AirDoctor is a popular air purifier in the market. Another brand with a good reputation for producing quality and reliable air purifiers is Coway. And two of their top-selling air purifiers are the Air Doctor 5500 and Coway Airmega 400.
So, with this in mind—you might be wondering which of the two brands can provide you with the satisfaction and peace of mind you seek.
Each brand has its unique features and advantages over the other. For example, the filters of the AirDoctor 5500 are highly effective for capturing dust particles and trapping gasses and unpleasant odors.
On the other hand, Coway Airmega 400 is energy efficient and emits low noise. However, similar to the Air Doctor 5500, it also has a high performance in filtering the air of harmful pathogens.
In this short but informative article, I will share my analysis of Coway Airmega 400 and Air Doctor 5500. I will also list their pros and cons to help you further determine which of them is the right air purifier that suits your preferences.
| Air Purifier | Air Doctor 5500 | Coway Airmega 400 |
| Room Size Coverage | 868 sq. ft. 5x/hour | 624 sq. ft. 5x/hour |
| CADR (Smoke)/CFM | 534 | 328 |
| Fan Speeds | 6 | 4 |
| Noise Level | 30 – 50 dB | 22 – 52 dB |
| Power Consumption | 10 – 100 W | 60-72 W |
| Dimensions | 16″ (W) x 16″ (D) x 28.75″ (H) | 14.8” (W) x 14.8” (D) x 22.8” (H) |
| Weight | 33 lbs | 24.7 lbs |
| Price | Check Here | Check Here |
AirDoctor 5500 Air Purifier
The popularity of the Air Doctor 5500 Air Purifier grew significantly during the height of the global pandemic in 2020.
Its popularity in the market was due to its specific features, including its wide coverage area, approximately 868 per square foot 5x per hour.
But most importantly, it has three main filters that cleanse the air you breathe through 4 stages of filtration.
It comprises the pre-filter process and release of ions to improve air quality in the room. I will explain this in detail in the following sections.
Below are the pros and cons of the Airdoctor 5500 air purifier that you have to note before buying this product.
Pros
Cons
Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 400 is a reputable brand of air purifiers similar to Air Doctor 5500. But if this is your first time hearing about the product, this air purifier is popular due to its wide area of coverage, which is approximately 624 per square foot, 5x per hour.
The unit is also highly efficient and capable of filtering the air circulation in 30 minutes upon activating the air purifier.
In any case, you must note the following pros and cons before considering buying the Coway Airmega 400.
Pros
Cons
Air Doctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Design
Air Doctor 5500 is a large air purifying unit reminiscent of oversized air humidifiers or tower fans. It has a beautiful minimalistic design with all function buttons conveniently on top of the unit.
However, although it has a modern design, the air purifier’s plastic frame makes it look cheap and less aesthetic. In addition, its large size is inconvenient regarding space and storage.
On the other hand, Coway Airmega is large and heavy but more compact than most popular brands of air purifiers. It is still bulky and heavy, which may take up space and storage.
However, it has a four-legged stand that allows you to clean effectively around the air purifier. Units with a flat bottom would scatter dust when you drag it across the room.
But the Coway Airmega 400 frame has a deep palette that emits a metallic vibe. As a result, the unit appears modern and classical simultaneously, which would fit any interior design.
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Air Doctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Filters
Air Doctor 5500 has three filters that provide four-stage filtration and HEPA technology to purify and improve the air quality around you.
On the other hand, Coway Airmega 400 has a filter that provides a two-way filtration stage.
The air purification process starts with its pre-filters that clear the air of pathogens and particles, while the last stage uses HEPA technology to eliminate them.
The summary of the filtration process of Airdoctor 5500 is as follows.
- Pre-Filter Stage – The first stage of the process is when the unit clears the air of dust particles, harmful pathogens, VOCs, smoke, unpleasant odors, and animal hair into its main filtration system
- Activated Carbon – Now, the filtered compounds go through activated carbon exposure. What it does is the activated carbon eliminates the compounds that would be harmful to us when breathed in.
- HEPA Filter Technology – the unit’s HEPA technology filters eliminate the particles down to 0.003 microns in size
- Negative Ions – the last step of the process is the AirDoctor 5500, which releases negative ions to purify the air quality circulating in the room further.
On the other hand, the summary of the filtration process of Coway Airmega 400 is as follows.
- Pre-Filter Stage – The initial stages of filtration are similar to Coway Airmega 400 with Air Doctor 5500. It filters the air of toxic particles, smoke, bad odors, harmful pathogens, etc.
- HEPA Filter Technology – The unit eliminates the compounds once they reach the HEPA filters
The AirDoctor 5500 air purifier is more advantageous if you are highly conscious about the air quality you and your family breathe.
Not only does Air Doctor 5500 filter the air, but it also releases negative ions that improve the quality of air circulation.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Best Features
The best feature of the Coway Airmega 400 is you can conveniently use the unit because it has smart features. You can remotely control the unit using your smart devices.
It also has a voice-captivated feature that allows you to manage settings hands-free.
In addition, it has a smaller stature than regular air purifiers you will find in the market. The metallic finish of the Coway Airmega 400 is also aesthetically pleasing and perfect for spaces with stylish interior design.
The Air Doctor 5500 air purifier may look bulky and have the typical design of industrial equipment, but it provides homeowners with a reliable and powerhouse performance when it comes to functionality.
It gives homeowners the peace of mind of having clean air free of compounds that could harm us. Airdoctor 5500 has a four-filtration process that includes thoroughly purifying the air circulation and the release of negative ions.
You’ll also benefit from the unit’s EnergyStar certification. His feature means it is energy efficient, and you don’t need to worry about your electricity bill increasing significantly when the unit operates constantly.
However, aside from the design, another disadvantage of the Airdoctor 5500 is that it is not the quietest air purifier around. But it is not as noisy to the point that it is no longer comfortable.
I believe you can live with the noise level, considering the peace of mind it provides as it purifies the air of bacteria and bad odors.
Air Doctor also provides an updated version of 5500 – the smartest air cleaner with the mobile app AD5500i – to get real-time air quality data on your phone, filter change alerts, and full device control.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Energy Consumption
Despite their size, the Air Doctor 5500 and Coway Airmega 400 have an EnergyStar certification. However, the AirDoctor 5500 is more energy-efficient regarding power consumption.
The Air Doctor 5500 consumes only 10 watts of power under low settings and a maximum of 100 if the fans operate under high settings.
Although Coway Airmega only uses 72 watts of power when you are using its high fans, it consumes about 60 watts of power when the unit is under low fan settings.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Noise Level
The Coway Airmega 400 takes the lead over the Air Doctor 5500 regarding lower noise levels. The unit emits a noise level of about 22 dB when the low fans are in operation, while it produces 52 dB of noise when you are using the high-fan mode.
The AirDoctor 5500, on the other hand, produces a noise level of 30 dB up to a maximum of 50 dB of noise level when you use low-fan and high-fan modes, respectively.
As you can see, the difference between noise levels isn’t that much, and you might not even notice the difference when you put them side by side.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Room Coverage And CADR Rating
Coway Airmega 400 coverage area is up to 624 square feet 5x or 1560 sq. ft. 2x per hour. The CADR for smoke is 328 CFM.
Meanwhile, AD5500 can clean an area of up to 868 square meters 5x per hour or 2170 sq. ft. 2x each hour. The CADR for smoke is 560 CFM.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Upkeep
The clean-up process of both Coway Airmega 400 and Airdoctor 5500 is straightforward. However, you may have to clean the filters regularly to prolong their lifespan and avoid the need for frequent replacements.
In addition, both Air Doctor 5500 and Coway Airmega 400 use HEPA filter technology. You can expect an average useful life of 6 to 12 months on these filters.
Also, you have to note that their average lifespan depends on the frequency of usage.
And with this in mind—you may also have to clean them more regularly if the frequency of usage is higher.
Air Doctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400 Price
Air Doctor 5500 air purifier price on the official website is $999 ($699 to our blog readers), with an option to purchase now and pay later as low as $61/month, while the Coway Airmega 400 price is around $649 on official website cowaymega.com.
Coway Airmega 400 replacement filter costs $129. Pre-filter is sold separately for $25.
AirDoctor 5500 replacement filter set price is $318. It includes 2 UltraHEPA filters and 4 Carbon Gas Trap/VOC filters.
AirDoctor 5500 vs. Coway Airmega 400: Which One Is Better?
The Air Doctor 5500 air purifier is clearly the best option for functionality. It provides homeowners with the peace of mind of a thorough air purification process and higher quality of air circulation.
In addition, the unit is more energy efficient and only consumes approximately 11 watts under low-fan settings.
However, Coway Airmega 400 is more technologically sophisticated because of its smart features, such as remote access to the unit. It allows you to control settings hands-free without leaving your position to adjust its fans or turn the power on or off.
The design of the Coway Airmega 400 is also minimalistic yet stylish. Lastly, although the noise level they produce isn’t far off, the unit is quieter than the Airdoctor 5500 air purifier.
Update! If you want AirDoctor with smart features such as remote access through your phone, go for their new model AD5500i. It has everything the same as AD5500 but with a wifi connected app – you have full control over your cleaner on your phone.
