | 32dB on speed 1 | 32-66dB |
| Filtration | Ion participle-charging chamber with 1 filter, compatible with Stop Smoke Filter | Ion participle-charging chamber with 3 filters, compatible with Stop Smoke Filter |
| HEPASilent Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Filter Replacement Indicator | Magnetic timer | Magnetic timer |
| Energy Efficiency | 20-75W | 35-120W |
| Warranty | 10-year limited | 5-year limited |
| Price |
Design
The Blueair Classic range is made from galvanized Swedish steel housing. The Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503 both have a blue power light.
Filter Replacement Indicator
The Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503 come with a magnet that attaches to the air purifiers and lets you know when the filters need replacing.
HEPASilent Technology
The Patented HEPASilent Technology with the Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503 uses a combination of advanced filters and an encapsulating ion participle charging chamber. This allows the air purifiers to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. HEPA filters only capture particles as small as 0.3 microns.
We will now move on to what sets the Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503 apart.
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Differenes Between Blueair 403 and Blueair 503
Appearance
To look at, they are practically identical except for their size. The controls are at the back, making them look sleek.
Blueair 403
This air purifier is 23 x 20 x 11 inches and weighs a hefty 34 pounds.
Blueair 503
This unit is slightly larger at 26 x 20 x 12 inches; however, is doesn’t weigh much more at 35 pounds.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 403
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Room Size
While the other features might be related to personal preference, the capabilities and room size does impact the effectiveness of the air purifiers.
Blueair 403
You can use this air purifier in rooms and spaces of up to 365 square feet. It will clean the air 5 times in one hour.
Blueair 503
It will also clean the air 5 times in one hour, but you can use it in larger spaces of up to 580 square feet.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Clean Air Delivery
The two air purifiers from Blueair have been tested by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers for Clean Air Delivery Rate.
Blueair 403
For smoke and dust, the CFM (cubic feet per minute) is 235 and for pollen, it’s 240 CFM. The air flow rate is 260 cubic feet per minute with Dynamic air flow.
Blueair 503
The CFM rating for smoke, dust and pollen is 375. The airflow rate is 414 CFM.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 503
Speeds
While there is no automatic mode, you can still change the speed of the airflow with both air purifiers.
Blueair 403
There are three speeds with a dial knob on the back of the unit.
Blueair 503
The dial knob is on the side and there are 4 speeds to choose from.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 503
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Noise Levels
For air purifiers, they are both incredibly quiet and there isn’t a great deal of difference, most likely it’s a difference in the product description.
Blueair 403
On the lowest setting, this air purifier runs at 32dB.
Blueair 503
The noise rating ranges from 32 to 66dB, 60dB is the sound of normal conversation.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Number of Filters
While the filters are the same, they have a different number.
Blueair 403
There is one filter that can be replaced by opening the front door.
Blueair 503
There are three preinstalled filters. You can change them by removing the lid.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 503
Energy Efficiency
As they are energy-efficient, you don’t need to worry about the cost of running them.
Blueair 403
The lowest setting uses about 20W and the highest 75W.
Blueair 503
The energy consumption ranges from 35W to 120W.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 403
Warranty
Blueair is very specific about the warranties. Not replacing the filters every 6 months and using non-Blueair filters makes the warranty invalid. Also, be sure to register the air purifier to get the full length.
Blueair 403
There is an impressive 10-year limited warranty included.
Blueair 503
The limited warranty is for 5 years.
The Winner Is- The Blueair 503
Pros and Cons
We will take a quick look at some pros and cons of the Blueair 403 and the Blueair 503.
Blueair 403
Pros:
- Super simple use
- It works exactly as described
- Accurate room size recommendation
Cons:
- It’s rather bulky
Blueair 503
Pros:
- Quiet for nighttime use
- Great help for allergy sufferers
- Replacement filters are well-priced
Cons:
- It’s a little more expensive
The Final Verdict
Once you take the room size out of the equation, we felt that the Blueair 503 was the better buy. It’s about $50-%60 more expensive but it was worth it. You have the extra airflow speed, a higher clean air delivery rate, and more filters. The Blueair 403 is just as effective, but the Blueair 503 was that little bit more superior.