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This vacuum is ultra lightweight and comes with a useful auto-empty base – but it’s its impeccable edge cleaning that really impressed in my tests
11:00 pm | October 29, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: | Comments: Off

Levoit Aero: two-minute review

The Levoit Aero is a lightweight, nimble stick vacuum that comes with a convenient auto-empty charging base. It's one of the most lightweight vacuums I've used, and comes with a smaller-than-usual floorhead that tucks easily into tight spaces. I also appreciated the clear display, which tells you which suction level you're in and how much battery you have left.

While it's not the most outright powerful cordless vacuum I've used, it's great for everyday cleaning and especially good when it comes to edge cleaning. I found that even in the Minimum power mode it lifted most dirt from my floors, although I did need to bump up to Med or even Max mode to clear chunkier debris. The edge cleaning was outstanding, however.

Battery life is good but not great – while the Max mode lasts an impressive 15 minutes, in Min mode it only runs for 40 mins, which is short for a lowest-power option. I missed having a battery-maximizing Auto mode, where the power adjusts intelligently based on dirt levels or floor type.

The auto-empty base is a big effort-saver and works well, although there does seem to be a flaw that means the dustbin flap on the vacuum itself doesn't always close securely afterwards, which meant some cleaning sessions began rather messily.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into what the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to offer, and how it compares to the rest of the best cordless vacuums on the market.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

Levoit Aero review: price & availability

  • List price: $499
  • Available: October 2025
  • Availability: US

The Levoit Aero Vacuum Cleaner launched in October 2025, with a list price of $499. It's available in the US on the Levoit website. This price includes the self-standing stick vacuum, charging dock that doubles as an auto-empty base, four accessories, and an extra dust bag.

In the wider market, this vacuum sits on the cusp between mid-range and premium. I'd usually expect better battery life and some smart features for this price, although the inclusion of the auto-empty dock does help justify the higher price somewhat. It's perhaps worth keeping an eye out for any deals over Black Friday.

Other auto-empty vacuum options include the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Clean&Empty, which is cheaper and better value at $429.99, and the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra which is pricier and worse value at $599.99.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero specs

Weight:

4.4 lbs / 2kg

Bin size (vacuum):

Not stated

Bin size (dock):

3.5L

Max runtime:

40 mins

Charge time:

< 4hrs

Size (H x W x L):

43.3 x 9.8 x 7.7in / 110 x 25 x 19.5cm

Filter:

HEPA

Max suction:

180AW

Modes:

Min, Med, Max, Turbo

Levoit Aero review: design

  • A lightweight, streamlined stick vacuum that can stand up on its own
  • Display screen shows battery life and suction power
  • Auto-empty station that doubles as a charger

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick vacuum that can stand on its own when the head and shaft are locked in place. At only 4.4 lbs / 2kg, it's incredibly lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver on the floor or use to grab dust on high ceilings.

The vacuum cleaner is black and white, and looks sleek and modern. It differs from some other vacuums in that the 0.45L dust bin is positioned on the front of the vacuum, rather than the back. Above the dustbin is a small display screen and the power button.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Upon pressing the power button, the suction level and battery countdown timer appear on the display screen. If I want to move between the different suction level options, I have to hit the four-square button below the power button to scroll through them. My pre-launch test model had three suction modes: Min, Med and Max. Now the vacuum is on sale, there seems to have been a fourth mode added, called Turbo. The Max suction power hasn't changed, though – it's still 180AW.

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Like pretty much every stick vacuum, the design is modular and can be reconfigured for use as a handheld by removing the main wand. Four accessories are provided, including a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair and such from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose. There's also an attachment clip that can be added to the vacuum wand for easy detail tool storage.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

The charging station is slim with a round base and a hidden dust bag with a generous 3.5L capacity. When you dock the vacuum, the charging station pulls the dirt and debris from its dustbin into the larger dust bag, so you don't need to worry about emptying it manually.

In terms of noise, the vacuum cleaner has an average sound rating. When the Min suction level is being used, it emits a sound rating of 79 dB. On Med and Max suction level powers, the rating is 81 and 83 dB respectively.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: performance

  • Easy to maneuver with helpful accessories
  • Superb edge cleaning
  • Little maintenance required on a day-to-day basis

Upon powering on the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner, it automatically begins running on the Med suction level. Most of the time when vacuuming my house, I used this suction level, no matter the floor type, as it resulted in top-notch cleaning. The vacuum is very lightweight, and the vacuum head swivels easily, allowing me to vacuum around furniture without having to move it. I also noticed that the vacuum head is smaller in width than some of the other vacuums I've tested, which allows me to vacuum in tighter spaces. Better yet, the vacuum can flatten to 180 degrees, so I'm able to reach further under furniture, as long as I squat down to the ground.

Reviewer using Levoit Aero vacuum to clean her living space

(Image credit: Future)

To see just how well the vacuum works, I ran the same test on two different floor types. I sprinkled dry tea and oats on my hard floor and on one of my thickest rugs, then I turned the vacuum on the lowest suction level – Min – to see how well it picked up the different materials.

I was really impressed by how well the Levoit Aero vacuumed both the tea and the oats from the rug on the lowest power level. It only took one pass, in a forward or reverse direction, for the vacuum to pick up the dried tea. Similarly, the vacuum picked up the oats perfectly when pushing the vacuum in a forward motion. When reverse cleaning over the oats, some pieces got stuck behind the wheels. This didn't surprise me as I've seen this happen with other vacuum cleaners I've tested.

Image 1 of 2

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)
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Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clean debris from a patterned rug

(Image credit: Future)

The results were a bit different when running the same test on my hard floors. When vacuuming over the dry tea in a forward direction with Min suction power, all the tea was picked up. However, I was surprised when I vacuumed over the dried tea in reverse because a lot of tea got caught behind the wheels. I did not expect this.

Unfortunately, the Levoit Aero struggled with vacuuming the oats no matter if I was vacuuming forward or in reverse. Most of the time, the vacuum head pushed the oats away from the vacuum, unless I went very slowly over them. The Min suction level didn't seem to be powerful enough to suck up the oats, so I adjusted the power to Med and Max. It's perhaps no surprise that on the Max suction level, the oats were more easily suctioned into the vacuum.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

To test the edge cleaning, I poured some dry tea along the edge of a wall. The vacuum only needs to rest against an edge for all the debris to be picked up in a single pass, no matter the suction level. You won't need a crevice or edge cleaning tool to clean along the bottom of walls, cabinets, or appliances.

Levoit Aero vacuum being used to clear debris from a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

Four accessories come with the purchase of this vacuum: a 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination tool (for vacuuming hair from furniture), a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose.

I used the 2-in-1 crevice tool to vacuum windowsills, blinds, baseboards, and the corners of ceilings. It worked wonderfully, though I did notice that it worked best on the Med or Max suction level. My only complaint is that when I was using the tool as a brush, it would sometimes snap down to a crevice tool when I didn't want it to.

This is because the button that transforms the tool between a brush and a crevice tool is located on the top of the brush. If I barely hit the button or tapped the edge of the tool against the edge of a windowsill, it would transition to a crevice tool. I'd then have to stop cleaning and re-click the brush tool into place. This happened a lot, which makes me think the button needs to be placed along the sides of the tool instead, or that the mechanism that holds the brush in place needs to be stronger.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode lying on a sofa

(Image credit: Future)

The 2-in-1 combination tool did a pretty decent job suctioning hair from my furniture. I think this had to do with the fact that there is a little rough strip of material in the middle of the brush that catches hair and helps pull it up from the fabric. That said, I found that I had the best results when using this tool with max power.

The mini motorized brush is essentially a vacuum head that is about half the size of the regular vacuum head on the Levoit Aero. I used it to clean around my toilet and between my oven and the wall, spaces where I usually can't reach with a regular vacuum head. This was definitely my favorite accessory, and it did a fantastic job cleaning those tricky areas. I wish, however, that the mini motorized brush had the ability to swivel, to make it easier to vacuum in tight spaces. (I haven't come across a mini motorized tool that can swivel, but I think vacuum makers are missing a trick here.)

Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

It's unlikely that you'll use the extension hose often, except perhaps to clean your car. In that case, you'd probably connect the extension hose to the handheld portion of the Levoit Aero and then add the mini motorized brush to the end.

I tried seeing if there was any practical use for the extension hose in the cleaning of my house and didn't really find one. To be fair, I was able to connect the hose between the handheld and the shaft, which enabled me to swing the vacuum under the bed to vacuum hard to reach spots. This sort-of worked, but I didn't have much control over the direction of the vacuum head. Since the Levoit IQ can flatten to the ground, it's probably better to just squat and vacuum under furniture rather than use the extension hose in this manner.

Levoit Aero vacuum in its charge / auto-empty dock, in reviewer's lounge

(Image credit: Future)

After using the vacuum, I set it on the charging base and let the base automatically pull the debris and dirt from the dust bin into the dust bag. This meant that on a day-to-day basis, I wasn't really doing any maintenance. When the dust bag fills, the vacuum will inform me on the display, and I'll have to replace the dust bag. The foam, felt, and station filters need to be washed at least once a month and replaced every three months. The HEPA filter has to be washed every two months and replaced every 6 months.

My biggest gripe with the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner has to do with the dust bin. Half the time when I removed the vacuum from the base, the dust bin flap would be open. I didn't always realize this until I started to clean and noticed that the dirt and debris falling back to the floor. Sometimes, the dustbin opened when I was cleaning. I'm not sure how it opened on its own or why, but it was frustrating to have to re-clean an area twice in a row.

Levoit Aero vacuum in handheld mode being used to clean baseboards

(Image credit: Future)

It's increasingly common for a premium vacuum to have automation features that enables it to adjust suction based on floor type or dirt detected. I have come to appreciate when a vacuum has the ability to read the cleanliness of a floor, because even though the Levoit Aero Vacuum has a headlight on the front of the vacuum head, I can't always see when there is dirt or not. At this kind of price, I'd expect some kind of automation features.

That said, the Aero is still a solid vacuum cleaner with phenomenal edge cleaning and the capability to pick up most all debris with the Min suction level (most large debris can be picked up on the Med power level). It's a good option for those who have mostly hard floors and like the convenience of an auto-empty charging base.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit Aero review: battery life

  • Lasts up to 40 mins in Min mode with main floorhead attached
  • A decent 15 mins in Max mode, and 30 mins in Med mode
  • Takes three hours to recharge on charging base

One of the great things about the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner is that it displays the battery life on the screen, so you don't have to wonder how much time you have left to vacuum your house. The battery life depends solely on the suction level you're using, so if you're using the Max suction level, you only get 15 minutes of battery life. The Med suction level results in a 30 minutes of battery life, while the battery lasts 40 minutes when using the Min mode.

15 minutes for a Max suction level is pretty decent, and 30 minutes is very acceptable in Med mode. However, most vacuums these days will last longer than 40 minutes on their lowest suction level. My house is 1,600 square feet, and I was able to vacuum everything in 40 minutes, though I had to rush slightly.

Close up of info screen on Levoit Aero vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Couple of notes here: Levoit quotes a Max of 70 minutes' cleaning per charge, but if you read the fine print, that's with the Crevice tool attached, rather than the main floorhead. On the current version of the vacuum, Levoit also seems to have added a fourth mode – Turbo, which sits above Max. The brand promises 6 minutes of cleaning per charge in Turbo with the main floorhead attached. I wasn't able to test this mode as it didn't exist on my review model.

It takes three hours for the base to fully recharge the battery, which is fairly speedy. If you can't clean your house completely before needing to recharge, it might be helpful to know that the battery recharges to 20% after 30 minutes.

  • Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit Aero?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

On the cusp between mid-range and premium. Decent value when you factor in the auto-empty base, although I'd usually expect auto features at that price.

3.5 / 5

Design

A super lightweight stick vacuum cleaner with four suction levels, a screen displaying the battery countdown, and an auto-empty station.

4 / 5

Performance

Smaller floorhead can tuck into tight spaces, and edge cleaning is excellent. Not the most powerful vacuum I've tested, but great for everyday light cleans.

3.5 / 5

Battery life

15 mins in Max mode is good, but 40 in Min is rather short. Recharge is speedy at 3 hours.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a lightweight vacuum

The Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner barely weighs more than 4 lbs, making it easy to maneuver and clean your home. Most people will be able to lift the vacuum cleaner above their head or reach far under beds without tiring.

You like vacuums with little maintenance

This vacuum comes with a charging base that doubles as an auto-empty station, meaning it automatically empties the dustbin each time you place it on the base to charge. Filters and dust bags will need to be cleaned or replaced but such tasks aren't a weekly occurrence.

You like knowing how much battery you have left

Some vacuum cleaners indicate battery life by bars or pie charts, which can be confusing. The Levoit Aero lets you know the exact amount of time left before the battery dies thanks to a countdown on the display screen.

Don't buy it if...

You have a lot of carpets

While the Levoit Aero is well-equipped to vacuum some rugs and low pile carpet, those whose houses are half or mostly covered in carpet would do better with an upright vacuum or a heavier, more powerful cordless stick vacuum – check TechRadar's best vacuum for carpet guide for our top recommendations.

You need more than 40 minutes to vacuum your house

Despite Levoit claiming that this vacuum offers up to 70 minutes of battery life, it only lasts 15-40 minutes depending on the suction level you use. If your house is particularly large or requires a lot of complicated cleaning maneuvers or use of different accessories, the battery might not last.

You want a vacuum with smart features.

This vacuum lacks any smart features. On the one hand, this makes it easier for everyone to use (not just the technologically-savvy), however, if you're looking for a vacuum that can detect dirt on the ground or provide cleaning stats, this isn't the product for you. View Deal

How I tested the Levoit Aero

I tested the Levoit Aero vacuum cleaner in my 1,600-square foot home. As someone who has laminate and wood flooring – as well as some thick rugs – I was able to get a sense of how well the vacuum suctions fine and large materials through a series of tests. I also utilized the various accessories on my baseboards, windowpanes, blinds, and furniture to provide thorough insight into the value of this vacuum cleaner.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • Tested May 2025 (launch delayed to October 2025)
Withings U-Scan brought my urine analysis home and I need a drink – of water
7:05 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

I'm dehydrated. How do I know? Withings U-Scan told me so, and it's based on what may be the best source for this information: my own urine.

I know. Blech. But also, wow; home urine analysis in about the time it takes you to, well, use the bathroom.

I first learned about the Withings U-Scan home urine analysis system back in January at CES 2025. It sounded kind of incredible. The device could take the lab-style analysis that usually requires you to go to a doctor's office, pee into a cup, and hand it over to a lab technician who would then send it to a lab for analysis, and transform it into a compact system that fits in any toilet.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

That's more or less what we got here, a $379.95 / £319 rechargeable device that does all of that in one... er... sitting.

It's not perfect. It might require that you change your bathroom habit, it uses replaceable cartridges that'll cost you $99.95 / £89.95 every three months, and it cannot yet, as was promised earlier this year, recognize different people's pee. Essentially, it's a urine analysis system for one and can only be activated through the Withings app on your phone.

Even so. I'm impressed.

Withings U-Scan Review: Design and setup

Withing's U-Scan is a large white puck that you press between your palms to twist and open so you can install the carousel of measurement tabs. There are a total of 44 of these tiny, chemically sensitive strips in each carousel. Every test takes two strips for a total of 22 urine tests. Most people will only test once a week. The circuit board and algorithm live inside U-Scan, so that all analysis is done there.

Twisting the device open and closed is not easy, but in some ways, this gives you confidence that it is fully water-tight.

When it's open, you set up your app and connect it via Bluetooth to the U-Scan by pressing a button on the inside. It also connects to your home network's Wi-Fi. This process is pretty painless, as is installing the carousel of test tabs. The app, by the way, can connect to Apple Health to gather all your relevant health data and to share Withings' insights with Apple Health.

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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

U-Scan also ships with three sizes of toilet clips and guides you on which one to use based on your toilet's style. There's also a charge tank, which doubles as a bath to wash the device after the first three months of use (the charge is rated to last three months, too). It even ships with gloves so you don't have to touch a device you've spent the last three months peeing on.

U-Scan can, depending on which carousels you use, test for either nutrition or kidney health. In the latter, the system keeps track of calcium levels, an excess of which can lead to the development of painful kidney stones.

My test unit, though, arrived with the nutrition carousel, which looks at acidity, vitamin C, ketones, and hydrostatus.

Image 1 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
Image 2 of 3

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
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Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Withings U-Scan: Getting started

Proper placement of the Withings U-Scan in your toilet is critical, and this is where I learned that, if I wanted to measure my urine, I'd have to sit down to pee.

You see, the puck and its attachment hanger are placed dead-center at the front of the toilet; the clip hangs over that front lip.

The smooth back of the U-Scan faces you and, if you pee on it, the other side is designed to capture and direct that pee into a reservoir that pulls the liquid inside.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Since the system does not know when it's being peed on, you have to first open the Withings App and then select measurement. After that, you have two minutes to pee.

I went through this process three times before I successfully got a reading. The first time, there was an unidentified error, and the second time, the system accused me of not peeing sufficiently. Fortunately, it didn't waste any test strips in either case.

Finally, I peed long enough to get a reading. I knew the system was doing its work because there are somewhat noisy motors that make the urine collection and the tiny internal lab work possible.

Within minutes, I had my first reading. If you don't see it, you can quickly sync your phone app to the device.

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I was pleased to see that my pH or bio-acidity was "In Target", as were my vitamin C and ketone levels. The only thing that didn't look right was my hydrostatus, which came in low. When I opened that reading for details, the app told me, "Your hydration level is lower than optimal. Increase your water intake to reach a better balance."

Withings U-Scan REVIEW

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Withings U-Scan: Verdict

As my wife said to me, somewhat sarcastically, when I told her about my reading, "Oh, good, I guess you don't have to go to the doctor."

I'd like to think that, but this is not an FDA-cleared device and is not intended as a medical substitute. Instead, it's a wellness product that gives you indicators but not the final word.

Still, it's nice to get some early warning signals on nutritional issues and, yes, I would love to avoid painful kidney stones in my lifetime.

I do not look forward to the cleaning process and think it's a shame that it's not yet useful for all the people peeing into that toilet in my home. Withings told me that the feature is coming, but did not provide a timeline.

The price is not terrible for what it does, but I'm not thrilled about paying another $99 every three months to check my urine. That's the one area that will likely give many people pause and may relegate this for use with people who really need frequent urine analysis. I'm probably not one of them.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to drink a big glass of water.

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I tested this budget 10.1-inch digital photo frame, and it’s impressively precise for its affordable price
1:00 pm | October 26, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame: review

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is an affordable digital photo frame built on the Uhale platform. At 1280 x 800 pixels, it’s not the highest resolution photo frame on the market, but it’s capable of pretty credible sharpness and is far easier to use than other affordable frames I’ve tested.

I’ve used quite a few different digital photo frame apps now, and they vary widely from the full-featured, bespoke marketplace of the Netgear Meural Canvas II to Frameo, the third-party, one-size-fits-all app used by many digital photo frames, including the alternate version of this device. But there’s something novel about the Eptusmey’s user interface that I find particularly smooth and intuitive.

Setting up the frame is straightforward enough. Once you’ve selected its language and logged in to your Wi-Fi, you can start getting friends and family set up to send photos directly to the frame. Just download the Uhale app, scan the QR code, or enter the displayed code, and you’re good to go. You’re then ready to start selecting photos from your phone and firing them over.

If you’ve read many of my reviews of the best digital photo frames, you’ll know a pet peeve of mine is how some devices handle image orientation, often opting for a universal size that rarely fits every photo well. Instead, the Uhale app and Eptusmey photo frame allow you to scale images to fit and adjust the vertical or horizontal alignment to precisely frame the elements you choose. Being able to adjust this on a per-picture basis on the screen made it far easier to tweak specific images that didn’t look right, rather than having to delete and reupload them.

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame in vertical orientation, showing a closeup of pink rhododendrons.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Odd issues did crop up now and then, though. First, despite the fact that I could set the scaling and position of images in the app, this didn’t seem to be saved for the uploaded images, meaning I’d have to set it again once they were on the frame. I also found that while scrolling through my phone’s photo library, it was far too easy to accidentally drag and select a bunch of images or, worse, deselect all of the ones I’d already picked out.

While colors are decent, they’re not quite as vibrant as I’ve come to expect from the best digital photo frames. Hues are accurate – there aren’t necessarily any specific missteps in terms of the color profile – but the frame pulls its punches when it comes to saturation. Rhododendrons that are a fireworks display of pinks, oranges and yellows even on the relatively conservative screen of my iPhone 16 Pro look more pastel than I’d expect, making the overall effect much more subdued.

By contrast – if you’ll excuse the pun – black and white photography really pops. Capable of both impressive brightness and relatively deep blacks, the Eptusmey shows off monochrome shots with an expansive dynamic range. Whether it was displaying shots of lichen-covered cliffsides in the Scottish Highlands or neo-gothic buildings in Budapest, grayscale photos always looked both bold and bright.

A closeup image of a frog on a stone displayed on the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame, in front of a pink background. The frog has visible grains of sand on its back.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Despite the frame’s relatively meager 1280 x 800 resolution – hitting a pixel density of 149ppi – detail is also very decent. Whether it’s the individual hairs of a bumblebee’s fuzzy butt or the grains of sand clinging to a frog’s back, fine detail is crisply rendered. Unfortunately, though, the Eptusmey fares less well with images shot at shorter focal lengths. The iPhone 16 Pro’s artificial bokeh occasionally appeared over-sharpened, making those images look much weaker by comparison.

Another regrettable blind spot of the Eptusmey is how reflective its glass is. I tested this digital photo frame during a British autumn – I can barely remember the last time I even saw the sun, let alone had it shining on this frame. But, even so, this photo frame’s screen is swamped by reflections of our modestly lit testing space, meaning it’s not going to be a good choice for anywhere particularly bright or with a lot of furnishings to reflect.

Outside of the screen, the Eptusmey’s design is similarly mixed. In the plus column, its rear leg is very sturdy and makes switching orientation simple: pop it out and pop it back in rotated at 90 degrees, and you’re good to go. It also offers decent aesthetics, with the painted wood frame and modest white mount around the screen looking classy enough for a frame at this price range, and the two color options providing a decent choice to match the frame to your decor.

A hand adjusts the stand on the rear of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame to change its orientation.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s not perfect, though, by any stretch. The mount is very plasticky to the touch – I’ve definitely been spoiled by the beautiful paper-like texture of the Aura Aspen here, though, so I won’t hold that too much against it.

Perhaps a more significant minus is the fact the paint on the exterior frame has started to wear off in a few places. Picking at the edge of the frame with my thumbnail, I was easily able to replicate this damage, which makes me worry a little about its durability.

OK, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame definitely isn’t flawless: its colors are a little duller than they should be, while the screen shows up way too many reflections even under artificial light.

But this needs to be viewed in the context of its price: you can get it for as little as $55.99 / £49.99, putting it right down at the cheapest end of the market. Given the price, it’s impressive: not only is it surprisingly crisp, it makes it really easy to frame your photos and get them looking their best. It’s definitely worth a look if you want to save on a frame.

A closeup of the corner of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame; on screen is a slightly dull photo of a European peacock butterfly.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: price & release date

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is available now and has a list price of £79.99. Cheap though this is, you can actually get it for even less if you shop around, with Amazon UK selling it from just £49.99. It’s also available from Amazon in the US for $55.99, although only the version compatible with the third-party Frameo app, which offers a great user experience but is different from that outlined in this review.

While the US market is restricted to the Black Oak Wood colorway tested here, those in the UK have more options available. You can pick up the White Oak Wood colorway for £49.99, the Walnut Wood colorway for £59.99 and the Black Oak Wood colorway for £79.99, giving you more options to ensure your frame complements your decor.

A closeup of the ports on the rear of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame. It shows and SD card port, headphones jack, USB port, USB-C port and DC in.

(Image credit: Future)

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: specs

Dimensions

11.3 x 8.1 x 1 inches (287 x 206 x 25mm)

Display size

10.1-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

A closeup of the lower right corner of the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame, showing the temperature and time.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Should I buy the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

4/5

Design

Glass too reflective and wood easily scuffed

3.5/5

Performance

4/5

Value

5/5

Buy it if…

You want a super affordable digital photo frame
Available from as little as $55.99 / £49.99, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is nearly as affordable as our pick for the best budget digital photo frame, Aeezo Portrait 01, yet with a more premium feeling frame.

You love a simple user experience
Using the Eptusmey’s on-screen controls, bespoke app or even the third-party Frameo app with relevant versions makes it straightforward to transfer your shots and even allow your friends and family to do the same.

Don’t buy it if…

You love vibrant colors
While the Eptusmey’s doesn’t seem to make major missteps in the way it represents hues, it’s not quite vivid enough to be true to life, making your snaps feel a little undersaturated.

You want to use it in a bright room
There’s no anti-reflection coating on the Eptusmey’s display, meaning that it’s not great for bright spaces. Even without much direct light, it mirrors bright objects in the room far too readily.

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: also consider

Aura Walden

Aeezo Portrait 01

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame

Display size

10.1-inch

10.1-inch

11-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

2000 x 1200, 212 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

16:10

5:3

Touch Screen

Yes

Yes

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Portrait or landscape

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

32GB

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C

Aeezo Portrait 01
One of the Eptusmey’s closest rivals in terms of cost, the Aeezo Portrait 01 offers decent image quality and an even better price. It’s built on the Frameo app like some versions of the Eptusmey, meaning you can trust it’ll be just as easy to use. We did criticize its build quality in our Aeezo Portrat 01 review, though, with its cheaper frame and stand drawing particular ire.

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
OK, the Pexar 11-inch is a fair bit pricier than the Eptusmey, costing $169.99 / £149. But it also offers a whole load of things the latter doesn’t. That includes an impressive reflection-free screen, vibrant hues and one of the best pixel densities I’ve ever seen from a digital photo frame at 212-ppi for super crisp images. Read my full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review.

How I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame

  • Tested it over two weeks
  • Uploaded a wide variety of photos
  • Tried it in multiple locations and orientations

I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame over a period of several weeks. First, I set it up, then I used the Uhale app to transfer photos I’ve taken, making sure to split the balance between brightly colored shots and more subdued detail-focused ones. Next, I used the frame to tweak the cropping and alignment of photos.

I then tried using the frame in both horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as moving it to a variety of locations in my home and the TechRadar office to see how it coped with reflections and ambient light conditions.

I’m an experienced photographer, having taken more than 40,000 shots over the years on my Canon DSLR and iPhone 16 Pro. On top of this, I spent many years working in print publishing, meaning I know how to assess the nuances of how images can differ between the source device and the final product.

  • First reviewed: October 2025
  • Read more about how we test
The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso
6:00 pm | October 24, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Smeg ECF03: one-minute review

The Smeg ECF03 is a stylish espresso machine that’s a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Smeg ECF02. The key difference is a new cold-extraction feature, which takes around two minutes to produce smooth, sweet-tasting espresso that makes an ideal base for an iced americano, cappuccino, or cocktail.

Another important upgrade is the addition of a pressure gauge that helps you see if your espresso shot is properly extracted before it’s finished pouring. It’s surprising that this doesn’t show the exact pressure in bars, but it’s nevertheless a useful guide.

When you want to brew traditional hot espresso, the machine heats quickly, and its pump produces consistent pressure, so you get reliably well-extracted coffee once you’ve dialled in the grinder correctly. During my tests, the pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which isn’t as quiet as the noise-shielded BCC13, but it isn’t excessive.

Like all Smeg’s coffee machines, the ECF03 is controlled via a small set of buttons labelled with icons, which illuminate in different colors to show the machine’s status. Solid white means the machine is ready to brew hot, solid blue means it’s ready for cold-brewing. Flashing or orange lights mean the machine is either still heating or requires maintenance. You'll need to keep the manual handy for reference when you first start using it, but you'll soon learn what the different combinations signify.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine with espresso cup, portafilter, and tamper

(Image credit: Future)

The Smeg ECF03 is easy to maintain, and unlike most home espresso machines, it comes with a blank disc for backwashing the grouphead and water circuit. This makes it easy to clear out coffee oils and residue that might affect the taste of your drinks.

Overall, the ECF03 is an absolute pleasure to use, and during my testing, I found it difficult to fault. The only real drawback is the price, but it is justified by the quality and style. There’s a chance you can get a deal if you wait for the Black Friday sales, or if you’re not likely to use the cold-brew function, you could opt for the ECF02 instead.

Smeg ECF03: specifications

Name

Smeg ECF03

Type

Manual espresso machine

Dimensions (H x W x D)

14.3 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches / 36.4 x 20.5 x 29.5cm

Weight

24lb 11oz / 11.2kg

Water tank capacity

1.5qt / 1.4l

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Max pressure

15 bar

User profiles

1

Smeg ECF03: price and availability

  • Only available in Europe at the time of writing (October 2025)
  • Smeg ECF02, which lacks cold brew mode, costs considerably less

At the time of writing, the Smeg ECF03 is only available in Europe. It launched in the UK in September 2025 at a list price of £499.96. That works out at about $670 / AU$1,000, but official release dates and prices for the US and Australia have yet to be announced.

For comparison, the Smeg ECF02, which lacks a cold-brew function, has a list price of $600 / £399.95 / AU$699, but can sometimes be found at a significant discount. In the UK, for example, it's currently reduced to £299.95 in Smeg’s online store.

You’ll find today’s best deals on both machines below, with prices updated daily.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Smeg ECF03: design

  • Chic 1950s-inspired design
  • Well-made, solid-feeling accessories
  • Cleverly concealed storage compartment

The ECF03 is part of Smeg’s line of 1950s-inspired appliances, with smooth curved lines, stainless steel accents, and a choice of glossy retro colors: pastel blue, cream (shown here), white, and black. It’s a new sibling for the Smeg ECF02, with the biggest difference being the ECF03's ability to brew cold-extracted espresso as well as hot.

It also has a slightly different shape, with convex sides rather than concave, and a gauge on the front that helps you see if you’ve achieved the optimum pressure for extracting a shot (a feature I always appreciate).

Inserting portafilter into Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

You’ll find a power switch on the left-hand side of the ECF03’s case, and its functions are controlled with a set of four buttons on the stainless steel top (for single shot, double shot, steam, and switching between hot and cold brewing).

The 58mm portafilter feels reassuringly solid in the hand, weighing about 240z / 676g with a basket fitted, and the tamper is a hefty 16z / 448g. This weight doesn’t just make it satisfying to use, it also helps you apply even pressure to produce an evenly compressed puck without fissures, resulting in more consistently extracted coffee.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine accessories including filter baskets

(Image credit: Future)

Like all other Smeg espresso machines I’ve tested, the ECF03 comes with four filter baskets, including pressurized and single-walled options for single and double shots. Pressurized (double-walled) baskets are more forgiving if your technique isn’t quite perfect, producing reliably thick crema, while the single-walled baskets give you finer control over extraction.

The steam wand pivots out from the machine, with a good range of movement and an angle that’s ideal for creating a ‘whirlpool’ in your milk pitcher. It has a cool-touch silicone handle and is operated using a stainless steel knob on the machine’s right-hand side. Pull it towards you for steam, and push it away for hot water.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine steam wand lever

(Image credit: Future)

Pull out the drip tray and you’ll find a handy storage compartment, which holds the filter baskets you use less frequently, a stiff-bristled cleaning brush, a needle tool for clearing the steam wand if it becomes blocked, and a blank disc that you can place in the portafilter handle to backwash the machine using a cleaning tablet. That last item is a particularly nice addition that’s used daily in a commercial setting, but rarely included with home espresso machines.

The only item notable by its absence is a milk pitcher, which is a little surprising for an espresso machine in this price bracket.

  • Design score: 5/5

Smeg ECF03: performance

  • Brews consistently good hot and cold espresso
  • Pressure gauge is useful, though the lack of numbers is surprising
  • Easy to clean and care for

I found the ECF03 a joy to use, whether brewing hot or cold, and Smeg’s usual attention to detail and build quality are evident right from the start.

The machine’s water tank is robust, with a built-in handle that makes it easy and comfortable to carry. You’re given a water hardness testing strip so you can pick the correct water hardness setting to use (‘hard water’ is the default). Although no water filter is provided, compatible filters are available to buy from Smeg’s website, and they easily twist into place in the bottom of the tank.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The 58mm portafilter seems identical to the one supplied with the ECF02, which is fine with me; it’s excellent. The tamper, however, is a big upgrade. The base model ECF02 came with a plastic measuring scoop with a tamper on the end. It was fit for purpose, but its light weight meant it could be tricky to apply consistent pressure each time you used it. The ECF03’s tamper is much weightier, which gives it a more premium feeling and makes it easier to create a consistently well-formed puck.

As you’d expect from a premium home espresso machine, the ECF03 is an excellent performer. Once you’ve got your grinder dialled in, you can be confident that your shots will be perfectly extracted time after time. (If you’re in need of a grinder, the Smeg CGF03 matches the ECF03 in style and choice of colors.)

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine pressure gauge

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03’s pressure gauge is a particularly useful feature, letting you see whether your espresso is likely to be extracted properly before it’s finished pouring. However, it’s not labelled with the exact pressure in bars; instead, you just aim for the needle to be positioned in the black section marked on the dial. It’s a bit of a strange choice; there are markers around the edge of the dial, but no indication of what measurements they represent.

During brewing, the ECF03’s pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which is roughly equivalent to a vacuum cleaner. It’s noticeably noisier than the fully automatic Smeg BCC13, which has sound shielding and is QuietMark certified, but isn’t excessively loud and is about average for a manual espresso machine.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machined dispensing espresso

(Image credit: Future)

Most of the buttons on the machine’s top are labelled with icons, except for the one that switches between hot and cold brewing modes. When the machine is primed and ready to brew hot, the double-shot, single-shot, and steam buttons are all illuminated white. In cold-brewing mode, the first two are blue instead.

Cold-brewing is quick, taking around two minutes to extract a shot. Part of this time is taken up with an extended pre-infusion, which gives the ground coffee extra time to bloom. After that, the ECF03 will send pulses of cold water through the puck (in groups of three) until the shot is ready.

Cold brew coffee made using Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The result is a mellow-tasting and well-rounded drink that you can enjoy by itself or as the base of an iced americano. If you prefer chilled lattes or cappuccinos, take a look at the Smeg Mini Milk Frother, which matches the style of the ECF03 and can produce thick or thin cold foam.

Holding down one of the coffee-brewing buttons will let you customize its properties. If the buttons illuminate in orange or start to flash, it’s a sign that there’s a fault, or (more likely) it’s time for some routine maintenance.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine control panel

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03 is a piece of cake to clean and care for. You can keep the case and exterior of the milk wand looking pristine by wiping with a damp cloth. Purge the wand with a blast of steam after each use, and you’ll be unlikely to need the needle-like cleaning tool.

As I mentioned above, the inclusion of a blank disc is excellent when it’s time to give the machine’s grouphead and circuit a thorough clean to remove old coffee residue. To use it, insert the single-walled single-shot basket and place the disc in the bottom. Smeg doesn’t sell its own cleaning tablets, but you can use any detergent tabs recommended for home coffee machines. Press and hold the single and double shot buttons to pulse water through the machine, then empty the drip tray and repeat the process. For descaling, the company recommends its own-brand Anti-Kalk liquid.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

(Image credit: Future)

The drip tray’s cup holder seems to resist scratches well (unlike some, which are easily scuffed by ceramic mugs), and the tray is nice and deep, so you’re unlikely to spill anything during emptying.

I’ve tested a lot of hot- and cold-brew espresso machines this year, but the Smeg ECF03 is easily one of the most refined. It’s a pleasure to use, looks great, and is extremely consistent. If your budget will stretch to it, you won’t be disappointed.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Smeg ECF03

Smeg ECF03 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

A premium espresso machine with a price tag to match, though it's justified by the design and build quality.

4.5/5

Design

Smeg's signature '50s style looks as chic as ever, and there are some significant upgrades from the ECF02.

5/5

Performance

Generates consistent pressure for reliably well-extracted hot and cold drinks, and is a piece of cake to clean and care for.

5/5

Buy it if

You want a showpiece for your kitchen

Smeg’s '50s-style appliances are real lookers, and the ECF03 is no exception. It’s a guaranteed conversation-starter when you have guests.View Deal

You have a generous budget

Smeg’s signature style comes at a price. Hot- and cold-brew espresso machines are available for less if you’re not particular about looks.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You’re not into cold brew

The Smeg ECF02 is an equally good-looking machine that heats fast and delivers consistent pressure, but costs considerably less.View Deal

Smeg ECF03: also consider

Smeg ECF02

If you don't care for cold brew, the ECF02 is an equally chic and more affordable alternative. You don't get the handy pressure gauge, though, and the base model has a less sturdy tamper than the ECF03.

Read our full Smeg ECF02 reviewView Deal

Smeg BCC13

If you like the sound of the ECF03 but want an espresso machine that will handle all the hard work for you, the BCC13 is a beautifully designed super-automatic machine that would look perfect on your kitchen counter.

Read our full Smeg BCC13 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Smeg ECF03

I used the Smeg ECF03 for two weeks in place of my usual Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I used it on the hard water setting, with fresh single-origin Honduran Swiss water decaf beans from a local coffee roaster, ground using my Sage Precision burr grinder.

I used the steam wand with full-fat dairy milk and barista oat milk, both of which were freshly bought and chilled.

I followed the directions in the instruction manual to set up and maintain the machine, and brewed a mix of single and double shots using both filter baskets, and used both the hot- and cold-brew options.

For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

I used the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series for two weeks and found it produced excellent coffee, but its milk foaming could use improvement
4:20 am |
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine that’s a great option for smaller households or anyone making their first venture into the world of one-touch coffee machines. It’s very similar to the LatteGo 5500 Series that my UK-based colleague, Cat Ellis, has previously reviewed, and just misses out on a few preset drink recipes.

Otherwise, the two machines adopt the exact same dimensions, meaning their bean hopper and water tanks are the same size at 275g and 1.8L respectively, and, as the name implies, the 4400 Series on review here also uses Philips’ LatteGo milk-foaming system. This sees a milk carafe clip onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, with the idea being that you fill it with just enough milk for your chosen drink(s) once it’s attached.

Given the two machines make coffee in the exact same way, you’d expect the review of the 4400 Series to read largely the same, then, wouldn’t you? Well, while I do agree with much of Cat’s review of the 5500 Series, and that the Philips espresso machine does produce good-tasting coffee, I picked up on a few niggles during my time using the 4400. These mainly relate to the LatteGo system and the steps required to brew a coffee. I’ll explain more about both in the performance section of this review.

Ultimately, the Philips 4400 LatteGo coffee machine is incredibly simple to use and offers everything you need to make a great coffee, whether it be a simple espresso or ristretto shot, a larger latte, cappuccino or even a few iced drinks.

As with the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series doesn’t offer cold coffee extraction. If you want to make an iced drink, you’ll need to add ice cubes to a glass or mug for the machine to then pour on a hot shot of espresso. This machine can’t make iced lattes, so if you do want a milk-based iced drink, you’ll need to make do with pouring cold milk directly into your glass or mug.

If you like cold coffee, then you may not like the flavor profile delivered by the 4400 Series, and, as Cat found in her review, once the ice melts it can make the coffee taste weaker. Personally, I enjoyed making iced drinks using the Philips 4400 Series, but it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference.

Furthermore, having previously reviewed the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next automatic espresso machine, I found myself preferring the taste of the coffee produced by the Philips machine instead, and I appreciated the smaller footprint it took up on my kitchen counter.

However, as a plant milk drinker, I did prefer the level of milk foam produced by the De’Longhi’s LatteCrema system compared to the LatteGo milk-foaming system used by the Philips machine.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Price and availability

  • List price $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199
  • Available globally
  • Often discounted

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is available globally with a list price of $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199. At the time of writing, however, I was able to find it discounted to £499.99 in the UK and below AU$1,000 in Australia.

The 4400 Series sits one step down from the flagship 5500 Series, offering 12 hot and cold drink recipes compared to the 20 options found on its higher-spec sibling.

Its list price places it in a similar category to the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next fully automatic coffee machine that I’ve previously reviewed.

The two machines are similarly specced, although the De’Longhi unit is much larger. The Philips 4400 Series would therefore be my recommendation if your kitchen is on the smaller side.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series coffee machine

(Image credit: Future)
  • Value score: 4 / 5

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Specs

Name

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

User profiles

2 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Design

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo control panel

(Image credit: Future)
  • Compact, ideal for smaller kitchens
  • Intuitive, button-based navigation
  • Easy to clean and maintain but cleaning agents sold separately

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a relatively compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, coming in at 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide and 17 inches / 43.3cm long.

As a result, it makes placing it on a kitchen countertop quite easy, as it can be placed in a corner, for example and up against the wall, since the water tank slides out from the front. The brewing group head is accessed via the side behind the water tank, making maintenance just as simple.

The machine is controlled via a series of touch buttons on the front, which flank a 2.3-inch color display. A selection of popular coffee-based drinks have dedicated buttons on the front – including espresso, long black, cappuccino and flat white – while the remaining hot and cold drinks are accessed via a ‘More Drinks’ button.

You’ll also find a ‘Profile’ button on the front, which is used to cycle through two main profiles – Yellow and Blue – and a third guest profile to ensure your saved presets aren’t overridden.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The non-removable bean hopper is accessed at the top. All you need to do is remove the tinted plastic lid – by being tinted, it helps to prevent light from degrading the flavor of the beans – which is also airtight to maintain freshness. If you want to adjust grind settings, that’s done via a control dial set inside the bean hopper.

It’s not particularly large with a capacity up to 275g of beans, but this makes it a good option for single-person or couple households. Plus, the fact it’s airtight means you can leave beans in between uses and not worry about them spoiling, as opposed to pouring in just the right amount of beans for the drink you want to make.

As is the case with the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next I’ve previously reviewed, Philips says to only operate the grind adjustment whilst beans are being ground. It took me a little while to figure out how to actually use the dial, and after consulting the user manual, I realized you have to first press down on it before rotating.

There are 12 grind settings to choose from, with the halfway point setting 6 being the default. Philips says this should be ideal for most users, and recommends not adjusting it until you’ve made 100 to 150 drinks. I found during my review period that I did have to adjust to a finer setting – I settled on 4 – to achieve a thicker crema and a more flavorful coffee.

The Philips 4400’s LatteGo milk-frothing system comprises a small carafe that attaches to a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. It’s designed to be filled with just enough milk for whatever drink you want to make, as opposed to being stored in the fridge with leftover milk between uses. You can still store the milk in the fridge if you wish, but just note the lid isn’t airtight.

I liked the idea of this, but in reality I came across a couple of slight niggles.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The carafe has markings on the side for a single cappuccino, a single latte macchiato or two cappuccinos. I filled the carafe with oat milk to the line for the single cappuccino and poured one, and found it didn’t use all the milk.

Plus, when you’re selecting a coffee to make, you can adjust the volume of coffee and milk that goes in. If you adjust the volume of milk, for example, then you’ll need to ensure enough is in the carafe, making the markings somewhat redundant.

I’ll speak about it more in the performance section, but I also wasn’t overly happy with the level of (or lack of) milk foam produced by the system. Full-fat dairy milk did fare a lot better than plant milk during my tests though.

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series does have some other design features that I found useful, including a deep grounds container bin and a decently sized drip tray. The machine will let you know when the ground container needs emptying, but this won’t be that regular since it’s capable of storing a good amount of waste.

Another positive I noticed was how well-packaged the machine was, and that Philips used predominantly recyclable cardboard.

One thing worth noting is that you aren’t supplied with any cleaning tablets or descaling solution. Having reviewed coffee machines from De’Longhi and Australian brand Sunbeam, both of which do supply some cleaning products with their machines, I had expected the same from Philips.

Cleaning tablets can be bought online from stores such as Amazon, but it’s an extra cost you’ll need to consider. While the AquaClean filter should last some time – it will cease working once 95 liters (around 625 coffees) of water has flowed through it – it will also be an additional expense to replace.

As long as you keep replacing the filters on time, then you won’t need to descale the machines for 5000 coffees – 8 filters worth. At $20 / £12 / AU$29 per filter, that’s about $160 / £96 / AU$232 to delay the need to descale, but slightly less if buying in bulk.

In comparison (depending on your water hardness), without the filters, you would typically need to descale up to about 10 times for 5000 cups, with the total cost around half of buying new filters.

Finally, another thing I noticed was when removing a sticker on the front of the machine referencing the fact it can make 12 different coffee-based drinks, it left some adhesive behind (the white part to the right of the coffee spout in the pictures).

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo with water tank removed

(Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 4.5 / 5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series review: Performance

  • Great-tasting coffee with some grinder adjustment
  • Good level of personalization
  • LatteGo milk-foaming system not without fault

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is an incredibly easy espresso machine to use. Once you’ve got it set up – this involves testing your water for hardness and installing the supplied AquaClean filter if required – you’ll be brewing a coffee in seconds. The central color display provides information clearly, and buttons are logically laid out to navigate through menus and drinks to adjust settings.

There are 12 drinks to choose from:

  • Espresso
  • Coffee
  • Long black
  • Cappuccino
  • Latte macchiato
  • Caffè crema
  • Caffè latte
  • Ristretto
  • Flat white
  • Iced espresso
  • Iced long black
  • Iced coffee

Once you’ve selected a drink to make, a secondary screen allows you to adjust the strength and volume. In some cases, increasing the volume of coffee will mean the machine will have to grind beans twice, which can increase the speed you go through a bag. I increased the volume of my daily flat white from the default 80ml to 100ml, for example, and I had to wait for the machine to grind a second dose of beans before it was finished.

If you tweak the settings for a drink, whether it be strength or volume, the machine will save them for the next time. Each time you make an adjustment, it overrides the previous settings. If two people in the same household want the same drink but with different settings, I would recommend taking advantage of the two individual profiles to store personal drink preferences. Switching between profiles is simple thanks to a dedicated button on the front panel.

If there are more than two people in your home and each has their own preference, you’ll be better served by stepping up to the 5500 Series model, which has 4 profiles plus a separate guest profile.

The machine doesn’t provide feedback regarding grind size or whether it’s ideal for the beans you’ve used – something you will find on De’Longhi machines that have BeanAdapt technology such as the Rivelia – but you can manually adjust the grind setting to produce a well-extracted espresso. The default setting of 6 should be fine for most use cases, although I did find for the beans I used, the crema wasn’t as thick as I would like, and it dissipated relatively quickly. As mentioned previously, I was much happier with the result once I adjusted the grinder to setting 4 for a finer grind.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo bean container with lid off

(Image credit: Future)

Where I experienced a bit more of an issue was when using the LatteGo milk-foaming system. Having read about it on the Philips website and in my colleague Cat’s review of the more feature-packed 5500 Series model, I was expecting great results from the company’s take on automatic milk frothing. I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance, although I think some leniency should be applied.

Firstly, the milk carafe is a little awkward to attach to the steam nozzle. Not frustratingly so, but it requires a more steady hand compared to the approach taken by De’Longhi, whose LatteCrema milk carafe easily inserts into a cutout on the front of its machines.

Secondly, there are markings on the side of the carafe to indicate how much is required for a particular drink. In practice, I found these to be inaccurate, and I always had some leftover milk in the carafe. Because the lid isn’t airtight, I had to pour this away if I knew I wasn’t going to have another coffee soon after the first.

Finally, despite using a barista-level brand of oat milk, which has a higher protein content to assist with producing a thicker foam, the milk pushed out into my coffee mug lacked any real resemblance to proper foam. It was certainly foamier than if I just poured milk from the carton, but when I compared the results to using my Nespresso Aeroccino 3 milk frother, it was a clear win for Nespresso. I also tested the LatteGo system with full-fat dairy milk and it did produce a much thicker foam.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo espresso machine pouring a flat white

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Where I want to give some leniency is the fact that I wasn’t super satisfied with the results of the De’Longhi LatteCrema system when I reviewed the Magnifica Evo Next automatic coffee machine. I’ve yet to try similar systems from the likes of KitchenAid or Smeg, but I do wonder if the way they – creating steam and mixing with milk to aerate it – is that effective on the whole. In my mind, if you enjoy cafe-quality levels of milk foam, then you’ll be better served by an espresso machine with a steam wand.

I also experimented with iced drinks using the 4400 Series, although as Cat discovered in her review of the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series machine doesn’t actually produce cold coffee. Instead, you’re instructed to put ice cubes into a mug or glass, which then cools the coffee down. Philips does say water and coffee produced for iced drinks is “warm” rather than hot, so it will cool down quicker when poured over ice. I didn’t necessarily mind this approach, but it did make me wonder why there are iced drink recipes in the first place. I could just as easily place ice in a mug and run a regular espresso shot, rather than select iced espresso.

The 4400 Series only has three iced drink presets: iced espresso, iced coffee and iced long black. I like an iced latte and so poured cold milk into a glass with ice cubes and ran an iced espresso shot. For my tastes, the result was superb, and my partner enjoyed his iced long black. The 5500 Series does have a preset for iced latte, which pours cold milk via the LatteGo system.

Philips 4400 Series LatteGo side view

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, the Philips 4400 LatteGo uses what the company calls SilentBrew technology to keep noise levels to a minimum. It’s also Quiet Mark certified, meaning it’s among the quietest in its product class. Knowing this, I assumed I’d hear near-silence from the machine during use, but in reality it was louder than I had expected. Using the Decibel X app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine, I recorded a measurement of 69dB when the machine was grinding beans and around 60dB when espresso was being poured. That’s louder than the KitchenAid KF8, which is also Quiet Mark certified. We recorded a measurement of 66dB when grinding and an average volume of just 44dB in our KitchenAid KF8 review.

  • Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series?

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Affordable and often discounted, although other great options can be picked up for less during sales.

4 / 5

Design

Compact size will suit most kitchens, easy to clean and intuitive interface

4.5 / 5

Performance

Great results across all drinks, just don’t set your expectations too high for the LatteGo system

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You have limited kitchen space

The Philips LatteGo 4400 is a compact, narrow machine and only needs side access to remove the water tank and brewing group head. You can push it into a corner no problem.

You’re new to automatic coffee machines

This machine is incredibly easy to master, with clear and intuitive drinks, menus and settings. You’ll be brewing coffee after coffee in no time.

Don't buy it if...

You have a large household

The 4400 Series only has 2 selectable profiles. If you have multiple coffee drinkers with different preferences, you’ll likely end up overriding each other’s settings.

You like cold-brewed coffee

While you can make good iced drinks with the 4400 Series, it doesn’t produce authentic cold-brew coffee. It also can’t make iced lattes.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

KitchenAid KF6

It’s a little bit more expensive, but the KitchenAid KF6 has the looks to back it up and it produces a superb shot of espresso. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 review

Ninja Luxe Cafe

You’ll need more space in your kitchen to accommodate it, but this bean-to-cup machine from Ninja produces fantastic espresso and is packed with features, including grind size suggestion, weight-based dosage system and an automatic milk frother.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe review

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series over a period of two weeks with some coffee beans from a local supermarket that I had used before. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box and fitted the water tank using the instructions provided.

I tested the LatteGo system of the 4400 Series coffee machine using fridge-cold full-fat dairy and a barista oat milk. I tested the machine's ability to produce a variety of hot and cold drinks.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

I spent two weeks with the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System, and espresso and drip coffee don’t get easier than this
8:00 pm | October 19, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: one-minute review

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (which is almost identical to the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System solid in the US) is a Swiss army knife of a coffee maker, with a drip brewer on one side, a single-serve pod machine for espresso on the other, a measuring scoop embedded in one side, and a milk whisk that flips out from the back. Its price is around upper-mid level for a drip coffee maker, but when you consider that you’re getting a Nespresso machine thrown in, too, it’s great value.

It’s a sizeable machine so you’ll need a decent amount of countertop space to accommodate it, but it’s well designed and full of thoughtful little touches. Highlights include a height-adjustable drip tray for the Nespresso pod brewer (with a grippy surface to prevent your cup slipping and avoid scratches), a bin for used capsules that has its own mini-drip tray so they can dry out ready for recycling, and a fold-out platform so you can brew a single portion of drip coffee straight into your favorite cup or travel mug.

The DualBrew System uses a hotplate to keep your fresh drip coffee warm rather than an insulated carafe, which won’t be to everyone’s taste; many people prefer to avoid hotplates for fear of stewing their coffee and spoiling the taste. However, this one is more gentle than most, with a choice of heat settings and times so you don’t overheat your morning brew.

Image 1 of 2

Coffee filter in Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System's basket, with ground coffee

The drip coffee maker comes with one basket, and a two-ended measuring scoop to help with dosing (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System dispensing drip coffee

You can brew drip coffee into a carafe, or directly into a cup or travel mug (Image credit: Future)

Unlike a double-walled carafe, this glass pitcher is dishwasher-safe, as are the machine’s other removable components – and the DualBrew System will alert you when it’s time to run its cleaning program.

Ninja suggests the Prestige DualBrew System is a good option for entertaining, letting you cater to the whims of different guests – and it is, but personally I love it as a way to get coffee into my system as quickly as possible in the morning. Set the timer and wake to a freshly brewed, nicely extracted jug of drip coffee, or pick a pod and have a tasty espresso in your hand within two minutes.

Espresso purists will prefer the Ninja Luxe Café, which combines a drip coffee maker with a semi-automatic espresso machine, and has a proper steam wand rather than a little electric whisk, but for sheer convenience, the DualBrew System is hard to beat.

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: specifications

Dimensions (H x W x D)

5.5 x 10.8 x 12.8 inches / 41.1 x 27.4 x 32.6cm

Weight

13.6lbs / 6.18kg

Water tank capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Filter baskets

One (cone)

Brewing modes

Drip and espresso (from capsules)

Timer

Yes

Insulated carafe

No

Hotplate

Yes

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: price and availability

  • Sold in the UK, and almost identical model available in US
  • Not yet sold in Australia
  • Costs $279.99 / £249.99

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is sold in the UK for £249.99, and an almost identical model called the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System is available in the US for $279.99. As far as I can see, the only differences between the two are the style of the display, and the color of the plastic panel on the right-hand side. Their features seem to be exactly the same.

Both variants carry an upper-mid range price tag for a drip coffee maker, but when you factor in the extra single-serve capsule coffee maker, they suddenly become very good value for money. You'll find today's best deals on both versions below.

Neither machine is available in Australia at the time of writing, but the Ninja Luxe Café is a good alternative if you want a two-in-one drip coffee and espresso machine.

  • Value score: 5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: design

  • Thoughtfully designed by people who clearly love coffee
  • Milk frother isn’t perfect, but it's a nice extra
  • Dishwasher-safe components

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is quite a large unit, measuring 5.5 x 10.8 x 12.8 inches / 41.1 x 27.4 x 32.6cm (H x W x D), but there isn't an inch of wasted space.

Both the drip coffee maker and single-serve pod machine use the same water tank, which slots into the back of the machine. It’s easy to lift out for filling, and measurements are clearly marked on the side, although a handle would have been a nice extra touch for a more secure grip. There’s no water filter supplied with the machine, either.

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System water tank removed

The water tank is easy to remove, although it has no handle (Image credit: Future)

Both parts of the DualBrew System are controlled using a simple set of physical buttons on the machine’s face, plus a dial that has a pleasingly solid feeling when rotated and pressed. Information is conveyed via a monochrome LCD panel, which is clear and bright, and shows the current time when the machine is in standby mode.

The drip coffee part of the DualBrew (on the left-hand side) features a filter basket assembly that stands taller than the rest of the machine, so you may need to slide it forward to open the lid if you’re planning to keep it on a counter underneath a cabinet. It comes with a single cone-shaped filter basket, and a set of filter papers to get you started.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System controls

Choose your brew size and strength, then set the timer or start brewing immediately (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some drip coffee makers (such as the Sage Luxe Thermal Brewer and Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker) there’s no flat-bottomed basket for large, strong brews. However, unlike these two premium machines, the DualBrew System has a handy drip-stop function that prevents coffee leaking out of the basket when the machine has finished brewing.

The carafe itself is a traditional-style glass pitcher rather than the insulated ones used by the Sage and Fellow machines, and unlike them, has a hotplate underneath to keep your freshly brewed coffee warm. A small LED on the bottom left of the machine warns you if it’s hot, for safety.

If you only want to brew a single serving, there’s a small fold-down drip tray behind the carafe, which is just the right size for a coffee mug.

Coffee capsule in Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System

The DualBrew System takes Nespresso Original style capsules (Image credit: Future)

Moving to the right-hand side of the machine, you’ll find a slot in the top that accepts Nespresso Original style capsules (not the dome-shaped Vertuo pods). Nestlé no longer owns the patent to these top-hat-shaped capsules, so there’s a huge range available from big brands and indie coffee roasters alike.

Below this is a drip tray, which you can unhook and reposition to accommodate different-sized cups (anything from a tall mug to a tiny espresso cup). The tray has a rubberized surface to prevent your cup slipping, and although the sets of holes for repositioning it doesn’t look particularly stylish (it feels like a sliding system would look more sleek), it’s understandable that Ninja’s designers have taken a minimalist approach considering the waste bin for used pods is directly behind it.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System dispensing espresso

Adjust the height of the drip tray to suit your cup (Image credit: Future)

That isn't all the DualBrew has hidden away. On the left-hand side you’ll find a two-ended coffee scoop with markings for brewing different quantities of drip coffee. There’s also a fold-out milk frother, which is activated by pressing a button on top. Unlike a steam wand, this doesn’t heat the milk, but it’s a nice addition if you want to use a coffee capsule as the basis for an espresso, and the machine has a sticker on the side providing estimated microwave and whisking times for different drinks.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: performance

  • Extremely simple to use and maintain
  • Drip-stop is a particularly helpful feature
  • Excellent adjustable hotplate

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is a particularly great option if you’re looking for a coffee machine that will help give you a boost in the morning. Its drip machine has a timer so you can wake to a freshly brewed mug or jug of coffee, and its single-serve capsule machine will have you sipping an espresso within a minute. They’re the two most convenient forms of coffee-making rolled into one easy-to-use machine.

Setup is straightforward: just use the dial to set the current time (necessary for scheduling the drip coffee maker), then "prime" the DualBrew System following Ninja’s instructions. For the drip brewer, this means running a brew cycle using a full tank of water, without coffee in the basket, and for the single-serve coffee maker it means running the "lungo" program three times without a capsule.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System with coffee capsule and cup of espresso

Your espresso will be ready to drink in about a minute (Image credit: Future)

As you use the DualBrew System, you’ll start to appreciate the various thoughtful touches Ninja’s designers have implemented. For example, used coffee pods drop into a bin with its own mini-drip tray underneath, which catches any mess from used capsules so they’re dry and ready to recycle.

The drip-stop function is particularly handy if you’re in a rush first thing in the morning, since it allows you to remove the carafe as soon as the machine has finished brewing without drips falling onto the hotplate (and making a mess). The machine will also display a warning icon and refuse to start if you try to begin brewing while the drip-stop is closed.

Person using Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System drip-stop control

The drip-stop helps avoid mess when you've brewed a carafe or mug of coffee (Image credit: Future)

Another of my favorite features is the hotplate. Sometimes, drip coffee maker hotplates tend to become very warm and stew your freshly brewed coffee. However, this DualBrew System avoids this by offering a choice of temperatures (low, medium, or high), and can keep your coffee warm for up to four hours, which is the same performance you could expect from a coffee maker with an insulated carafe.

The glass carafe has a couple of key advantages: you can see how much coffee is left, and it’s dishwasher-safe, which isn’t true of double-walled pitchers. When you’re loading the dishwasher, you can also add the water reservoir and its lid, the brew basket, the cup tray and its base, and the milk frother, too, so you won’t need to spend time scrubbing by hand.

Ninja Prestige Dual-Brew System milk frother in jug of milk

The milk frother is nice to have, but can't compare with a steam wand (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned above, the frother is just an electric whisk (similar to the hand-held type that can be bought for $10 at Amazon), but it’s a nice extra, and adding a steam wand to the DualBrew System would have been impractical. During testing, the whisk worked better with dairy milk than plant-based alternatives, and I found that it took longer than suggested by the guide to achieve a thick foam. Nevertheless, the recommended heating times for milk were handy as a guide. The whisk tucks away out of sight when not in use.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

A reasonable price for a drip coffee maker, and even better when there's also a Nespresso machine attached.

5/5

Design

Large, but thoughtfully designed and easy to maintain. The only weak point is the milk frother, which is nice to have but not amazing.

4.5/5

Performance

Makes brewing great coffee as close to effortless as possible, whether you're entertaining guests or just trying to jump-start your morning.

5/5

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System: also consider

If you're not quite sure whether the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider:

Ninja Luxe Café

Another two-in-one coffee maker, the Luxe Café swaps the single-serve pods for a semi-automatic espresso machine. It also has a steam wand with automatic and manual settings for creating proper cappuccinos and lattes, and is still great value.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Café review

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

If you only want to brew drip coffee, the Luxe Thermal Brewer is my number-one pick right now. It has a small footprint, it's easy to use, and its thermal carafe keeps coffee piping hot for an amazingly long time (much longer than any others I've tested).

Read our full Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal review

How I tested the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

I used the Ninja DualBrew system for two weeks in place of my usual espresso machine and V60 coffee dripper. I used the drip coffee maker with light roasted Honduras Swiss water decaf coffee (freshly ground using my Sage burr grinder). I used the single-serve brewer with the same coffee in alumnium capsules. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

I welcomed this Blueair for extra-large rooms into my home, and it’s the most attractive air purifier I’ve ever seen
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Blueair Blue Signature: two-minute review

The Blueair Blue Signature is a furniture-inspired air purifier for extra-large rooms, available from Blueair, Amazon, and other third-party retailers.

You can purchase the Blueair Blue Signature for a list price of $449.99 / £369, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for discounts to maximize the value. I’ve not spotted any in the UK so far, but at the time of writing, US customers can get a $50 discount at Blueair, bringing the price down to an even more reasonable $399.99.

A woman has just pressed the power button on the top of the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

While the mid-gray Light model is more to my preference, the navy blue Dark model I’ve been testing does a great job of blending into the room, rather than standing out like other white plastic air purifiers often do.

Like many of Blueair’s purifiers, the Blue Signature features an easy-to-clean fabric pre-filter, which is available in a range of colors to help it blend in with your decor.

At 15.5 inches / 39.4cm in diameter, there’s plenty of room to plonk down the remote or a magazine, but as I learned from my experience, you’ll need to be mindful about placing anything that could scratch the tabletop.

The Blue Signature is satisfyingly lightweight considering its size, making it easy to unbox and set up. I found it to be a little low for my liking, but this may well be down to personal preference.

The filter has been removed and has been placed next to the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

There are two bases that can be purchased separately, a chrome ring or some wooden legs, that’ll increase its height and enhance its furniture-style aesthetic. Their prices are a hard pill to swallow, however, at a cost of $99.99 / £99.99 and $79.99 / £79.99, respectively.

The motion-activated controls on the top of the Blue Signature are responsive and easy to use, and remote controlling the purifier is straightforward on the well-designed Blueair app.

The app contains a host of useful features, including controls, automations, settings, and color-coded air quality graphs for up to a month of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 readings.

In addition to the four fan speeds, there are three modes available. These are Auto mode, which sets the Blue Signature to purify at speed one until contamination is detected, Eco mode, which operates the same as Auto, but the purifier remains idle, and Night mode, which lowers the purifier to its lowest speed and turns off most of the lights.

There’s a useful AirSense automation that provides a quick freshen up twice a day when the Blue Signature is in Auto or Eco mode, which runs regardless of the ambient air quality, though it can be turned off if desired.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display reads

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, I was very pleased with the Blue Signature’s efforts. It promptly detected and cleared the contamination caused as a result of my spraying dry shampoo from a couple of feet away, and displayed the readings in the graphs on the app.

It appears that the Blue Signature does a better job of tackling odors than other purifiers I’ve tested, as it made short work of removing the fragrance from the dry shampoo following my testing.

The Blue Signature operates satisfyingly quietly despite its power, maxing out at just 55dB at top speed, and giving readings as low as 27dB on speed one, which is quieter than a whisper.

As the brand makes some of the best air purifiers, it hasn’t come as a surprise that there’s so much to love about the Blueair Blue Signature. It has many useful features and performs well at a pleasingly low volume for the price, making it the perfect choice for larger spaces, without being conspicuous.

Blueair Blue Signature review: price & availability

  • List price: $449.99 / £369
  • Launch date: Mid 2025
  • Available now in the US and UK

The Blueair Blue Signature has a list price of $449.99 / £369, and is available to purchase directly from Blueair or at Amazon.

This is a pretty good price considering it’s designed for large rooms, supports WiFi connectivity, and can detect and react to PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, meaning it’ll jump into action whether ultra-fine or coarse particles are present.

What’s more, I’m already seeing some great deals appearing in the US, with Blueair offering a $50 off the price at the time of writing, so you can pick the Blue Signature up for just $399.99. I’m yet to spot a deal in the UK just yet, but you never know.

Blue Signature 4.0 replacement filters look a little pricey at $99.99 / £99.99 each, but Blueair states that these filters can last up to a year, and their RealTrack algorithm calculates the lifetime left on your filter based on the fan speed, usage time, and pollution levels, meaning it should offer a more accurate expiry date compared to other models.

It’s worth noting that while the all-singing-all-dancing 7-stage filter uses Blueair’s HEPASilent technology, it’s not a true HEPA filter, though Blueair has insisted that their filters are actually more effective and operate at lower volumes.

A woman is removing the filter from the Blueair Blue Signature.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Blueair Blue Signature without any accessories, but there’s the option of two different stand formats if you want to make it look more like a piece of furniture.

These don’t come cheap, however, with the wooden legs, referred to as the Leg Base in Wood, costing $79.99 / £79.99, and the Ring Base in Chrome costing an eye-watering $99.99 / £99.99. As nice an addition as these would make, I must admit that I consider these grossly overpriced, which is a shame, as they would greatly improve the aesthetic.

Accessories aside, considering the Blue Signature’s reliable performance, easy filter replacement, and simple controls, this Blueair purifier offers plenty of bang for your buck, even at the full list price, making it well worth your consideration.

  • Value score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: specs

Type

Air purifier table

Fan speeds

1-4

CADR (Clean air delivery rate)

Pollen 450 cfm

Dust 434 cfm

Smoke 455 cfm

Air changes per hour (ACH)

4.8

Filter

Multi-layered HEPASilent filter with activated carbon

Particle sizes detected

PM1, PM2.5, PM10

Dimensions

15.5 x 15.5 x 17.2 inches / 39.4 x 39.4 43.7cm

Weight

13.2lb / 6kg

Control

Touch controls / App

Timer

Yes

Additional modes

Auto, Night, Eco

Extra features

Tabletop, machine-washable pre-filters

Blueair Blue Signature review: design and features

  • Pleasantly lightweight for the size
  • Four fan speeds, three purifying modes
  • The material of the tabletop surface could be better

The furniture-inspired design of the Blueair Blue Signature makes it pleasingly subtle for an extra-large room air purifier.

The Blue Signature comes in a choice of Light and Dark models, the former being a mid-gray color, and the latter being a navy blue, which is the model I’ve tested.

Both models come with a color-coordinated machine-washable pre-filter, a Nordic Fog with the Light, and a Midnight for the dark. At the time of writing, the Blue Signature Light model doesn’t appear to be available at Blueair in the UK, but it can be purchased from Amazon.

If you feel like mixing things up, there are four other pre-filter colors to choose from, which include a couple of neutral colors, a blue, and a green. Each pre-filter has a list price of $24.99 / £24.99, so it’s not too much of an outlay if you want to change up the color, or have a spare to put on while the other is in the wash.

The fabric pre-filter of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier has been partially rolled down.

(Image credit: Future)

Although rather large, at 15.5 inches / 39.4cm in diameter, the Blue Signature is surprisingly easy to maneuver, as it weighs only 13.2lb / 6kg, and I could use the gap between the pre-filter and the top section to carry it about.

The Blue Signature’s 17.2 inches / 43.7cm height might prove a little low to use as a side table for some, but it’s not inconveniently short. The wooden legs would definitely prove beneficial here, but I think I’d rather prop it up on something than pay that price for the four-legged base.

The smooth matte plastic on the top of the air purifier makes it look like what it is, the top of an appliance, rather than an item of furniture. I would have liked to have seen a slightly more premium finish, but it offers plenty of surface area for placing mugs, books, and remote controls.

Speaking of controls, the touch controls on the top of the Blue Signature are pretty nifty, as the motion-activation means they disappear along with the display. They’re pleasingly simple to use, and include buttons for power, Auto mode, night mode, a display lock, and cycling through the four fan speeds. It’s quick and easy to change the settings on the app, too, so I could switch modes without needing to move out of my comfy spot on the sofa.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display shows a reading of PM2.5.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a steady blue light under the top surface of the air purifier when the air quality is rated as excellent. It changes color depending on the level of contamination, and is automatically dimmed when the Blue Signature is put into Night mode.

When Auto mode is enabled, the Blue Signature fan runs at speed one consistently, increasing the speed to suit whenever the Blue Signature detects PM1, PM2.5, or PM10 contamination.

I appreciate that the air purifier continues to purify at a low speed despite the air quality registering at a good level, as many air purifiers simply idle on Auto mode, so they fail to react and purify the surrounding air of contaminants they aren’t capable of detecting, such as VOCs.

Lastly, there’s an Eco mode, which works much the same as Auto mode, except it sits dormant until contamination is detected, thereby conserving energy.

  • Design & features score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: app

  • Quick and easy device syncing
  • Simple and straightforward interface
  • Provides access to air quality graphs, settings, and automations

Adding a new device can be a headache in some cases, but as the Blueair app detected the Blue Signature straight away, I simply needed to select it and follow the instructions to connect it to my WiFi, which it did with no issues.

The Blueair app is simple to navigate, and the settings are easy to access and adjust on the dashboard for the Blue Signature. For day-to-day control, there’s a simple slider to amend the fan speed, buttons to enable each of the three modes, and the display lock function.

Three phone display screenshots from the Blueair app.

(Image credit: Blueair / Future)

There’s a useful feature linked to the Auto and Eco modes called AirSense, which means that my air purifier would stir into action for ten minutes at 10am and 6pm every day, though it can run for as long as twenty-five minutes if the air quality is a little lower.

This is particularly helpful if you plan to keep your air purifier set to Eco mode, as the air will still get a little freshen up twice a day. If you’d rather it didn’t embark on these mini cleaning sprees, it’s easy to turn off in the device settings.

There’s also a schedule feature, which can be used to set the air purifier to power on in a chosen mode at set times on your choice of days, before turning off at an allotted time.

The Blueair Blue Signature's display shows a leaf alongside the word Eco.

(Image credit: Future)

Another nifty automation is the Welcome Home feature, which powers on the Blue Signature when you’re approximately fifteen minutes away from home, based on your location and specified transport method.

A color-coded graph makes it easy to review the collected air quality data on the Blueair app. There’s a different graph for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, with the option to view the readings over the course of a day, week, or month.

Overall, the app provides all the essentials in an easy-to-navigate interface, and all functions appeared responsive, bar the few moments it can take for the graph to update and reflect the real-time air quality readings.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Signature review: performance

  • Quick and easy setup
  • Prompt detection and contamination clearing
  • The dark tabletop appears to scratch easily

Getting the Blueair Blue Signature setup was a quick and simple process, as it was just a case of plugging it in and setting it up on the Blueair app.

I didn’t feel quite as comfortable using the Blue Signature as a side table as I did with the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table, as it felt a bit wrong putting things down directly on top of an air purifier, and the material looks like it’d mark and scratch easily.

While the dark blue table top collected fingerprints easily, they wiped off without much effort. This was a relief, as some darker-colored matte surfaces can prove notoriously difficult to remove fingerprints from.

Some books and a pair of headphones have been placed on top of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier.

(Image credit: Future)

Sadly, it got a bit scratched not long into my testing. Presumably, this was from me balancing the plug on it as I pulled it out of the box, though it was only the plastic part of the plug in contact with the surface, which is a concern considering it’s meant to be used as a tabletop.

These scratches were only really visible when caught in the light however, and likely more noticeable due to the dark coloring of the plastic. Either way, I’d definitely recommend enforcing the coaster rule in your house if you plan to use it as a table.

The UK plug is pictured on top of the Blueair Blue Signature air purifier, with the EU plug adapter sitting alongside.

(Image credit: Future)

All of the modes worked as expected. Night mode reduced the fan to its lowest speed and extinguished the indicator light, the display, and most of the touch controls, though curiously, the Night mode and power button remain illuminated.

In terms of purifying performance, I was pleased to find that the Blue Signature only took around sixteen seconds to detect the dry shampoo I’d sprayed around two feet away.

After detecting the contamination, the air quality rating was updated to “very polluted”, and so the Blue Signature ramped up the fan speed. The air quality returned to “good” levels around twenty seconds from detection, and was back to “excellent” after a further minute, at which point the fan speed was reduced back to its lowest setting.

The power and Night mode icons are still illuminated while the Blueair Blue Signature is in Night mode.

(Image credit: Future)

The Blue Signature appeared to clear odors better than other air purifiers I’ve tested. While the strong smell of the dry shampoo usually lingers long after the air purifier I’m testing has dealt with the particulate contamination, it was cleared fairly quickly by the Blue Signature.

This may well be down to the fact that the Blue Signature runs at its lowest fan speed in Auto mode, rather than simply idling, meaning it could prove a good option if reducing ambient odors is on your list of priorities.

I was impressed by the Blue Signature’s low volume too, finding that it operated quieter overall than the majority of the air purifiers I’ve tested to date. The loudest reading I recorded was 55dB when it was running at top speed, making it no louder than a conversation, and it operated at just 27dB on fan speed one, which is quieter than a whisper.

The Blueair Blue Signature air purifier is pictured without its fabric pre-filter.

(Image credit: Future)

While the tabletop may leave a little to be desired, all in all, the Blueair Blue Signature performed really well. Its capacity to purify an extra-large room's worth of air, in-app features, quick detection, and contamination tackling make this a great air purifier for the price, and, ignoring my personal preferences on its suitability as a table, it looks a whole lot more attractive than any large-scale air purifier I’ve come across to date.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Blueair Blue Signature?

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

The Blue Signature offers great performance, an attractive design, and a pleasant user experience for the price. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive to buy the base accessories to complete the look.

4.5/5

Design & Features

This furniture-inspired air purifier manages to stand out from the crowd without disrupting the decor. It’s easy to use, pleasingly lightweight, and has a large surface area for placing items.

4.5/5

App

The Blueair app makes it super simple to operate the Blue Signature. Its interface is attractive and easy to understand, making it easy to access the features and air quality graphs.

4.5/5

Performance

The Blue Signature reacted quickly during testing and made quick work of clearing the contamination. It also did a better job of clearing the strong fragrance of the dry shampoo than other air purifiers I’ve tested.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You don’t want a typical-looking air purifier
With a choice of fabric colors and optional bases, this air purifier is your best bet if you’re looking for something that’ll look more like a piece of furniture than an appliance.

You want constant purification
Many air purifiers simply idle quietly in the background when the air quality is considered good based on what they can detect. It’s nice to have the option of constant purifying here, especially as it seems to aid in odor removal.

You appreciate nifty automations
The Blue Signature offers some useful automations, including scheduling, powering on when you’re 15 minutes from home, and twice-daily ramped up purifying with AirSense.

Don't buy it if...

You want VOC detection
While the Blueair does a great job of detecting particulates, it doesn't register the presence of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), like some more premium options do. However, the good news is that the filter is still capable of filtering them, which is another reason why the consistent purifying in Auto mode is beneficial.

You don’t like lingering lights
Although not glaringly bright, it’s a shame the power and Night mode icons aren’t extinguished when said mode is triggered. This may only be a minor niggle for some, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you can’t stand any light at bedtime.

You don’t want to pay a premium for a pretty base
The Blue Signature looks good as-is, but the furniture aesthetic would be nicely enhanced when teamed with one of the bases on offer. I just wish that these extras weren’t so eye-wateringly expensive.

Blueair Blue Signature review: Also consider

Blueair Blue Signature

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09

Type

Air purifier table

Air purifier table

Purifying tower fan

Price

$449.99 / £369

$269.99 / £299.99

$749.99 / £549.99

Fan speeds

4

3

10

Modes

Auto, Eco, Night

Auto, Sleep, Pet

Auto, Night mode, Diffused mode

Filter

Pre-filter, 7-stage HEPASilent with activated carbon

Pre-filter, HEPA and activated carbon

HEPA H13 and activated carbon

App support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dimensions

15.5 x 15.5 x 17.2 inches / 39.4 x 39.4 43.7cm

11.4 x 11.4 x 16.5 inches / 29 x 29 x 42cm

8.7 x 8.7 x 41.3 inches / 22 x 22 x 105cm

Weight

13.2lb / 6kg

10.7lb / 4.9kg

10.4 lbs / 4.7kg

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table
If you love the idea of a multi-functional air purifier but haven’t got the budget spare for the Blue Signature, then this SwitchBot alternative might be for you. Its wood-effect tabletop offers plenty of space for a mug and remote, and comes with the bonus of an integrated wireless phone charger. It only detects and reacts to PM2.5 or smaller, but it operates just as quietly as the Blueair, and makes for a great lower-cost alternative. If you’d like to learn more, have a read of my full SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09
This Dyson air purifier requires a lot more investment, but it’s a fantastic choice if you want to get a clearer view of your air quality data. I love the attractive gold and white coloring, and can’t help but be impressed by its ability to detect and react to more than the standard PM contaminants, namely, VOCs, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. And, while it can’t be used as a table, it does operate as a bladeless fan. To find out more about this 4.5-star rated purifier, check out my full Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 review.

How I tested the Blueair Blue Signature

  • I tested the Blueair Blue Signature over a few weeks
  • I explored the Blueair app and tested the modes and features
  • I tested the purifier's detection and reaction speeds

After assembling the Blueair Blue Signature and syncing it to the Blueair app, I tried out the onboard touch controls and app-based controls before having a good explore of the different settings and features.

Along with using the Blueair Blue Signature passively in my home, I also conducted our standard testing procedure of spraying dry shampoo from around two feet away to assess its performance. I then assessed the air quality readings on the app to ensure they were aligned.

I measured the sound levels emitted from different fan speeds and modes, and compared these readings to the measurements I’ve taken from other air purifiers.

I’ve been testing Shark’s new combo fan and heater, and the cooling is superb but the warming underwhelms
10:00 pm | October 18, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat: two-minute review

Product info

This model may have slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat TH202
UK: Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat TH200UK

For this review, I tested the US version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

I love to consolidate appliances where I can, which is why when I heard about the launch of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat, I knew I had to try it. Earlier this year, I tested the TurboBlade, a unique tower fan outfitted with arms with vents that blast out cold air and can be adjusted in height, orientation and direction for 360-degree cooling coverage. The Cool + Heat uses the same basic design but adds a small heater between the two fan arms.

There's a massive selection of settings to explore in this combo heater and fan. There are 10 fan speeds and three special fan modes (Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost, and Natural Breeze mode). As a heater, the Thermo IQ mode lets you adjust the temperature between 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and there's also a Focus mode for quick room heating, and a Comfort mode for all-day comforting warmth.

Whether cooling or heating, you can choose between 45, 90, and 180-degree oscillation. There's no companion app, but you can adjust most settings using the remote control. Notable exceptions are the arm and vent positions, which have to be shifted by hand, and shifting between hot and cold modes, which requires the flipping of a physical switch. (You can't use the fan and heater together.)

The TurboBlade is one of the best fans I've tested, delivering effective, directional cooling (head to my Shark TurboBlade fan review for my full take on the original model). However, the heating functions left me a little underwhelmed. I expected the heat to come from the arms themselves (arguably the product's USP), rather than a small, fixed central vent, the maximum temperature was cooler than I'd ideally want, and the warming wasn't any more effective than that delivered by my cheap space heater. In all likelihood, you'll have to use it for long periods of time on cold days to keep a room warm. Not to mention, the vents go in one direction, so you'll need to use the oscillation function to ensure the hot air is evenly dispersed.

At list price, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is a premium buy (and $100 more than the fan-only TurboBlade). It's quite pricey considering the product can't be controlled by an app and adjusting between the fan and heater isn't hands-free. If you're thinking of buying one, I'd keep an eye out for a deal.

Read on to see how the TurboBlade Cool + Heat performed during various tests.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat in reviewer's living room

(Image credit: Future)

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: price & availability

  • List price: $399.99 / £299.99
  • Launch date: September 2025
  • Availability: US / UK

The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat launched in September 2025, just eight months after the original Shark TurboBlade was introduced to the market. In the US, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat comes in three colors – charcoal, white, and dove – and is priced at $399.99.

At time of writing the Cool + Heat has also appeared on the Shark UK website, but is showing as out of stock. The price listed is £299.99. Shark has a presence in Australia but I don't have details on when or if it'll also be available there. The original version of the TurboBlade, without heating, has a list price of $299.99 / £249.99.

Dual-purpose heater-fans are not a new idea – there are plenty on the market, with prices ranging between $40 and $750. The $399.99 price tag puts this fan on the higher end, although there are no other bladeless tower fans with similar designs, so if you love the windmill-style build, it may just be worth the premium price.

That said, I think this price would be easier to swallow if the fan was outfitted with app control, or at the least the capability to adjust the arms, vents, and switch between the fan and heater with the remote. Luckily, Shark isn't afraid of a sale, so hopefully you'll be able to avoid paying list price if you're savvy about when you buy.

You'll find Dyson's heater-fans in a similarly lofty price bracket. Options include the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09 for $469.99, or the Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 (which throws in air purification too) and costs $659.99 / £549.99 / AU$899. (Head to TechRadar's Dyson fan guide for a breakdown of how the options compare.)

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat specs

Size (L x W x H):

13.8 x 11.8 x 45.9 in / 35.1 x 30 x 116.6cm

Cord length:

6ft / 1.8m

Weight:

19.8 lbs / 9kg

Fan speeds:

10

Oscillation:

45, 90, or 180 degrees

Fan modes:

Natural Breeze, Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost

Heater modes:

Thermo IQ, Focus mode,Comfort mode 

Heater temperature range:

60-90F in Thermo IQ mode (equivalent to 15.6-32C)

Controls:

Touchscreen buttons, remote

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: design

  • Multidirectional fan arms and vents that can be adjusted extensively
  • Fixed, centrally located heater with vents that open and close
  • Bigger than you'd expect, and heavy

The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat arrived in several pieces, but took less than five minutes to set up thanks to easy-to-understand instructions. The tower fan features a base and a bladeless fan that comprises two arms at the top of the telescopic pole. These arms can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and the vents on the arms can also pivot so that air blows up, down, or straight on.

A heater sits between the arms of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat. The arms can only emit cool air, and the heater – hot air. Above the heater is a vent slider and a switch. The switch must be turned to the blue dot to use the fan, and the red dot to use the heater. If it's turned toward the red dot, you must also use the vent slider to open the heater's vents.

Close up of heater vent on Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

(Image credit: Future)

Although the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat comes with a remote control, not everything can be controlled by remote. You can set the oscillation to 45, 90, or 180 degrees with the remote, or adjust the angle of the base to your preference. You can also use the remote to set a timer, change the fan speeds, or swap between various heater or fan modes. However, if you want to go from heating to cooling (or vice versa) you'll need to flip the switch manually, you can't adjust the arms and vents of the fan using the remote either.

The remote control is compact and has a digital screen that shows the different modes in use, fan speeds, and oscillation degrees. When not in use, the remote can be stored on the magnetic top part of the fan where instructions are printed. There is also a digital touchscreen on the base that lets you turn the appliance on/off, adjust the display panel brightness, the heater temperature, fan speeds, and oscillation settings. Unfortunately, if you want to utilize one of the six special modes, you'll have to use the remote.

Close up of touchscreen on Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of modes, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is equipped with three fan modes (Sleep, BreezeBoost, and Natural Breeze), and fan speeds between 1-10. The heater has three heat functions: ThermoIQ, which lets you set the desired temperature, as well as Comfort and Focus. Focus is a boost mode for the heater, Comfort delivers soothing warmth over multiple hours.

The SharkTurbo Blade Cool + Heat is bigger than you might expect– check the dimensions before buying – and at 19.8 lbs / 9kg it's not the easiest to move between rooms. If you are shifting it about, make sure the top and base are locked in place or the two will break apart when you move the product from room to room (I learned this the hard way).

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: performance

  • Fan airflow reaches up to 30 ft / 9m away on highest fan speed
  • Heater less hot and less powerful than I'd hoped
  • Cooling is still excellent, with lots of adjustment options

Earlier this year I tested the Shark TurboBlade, and I was a big fan of the unique bladeless fan design and the way you could adjust the vents in different directions. When I heard the brand had taken the same fan and added a heater, I had to test it.

There are differences between the Shark TurboBlade and the TurboBlade Cool + Heat beyond the fact that it has an additional heater. For one, the Cool + Heat has a digital touchscreen on the base that lets you adjust four things: power, brightness of the display panel, oscillation settings, fan speeds, and Thermo IQ temperature.

I opted to use the remote so I didn't have to keep walking back and forth to the fan. The remote fits on the magnetic strip on the top of the back of the fan, and it's the only way to activate the special modes. If I could have my way, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat would come with app integration too, or at least a remote with the capability to adjust the vents and arms of the fan. I found it frustrating that I had to walk over to the fan and manually shift things about if I wanted to change the angle of air.

Tester controlling the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat with remote

(Image credit: Future)

Let's talk about the fan before we dive into the heating function. The arms can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Combine that with the fact that the vents can be adjusted up, down, or straight on and, you can achieve 360-degree fan coverage of a room. I found this feature extremely useful in my kitchen, where it grows especially warm when I'm cooking on the stove or with the oven.

You can also set the oscillation at 45, 90, or 180 degrees, or simply adjust the angle and have it blow in one spot in the room. There are no sensors to prevent the fan from hitting walls or furniture, so you'll want to keep it clear of other objects.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat in reviewer's living room

(Image credit: Future)

In 'BreezeBoost' mode, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat's airflow can be felt as far as 30 feet / 9 meters away, but is much more noticeable at 20 feet / 6 meters. I didn't really need to adjust the fan speed higher than a 5 most of the time. Even a 3 fan setting was sufficient to keep me cool, though I appreciate having the option to increase the airflow right up to 10, or use the BreezeBoost mode on really hot days.

Sleep Mode provided some in-room circulation that I enjoyed at night. Best yet, it wasn't any louder than my ceiling fan. The Natural Breeze Mode mimics natural winds by randomizing the airflow. It is a lovely feature to use indoors when I'm not particularly hot but appreciate a 'breeze' every few seconds or so.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat in reviewer's living room

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to the heater, I have mixed opinions. I assumed that the brand would make hot air come out of the arms, but that's not the case. Instead, the designers placed a small rectangular heater in between the arms. If I wanted to use the heater, I had to physically go up to the TurboBlade, flick the switch to heater mode and open the vents.

For the most part, I used the Thermo IQ heater setting, which essentially lets you adjust the hot air between 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit (equivalent to 15.6-32 degrees Celcius – although I assume that'll be rounded up or down when this model comes to the UK). I also utilized the other two modes – Comfort and Focus. I can see buyers using the Comfort mode if they plan to spend a few hours in a room and just want some additional warmth. Focus is better equipped to warm up a room quickly.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat next to its box in reviewer's home

(Image credit: Future)

The heater airflow isn't that strong. In fact, it didn't matter which mode I used, I could only feel hot air from a maximum of 10 feet / 3 meters away. The airflow from the fan is significantly stronger.

Plus, if you want to feel the full force of the heater, you have to be situated to the left of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat, because that's where the vents are angled. For that reason, it's necessary to use the oscillation feature when using the heater.

The heater has a maximum temperature of 90F, which is somewhat average on the wider market. I recently tested the Dreame AirPursue PM20 and it has a maximum heater temperature of 104F. I know that some space heaters have a 90F temperature maximum, but for the price, I expected the temperature to be a little higher.

Close up of heater switch on Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

(Image credit: Future)

I tested how quickly the temperature rose in a room with the doors shut. In Thermo IQ mode, with the target set to the 90F maximum temperature, the room temperature rose from 77 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit in 10 minutes. I ran the same test in the Focus mode and found that the room went from 76 to 84F within 10 minutes. In both cases, it would have taken much longer for the room to heat if I had left the doors open.

It should be noted that my house is very old so I have little insulation and 10-foot ceilings. The room might grow warmer faster if your ceilings are lower and your house is more modern.

As someone whose home gets exceptionally cold in the winter, the heater element could be helpful but I'm not sure if it would be more effective than the small space heater I currently have. I also wish you could use the fan and the heater at the same time – using the lower fan speeds to circulate hot air around a room would have been invaluable.

Like the TurboBlade, the TurboBlade Cool + Heat has a timer that can be set on 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours. I rarely used this feature, but it's a nice option to have. I also like being able to mute the chime on the appliance, and how little maintenance there is beyond dusting the defense panel occasionally. If I could make some slight adjustments to the design, it'd be to add wheels to the bottom of the base. At almost 20 lbs / 9kg, it's not easy to move the fan and heater between rooms. Wheels could alleviate this and make it more accessible to those who may not have the strength to move it as easily.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

A premium-priced fan and heater with lots of modes and settings. I'd expect app control at this price, and there are cheaper, as-effective heater-fan options about. Perhaps wait for a deal.

3.5 / 5

Design

A tower fan with two adjustable arms and a heater centered between them. Rather heavy and bulky. Remote control can adjust most (but not all) settings.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Cools the room quickly thanks to the multidirectional vents and arms, but heater is less impressive. Specialty modes are fun and useful.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a combo fan and heater

Rather than crowd your space with a fan and a heater, you could invest in one product – the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat – which can do both things.

You want an ultra-adjustable fan

In fan mode, the arms and vents of the fan can be angled to blow cool air vertically, diagonally, and horizontally, or even in two directions at the same time. There aren't too many adjustment options for the heater, but you can still make use of the three oscillation settings.

You enjoy a fan and heater with multiple modes

The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat has six special modes – three for the fan and three for the heater. Adjust the fan speeds and the heater temperature settings to your preference, and you can take advantage of Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost, and Natural Breeze mode for the fan, as well as Thermo IQ, Comfort, and Focus mode for the heater.

Don't buy it if...

You want a really strong heater

While the heater is a nice addition, it's not as effective as I would've liked. The max temperature isn't that hot, and warm air doesn't blow out as forcefully as the cool air from the fan. You'll need to use the oscillation function to ensure the hot air is evenly dispersed, too.

You want complete hands-free control

If you want to switch between the fan and the heater on the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat, you'll have to do it by hand on the appliance itself. Not to mention, the arms and vents can't be adjusted with the remote.

You want maximum value for money

If you forgo the unique adjustable armed design, there are plenty of other products on the market that heat and cool equally as well at a more affordable price. While the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat has some cool special features, it lacks some things I'd expect at this price – app control, for one. Perhaps it's best to wait until this product is on sale.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat vs TurboBlade

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat (reviewed)

Shark TurboBlade

Size (L x W x H):

13.8 x 11.8 x 45.9 in / 35.1 x 30 x 116.6cm

11.8 x 31.6 x 44.8 in / 29.9 x 80.2 x 113.9cm

Cord length:

6ft / 1.8m

6ft / 1.8m

Weight:

19.8 lbs / 9kg

15 lbs / 8.8kg

Fan speeds:

10

10

Oscillation:

45, 90, or 180 degrees

45, 90, or 180 degrees

Fan modes:

Natural Breeze, Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost

Natural Breeze, Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost

Heater modes:

Thermo IQ, Focus mode,Comfort mode 

N/A

Heater temperature range:

60-90F in Thermo IQ mode (equivalent to 15.6-32C)

N/A

Controls:

Touchscreen, remote

Buttons, remote

Shark TurboBlade

The original TurboBlade doesn't have any heat functions – it's purely for cooling. There's also no touchscreen on the base, nor a display on the remote control. Otherwise, the two are very similar, with the same fan options and settings.

Read my full Shark TurboBlade review

How I tested the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

I tested the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat for over a week in my house in Texas in September. It was still pretty warm outside, so while I used the fan most of the time to aid in cooling down my home, I made sure to test the heating element to provide a full breakdown of how it works and how quickly it warms a room. I tested all the special modes, and compared the performance to other similar appliances I've used.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed October 2025
This wet-and-dry vacuum delivers some of the best edge-to-edge cleaning I’ve experienced, but it’s a chunky beast
2:26 pm | October 14, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Eureka RapidWash 730: two-minute review

The Eureka RapidWash 730 is a well engineered wet-and-dry hard floor cleaner that bridges the gap between traditional mopping and modern cordless convenience. Despite its higher-than-average weight and portly posture, this machine sports an excellent steering mechanism for easy maneuverability around furnishings and tight corners. Plus, its split toweled roller quite literally runs from edge to edge for complete cleaning along baseboards – something most of today's best wet and dry vacuums can't manage.

This model also surprises with a level of hard floor cleaning performance that matches the best of the opposition, while its suction power is extremely adept at removing most spilled liquids and debris in a single pass. With tanks large enough for multiple rooms plus 40-minute battery life, this one's an obvious candidate for busy households with extensive hard flooring.

However, while the RapidWash 720's roller provides natural forward momentum when spinning, the excessive 11 lb / 5kg weight of the unit makes it feel heavy when pulling it back. Also, the jury's out on how easy it would be for some users to haul it up a flight of stairs. Noise is another consideration, particularly in Turbo mode or during self-cleaning, where the volume spikes noticeably.

Nevertheless, for those with hard floors who want a single tool for daily debris and spill management, the RapidWash 730 is an effective choice. It saves a lot of time, cleans thoroughly and simplifies maintenance.

Eureka RapidWash 730 on its base in reviewer's living room

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: price & availability

  • List price: $499.99
  • Available: US, sometimes also Europe

The Eureka RapidWash 730 is predominantly available in the US, with a list price of $499.99. It's available purchase direct from Eureka, or via Amazon. At the latter, I've already spotted it on sale for $400, so you might be able to avoid paying full whack if you're tactical about when you buy.

Although Eureka does have some online presence in the UK, its eureka.com/uk website doesn't list this particular model. Likewise, there is only a smattering of Eureka products at Amazon UK. It has been available in various European countries in the past.

At its premium sticker price of around $500, is the RapidWash 730 good value for money? Not really, though it is unquestionably a very competent hard floor cleaner that performs well at general mopping and collecting large liquid spills. But for my money, there are better deals out there from the likes of Bissell, Ultenic and, of course, global market leader Tineco.

  • Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 specs

Eureka RapidWash 730

Type:

Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum

Cleaner size (H x L x W):

45.7 x 9.3 x 10.6in / 116 x 23.5 x 27cm

Weight (empty):

11.5 lbs / 5.2kg

Clean water tank volume:

23.67 oz

Dirty water tank volume:

20.28 oz

Max runtime:

40 mins

Recharge time:

4 hrs 16 mins

Wattage:

350W

Suction power:

21,600Pa

Brush roller speed:

500RPM

Self-cleaning water temp:

185F / 85C

Self-drying water temp:

140F / 60C or 176F / 80C

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: design

  • Weighty and large wet-and-dry cleaner, with self-clean docking station
  • Mop extends the full width of the floorhead
  • Very decent maneuverability

Eureka is a brand you don't see much of in the UK or Europe but the US-founded, now Chinese-owned company has a long history in America as a leader floor cleaners. The brand's roster now includes an eclectic range of stick vacs, cylinder vacs, robot vacs, carpet cleaners and wet-and-dry hard floor cleaners like the model I'm looking at here.

This writer is used to testing products from European, Japanese and Chinese brands, whereas the Eureka RapidWash 730 has a distinctly American look and scale. For some reason, this particular model reminds me of a 1949 Studebaker, only with smoother lines.

Eureka RapidWash 730 next to the Roborock F25 ACE cleaner

(Image credit: Future)

The RapidWash 730 is the largest wet-and-dry vacuum I've reviewed, and that size also equates to more weight (11.46 lbs / 5.2 kg to be precise) which you will doubtless notice when lifting it out of its self-cleaning station or hauling it up a flight of stairs. The action of the roller brush helps pull the unit forward, making it really easy to push… although heavy to pull back. It's not the end of the world, mind, since that is the case with most hard floor cleaners bar the Tineco Floor ONE S7 Pro and Roborock F25 ACE, which both come with motorized wheels.

Like most high-end Tineco hard floor cleaners, this model features a large, angled circular LED on top of the main body that lets you know what mode you're in and how much battery is left. All controls are mounted on the handle and are easily accessed.

Close up of handle controls on Eureka RapidWash 730

(Image credit: Future)

First you have a simple on/off button that defaults to Auto mode on start-up. This mode uses AI-powered smart detection to assess the amount of dirt being collected before adjusting the amount of suction power. In most instances you wouldn't need to select anything else. Next, there's Turbo mode which uses a little more water and a lot more suction for heavily soiled areas – this model's suction is rated at a suitably high 21,600 Pascals. Finally, select Dry mode if you need to clean up a nasty wet spill or something that spontaneously came out of the dog's mouth.

Eureka RapidWash 730 wet and dry vacuum in use on a hard floor

(Image credit: Future)

Like all wet-and-dry cleaners, the RapidWash 730 comes with two water tanks, a 23.67oz / 700ml clean-water reservoir and a 20.28oz / 600ml tank to collect all the dirty stuff. While you won't necessarily need to empty the dirty water tank and give it a rinse after a short cleaning session, you will still be bombarded with voice reminders on a regular basis. This will eventually become annoying enough that you'll give in, only to notice that the tank is just one eighth full. Many hard floor cleaners suffer from this over-zealous approach to maintenance, so the Eureka is not unusual in this respect.

Eureka RapidWash 730 with split towelling roller

(Image credit: Future)

The majority of hard floor cleaners like this one use a wet, towel-covered cleaning roller that spins at around 500rpm. However, because manufacturers need to fit a motor and spindle to one side of the brush head, most rollers end up with a gap of about 10mm on one side, which means you can only mop the very edges of a floor from one direction.

Eureka's tech team has managed to find a way around this by reducing the length of the brush roller on one side and adding a short magnetized roller sleeve that slips over the motor housing on the opposite end. This allows the roller to cover the entire width of the cleaning head. And by entire I mean right to the very edge – indeed the left side of the roller, when viewed from the front, actually protrudes beyond the housing.

This is a major bonus because it means that the RapidWash 730 can be used to clean along baseboards from the left or the right. Furthermore, there's a comb behind the roller that effectively collects almost all remnants of hair and other stuck-on muck before having it sucked into the dirty water tank.

Tester pressing on the bar on Eureka RapidWash 730's base to activate self-clean

(Image credit: Future)

Like all decent wet-and-dry mops, the RapidWash 730 comes with a large bathtub-shaped charging dock that also serves as a cleaning station. Admittedly, mounting the unit on the dock requires awkwardly lining it up so its connectors meet, but once it's docked it's ready to start its self-cleaning regime, and this is as easy as putting your foot on a cross bar to set it all off. I like that, a lot.

The cleaning process itself is comprised of two stages – spinning the mop roller while it's washed with fresh water at 185˚F (85˚C) and then gently drying it using hot air at around 140˚F (60˚C). You can also speed up the drying process by pressing the Dry button on the cleaning unit's handle and selecting Rapid Dry. This setting increases the drying heat to 176˚F (80˚C).

The cleaning process is noisy so you may want this model stored away in the utility room or elsewhere out of earshot, but the main part of the sequence – the part where the brush roller spins around – only takes about five minutes to complete.

Eureka RapidWash 730 with floorhead pivoting at an angle

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, this model thankfully features one of the best steering mechanisms since the Dyson Gen5detect cordless stick vac. It angles at around 50 degrees by twisting your wrist when cleaning around table legs and in hard-to-reach areas. Given the extra weight of this machine, I think having a widely articulating head like this makes it much easier to use than you might expect. This thoughtful design flourish also extends to the permitted angle of the main unit, which can be tilted 170 degrees to the floor, making cleaning under sofas and beds a relative breeze.

For the record, the Eureka RapidWash 730 ships with a spare split toweling roller, a 15oz (450ml) bottle of Eureka Refresh Clean hard floor detergent, a spare filter and a cleaning brush.

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: performance

  • Impressive at collecting both liquid and solid spills
  • Heavy enough to make longer cleaning sessions a bit of a workout
  • Leaves only a thin film of water behind, and doesn't drip when turned off

When it comes to cleaning performance, the RapidWash 730 has proved to be extremely adept and thorough in the way it picks up dust, pet hair, crumbs and liquid spills in just a few passes. Also, I think that its edge-to-edge cleaning ability is a major advantage in kitchens and bathrooms, where dirt and pet hair always tend to gather along baseboards. However, the machine's weight and size did make extended cleaning sessions feel like a bit of a workout, even though its smooth forward movement offset some of the strain of pulling it back.

Eureka RapidWash 730 wet and dry vacuum in use on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

Before I get to my test results, one small but significant aspect I've been impressed with is the way the RapidWash 730's suction motor stays on for a few seconds after turning it off. This means any last vestiges of dripping water are sucked up, leaving the floor drier around the roller than most other models I've tested. I love this – I normally have to turn other models on again to collect any small pools of water before angling them back and turning them off a second time before quickly rolling the unit back to its dock for a clean. That's not the case with this model.

Right, let's get down to my cleaning test results. I first performed a few general cleans of my kitchen's engineered wood flooring and was pleasantly surprised at how well the RapidWash 730 completed the tasks, leaving a nice shiny appearance and only a very thin film of moisture in its wake. This was important to me because I'm always concerned about having too much water dispensed on my engineered wooden floors. Given the amount of water that's sucked up during this model's cleaning routine, I wouldn't have any concerns about using it on laminated flooring, which is known to easily warp if too wet.

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Eureka RapidWash 730 approaching a pile of oats, cracked egg, raisins and more on an engineered wood floor

(Image credit: Future)
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Eureka RapidWash 730 approaching a pile of oats, cracked egg, raisins and more on an engineered wood floor

(Image credit: Future)
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Results of cleaning test with Eureka RapidWash 730

(Image credit: Future)
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Results of cleaning test after second pass with Eureka RapidWash 730

(Image credit: Future)

I then fashioned up a tortuous test using a range of ingredients one would never mix together in real life – a cup of muesli with raisins, some squirts of tomato ketchup and mustard, plus a cracked egg for good measure. I wanted to check for any snowploughing of ingredients and whether the loosely broken eggshell blocked any passageways in the system.

Unexpectedly, this monster gobbled up the vast majority of this humongous mess in one fell swoop and the rest of it in a second pass. I then ran the unit over the visually clean floor a few more times and then checked the area behind the easily-removed roller. As expected, some fragments of eggshell remained behind the roller, but I heard it all being sucked into the dirty water bin once I'd positioned it on the dock and tapped the cleaning mode with my foot.

Overall, it was an effortless experience in my opinion and proof positive that this is, indeed, an excellent floor cleaner that would do any kitchen or bathroom proud. I just wish it was smaller in stature and a few pounds lighter.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: battery life

  • Maximum of 40 minutes cleaning per charge in Auto mode
  • Recharge is slow at over 4 hours

Around 40 to 60 minutes is the magic time frame for most cordless floor cleaners. Given that this machine won't be used as often or as extensively as a cordless vac, I think its 40 minute running time in Auto mode is acceptable, and ample enough for a full downstairs clean without having to pause for a recharge. Mind, it did take 4 hours and 16 minutes to fully charge from empty, which is too long in my book.

  • Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Eureka RapidWash 730?

//section// Should you buy the Eureka RapidWash 730?

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

Despite its efficiency at mopping and debris collection, I think $500 is too high a price when compared to much of the competition.

3/5

Design

I can't say I'm that enamoured of this model's bulky design or its overall weight.

3.5/5

Performance

Surprisingly excellent performance in all disciplines. Easy to use, too.

4/5

Battery performance

Average 40-minute battery performance though it takes ages to recharge.

3.5/5

Average rating 3.5/5

Buy it if…

You have more hard floor than carpet

This model isn't suitable for use on carpet or rugs

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

X/5

Design

X/5

Performance

X/5

App

X/5

Buy it if...

You have a large home that gets dirty quickly

The RapidWash 730 is a sterling mopper, and the larger size is justified in big homes with lots of mess to clear up.

You're a pet owner

This wet-dry vacuum is exceptional at picking up liquid mess.

Don't buy it if...

You're not especially strong

The RapidWash 730 is the heaviest of all the wet-and-dry vacuums I've tested, and a bit of a workout to carry. There are lighter options on the market if you'd prefer.

You have a small household

The RapidWash 730 is rather large, so as well as being overkill for smaller households, you'll need to find somewhere to store its bulk.

How I tested the Eureka RapidWash 730

Like all TechRadar journalists, I spent an inordinate amount of time assessing this product and the process started right from the off when I unboxed it, assembled the handle, plugged in the charging dock and popped the RapidWash 730 on its plinth. Once fully charged, I subjected it to a variety of general mopping runs over a four-day period before setting up its main debris-collection test involving both solids and liquids. I also examined the unit's styling, assessed its weight and size, and monitored its battery usage and how long it took to charge.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed October 2025
I treated myself to a premium Philips electric razor – here’s my six month review
2:12 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Philips i9000 electric shaver: two-minute review

Before I splashed out on the Philips i9000 electric shaver, I was putting up with a generic $35 / £30 one I picked up at Amazon. Forking out 10x the price for a premium model was a painful idea, but not as painful as my shaving experiences with the cheap model, so I went for it. (By the way, that shaver at Amazon had a 4.5 star average rating over hundreds of user reviews, many of which are clearly bogus. That's a risk in trusting unknown user reviews.)

Six months later, my face is still thanking me that I spent extra on the Philips i9000, especially for the 50% off sale price that pushed the base model closer to $300 / £230. (There are also pricier 'Prestige' models in the series, which I haven't tested.) The i9000's agile triple-head electric shavers easily navigate tricky contours, including the jawline, maintaining a close shave along the way. It feels great in the hand, too.

This is the first electric razor I've used with pressure indicators, which are a genuinely useful feature: if the shaver lights up green then you're applying the right amount of pressure, if blue you're too soft, while orange is too hard. I've generally found that following the pressure indicators delivers an effective shave while minimizing irritation – this feature is no gimmick.

Battery life is decent, too. For an average shave, I'm seeing a 3% reduction in battery life on the digital display, and that's even six months down the line. I'd say the i9000 is good for 30 shaves before needing a recharge, for which Philips provides a wall mounted USB-A charging base (a minor complaint is that USB-C would be more convenient for travel).

Philips i9000 electric razor resting on a bathroom sink

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The razor is waterproof so can handle wet and dry shaves, while the flip-out trimmer on the razor's underside is a reasonable solution for tidying beard edges and precise cuts, which is something I regularly do (and deal with stray nose / ear hairs – apologies for the overshare).

I reckon the i9000's heads have gradually lost some of their cutting effectiveness over the 6 months, but they still cut fine, just with a little extra effort than was required on day one. Replacement heads are available for a not-too-unreasonable cost, but I suspect I'll need to swap mine yearly rather than every two years, as Philips suggests.

Don't buy into any user reviews on the brand's site about the i9000 being closer than a proper wet shave with a safety razor – it's simply not true. If you want the closest shave possible, with fewer missed hairs, old school is the way. However, I've been super happy with the i9000. I can't recall switching to a wet shave ever since, which definitely wasn't the case when I was using that cheap alternative.

You really do get more for your money with the Philips 9000 series, and my shaving routine has been a happier experience since I made the switch – for my money, this is one of the best electric razors on the market.

Philips i9000 electric shaver: price & availability

  • List price is $240 / £479.99 / AU$600
  • Regularly on sale for less than half the list price in the UK
  • Replacement heads available

I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would buy the Philips i9000 at full cost, but thankfully it's almost always available for less than half the list price, which is palatable. At the time of writing, I'm seeing the shaver for $240 / £225 on the Philips site. Even then, I'd hardly call it superb value, but then again you do get the better shaving experience versus a generic sub $45 / £35 model.

Replacement heads are available at the Philips site for $65 / £40 / AU$106 – prices will likely vary at independent stockists. The guidance is to replace the heads every two years, but on my experience I reckon every year is ideal, given 6 months use has seen a slight reduction in cutting efficiency. The product comes with a 5-year service warranty.

  • Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver specs

Waterproof:

Yes

Battery life:

50 minutes

Charge time:

1 hour full, 5-min quick

Charger type:

Shaver/USB-A

Accessories:

Quick clean pod, charging stand, travel pouch, plus GroomTribe app

Suitable for:

Face or body

Philips i9000 electric shaver review: design

  • Ergonomic handle and handy pressure LED indicators
  • Pop-up trimmer for edges, or dedicated beard trimmer head
  • Charge dock and hard case for travel, but the latter only fits the razor

From the ergonomic handle to the agile heads and digital display plus LEDs, the i9000 is a premium shaving experience. Rightly so, given how pricey it is.

I've no real complaints in any area: the three heads pack what Philips dubs a triple action lift and cut system up to precisely 0.00mm skin-level, without the risk of cutting skin that comes with wet shaves – you'll certainly get a close shave, even if I found a few months down the line that the shaver regularly missed individual hairs.

Philips i9000 electric razor in user's hand

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The shaver integrates an LED light ring around the base of the shaver head. With the shaver active, those LEDs emit a blue light if the pressure your applying is too soft, orange for too hard, and green for the right amount of pressure.

Below that, an small non-touch color screen displays battery life and cycles through features such as the Philips app. I'll be honest, I didn't see the need to pair the shaver with my phone and explore the app, which Philips says will give you 'an even-better routine and technique' by offering 'real-time guidance and personalized shaving insights to help you look and feel your best every day'.

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Closeup of the Philips i9000 electric razor's triple flexi-head

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Closeup of the Philips i9000 electric razor's trimmer head

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Philips i9000 electric razor's pop-up trimmer

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Philips i9000 electric razor's pop-up trimmer

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There's a pop-up trimmer on the shaver's underside, which is pretty basic but works well enough for quickly tidying up beard edges. If that's the main task though, the main head can be removed and swapped with a proper beard trimmer, which is much more powerful and effective.

Practically, I'd like to see a USB-C port which would make on the go charging much more convenient than lugging the charging base, which uses the proprietary shaver connector, on a trip. Although Philips supplies a hard travel case for the shaver, this will only fit the razor itself, and not any of the shaver or trimmer heads.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver: performance

  • Around 30 shaves from a full charge
  • Triple flexing shaver head and trimmer head options
  • Modest pop-up trimmer

One cutback made versus the pricier Philips S9000 Prestige is in the charging department – the i9000 features the proprietary shaver connector (USB-A) only, while the Prestige model offers convenient wireless charging.

Still, a full charge should deliver around 30 shaves, so it's no real inconvenience to place the shaver in the dock at home once you're back from being away. And it'll charge quickly too – just 5 minutes returns the lion's share of the power, or it's an hour to fully juice it up.

Philips i9000 electric razor in its charging dock

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There are two heads supplied with the razor: the triple flexing head with what Philips says is 360-degree precision, plus a trimmer head to neaten edges. A basic pop-up trimmer in the shaver's underside supplements that trimmer head.

Overall, I've been really impressed with the performance of the i9000 electric razor. The flexing heads glide smoothly over every contour and have delivered close shaves, even if I'm getting stray hairs 6 months down the line, especially on my neck.

And the trimmer head is properly powerful, for doing the first stage of tidying edges, while the tiny pop-up trimmer take care of the finishing touches for a neat beard.

Philips i9000 electric razor in user's hand

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Philips says the flexing heads are good for two years use before being replaced (you can buy replacement heads on the Philips website). I'm not so sure – more than six months down the line and after regular use, I'm already thinking of replacing them. Of course the numbers depend on how regularly you shave, but I reckon the average person would want to replace the heads after one year for the best possible performance.

Overall, the Philips i9000 has given me the best electric razor experience I've ever had and the proof is in the pudding – I feel good after a shave and my wet razor has been left unused the entire time.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Philips i9000 electric shaver?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Ergonomic handle, waterproof, pop-up trimmer.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Agile heads, powerful trimmer head, handy pressure indicators.

4.5 / 5

Value

Make sure you get it on sale – it's regularly available for less than half the list price.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a premium electric shave experience
Triple action lift-and-cut heads combine with LED pressure indicators for a close shave with minimal irritation.

You're looking for a versatile razor
The triple heads are smaller than average and can cover relatively precise areas, while the powerful trimmer head can neaten edges.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cheap razor
The i9000 is a pricey razor. If you're less fussed about its premium features, there are cheaper alternatives.

You want something for travel

The i9000 relies on a proprietary shaver connector, whereas many alternatives can charge conveniently through USB-C or even wirelessly. The travel case only fits the razor itself.

Philips i9000: also consider

Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige
If you can spend a little extra, the 'Prestige' version in Philips 9000 tops the bill for features, including wireless charging and adaptive power tech.

Read our Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige review

Braun Series 9 Pro
Even pricier, the Braun Series 9 Pro is also beautifully designed and boasts an excellent shaving performance. It's charge and run times are similar, and you'll get a close shave whether wet or dry. Another stellar premium choice.

Read our full Braun Series 9 Pro review.

How I tested the Philips i9000

  • My primary razor for six months
  • I've used it most days, whether for shaves or trimming
  • Tested in both wet and dry environments

I used the Philips i9000 as my only shaver a few times a week over the course of six months. I generally tidy my neck and cheeks with the triple shaver head and trim beard edges daily with the trimmer head or pop-up trimmer, while full shaves are less frequent.

I have been able to use the razor in wet and dry shaving conditions, assessing how it performs in both scenarios and how effective its water resistance is. In general, I store the shaver in a wash bag and run the battery down to zero before docking it in the charging base to recharge. I have also used the supplied cleaning pod to give the device a deep clean.

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