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Air quality in our homes is becoming more and more important. It’s one thing to come home to a fresh-smelling house, it’s another to breathe clean air and reduce health issues such as allergies. Unfortunately, opening windows isn’t always another, so an air purifier can help improve the air in your home and not cost you a fortune.
We have two air purifiers from the well-known brand Winix, The Winix AM90 vs AM80. We are going to compare their filtration system, ease of use, design, and value for money. We will include a side-by-side chart as well as some pros and cons before deciding which is the better air purifier.
We will begin with what the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 have in common.
Winix AM90 vs Winix AM80 – Similarities
Quick Glance
The comparison chart below gives a quick review of the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80.
Winix AM90 | Winix AM80 | |
| Image |  |  |
| Size | 15.1 x 8.7 x 23.5 | 15.1 x 8.7 x 23.5 inches |
| Weight | 16.5lbs | 16.5lbs |
| Color | White | Charcoal gray |
| Room Capacity | 360sq ft | 360sq ft, 5 clean air changes per hour |
| AHAM Verified | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Enabled | Yes | No |
| Compatible with Alexa | Yes | No |
| Filtration | 4-stage with PlasmaWave Technology | 4-stage with PlasmaWave Technology |
| HEPA | 99.97% True HEPA Filter | 99.97% True HEPA Filter |
| CADR | Dust 233, Pollen 240, Smoke 230 | Not stated |
| Fan Speeds | 4 | 4 |
| Sleep Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Sensors | Dual sensors for Auto Mode | Dual sensors for Auto Mode |
| LED Indicators | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Dash Replenishment | Yes | No |
| Price |
Appearance
Although the Winix AM90 is white and the Winix AM80 is charcoal gray, this is a personal choice and doesn’t impact the overall use. They are both 15.1 x 8.7 x 23.5 inches and weigh 16.5 pounds. The controls are on the top of the air purifiers, and they have a mesh cover on the front.
Room Capacity
The Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 are AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) verified for rooms of up to 360 sq ft. The Winix AM80 is advertised as performing 5 clean air changes per hour.
Filtration
Both the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 have 4 stages of filtration. The first layer is a washable fine mesh, the second is a carbon filter and then there is a True HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, and pet hairs. Finally, they have PlasmaWave Air Cleaning Technology to neutralize bacteria and viruses.
Fan Speeds
There are 4 fan speeds with the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80. You can choose from low, medium, high, and turbo.
Sleep Mode
On Sleep Mode, the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 will automatically reduce the fan speed when a room gets dark. Noise levels and the energy consumption is reduced while you enjoy clean air throughout the night.
Sensors
The Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 have dual sensors that detect the quality of the air in a room. When you switch on Auto Mode, the units will automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the air quality.
LED Lights
There is an LED indicator for when filters need changing. The Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 also have an LED bar that shows you the current air quality. If the bar is red, the air quality is poor, orange means it is fair, and blue means the air is good.
There are two differences between the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 and one feature that we are missing information on.
Differences Between Winix AM90 and Winix AM80
Wi-Fi Enabled
As more of our home appliances are now Wi-Fi enabled, some people find it impossible to think of anything without it.
Winix AM90
This air purifier is Wi-Fi enabled. You can use the Winix app to control the unit and check the life of your filters. Because it has Wi-Fi, you can sign up for Amazon Dash Replacement, a system that monitors your filter life and automatically sends new ones before you run out. The Winix AM90 is also Alexa compatible.
Winix AM80
There is no Wi-Fi with this air purifier and surprisingly, it doesn’t come with a remote control either.
The Winner Is- The Winix AM90
Carbon Filters
The most important feature of an air purifier is the ability to filter air. Three of the four stages are the same, but the carbon filters are different.
Winix AM90
It has an activated carbon filter that reduces VOCs and cooking, pet, and smoke odors. This filter helps to prolong the lifespan of the True HEPA filter too.
Winix AM80
It comes with an AOC carbon filter. This is also activated but it is an advanced odor control filter. It will reduce household smells and prolong the life of the True HEPA filter too.
The Winner Is- The Winix AM80
Clean Air Delivery Rate
The clean air delivery rate, CADR, looks at how the air purifiers remove dust, pollen, and smoke.
Winix AM90
The CADR for dust is 233, pollen 240, and smoke 230.
Winix AM80
There is no information about the CADR for this air purifier.
The Winner Is- The Winix AM90
Pros and Cons
Because the Winix AM90 and the Winix AM80 are so similar, the pros and cons will highlight any other differences.
Winix AM90
Pros:
- Quiet enough to have by the bed
- Impressive results with air quality
- Simple use on auto mode or with app
Cons:
- We thought the carbon filter would be thicker
Winix AM80
Pros:
- It’s quieter, even on medium fan speed
- Excellent cleaning abilities, especially with dust
- Reduced allergy symptoms
Cons:
- The only way to control it is with the buttons on the unit
The Final Verdict
Although there were only a couple of differences, they had quite a significant impact. At first, it was disappointing to see that the Winix AM80 had neither Wi-Fi nor a remote control, but the best way to run both of these air purifiers is on Auto Mode and so they take care of themselves. The winner today is the Winix AM80. The color for us was nice but more importantly, it does a better job at purifying air, and it is quieter.