REASONS TO BUY
Good air cleaning performance
Very quiet
Simple to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive operating cost
GermGuardian AC5350B Review
One of our favorite models, it's a high performing, quiet machine at a higher price
Credit: GermGuardian
RELATED: Best Air Purifiers
Our Verdict
If you're especially sensitive to noise, the GermGuardian AC5350B is the perfect air purifier. It combines almost completely silent operation with effective air cleaning performance — at a reasonable price. In fact, the AC5350B provided one of the best overall values per dollar in our testing. The only model we tested that bested the AC5350B was the award-winning Coway Airmega 1512HH, which costs significantly more. However, the Coway and the AC5350B both end up costing about the same in the long run, so the Coway is a better choice if you're okay with a bit more of those costs being upfront. However, if you're looking for great performance at a reasonable price, the AC5350B is the purifier for you.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
GermGuardian AC5350B | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  | | |
| Price | $250 List $175.58 at Amazon | $250 List $219.95 at Amazon | $230 List $164.99 at Amazon | $220 List $189.00 at Amazon | $100 List $99.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Good air cleaning performance, very quiet, simple to use | Exceptional air cleaning performance, very quiet operation, simple user experience | Excellent air cleaning performance, quiet operation, average lifetime cost | VeSync smart app, air quality sensor, three-stage filter | Budget friendly, compact, great performance |
| Cons | Expensive operating cost | Expensive operating cost | Expensive operating cost | Some features only accessible with app, expensive replacement filter | Loud, doesn't have an automatic air sensor |
| Bottom Line | One of our favorite models, it's a high performing, quiet machine at a higher price | Excellent, high quality air cleaning performance from a quiet and convenient appliance | A top performing model that combines average lifetime costs to create a great value | An easy-to-use, mid-sized air purifier that performs well and offers a variety of programmable features in its companion app | A budget-friendly and space-efficient model that gets the job done but is a little underpowered for large spaces |
| Rating Categories | GermGuardian AC5350B | Winix 5500-2 | Coway Airmega 1512HH | Levoit Core 400S | Levoit Core 300 |
| Air Cleaning Performance (40%) | |||||
| Noise (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Operating Cost (10%) | |||||
| Specs | GermGuardian AC5350B | Winix 5500-2 | Coway Airmega 1512HH | Levoit Core 400S | Levoit Core 300 |
| Dimensions //L x W x H// | 9.06 x 6.69 x 27.56 | 8.2" × 15" × 23.6" | 16.5 x 9.5 x 18.5 | 10.8" x 10.8" x 20.5" | 8.7" x 8.7" x 14.2" |
| Weight | 11.25 lbs | 15.4 lbs | 12.7 lbs | 10.5 Ibs | 7.5 Ibs |
| CADR | 125 CFM | 246 CFM | 240 CFM | 260 CFM | 135 CFM |
| True HEPA (99.97%) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Estimated Lifetime Cost (5 years) | $542 | $660 | $556 | $735 | $455 |
| Annual Cost | $108 | $132 | $111 | $147 | $91 |
| Airborn Particulate Reduction After 1 Hour (%) | 99.50% | 99.99% | 99.84% | 99.98% | 96.33% |
| App Control | No | No | No | Yes | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The AC535 is straightforward to use and offers up exceptional performance.
Credit: Steven Tata
Air Cleaning Performance
The AC5350B earns an average score in our air cleaning testing, putting it a bit short of the top performers. This purifier reduced the airborne particulates in our testing room by 91.5% after running for half an hour. That reduction rose to 99.5% after an hour. This put it just behind the top-scoring Coway, which hit a reduction of 99.84% in the same time frame. While the Coway did clean the testing room a bit faster (it had reached a reduction of 99.32% at the half-hour mark), it is incredibly unlikely that you'll be able to tell the difference between these two machines after they've been running for an hour.
The one area where the AC5350B does fall behind the Coway is its CADR (clean air delivery rate) spec. The AC5350B CADR rating is 125, meaning it can handle rooms of up to 188 square feet. This is plenty for most bedrooms, but if you were hoping to purify the air in your living room, it might be slightly underpowered. The Coway, on the other hand, has a rating of 240 and can thus handle rooms of up to 360 square feet. This extra power lends a bit more versatility to the Coway.
Noise
The AC5350B is one of the quietest models we tested, earning a top score in this metric. You can really only hear it if it is on its highest setting, which emits a fairly low hum that easily blends into the background for most people. However, we had no trouble watching TV, listening to music, and even napping with the AC5350B right next to us and set on high. At lower settings, the machine is virtually silent. This performance was, if anything, just slightly better than the Coway; the Coway was also virtually silent at lower settings. On high, it produced the same volume as the AC5350B, but its pitch was just slightly higher, making it just slightly more noticeable but still well short of annoying.
The AC350B's simple and clear interface.
Credit: Steven Tata
Ease of Use
The AC5350B scored a high score in our ease of use testing. It has a very simple and clean interface. The backlit buttons are easy to read, even in the dark, and an LCD display clearly indicates which settings are selected. This makes it easy to set fan speeds, turn the UV sanitizer on and off, and set an automatic sleep timer. It lacks a built-in air quality meter, but this is a feature our testers found to be inconsequential. At 11.25 pounds, the AC5350B isn't light, but it is slightly lighter than the Coway, which tips the scales at 12.7 pounds. Both models have comfortable carrying handles, so moving them around isn't too much of a hassle.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Operating Cost
The AC5350B achieves an average score for this metric. It uses filters that last six months and cost $34. It also uses 0.03kWh of electricity for every hour of operation, translating into about $16 of electricity per year. Adding all this up with the list price and you get an estimated lifetime cost of $542. This is surprisingly close to the $556 estimated lifetime cost of the top-scoring Coway.
Value
The AC5350B has an estimated lifetime cost of $542. Its main competitor, the Coway, lists for more but has a very comparable estimated lifetime cost of $556. Both of these models represent good values, though if you can afford a bit more upfront costs, you do get better performance out of the Coway.
Conclusion
The GermGuardian AC5350B offers the same performance as other high-end models but at a reduced sticker price. It is perfect for those looking to get the most value per dollar from their air purifier investment. Incredibly quiet and easy to use, this machine is very user-friendly and capable of keeping modestly sized rooms free of dust and allergens.
—
Buck Yedor, Max Mutter, and Steven Tata
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