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This odd-looking hair dryer is cheap and powerful, but ultimately disappointing

9:00 am | May 5, 2025

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer: two-minute review

The Revlon Airflow Control Dryer sports an innovative design and comes in at an extremely affordable price, but on test proved a bit of a disappointment. The USP is a head that rotates 90-degrees, enabling you to twist between locked vertical or horizontal positions to help you reach tricky angles. This head is then tapered, meaning it acts like a built-in concentrator – albeit an overly large one. With its bright red color, this dryer stands out but, in my opinion, not in an especially classy way.

At the rear of the dryer is a removable lint filter and a hanging loop, which make it easy to maintain and store. Inside, there's a 2000W motor and ceramic tourmaline technology that it promises to reduce frizz and add shine – although not very effectively, based on my tests.

Even with its powerful and directed airflow, this dryer left my long, naturally curly hair consistently frizzier than normal. In fact, I was repeatedly disappointed with how my hair looked and felt when using this dryer, and this was the case regardless of which of its three heat settings, or dual speed options, I tried. Some marketing materials position it as a travel dryer, in which case the fact it doesn't fold up for easier packing feels like an oversight.

On the plus side, the dryer's cold shot button – which actually feels cold, not just cool – is great at setting styles. And the inclusion of a diffuser attachment makes the Airflow Control dryer more versatile, opening it up to a wider range of different hair types.

Price-wise, it sits firmly in the budget price bracket, although I do feel you get what you're paying for – it really can't compete with the best hair dryers on the market right now. If you want something affordable and quick for everyday use, it’s a decent choice, but for anything more involved you'll need to invest a little more. Read on for my full Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review.

Revlon Airflow Control Dryer on reviewer's dressing table — (Image credit: Future)

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: price & availability

List price: £35 / $38
Available: UK, US
Launched: August 2024

With a list price of £35 in the UK, and $37 in the US, the Revlon Airflow Control dryer sits firmly in the budget hair dryer category.

Within this category, the Airflow Control's closest rivals include Conair's $40 InfinitiPro dryer and the $35 BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium.

The Conair model ships with a concentrator and diffuser and is the classier, but larger, of the three, with its matte black finish and gold accents.

The BaByliss Pro Nano is closer to the Revlon in terms of its size, making it a good option for traveling, but it only ships with a concentrator and is missing the diffuser. It's also half as powerful (1000W vs 2000W) as Revlon's model.

All things considered, the Revlon Airflow Control dryer is good value, especially when you factor in the rotating head, built-in concentrator and diffuser included as standard. Other touches like the removable lint filter help too, yet you largely get what you pay for in terms of performance, as I'll get to shortly.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer specs

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: design

Rotating head helps direct airflow, but feels gimmicky
Built-in concentrator is a nice touch but limits styling flexibility
Powerful, yet bulky and bold design

The Revlon Airflow Control Dryer has a number of features that make it stand out from the crowd, but having used it for the past month, I have mixed feelings about most of them. The headline is its rotating head, which lets you switch the nozzle between vertical and horizontal positions by sliding a small lock button near the base, and twisting the head into place.

It’s a feature that's designed to reduce wrist strain and make it easier to style at different angles. It also doubles up as a built-in concentrator, which means there are no loose parts to clip on, or lose. For the most part, I like this feature. It definitely helps when you're drying the back of your head or using a brush, and its tapered design helps deliver a strong, focused airflow thanks to the 2000W motor.

However, in practice, it feels over-engineered for what it does. The concentrator is wide and fixed in size, and you can’t swap it for a narrower nozzle when you want extra precision for smoothing or root volume. As a result, once the novelty wears off, it starts to feel more like a design flourish than a game-changer. Especially when most detachable concentrators can be twisted and achieve similar results with less bulk and limitations.

Speaking of bulk, the dryer measures 22.8cm x 27.9cm x 8.9cm, and the proportions make it feel larger in the hand than necessary. It's sometimes pitched as a travel dryer, and while it's not overly heavy (30.6oz / 870g) the fact it can't fold means it'd be rather cumbersome to pack. All this, combined with the sporty design, means the Airflow Control doesn’t feel as premium as I’d hoped.

The diffuser snaps easily to the front of the barrel using magnets, although this attachment is huge and adds to the overall bulk. Elsewhere, the removable filter on the rear is a nice touch for keeping the dryer working to its best, the 1.8m (5.9ft) cord is a decent length too– although many models come with longer cables, I felt I still had enough freedom to move around the room.

Controls & modes

In addition to the lock button on the side of the barrel, there are two slider switches on the handle of the Airflow Control dryer – one to control its three temperature settings (cool, warm, hot), and one for its two speed settings (low, high).

These are well-positioned and easy to reach without knocking accidentally. More premium dryers will tend to offer more setting options, but this range and combination of controls is fairly standard, and well suited to a range of different hair types and styles.

Above these slider switchers is a cold shot button that also works well to set styles at the end of a blow-dry. Like with the slider switches, you can't accidentally activate this mode; you have to make a deliberate long press to turn it on, and this is welcomed.

CONTROLS

Aesthetically speaking, I'm not sold on this dryer. The red and black colorway gives it a bold, sporty look. This may appeal to some, but I personally prefer something more minimalist, or neutral.

In summary, the rotating head and built-in concentrator sound great on paper but fall short due to their bulk and lack of flexibility. If you blow-dry your hair a lot and want a comfortable grip with no attachments to juggle, it could work well. But if you’re looking for a sleeker, classier design, customisable attachments, or a more travel-friendly option, the design of this dryer won't be the best fit.

Design score: 3 out of 5

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: performance

Dries hair quickly, even on low settings
Cold shot works well for setting styles
Finish was consistently disappointing and frizzy

Performance-wise, I was pleasantly surprised by the Revlon Airflow Control Dryer. At least at first.

On the highest heat and speed settings, it dried my hair impressively fast. I could get my long hair about 80 per cent dry in under three minutes, before taking around a minute more using a blow-dry brush to attempt to smooth out the top. Even on the lower settings, the airflow feels strong and consistent, and the built-in concentrator helps direct this power and airflow well. You can't fault the dryer for its efficiency, and it does its main job – getting moisture out of the hair – as well as any.

The cold shot button is another feature that performs well. Unlike some dryers where the cool setting just feels lukewarm, this one gives a genuine blast of cold air. With its button positioned conveniently above the sliders, you can easily press it with your thumb while styling, and it works quickly to cool down sections and lock in shape.

With extended use, though, things started to fall apart for me. While the drying time was quick, the finish just wasn’t there. At all. No matter what combination of settings I used – hot then cool, low speed for control, brushing in sections, even towel-drying beforehand – my hair always ended up looking frizzy and undefined. Even with the promise of the built-in concentrator and ceramic tourmaline coating, and even if I followed my drying session up with the cold shot, the result was consistently disappointing.

So much so, the time I saved on drying was lost by needing to go back over everything with straighteners or a hot brush just to get a polished finish.

Similarly, when using the magnetic diffuser on my natural curls, I was hoping for a soft, voluminous finish, but again the results were underwhelming. It dried my hair quickly, but didn’t enhance definition or reduce frizz. If anything, it made my hair puffier.

Given its budget price I wasn't expecting miracles with the Airflow Control, but considering the marketing specifically says it'll reduce frizz and boost shine, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Performance score: 2.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer?

Buy it if...

You want fast drying time

With a powerful 2000W motor and strong airflow, the Airflow Control dryer will get your hair dry nice and quickly.

You're on a tight budget

Not everyone can (or wants to) spend a small fortune on a hair dryer. This is one of the cheapest options around, and if you have basic styling needs it'll do the job just fine.

You struggle with wrist strain when styling

The rotating head helps adjust airflow angles without needing to twist your arm or strain your wrists. The built-in concentrator is also convenient and means there’s nothing to lose or clip on.

Don't buy it if...

You want a sleek, frizz-free finish

Despite its ceramic tourmaline coating, the Airflow Control dryer consistently left my hair frizzy.

You need styling flexibility

The concentrator is built-in and oversized, so you can’t swap it for more precise nozzles.

You prefer compact or folding tools for travel

The dryer is bulkier than expected and doesn’t fold, meaning it's not the best choice for slinging into a suitcase or backpack.

How I tested the Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer

For a month, I used the Revlon Airflow Control Dryer as the main dryer for my long, naturally curly and fine hair. During testing, I used all the different heat and speed settings, timed how long it took the combinations to rough-dry my hair from wet to dry, and I tested how well the cold shot and diffuser performed. I paid close attention to how easy it was to use day-to-day, including how it felt to hold, button placement, and whether the rotating head actually made a difference.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

This odd-looking hair dryer is cheap and powerful, but ultimately disappointing

9:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer: two-minute review

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: price & availability

List price: £35 / $38
Available: UK, US
Launched: August 2024

With a list price of £35 in the UK, and $37 in the US, the Revlon Airflow Control dryer sits firmly in the budget hair dryer category.

Within this category, the Airflow Control's closest rivals include Conair's $40 InfinitiPro dryer and the $35 BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium.

The Conair model ships with a concentrator and diffuser and is the classier, but larger, of the three, with its matte black finish and gold accents.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer specs

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: design

Rotating head helps direct airflow, but feels gimmicky
Built-in concentrator is a nice touch but limits styling flexibility
Powerful, yet bulky and bold design

Controls & modes

CONTROLS

Aesthetically speaking, I'm not sold on this dryer. The red and black colorway gives it a bold, sporty look. This may appeal to some, but I personally prefer something more minimalist, or neutral.

Design score: 3 out of 5

Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer review: performance

Dries hair quickly, even on low settings
Cold shot works well for setting styles
Finish was consistently disappointing and frizzy

Performance-wise, I was pleasantly surprised by the Revlon Airflow Control Dryer. At least at first.

So much so, the time I saved on drying was lost by needing to go back over everything with straighteners or a hot brush just to get a polished finish.

Given its budget price I wasn't expecting miracles with the Airflow Control, but considering the marketing specifically says it'll reduce frizz and boost shine, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Performance score: 2.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer?

Buy it if...

You want fast drying time

With a powerful 2000W motor and strong airflow, the Airflow Control dryer will get your hair dry nice and quickly.

You're on a tight budget

Not everyone can (or wants to) spend a small fortune on a hair dryer. This is one of the cheapest options around, and if you have basic styling needs it'll do the job just fine.

You struggle with wrist strain when styling

The rotating head helps adjust airflow angles without needing to twist your arm or strain your wrists. The built-in concentrator is also convenient and means there’s nothing to lose or clip on.

Don't buy it if...

You want a sleek, frizz-free finish

Despite its ceramic tourmaline coating, the Airflow Control dryer consistently left my hair frizzy.

You need styling flexibility

The concentrator is built-in and oversized, so you can’t swap it for more precise nozzles.

You prefer compact or folding tools for travel

The dryer is bulkier than expected and doesn’t fold, meaning it's not the best choice for slinging into a suitcase or backpack.

How I tested the Revlon Airflow Control hair dryer

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

The Philips Barista Brew espresso machine is good-looking and well priced, but it’s challenging to master (and a bit messy, too)

6:30 pm | May 4, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: Europe, US | Comments: Off

Philips Barista Brew: two-minute review

The Philips Barista Brew is an espresso machine that can either hand-hold you through brewing espresso by automating part of the process, or leave you to do everything manually once you’ve built up your confidence. It’s a nice idea that should help smooth out the typical learning curve.

The machine heats quickly, and has a useful pressure gauge on the front that lets you see whether you’ve achieved the optimal pressure while pulling a shot of espresso. The controls are simple to understand and use, and although the Barista Brew takes longer to master than some other machines I’ve tested recently (such as the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch), once accustomed to its idiosyncrasies, you’ll be able to create consistently good coffee with minimal fuss (and only a scattering of grounds on your kitchen worktop).

For me, the Philips Barista Brew had two main drawbacks: the automatic dosing and the tamper. Both issues are solvable, though; but they do mean that this is a good coffee machine rather than a great one.

On its default settings, the Barista Brew ground far too much coffee for a double shot of espresso, and I needed to reduce the grind time by half to get an appropriate dose. Changing settings isn’t too difficult using the instruction booklet, but I can’t help but feel that the presets should be better configured, since making big changes to the standard settings may be outside the comfort zone of people new to coffee-making.

Pressure meter on Philips Barista Brew coffee maker — I found it hard to achieve the optimum pressure using the Philips Barista Brew with its "calibrated" tamper, and my coffee tended to extract too quickly – even when very finely ground. Swapping to a conventional solid tamper solved the problem, however. (Image credit: Future)

My other issue was the tamper, which is spring-loaded and limits the amount of pressure you can put on the coffee puck. Despite the coffee being finely ground, my shots often poured too fast, and the pressure gauge on the front of the machine showed that it was failing to reach the optimal nine bars.

I found a few solutions. Grinding the coffee more coarsely means it takes up more space (imagine the difference between a bucket full of sand and one full of rocks), with it usually resulting in a faster pour because water will find its way through the grounds more quickly. But here, if you dial the grinder just right, you may be able to tamp hard enough to cancel out that effect.

Another option is to simply grind more coffee, so there's more for the tamp to compress; but this feels like a waste of beans. As with any espresso machine, add too much to your basket and it will make contact with the brew head when you insert the handle, which will stop the water passing through properly.

Philips Barista Brew coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

Finally, you can stick with your preferred grind size and dose, and use a simple third-party tamper to compress the puck rather than Philips' spring-loaded unit. While this one feels nice in the hand, I can’t help but feel it’s over-engineered.

Nevertheless, it’s important to bear in mind the price of the Barista Brew when you’re comparing it to others in the same category. Although I found the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch easier to master, the Barista Brew is much cheaper at its currently reduced price when you buy direct from Philips. If you don’t get along with the "calibrated" tamper, you can buy a good-quality unit separately and still pay a lot less.

It’ isn't perfect, but the Philips Barista Brew is very good for the price, and is definitely one to consider if you’re looking for a compact, all-in-one espresso machine that won’t break the bank.

Philips Barista Brew: price and availability

List price $649.99 / £580.99 (about AU$1,000)
For sale in US and Europe
Dual-hopper version also available

The Philips Barista Brew launched in January 2024, with a list price of $649.99 / £580.99 (about AU$1,000). However, it can often be found at a discount if you shop around – for example, at the time of writing, it’s available direct from Philips for £449.99. You’ll find all today’s best prices below.

That’s about average for a semi-automatic espresso machine of this type, and is almost exactly the same price as the similarly specced De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo. If you want a machine that will hold your hand with features such as automatic milk texturizing or a color touchscreen (like the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch), for example, you should expect to pay a little more.

This version of the Philips Barista Brew comes with a single bean hopper, but there’s also a model with a dual hopper that can hold two different beans at once and switch between them on-the-fly. That model is slightly more expensive at $699.99 / £624.99 (about AU$1,100) before discounts.

Value score: 4.5/5

Philips Barista Brew: specs

Philips Barista Brew: design

Stylish-looking and compact
Easy-to-use controls for coffee and milk
Grinder is messy to use

The Philips Barista Brew is quite compact compared to most of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, and surprisingly light, too. This is largely down to its chassis, which is made mostly from black plastic, with brushed stainless steel only on the front. It’s a stylish appliance, and will look quite at home in a modern kitchen.

The machine is operated using a series of buttons found along the front, with a dial on the side for dispensing hot water and steam. There are three drink options (single espresso, double espresso, and americano), and you can adjust the brew time and coffee dosage manually by following the clear guidance in the instruction booklet.

Control panel on Philips Barista Brew coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

The version of the Philips Barista Brew I tested comes with a single bean hopper, but there's also a version with a two-part hopper that allows you to switch between different beans on-the-fly – a welcome feature for those of us who prefer decaf in the afternoon. The dual-hopper version is only a little more expensive, and is well worth considering.

The hopper sits on top of a ceramic burr grinder that offers 15 grind settings, which are adjusted by rotating the hopper. The burrs move smoothly, and dismantling the grinder for cleaning proved straightforward. The machine comes with a small cleaning kit that includes a brush for this purpose.

Philips Barista Brew coffee maker grinding coffee into portafilter handle — Even with the powder ring fitted on the handle, coffee tended to fly out of the grinder (Image credit: Future)

The grinder can be set to dispense a timed dose of coffee, or operated manually by pushing the portafilter handle against the back of the machine (tilting it slightly upwards to hit a switch).

The water tank sits on the back of the Philips Barista Brew, and is easy to lift off using its robust handle. Some other reviewers have called it narrow and difficult to clean, but it’s actually wider than those of many other coffee machines I’ve tested this year, and it was perfectly possible to get my hand inside with a cloth and towel. The only downside is that it isn't supplied with a water filter.

The steam wand has a good range of motion, and can be adjusted using a cool-touch silicone handle. Should it become clogged, you’ll find a double-ended pin tool for clearing any blockages tucked away behind the drip tray, where it’s unlikely to be found by children, or become lost. The sharper end of the pin even has a safety cap to protect your fingers.

The Barista Brew comes with a 48mm portafilter and four filter baskets – single and double-walled, for single and double shots. The double-walled (pressurized) baskets are more forgiving if you haven't quite nailed your coffee-making technique just yet, and make it easier to make a consistently well-extracted shot.

The portafilter handle has a rubberized area at the front of the basket, which makes it easy for you to stabilize it on the edge of your kitchen counter while tamping, without the need for a separate mat. It also has a powder ring that twists onto the basket that’s intended to keep things tidy during grinding, although I found it didn't prevent grounds flying out.

You also get the usual stainless steel milk pitcher, which is perfectly well made, and a "calibrated" tamper that only lets you compress the ground coffee a certain amount. It's an interesting idea, but in practice I struggled to get a properly extracted coffee because it wasn't tamped down hard enough.

Finally, the Barista Brew has a cup-warmer on top – something I always appreciate, but which is usually missing from espresso machines in this price bracket.

Design score: 3.5/5

Philips Barista Brew: performance

The Philips Barista Brew is fundamentally a very good coffee machine, and once you’re familiar with its quirks you’ll be able to make consistently good espresso. However, its guided brewing features aren't quite as straightforward as it might first appear – and in some cases, it’s easier to do things yourself.

The Barista Brew heats quickly, and its set of clearly labelled buttons are intuitive to use once it’s up to temperature. The standout design feature is the large central pressure gauge, which lets you see how well your coffee is extracted before you even taste it. Some higher-end coffee makers I’ve tested will determine whether the pressure was too high or too low and offer feedback on a color touchscreen, but the analog pressure meter does the job just as well.

The machine’s pump is quiet in operation, too, averaging 60dB during use (about the same as a dishwasher or normal conversation). Some coffee makers can reach up to 70dB, so the Barista Brew definitely sits towards the more comfortable end of the scale.

Philips Barista Brew coffee maker portafilter with powder ring attached — The powder ring is a nice addition, but doesn't fully prevent coffee spraying out during grinding (Image credit: Future)

My main issues with this machine involve grinding and tamping. The Philips Barista Brew offers a grind time setting to help with dosing. Just turn a dial on the front of the machine to decide how much coffee to dispense, hold the grind button to toggle between single and double shots, and tap it again to start grinding. Unfortunately, even when turned down to one of the lowest settings, the machine ground far more beans than I actually needed – even though I was using one of the finest grind sizes. I had to scoop out a good portion of grounds before I could consider tamping them down.

It was much easier to ignore the dosing button and do things the old-fashioned way: use a digital scale to weigh the handle, zero the scale, push the handle against the back of the machine until the dosage looked right (about 18g for a double espresso), weigh it again, and make any tweaks to achieve the correct weight.

Espresso made using Philips Barista Brew coffee maker — The Barista Brew can pull a well-balanced espresso, once you're used to its quirks (Image credit: Future)

The grinder was also a bit messy. The Philips Barista Brew has a powder ring that twists onto the top of the basket before grinding, which should direct ground coffee inside. However, in use I found that ground coffee still had a tendency to shoot out onto my work surface and the rest of the machine. Coffee grounds were particularly prone to accumulating on the funnel directly below the grinder, which needed wiping after every use. It seems this issue is likely caused by static electricity.

According to Philips, the spring-loaded tamper is calibrated to help you create a perfect puck; but during my tests, I found it didn’t apply as much pressure as I'd like. As a result, water ran through the grounds too quickly, and the machine failed to reach the optimum nine bars of pressure, even with very finely ground coffee (as shown on the pressure gauge).

Therefore, the resulting drinks were often under-extracted and a little sour-tasting –something verified by my colleague Peter Berenski, the resident coffee-buff at TechRadar’s sister site, Tom’s Guide. The video below shows a typical under-extracted double espresso pouring in just 15 seconds rather than the ideal 28 seconds.

You can get around this issue by using a third-party 58mm tamper; the "calibrated" unit supplied with the machine feels like a solution in search of a problem. The machine would be better with something simple. You can also try grinding your coffee more coarsely, so that the same weight of grounds take up more space, or simply use more beans – but this feels like a waste.

On a happier note, the machine’s steam wand is excellent. You don’t have precise control over the pressure (the dial on the side of the machine simply lets you choose between steam and water), but once it’s up to temperature, it maintains good pressure for the length of time it takes you to texturize your milk.

Automatic milk systems can be a nice touch for new users, but a manual wand delivers more flexibility, letting you adjust your technique for dairy or non-dairy milks.

Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Philips Barista Brew?

Buy it if

You’re looking for an affordable espresso machine

The Philips Barista Brew is often available at a healthy discount, and is one of the most affordable bean-to-cup machines you can buy.

You’re already comfortable with the fundamentals

If you already know how to dose, tamp and steam, the Philips Barista Brew will be a piece of cake to use.

Don't buy it if

You’re intimidated by manual controls

The Philips Barista Brew offers guided brewing features, but in my experience it works best when you take coffee-making into your own hands. If you want more assistance, a model such as the Ninja Luxe Café may be a better option.

You want to keep your kitchen pristine

The Philips Barista Brew’s grinder has a tendency to propel coffee across your worktop, and grounds accumulate around the chute. A barista towel will be invaluable.

Philips Barista Brew: also consider

De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685

If you’re on a tight budget, this little manual coffee maker is one of the best you can buy. You’ll need a separate grinder, but that will deliver greater flexibility because you can choose one with a wider range of grind settings.

Read our full De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 review

Breville Barista Touch Impress

Want an espresso machine that offers more of a helping hand than the Philips Barista Brew? The Barista Touch Impress (branded as Sage in the UK) will assist you in creating the perfect puck, with a lever-operated smart tamping system. It’s much pricier than the Philips machine, though.

Read our full Breville Barista Touch Impress review

How I tested the Philips Barista Brew

I put the Philips Barista Brew through its paces for a week, using both the pressurized and single-wall baskets to compare the results. I dialled in the grinder to achieve good extraction, and used both the automatic dosing system and manual grinding options. I used fresh arabica beans from a local coffee roaster, and chilled whole milk bought immediately before testing.

I compared coffee made using the Philips Barista Brew to coffee made with my own Gaggia Classic manual espresso maker and Dualit ceramic burr grinder.

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

First reviewed May 2025

Paired with my usually ineffective AC, this circulator cooled down my house phenomenally quickly

9:00 am | May 2, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: AC | Comments: Off

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S: two-minute review

As someone who has a house that's over 100 years old, my A/C and heater struggle to heat or cool down my rooms and it usually results in high bills at the height of summer or winter. I've tried many different ways to fix this problem – and I think I've finally found the answer in the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S.

Despite the name, the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S is more accurately described as an air circulator. While it has nine different wind speeds and can blow air long distances, it's not the best fan I've tested when used on its own. However, its ability to horizontally and vertically tilt 120-degrees makes it an outstanding tool for circulating cool or hot air from an air-conditioner or a heater around a room.

I used this air circulator in my house, running a number of tests to see how well it works, and I was beyond impressed. When paired with my air-conditioning, the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S cooled my living room faster than the air-conditioner could work. In fact, in less than 10 minutes, it cooled the living room down by five degrees – which I know because I monitored the temperature of the room in the Dreo app where I can easily control the various settings of the fan.

Beyond its air circulating powers, the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S offers more features and settings than most other fans or air circulators on the market. With five different specialty modes and ambient lighting with customizable color and brightness settings, it more than justifies its $119.99 price tag. Tack on the fact that you can schedule the fan, create custom specialty modes, and adjust the oscillation degrees, and this Dreo product feels slightly underpriced.

Read on for a fuller picture of how the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S performed during testing.

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S in reviewer's living room — (Image credit: Future)

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S review: price & availability

List price: $119.99 / £129.99
Launched: April 2025
Available: US, Canada, UK

The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S was part of an April 2025 launch of summer cooling products by Dreo. It's priced at $119.99 / £129.99 for all three color options. It can be purchased direct from Dreo, but it's also available on Amazon (although make sure you're buying the model you want here – the product codes are rather well hidden, and a lot of this brand's fans look very similar).

Considering this air circulator fan is stylish, can be controlled within an app, has ambient lighting, and vertical and horizontal oscillation, I would say the price is reflective of the features. I've seen fans with less features and cooling capabilities that cost more.

How does it compare to the competition? One of TechRadar's best-rated fans is the Shark FlexBreeze, which costs $199.99 / £199.99. That model does some things the 508S can't – it can be used cordless or taken outside, and has a misting function, for instance – and it's also more powerful as a standalone fan than the 508S.

Also highly rated is the MeacoFan 1056P, which costs $189.99 / £149.99. This is perhaps a better comparison point because, like the 508S, it can oscillate horizontally and vertically to circulate air. This starts to look poor value for money compared to the Dreo model – there's no app control with the Meaco option, and the vertical and horizontal oscillation range is smaller.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S specs

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S review: design

Modern pedestal fan / air circulator with vertical and horizontal oscillation
Outfitted with ambient lighting in different colors
Controllable through display buttons, a remote, app, and voice control

The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S arrived in a few pieces that were easy to put together, even without the instructions provided. It took all but a few minutes to assemble the fan.

While I tested a white colored Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S, it comes in two other colors, silver and gold. The fan sits on a pole that goes into a round base. The pole itself is adjustable, and according to Dreo, it can be adjusted 0-5 inches. Oddly, I measured the full extension with a measuring tape, and found the pole extends up to nine inches for a maximum fan height of 40 inches.

On the pole, there is a digital screen that displays the different settings and fan speeds, indicated by the numbers 1-9. Below the display are a variety of touch buttons – power, fan speed/timer, ambient light, ambient light color, vertical oscillation, and horizontal oscillation/child lock button.

Close up of control panel on Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S — (Image credit: Future)

The fan itself has what Dreo calls 3D oscillation, which basically means that the fan head tilts 120 degrees vertically and 120 degrees horizontally. This is why the fan head feels a little loose around the area where it connects to the pole – to allow for movement.

In addition to the touch buttons, a remote control is provided, as well as a holder for it that clips onto the pole. The remote has the exact same buttons as is found on the fan itself.

Close up of control screen and remote control on Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S — (Image credit: Future)

The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S also connects to the Dreo app, meaning you can control the fan within the easy-to-navigate app. It has also the same buttons found on the fan and the remote, as well as a few others. For instance, in the app, you can adjust the vertical and horizontal oscillation degrees to anything between 0 and 120 degrees. You can also turn off the panel sound in the app and see the temperature of the room. In fact, the ambient temperature from the last 24 hours and past 30 days are recorded.

This fan is outfitted with five different specialty modes. While you can set the Turbo mode with the remote or the display buttons, you must use the app to set the fan on Normal, Auto, Sleep, or Natural mode. You can also create a custom mode that lets you set an ambient temperature goal and oscillation degrees. Users also have the ability to schedule the fan to turn on and run for a certain amount of time.

Equally as interesting is the amount of control you have with the ambient lighting. Not only can you adjust the brightness level of the light, but there is a gradient that lets you choose up to 1500+ colors, so you're not limited to just a set number of colors. You can even adjust how the light presents itself on the fan. There's the Constant setting – which means the light will remain constant. The Breath setting results in a breath-like pulse of light that can be set on low, mid, or high speeds. With the Circle setting, the ambient light changes cyclically in a set sequence at a low, mid, or high speed.

This is perhaps one of the quietest fans I've ever tested. I barely hear it, even when it's on Turbo mode. For reference, when placed on fan speed 1, it has a 40dB rating, while on Turbo mode, the sound rating is 67 dB.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S review: performance

Extremely effective as an air circulator used with air-con or a heater
Good airflow power, but there are more effective standalone fans
Tons of convenient control options, but voice assistant support unreliable

As mentioned above, my air-conditioning unit and heater struggle to cool and heat my house. I've had many technicians tell me that I could benefit from a second unit and more vents. I make do with what I have, but unfortunately, my house has little insulation, and the cool or hot air tends to seep out the ceiling, the windows, or the walls, and my units run longer and ultimately cost me more.

I think I've found a solution in the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S and I couldn't be more ecstatic. Before I explain how phenomenally this air circulation fan worked, I'm going to break down my use of a variety of other features it offers.

I typically alternated between using the remote and the app to manage the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S, as it really didn't make sense for me to walk over to the fan and use the touchscreen buttons. I was able to use the remote 30 feet away as long as the remote was in the sight line of the fan. Maybe it would work at farther distances, but this is as far as I could go based on the design of my house.

Most of the time I used the app, since you can't access all the settings with just the remote or display buttons. The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S can be voice controlled with Google Assistant and Alexa too. I tested this out by connecting to Google Assistant on my phone. It only took a few minutes to do within the app, though it was a little confusing, so if you're not tech savvy, you might need to rope in a tech-forward friend to help you out.

With voice commands, I was able to turn the air circulator or the oscillation on and off, increase or decrease the fan speeds, change specialty modes, and check the temperature of the room. While I was able to turn the ambient lighting on and off, Google Assistant couldn't change the color of the ambient lighting for me. There was also a point where I asked it to increase the fan speed to 5 and it increased the fan speed to 4. Clearly, there are some limitations to Google Assistant and Alexa. At least, Dreo provides voice command examples in the app, so you know exactly how to change the settings.

Close up of fan head on Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S, showing red ambient lighting — (Image credit: Future)

I didn't use the ambient lighting feature often, except at night when I placed the fan in my bedroom. I'd turn on the ambient lighting, sometimes switching to colored lights for the fun of it. It doesn't light up a room, but it kind of works like a soft night light. While this is not a necessary feature for me personally, I think it definitely adds value to the product.

Now to the most important feedback – is the air circulator actually effective? The answer is yes. Before testing the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S, I hadn't turned my A/C on yet as it wasn't quite hot enough outside to warrant it. That said, my home had grown pretty warm. In fact, it had reached 82F (28C) inside my living room. I know this because the fan can read the temperature in the room it's located, and you can see that temperature reading within the app.

I decided to turn on my A/C and set it to 72F (22C). I wanted to see how long it would take the air circulator fan to cool down my living room that much. I turned on the fan and set the vertical and horizontal oscillation degrees to 120 degrees and the fan speed to 9.

The A/C and the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S had only been running for one minute when the temperature in my living room dropped one degree. I felt the room cool almost immediately.

This is even more impressive when you consider the layout of my house. The dining room and the study are connected to the living room, and there are large walkways (like six feet of space) between them. The air circulator was placed in a corner of the living room. Because I didn't shut off the living room from the dining room or the study, the air circulator was probably working double time, and still the temperature dropped quickly in the living room.

Within seven minutes, the temperature had dropped by four degrees to 78F (26C). At the 15-minute mark, I decided to turn the fan on Turbo mode. After thirty minutes, the living room temperature had dropped to 74F (23C). It took 45 minutes for the living room to cool to 72F (22C), although when I checked my house's thermometer, it said that the house had only cooled to 76F (24C) in that time.

I was thoroughly happy with these results, and I could imagine all the benefits of using the air circulator in the future. In the winter, I'll put it in my bedroom before I go to sleep and use it to circulate hot air from the heater and effectively warm up the room quickly so that it's nice and cozy before I get under the bed covers. This summer, I'm definitely going to use it to circulate the A/C's cool air in the kitchen, so I don't overheat when I'm cooking dinner.

Dreo PolyFan 704S in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

I can't say this for sure, but I think the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S could save me some money. For instance, rather than lowering the A/C, which will be expensive, I'm planning to set the A/C in the high 70s. That will still give me enough cool air for the air circulator to circulate the cool air in whatever room I'm sitting in and make that room cooler for me. I don't really care if the rest of the house is cool, only if the room I'm in is cool. Money saving idea? I think so!

If you don't have an air conditioner, the TurboPoly 508S can still be used a standalone fan. When it's set on the Turbo speed level, I can feel the airflow 29 feet away, and 12 feet away when it's set on speed level 1. However, I've recently tested three other fans (the Shark HydroGo desktop fan, and the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S and Shark TurboBlade tower fans), and I found their airflows much more effective at cooling.

I'll say this – there are times of the year when I don't have my air-conditioning or heater on but I'd still like a fan to cool me down. The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S will work just fine until I turn on the A/C or heater. But I wouldn't necessarily buy it with the plan to only use it as a fan. It's best designed to circulate air in a room, and I think I've explained above why I love this product for having that capability – and in fact, it assists in keeping me overall cooler or warmer than any fan actually does.

For the most part, I used the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S on Normal or Turbo mode. Sometimes I adjusted the oscillation so that the fan would direct airflow right on me, but as I said, most of the time, I used it as an air circulator.

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

I'm a big fan of the Natural mode, because it simulates the feel of a breeze. This is nice when I'm not super-hot but I just want some light air movement across my skin. The Sleep mode also worked fantastically. Like other Dreo fans, when in Sleep mode, the fan speed decreases once every 30 minutes, stopping after the second decrease. For instance, if I set the fan speed at 7 while on Sleep mode, the speed would reduce to 6 after 30 minutes and then 5 after another 30 minutes. It would remain on 5 the rest of the night.

The Auto mode is a smart feature that is super helpful. When set, Auto mode will increase the fan speed until the room temperature lowers. Once the room reaches a comfortable level (which is noted in the app), the fan speed decreases, maintaining that comfortable temperature. I used this feature sometimes, because it was nice not having to monitor the temperature reading within the app.

I didn't schedule the air circulator often, except when using the Sleep mode at night. Usually, I'd schedule the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S to turn on about 30 minutes before I went to sleep so that the air in the room could circulate and cool down before I went to bed.

A cool addition is the option to create your own custom mode, which essentially lets you choose temperature blocks and oscillation degrees. I like that I had the option to customize a mode, but I didn't really find much use for it, at least not at this time. Perhaps in the future, when I've used the fan for longer, I'll see how a specific custom mode might benefit me.

Performance score:4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S?

Buy it if...

You want a to boost your air-con

The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S is an air circulator fan, which means it's designed to circulate hot or cold air around a room, heating or cooling down a space faster than an A/C unit or heater could do on its own. This is all thanks to the vertical and horizontal oscillation capabilities of the fan. As an air circulator, the 508S is phenomenal.

You want a fan with smart features

Although it comes with buttons and a remote control, this Dreo fan is most conveniently controlled within the Dreo app. The app has so many customizable settings, from the color of the lighting to a scheduler and custom mode creation. Not only that, but it has some smart features like voice command with Alexa and Google Assistant and an Auto mode that increases or decreases the fan speed based on the temperature of the room.

You love cool lighting features

The Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S doubles as a nightlight thanks to ambient light color settings. Not only does it have a white light that you can turn on at night, but in the app you can choose from over 1,500 colors within a color graph.

Don't buy it if...

You want a powerful standalone fan

I've tested a number of fans, and if it's a standalone fan you're after, there are more effective options than the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S. While it does have high fan speeds and a Turbo mode, it isn't the most powerful fan or the best on the market to keep you cool without combining it with an A/C.

You want a fan with 180-degree horizontal oscillation

This fan can oscillate vertically and horizontally 120 degrees, which is impressive. However, there are fans that oscillate 180 degrees horizontally, if you're worried the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S's oscillation won't be enough.

You're on a tight budget

There are some air circulator fans on the market that cost less than $100/£100. While they lack many of the features of this Dreo fan – like a wide range of speeds, specialty modes, app connectivity, smart features, and lighting – they still do a decent job at circulating air in a room, if you're happy to keep things simple.

How I tested the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S

Testing of the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S occurred in April 2025 in my house in North Texas. I used every specialty mode, the different fan speeds, and tested how far away I could feel the airflow. Not only did I test the fan in different areas of my house, but I used it in conjunction with my air-conditioning unit to see its effectiveness in circulating cool air around a room and how that impacted the room's temperature.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

I tested this portable misting fan, and it immediately became my summer essential

4:42 pm | April 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: UK, US | Comments: Off

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: two-minute review

Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo FA052DV
UK: Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo FA050UK

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

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is a lightweight, portable fan that is outfitted with a rechargeable battery, meaning you can unplug it and take it out and about with you on warm-weather excursions. But the most exciting thing about it is that it comes with a misting function for extra cooling clout.

When you live in a state like Texas, you understand the need for a fan. They're not just indoor necessities. During the summer, my family always has a fan on the porch to cool us down – but we've never had a misting fan. As a result, I was ecstatic to test the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan.

Testing this compact fan was a joy, especially in April when the days grew warmer here in North Texas. The tiltable design made it easier to focus the airflow and I was thoroughly impressed by how far away I could feel the five different fan speeds and the BreezeBoost mode. While the battery life won't last you all day (far from it) and the fan can't oscillate, it's still an excellent cooling companion. I'm also a fan of the design. There's a range of cute colors (in the US only – sorry UK shoppers), and overall it's more attractive than others on the market.

I plan on using the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan all summer. Keep reading to see why it's the best fan I've tested this season. Or, if you want more power and are happy to sacrifice some portability to get it, check out this fan's larger sibling – read about that model in TechRadar's Shark FlexBreeze fan review.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: price & availability

List price: $129.99 / £129.99
Launch date: March 2025
Available: US, Canada, UK

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan launched in March 2025 and is available in the US, Canada, and the UK. It comes with a list price of $129.99 / £129.99 and can be purchased direct from Shark or via a range of third party retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. In the US, the fan is available in six colors (all the same price), but in the UK it's charcoal or nothing.

At that price, it's a mid-range fan. Considering it's rechargeable, portable, and has misting capabilities, I'm inclined to say that the price of the fan is decent, though not exactly amazing value. The full-sized FlexBreeze is a fair bit pricier at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99.

If you just want a basic desk fan, you'll be able to find one for much cheaper. Similarly, corded non-portable fans in that price bracket deliver far more features, including things like oscillation, a timer function and app control. However, you're paying for the convenience of it being portable here, and if that's your priority then it's a decent buy.

Also bear in mind that Shark runs regular sales, so you could well snag it for less than list price.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo specs

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: design

Small, lightweight fan with handle to easily transport
Vertical tilt design up to 45 degrees
Integrated refillable mister

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan is a small tabletop fan that's less than 12 inches tall and weighs only 5lbs. It has a rechargeable battery, allowing you to unplug the fan and move it from one place to the next with the handle on the top.

Lookwise, it's an attractive modern fan that comes in six different colors. I tested the 'dove' option, a cream color that matches the lighter tones in my house. Pink, purple, and soft mint green colors could add some fun to your space. (Note, in the UK it's charcoal only.)

Image 1 of 2

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo portable fan side-on — (Image credit: Future)

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Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo portable fan back view — (Image credit: Future)

There is no assembly necessary with the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan. It comes put together, so you only need to charge it fully before the first use. The charging cord plugs into the back of the fan and then into the wall.

The fan can tilt up or down within 45 degrees, allowing you to narrow the focus of the airflow however you see fit. There are no oscillating features. In that way, it's very different from something like the Shark TurboBlade, which launched around the same time, and is designed to shoot out jets of air in any different direction.

Buttons that control the different settings can be found along the top of the fan. The power button in the center. To the left of that is a fan button that lets you cycle between fan speeds of 1-5, and a BreezeBoost mode. Green indicator lights correlating to the fan speed and boost mode sit below the buttons.

Close up of buttons on top of Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo portable fan — (Image credit: Future)

There is also a battery symbol next to the lights, and the color of the battery symbol indicates the amount of battery left. If it's green, the fan's battery is 70-100% charged. An amber light indicates that the battery is 30-69% charged, while a steady red light notes a 6-29% charge. When the battery light blinks red, the fan is about to die because the battery is 5% or lower.

To the right of the power button is a button with three droplets. This is the misting setting. There is a fill port at the top of the fan, right below the handle. The water mists from a port on the face of the fan, which must be opened when the mister is in use.

Sound wise, the fan emits a 46 dB rating on the lowest setting, and a 63 dB rating on the highest speed of 5. When placed on BreezeBoost, a turbo-like mode, the fan emitted a 67 dB sound rating. If none of those numbers mean anything to you, just know that the fan isn't loud or bothersome. I could barely hear it when sleeping at night and I had to go in the room where it was located to make sure it was still on (even if I was in the next room over).

Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: performance

Can feel the airflow of the fan 30 feet away when on BreezeBoost
Two misting modes, lasting a max of 55 mins before needing a refill
Vertical tilt is useful, but I'd love an oscillation option

There is a lot more to the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan than meets the eye. Though this tabletop fan is small, it packs a big punch in terms of airflow and power.

The first thing I wanted to see was how far away I could feel the airflow. When placed on BreezeBoost – the most powerful mode – I could feel the airflow 30 feet away. That's the full length of my house, so I didn't really have a way of testing if I could feel the airflow further away. When set on the lowest fan speed, I felt the airflow 17 feet away.

Depending on the layout of your house, you could likely feel the airflow between a couple of rooms. The only thing that would make this fan better would be the ability for it to oscillate horizontally or even vertically. At the moment, you can only tilt the fan up or down 45 degrees by hand to direct the airflow. This is not the biggest drawback, but something to note.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo portable fan in a kitchen — (Image credit: Future)

I tested the mister outside. I wasn't sure how much water it would create, though after testing it, I'd say you could use the mister inside for a bit and you shouldn't have a problem with damp floors.

There are two mister modes – consistent and interval. As you'd expect, the consistent mode pushes out a constant stream of mist, while the interval mode stops and starts. When the water drop flashes, that's when you know the interval mode is on.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo portable fan in a garden — (Image credit: Future)

The mister isn't overwhelming. In fact, you need to be about 2-4 feet from it to really feel the spray. I found that the wind typically blew it away (usually upwards) at about the four foot mark. This isn't a mister that will soak you.

The water emptied in 20 minutes when I used the consistent setting. According to Shark, the mister has a maximum misting time of up to 30 minutes per tank on any speed, but it looks like that figure is a little optimistic. On interval, the mister is meant to last up to 60 minutes on any fan speed; it lasted about 55 minutes for me.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: battery life

Lasted 1hr 30 on max fan speed, and 4hrs 13 on middle mode
Shark states up to 12 hours of use on lowest speed
Takes 2 hrs 30 mins to charge from flat

While I could have kept the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan plugged in and had an infinite source of power, because it's a portable fan, I wanted to test the battery life. The fan takes 2 hours 30 mins to charge. It lasted 4 hours and 13 minutes on the 3 fan speed level, which is better than what Shark estimates (a four-hour battery life on that level) The fan also exceeded the estimated battery life of 1.5 hours on the fan speed of 5.

I set the fan on BreezeBoost, and the battery lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. I'm inclined to believe that the battery might last longer than Shark's reported maximum cordless run time of 12 hours on fan speed 1.

In terms of battery run time, this Shark fan is about what I expected. If you took this fan to a tailgate, four hours of battery life is fairly good, as long as it's a comfortable enough temperature to keep the fan speed at 3. If you live in super-hot areas, you might want the fan to last more than 1 hour and 50 minutes when using the BreezeBoost option.

Hopefully, there's an outlet nearby to recharge the fan. I wouldn't say this portable fan is a great choice for a day at the lake, especially since the 1 or 2 speed level likely won't offer enough airflow to keep you super cool, but it's better than nothing if the wind isn't blowing. Plus, at those two speed levels, you'll get a lot more hours of use.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo?

Buy it if...

You want a fan you can take out and about

This fan can be used cordless, and comes with a handle for on-the-go cooling. It also looks good, and if you're in the US you can choose from a range of summery pastel color options.

You want a misting fan

Misters are great for summer days, especially when you want to sit on your porch without dying of a heat stroke. This portable fan lets you enjoy mist anywhere in your yard or house without needing an outlet nearby.

You want a powerful fan that can reach long distances.

No matter the fan speed, this fan can direct airflow long distances. On the lowest fan setting, I could feel the airflow 17 feet away – and on BreezeBoost mode, 30 feet away.

Don't buy it if...

You aren't bothered about portability

If you don't need it to be lightweight, you'd be better off with this fan's big sibling: the original FlexBreeze. It can still be used cordlessly, and unlike the HydroGo, it does oscillate.

You want to control your fan remotely

If you want to change the fan speed or turn on the mister, you're going to have to walk over to the fan and press a button. It would have been nice to at least have had a remote control, and even better if the fan settings could be adjusted within an app.

You need a portable fan with a super long battery life

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo's battery life is decent but it's not going to last you all day at the lake, unless you're willing to use the lowest fan speeds. In fact, you only get a little over four hours on the 3-speed level and less than two hours on BreezeBoost mode.

How I tested the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo

Testing the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan was easier than testing most fans due to its portable nature. I used it around my house – in my bedroom, living room, and kitchen, as well as in outdoor spaces like my backyard and on my front porch. I even packed it in my car and tested it two hours away at my parent's house. Testing occurred in April when temperatures reached the mid-80s in Texas, so it was nice to experience the misting feature on warm days.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

This smart fan with auto mode, app control and scheduling kept my home consistently cool

6:00 pm | April 23, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S: two-minute review

The Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S hit the market in April 2025, offering customers a wide selection of features for a relatively affordable price.

The tower fan is tall at 42 inches and has 210 blades pushing out air at nine different fan speeds. On the highest speed, I could feel cool air about 30 feet away, and airflow from the lowest fan speed about 20 feet away, meaning it was plenty powerful enough to cool a couple of connected rooms in one go.

There are also four speciality modes to choose from: Sleep, Natural breeze, Normal and Auto mode. It's the last of those that really stood out during my review period. It adjusts the fan speeds automatically to keep the room at an ambient temperature of your choosing.

You can control the tower fan in three ways: with the display buttons, a remote, and my favorite method – in the Dreo app. Not only does the app mean you can switch the fan of remotely, while you're out of the house, but it also unlocks options for scheduling, for ultimate convenience.

Coming in slightly over $100 / £100, it's not a budget fan but it's far from the priciest option on the market. I think it delivers excellent value for that price, given the strong performance and long feature-list. If you're looking for something powerful and ultra-convenient, this could well be the best fan for you. Keep reading for my full Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S review.

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S review: price & availability

List price: $119.99 / £109.99
Launch date: April 2025
Availability: US / UK

Dreo launched a number of cooling products in April 2025, including the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S. It's available to buy via Amazon and costs $119.99 in the US and £109.99 in the UK. Considering the height of the fan, its app connectivity, and cooling capabilities, the price seems more than fair.

There are a number of very similar looking Dreo tower fans, with similar but slightly different features, so it's worth taking a minute to make sure you're buying the right one for your needs. For example, you can get this same model without Wi-Fi, for a slightly cheaper price.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S specs

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S review: design

42-inch tower fan that can oscillate 90 degrees
Smart and remote control capabilities
9 fan speeds and 4 speciality modes

The Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S is a slim black plastic tower fan that's 42 inches tall with a round base. Assembly only took about five minutes, and did not require any tools. I was slightly confused when putting together the circular base, but the instructions were clear, and I had the tower fan plugged into the wall in no time.

There are 210 airfoil-shaped blades, which move cool air around the room whether it's sitting in place or oscillating 90 degrees. It's outfitted with nine different fan levels and four specialty modes – Sleep, Auto, Natural, and Normal.

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

At the top of the tower fan, there is a circular display with a power button and buttons that let you choose from the nine different fan speeds and four different modes. Here you can also set a timer for up to 12 hours and set it to oscillate. A digital display screen illuminates the different settings in use, and the fan speed.

A remote control is provided, with the same buttons that are found on the circular display. When not in use, the remote control can be stored at the top and along the back of the tower fan where there is a cut out in the design.

The Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S has Wi-Fi capabilities and connects to the Dreo app. Within the app, I can turn the fan on and off and adjust the settings in the same way I can with the remote or on the fan's display screen. There are a few additional settings in the app. For instance, I can turn on and off the panel sound, as well as the display auto, which basically turns off the display on the tower after 1 minute of inactivity.

The most interesting feature in the app is the temperature. This tower fan can read the temperature in the room and notates it in the app. This capability exists for the Auto mode, which senses heat and adjusts fan speeds automatically to cool a room. Even if I don't have Auto mode on, I can use the temperature reading to adjust the fan speed manually.

As for noise, Dreo claims that the fan has a dB rating of 25. However, when I measured the sound rating, I found that the tower fan had a 44dB rating on the lowest fan speed of 1 and a 52 dB rating when the fan speed was set 6. This is not particularly loud, and if I was sleeping or sitting 10 feet away from the fan, the noise would not be bothersome. For reference, I tested the noise rating by placing my phone, with the sound rating app, right next to the fan.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S review: performance

Powerful airflow – max modes can be felt ~30 feet away
Auto mode is very effective, but oscillation range could be wider
Remote control effective and convenient, and the app even more so

The Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S is the first tower fan I've tested, and I can say without a doubt that if you're going to invest in a tower fan, this is the one to buy.

The buttons on the display worked just as well as the remote, though I usually opted for using the remote, because I didn't have to get up and go to the fan to adjust the settings. I was able to use the remote 33 feet away, as long as the remote and the tower fan were in a direct line of sight. Perhaps I'd be able to use the remote further away, but I was not able to move further back because of the design of my house.

Though the remote was convenient, the app was even better to use since I could use it in any area of the house without having to be in direct sight of the tower fan. The app is easy to use, since it has the same buttons as the remote and the tower fan display.

There are 9 different fan speeds. Most of the time, I didn't need to go beyond 6, but some days my house grew particularly warm, and I appreciated the higher speed levels. When placed on the first speed level, I could feel the air blowing on my skin about 19.5 feet away. On the highest speed level, I could feel cool air at 29 feet away. With this in mind, you don't have to be in the same room as the fan to enjoy cool air from it.

When I had company over, I usually set the tower fan on oscillating, which allowed cool air to blow on multiple people at a time. Though I appreciated that the fan could oscillate at 90 degrees, I was surprised that it did not have the capability to oscillate at a higher angle like 180 degrees. It would have also been nice if I could adjust the oscillation degree within the app (say to 45 degrees if I wanted), but alas, this was not an option.

The Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S has four different modes – Normal, Natural, Sleep, and Auto. Most of the time, I used the Normal mode. When set on this mode, I adjusted the speed manually and it remained that same speed until I changed it again.

I also really liked the Natural mode, because it simulated a natural wind breeze by switching between different fan speeds. This mode is great if the temperature inside your house is fairly comfortable, and you just want some air circulation that isn't harsh against your skin.

The Sleep mode on the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S is a bit different than others. When in this mode, the tower fan is muted, and the fan speed decreases every 30 minutes until it's two levels below your original setting. For instance, if the tower speed is set at a level 9, after 30 minutes it'll go down to 8, and then another 30 minutes later it'll decrease to a speed of 7, where it will remain the rest of the night. (If you set the fan at level 2, it'll stick at 1 rather than turning off completely.)

Most sleep modes on fans are designed so that the fan is quieter, and thus doesn't bother the person trying to fall asleep. Unfortunately, a quieter mode also means a fan speed that might not be as high, or effective in cooling to help you fall asleep. With the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S, I think the idea is to allow users to fall asleep with a higher and more effectively cooling fan speed. As it reduces in speed over the course of an hour, the sound will lessen which should help you fall or stay asleep.

Auto mode is perhaps the most unique mode I've seen on a fan. In Auto mode, the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S adapts to the ambient temperature. So if you have the ambient temperature set at 75 degrees, the tower fan will automatically adjust the speed of the fan to maintain that temperature. Usually, the tower fan reduces the temperature by at least one degree less than the ambient temperature. I like that it monitors the temperature and maintains it to something that feels comfortable to you.

Overall, I enjoyed the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S. I loved the smart features and the app connectivity and how well the fan kept me cool no matter the mode I used.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S?

Buy it if...

You want a powerful fan

During testing, I was able to feel the highest speed level up to 29 feet away and the lowest speed level nearly 20 feet away. With this fan, you can effectively cool two connected rooms at a time.

You want remote control options

You can change the fan settings with a remote, by pushing buttons on the display, or adjusting the settings in an app. With the app, you could even start the fan before you get home, ensuring your space is cool upon entering.

You want a fan with smart features

When on Auto mode, the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 529S automatically adjusts the fan speed based on the temperature of the room. So, if it senses the room is hot, the fan will increase the speed and cool it down for you.

Don't buy it if...

You're looking for a fan with 180-degree oscillation

This Dreo fan has a 90-degree oscillation capability. While any oscillation is appreciated, some users may prefer a fan that can oscillate up to 180 degrees for better room coverage.

You want to control the degree of oscillation

With some Dreo fans, you can adjust the oscillation degree within the app. That's not the case with the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S. For instance, you can't adjust it to 45 degrees. It's either 90 degrees or nothing at all.

How I tested the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S

I tested the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S in my 105-year-old house in Dallas, Texas, in April. Temperatures ranged day by day from quite warm to a bit chilly. I tested all four modes and the fan speeds in my bedroom, living room, and kitchen, so I could get a sense of how well the fan cooled the room or circulated air. During this time, I did not use my air-conditioning or heater and found that the Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S was powerful enough to keep me cool no matter the temperature.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

The De’Longhi Linea Classic is a budget-friendly, entry-level espresso machine that makes you the barista

11:00 pm | April 22, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: two-minute review

The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine might be one of the best espresso machines for new and experienced baristas alike. The reasonable price tag, simplicity of use, and relatively compact size make it an appealing choice for just about anyone.

While it's not completely automated like a capsule system or a high-end machine that includes a coffee bean grinder and touch screen, it's simple enough to use and takes some of the guesswork out of brewing espresso. A totally manual espresso machine requires you to measure and heat your water to just the right temperature and decide the right amount of pressure to use for your brew. The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine eliminates the need for any of that; just fill the water tank with cold water; the water quantity, temperature, and pressure is decided for you. Just load up the portafilter with enough finely ground coffee for one or two shots of espresso, insert the portafilter, and press a button for either a single or double shot. Within seconds, you have a beautiful espresso (or two.)

It's all pretty straightforward, though it's important to tamp your coffee grounds just right. Tamping too firmly causes the water to brew through too slowly, and the espresso will be too intense and bitter. Tamping too loosely lets the water through too fast, and your brew will be too light and sour. If you don't like the automatic setting for water quantity, you can can change the factory setting to allow more or less water to be used.

The frothing wand froths or steams your milk of choice. A setting on the wand lets you choose between frothing and steaming milk. You can also dispense hot water though the wand, which is perfect for making an Americano (espresso with added hot water.) After using the frothing wand, the machine will be too hot to brew espresso; you'll need to run a cooling cycle or give it time to cool down.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine brewing — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: price and availability

Available at many online and brick-and-mortar retailers
Retails for $199.95 (£154 / AU$313)
Discounted on Amazon

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is available directly from De'Longhi as well as most big box retailers both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. The retail price is $199.95 (about £154 / AU$313) but you can find a slight discount on Amazon. At the time of writing it's only available to buy in the US.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine brewing two espressos — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: specs

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: design

Small footprint and lightweight design
Everything you need except coffee and cups included
Fairly straightforward to use but not foolproof

The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is an attractive blend of shiny chrome and plastic. All of the pieces are just heavy enough feel like high quality. It looks nice in my kitchen and would likely look good with just about any decor.

On the front of the machine, you see a pressure gauge and four buttons. On the right side are your power button and frothing wand selection button. On the left are the single espresso and double espresso buttons. The frothing wand control dial is on the right side of the machine and the water tank is at the back.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine with espresso and cappuccino — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

At just 8.89 x 11.14 x 12 inches (22.6 x 28.3 x 31 cm), the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine doesn't take up a ton of space in your kitchen. It's lightweight, too, at just nine pounds (4.1 kg), which is handy if you need to store it away and take it out every time you use it. The water tank has a pretty decent capacity, 57.48 fluid ounces (1.7 liters). I was able to brew a lot of espresso before I needed to refill the tank.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine with everything included flat lay — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The portafilter and two filters (single and double espresso-sized) are included in the box. The portafilter is the device with the handle that holds the filters. The scoop that comes in the box is perfectly-sized for a single espresso brew, just use two scoops to make a double. The other end of the scoop is your tamper, which you will use to press the grounds firmly but gently, forming a puck of coffee in the filter. If you tamp too hard or not hard enough, the espresso won't taste very good.

None of the parts of the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine are dishwasher-safe, so you'll need to wash all of these by hand after each brew.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine tamping coffee into portafilter — The water tank has a capacity of 1.8qt / 1.7 liters, and slots onto the back of the machine (Image credit: Karen Freeman Future)

If you want to get fancy, you can buy endless accessories, such as a coffee bean grinder, food scale to weigh your coffee, frothing mug, and of course fancy cups and spoons. None of that is included, nor are they necessary to get you started.

On the back of the machine is the water tank, which can easily removed, refilled, and replaced as needed. The wand can be adjusted to dispense hot water, heat your milk, or heat and froth your milk at the same time. It pulls apart for cleaning, which you'll need to do every time you use it.

The drip tray prevents a mess on your counter. It's easy to remove and clean, which you'll only need to do once in a while. Like all of the other parts, it's hand-wash only.

Design score: 4.5/5

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: performance

Produces beautiful espresso drinks with ease
Frother is effective
Getting brew just right takes trial and error

The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine performs perfectly in the sense that you load up your coffee in the portafilter, press a button, and beautiful espresso brews every time. However, espresso is a little bit more complicated than that. Taste is highly subjective, but some of my brews were definitely better than others. Getting it just right isn't easy.

If you're not a fan of the factory settings, you can change them to brew your espressos with more or less water than standard. I stuck with the factory settings for my testing.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine packed portafilter — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I'm not a trained barista myself, my usual daily espresso comes from my favorite Nespresso machine. So I called upon my middle child, who has taken a class in brewing espresso. He has a fully manual espresso machine at home, so he was excited to try the much easier-to-use De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine. He gave me some tips for brewing better-tasting espresso, such as loosening up the grounds after scooping but before tamping. He was thrilled with the results.

We did a blind taste test with him, my oldest daughter, my husband, and I, comparing espresso from the Linea Classic to a Nespresso capsule. The results were split down the middle. Everyone's tastes are so different, it's hard to say definitively what is a good espresso and what isn't.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine and cappuccino — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

There are definitely some quirks with the milk frother. It is quite effective in both steaming and frothing milk, both dairy and non-dairy. It also dispenses hot water, which is handy for making Americano-style (diluted) espresso. However, it doesn't click into place, nor does it click when switching from "hot milk" to "cappuccino" mode. I like to have that confirmation click on devices like this, but you get used to it.

Press the steam button to go into frothing wand mode, and then turn the dial on the side to operate the wand. The biggest quirk about this frothing wand is that once you use it, you can't brew espresso again immediately.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine frothing milk — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Once you've frothed or steamed some milk, the machine will likely be too hot to brew espresso again right away. Before you can brew again, you'll need to run a cooling cycle by opening the steam dial to dispense steam and hot water until the heating element has cooled. Alternatively, you can wait for the heating element to cool down on its own.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine brewing cappuccino — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Cleanup is pretty easy. After brewing, you'll need to dump out the used coffee puck, I used a plastic utensil to scrape out most of it and a paper towel to wipe out the rest before washing. You'll want to be careful not to let grounds go down your sink drain, even if you have a disposal. Coffee will clog your pipes like cement, so compost or throw away the used coffee grounds. Then just hand wash all of the parts you used. You'll also need to descale the machine periodically, as per the manufacturer's instructions.

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De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine in action — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

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Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine?

Buy it if

You want to make authentic espresso drinks with ease

In just a few minutes from start to finish, you can make real espresso and espresso-based beverages like cappuccino. It's quicker and easier to use than similarly-priced fully manual machines.

You want to make real espresso on a budget

At less than $200, the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is a solid entry in the home espresso machine market.

You don't have a ton of space

The lightweight and compact De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine fits into just about any kitchen. It's similar in size to a small, no-frills drip coffee machine.

Don't buy it if

You don't want to put in more effort than pressing a button

While brewing espresso with the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine isn't hard, it's certainly not as easy as just popping in a pod or pressing the button on a fully automatic machine.

You want a super consistent taste

While the factors of water and pressure are taken care of for you, you still need to grind, measure, and tamp your coffee just right to get the best taste.

De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: also consider

Breville Bambino Plus

This is one of the best espresso machines currently on the market. While pricier, this highly customizable machine makes amazing espresso and espresso-based drinks. In the UK, Breville products are known as Sage.

Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch

This semi-automatic espresso machine has a frothing wand, coffee bean grinder, and a touch screen so you can make nine different custom drinks with the touch of a button.

Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review

How I tested the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine

I brewed a bunch of espressos and made a few cappuccinos with the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine over the course of several weeks. I carefully cleaned the machine before use and between each use. The coffee I brewed was De'Longhi's own espresso blend. I used filtered water from my refrigerator's water dispenser, refilling the water tank as needed. For the cappuccinos, I tried both low-calorie almond milk and whole dairy milk, cold from the refrigerator.

First reviewed April 2025

The Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 delivers great results with any fruit or veg (though it can’t make me love kale juice)

3:00 pm | April 21, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Tags: Australia, UK, US | Comments: Off

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036: one-minute review

The Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 is frankly a joy to use. Easy to assemble, use, and clean, this masticating slow-press juicer provides consistent, excellent results. If you want a juicer with a bunch of bells and whistles, you won't find it here. Instead, this appliance focuses on providing high-performance features, like its auto hopper, non-drip spout, and powerful auger, which reduces the need to pre-cut fruit and veg (though you may need to cut some) and allows for it to be largely automatic – with minimal mess.

You can add large chunks of food to this juicer, which makes prep easy, but the user manual advises removing seeds and peels from foods like oranges, lemons, and melons. After prepping, you simply add your food to the juicer, lock the lid, and turn the knob on the side, ensuring the pulp and juice cups are under their respective spouts. The juicer then uses its power auger to juice your items, pushing the solid fiber and pulp out the side, while its triple filter ensures the juice left is smooth. I found the auger left minimal residue in the feeding cup and it is incredibly satisfying watching the pulp ooze out the side.

Interior of Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

While you can leave the appliance to automatically juice your food, you may need to utilize the pusher accessory to push down some foods – I only needed to do this once, however – or use the knob's Reverse function if any food gets stuck. You also need to watch for when the juicing is completed, as the appliance doesn't automatically turn off when finished and is surprisingly quick due to its 250W motor. In most cases, my juicing was complete in one to two minutes, though tougher foods took up to six.

Control dial on Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 and cleaning brush — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The overall result every time was smooth juice with minimal pulp, enough to be healthy but not enough to make the juice unpleasant. That powerful auger utilized nearly every element of what it was fed, with the pulp spout churning out mostly solid remains that indicate it squeezed almost every ounce of juice from my foods. Clean-up was equally impressive, with the detachable parts easily hand-washed with only water.

If you're looking for a no-nonsense slow juicer that provides consistently high results, the Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 is a worthy investment.

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036: price and availability

Price: $299.99 / £199.99
Available in the UK and US, but not Australia
Regular discounts available

The Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 is a premium cold press juicer. Available in the US and UK at $300 / £199.99, respectively, this appliance is pricer than several others on our best juicers list. So, if this is a bit out of your price range, the Amzchef Slow Juicer ZM1501 is a more affordable alternative. However, we regularly see discounts (up to $100) on this product, so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled during sales periods.

While the Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 is pricey, it's worth the investment if you regularly juice, as it offers a high-quality masticating juicer that's easy to use and maintain.

Value score: 4.5/5

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036: specifications

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036: design

Stylish modern design
Surprisingly tall, needs unobstructed counter space
Powerful auger and auto hopper
Triple filter for smooth juice
Anti-drip spout

The Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 has a stylish, minimalistic modern design and comes in black or silver. Assembly is straightforward thanks to the handy user manual. You attach the juicing bowl to the power base, followed by the auger, and then the feeding cup, which locks into the bowl with ease. You then add the juice cup under the juice spout on the front and the pulp cup under the pulp spout on the left-hand side. The feeding cup lid has a safety clock, which you can click open and close fairly easily. The juicer won't function if the lock isn't clicked in, as this indicates the top is open, a welcome safety inclusion that should prevent any kitchen disasters.

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Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 auger — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 auger after juicing kale — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

What I like most about this juicer is how seemingly simple its design is and how easy it is to operate. On the right-hand side is just one knob with three options: on, off, and reverse. There's no smart control here, simply turn it on to juice and off when it's done. You need to manually turn it off when the juicing is finished, so an automatic option would be helpful, but this method does give you more control over its operation.

Turning the appliance on is when you see how impressive the design is. The automatic hopper pulls food into the powerful squeezing auger, churning it to extract the juice before using the triple filter to separate the pulp from the juice, satisfyingly spewing the pulp out of its respective spout and holding the remaining juice. The no-drip juice spout means the juice stays put until you've turned the appliance off and you're ready to open it. The juice spews out pretty fast, so I advise opening it slowly to avoid splashback.

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 brush and pushing tool — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Cleaning, likewise, is easy. The user manual advises handwashing with (it seems) just water and a cleaning brush is provided for tougher residue. Largely, I only needed the brush for the filter and chutes, with remains in the detachable parts easily washing away under the tap.

It's worth noting, however, that this juicer stands pretty tall when assembled, at 17.2in. Plus, you need to account for opening the lid. So, I had difficulty opening it due to my upper kitchen cabinets and needed to move it to a counter space that wasn't vertically obstructed. This may not be ideal if you have a smaller kitchen.

Design score: 5/5

Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036: performance

Smooth juice with minimal pulp
Discarded pulp is largely solid
Only takes a few minutes to juice
Consistently good results

The Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 performs to a high standard and I found it near flawless during my testing. I first tested a green juice, consisting of broccoli florets, ginger, celery, an apple, pear, and parsley. While the apple and pear needed de-seeding as advised in the user manual, and the celery cut into smaller chunks to fit the chute, minimal prep was required and all the ingredients easily fit in the feeding cup.

Green juice and pulp from Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Within about two minutes of turning the appliance on, 197g of fairly solid pulp had been extracted and I was left with around 375ml of clear juice with minimal foam. Only some small remnants of parsley snuck into the juice, but these weren't overly noticeable or unpleasant. Very little was left in the juicing bowl that wasn't pulped or juiced. I was impressed that – while fairly loud at a max volume of 85.5 decibels – this juicer wasn't

I was particularly impressed with how the appliance juiced 200g of unpeeled carrots. The result, again, was 100ml of crystal clear juice with no foam, which only took one minute. This one minute is fairly loud, with a max decibel reading of 85.5, but wasn't as ear-splitting as some juicers can be.

Carrot juice and pulp from Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Orange juice, using five large oranges, took a slightly longer six minutes, however. Mainly because I tested whether adding each ingredient one by one results, as Amzchef says in its juicer tips, in a higher yield. I didn't see a noticeable difference, so it's really up to you whether you'd rather juice more efficiently or quickly.

I added the oranges (unadvisedly) with their peels on but cut into wedges. This resulted in a lot of pulp (411g) and roughly 375ml of delicious orange juice, which had some nutritious pulp in it but not enough for it to be an issue.

Pulp and kale juice from Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036 — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Much like with my carrots, my 100g kale test resulted in wonderfully pure kale juice, with just a little foam. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how disgusting kale juice is and this juicer couldn't fix that.

Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Amzchef Slow Juicer SJ-036?

Buy it if

You want to spend less time on food prep

While some foods need to be cut up for size or their seeds removed, this juicer can handle whole foods with ease, minimizing the need for pre-cutting and prep.

You want a non-nonsense juicer

This appliance may not have the bells and whistles of other juicers, but it does what it's meant to do to a high standard.

You want an easy to maintain and operate juicer

This slow juicer is a breeze to assembly, use, and clean. So, if you want an appliance that's easy to use out of the box, look no further.

Don't buy it if

You've less kitchen space

This is a surprisingly tall juicer and I had trouble opening it when it was placed on a counter under kitchen cabinets. The most optimal space for this is a counter that's unobstructed vertically, so if you're lacking that you may have some difficulty finding a place to use it conveniently.

You're on a budget

This is a premium product, but it also comes with a premium price tag. While regular discounts are available, you can get great slow juicers for less than this. So, if the $300 / £199.99 price tag is out of your budget, there are plenty more options available that provide solid performance.

First reviewed April 2025

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer turned me into a kitchen BBQ master, but it has some pesky drawbacks

3:00 pm | April 20, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Fryers Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: Australia, UK, US | Comments: Off

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: one-minute review

Ninja is a trusted (and arguably the biggest) name in the air fryer market for a reason. Several of the brand's products feature in our best air fryers roundup, thanks to their top-tier performance, but that high quality comes with a premium (sometimes eye-watering) price tag. The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer EG351UK, too, comes with a premium price tag, but one that's somewhat more affordable than its siblings while offering the same top-grade quality we've come to expect from Ninja. If your air fryer budget maxes out at £200 (roughly $250 / AU$450), this just sneaks in there.

It's still not cheap, but for that price you get a top-notch air fryer and indoor grill that offers pretty consistent results across its five cooking functions. The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer makes baking, grilling (even from frozen), air frying, dehydrating, and roasting easy, though you may need to use some trial and error with certain foods and functions to get optimal results.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer on kitchen counter — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The included user manual and inspiration booklet are helpful, with notes on nearly any question you may have, but the food guidelines can be a bit optimistic at times. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker but means you should keep a close eye on your food as you get to grips with it, as I had some issues with uneven cooking over overdone foods on the outside with the air fryer function. Thanks to the probe attachment, however, you have several avenues to check when your meat or fish is cooked, giving you some peace of mind.

The issues I had mostly arose with air frying foods and were exacerbated by the 5.7-liter cooking pot's lack of a handle, which made shaking foods like fries and vegetables for even cooking tricky. However, the other cooking functions offered impressive results, delivering perfectly baked muffins, delicious flatbreads and succulent chicken.

Perhaps my biggest issue with the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer, however, is how much cleaning it requires for maintenance – and how tough it is to keep the appliance and its various attachments (particularly the splatter guard) clean, despite following the included instructions. That's something which could potentially cause further issues with performance over time.

Aside from this, the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer is a solid air fryer for those who regularly grill and air fry their foods, combining the two in one appliance. If you haven't the space for a BBQ, it offers the same delicious results, with considerably less smoke, and is easy to use for seasoned air fryer users and newbies.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: price and availability

Price: £199.99 (roughly $262 / AU$419)
This model is available in the UK, but not US or Australia
Available from Ninja and third-party retailers

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer has a premium price tag of £199.99 (roughly $262 / AU$419), meaning it's one of the more affordable options if you have your heart set on a Ninja. It costs slightly less than the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer and considerably less than the Ninja Double Oven and Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker, so if you're after Ninja quality under the £200 mark, it's a great choice.

While this air fryer is on the pricier side, considering it packs in five cooking functions, including the ability to grill, with solid results, it's worth the price tag for those who plan to utilize its various functions. There's also a two-year guarantee included for those who register with Ninja, giving you extra peace of mind.

You can buy this air fryer from Ninja or third-party retailers like Amazon and Argos, with the latter likely to offer discounts during sales periods like Black Friday. You'll find today's best prices below. Unfortunately, this model isn't currently available in the US or Australia.

Value score: 4/5

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: specifications

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: design

Modern black and steel-brushed design
Thermometer probe for meat
High-maintenance cleaning
No handle for shaking

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer comes in a black and steel-brushed finish, with its top opening upward (like most grills) to reveal its 5.7L cooking pot inside. In the box, you get two ceramic-coated plates that slot easily into the cooking pot, a grill plate for grilling foods, and a crisper plate for most other cooking functions. On the front is a digital display, with its cooking functions clearly shown below and sizable buttons to adjust its settings.

Despite its capacity, this air fryer isn't as physically intrusive in my kitchen as others I've reviewed. It still takes up a decent chunk of counter room, making it potentially less suited for smaller kitchens but much easier to home than the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer, for example.

This air fryer is about the right size for a household of four, depending on what you plan to cook, with plenty of room for veggies and smaller items on the crisper plate and the grill plate easily fitting four chicken breasts or burgers. However, when it comes to larger items, like a whole chicken, for example, you may have some difficulty. While the Ninja website claims the appliance can fit a 1.4kg whole chicken in the cooking pot, the crisping plate is recommended for roasting, but this means the chicken needs to be smaller, about 1kg.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer with lid open — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Fortunately, I was able to use the included thermometer probe to check my chicken was definitely cooked. The probe jack connects to the appliance, with the other end inserted into the thickest part of your meat, and allows you to set the meat type you're cooking (and desired doneness for relevant meats).

The appliance then displays your food's internal temperature and desired temperature and tells you when it reaches that temperature. This is usually a few degrees off the actual temperature the meat should be, as the air fryer tells you to rest the meat and counts down the resting time, too. The guidance on this is pretty thorough in the user manual – and on pretty much everything, in fact – and meant my meat always (internally, at least) was cooked to perfection.

Meat probe settings on Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

That thorough user manual also comes with instructions on how to clean the air fryer and its attachments – a pretty high-maintenance affair. Ninja recommends hand washing the plates and splatter guard, understandably, after each use. The company even provides you with a cleaning brush with a scraper to help. While handwashing the cooking pot and crisping plate is pretty painless, I found cleaning the ceramic-coated grill plate and splatter guard a challenge (even with the included brush). Tough residue eventually came off the grill plate's many crevices with some elbow grease and soaking, but despite following the instructions and cleaning the splatter guard after every cook, during my week of testing, more and more grease built up on it.

I thoroughly cleaned it after each cook and even followed the deep cleaning instructions, boiling it in a pot, but that tough grease did not come off, and some had even made its way behind the splatter guard. The instructions mostly focus on cleaning the detachable parts rather than the appliance itself, so I tried wiping it off with a cloth to no avail. The problem is that while the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer is largely smokeless, the tough grease started to cause more smoke, and I could not get it off following the included instructions. Over time, this could become a larger issue. So, for optimal performance, you need to be very thorough in your cleaning of each nook and cranny.

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Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer with new splatter guard — Cleaning the splatter guard is a challenge, and it proved impossible to remove during testing (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer splatter guard at the end of a week of testing — Despite cleaning after each use, the splatter guard had accumulated a considerable amount of grease after a week of testing (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Dirt accumulating on splatter guard of Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — Dirt easily builds up in small spaces (Image credit: Vic Hood)

This isn't the only design issue I had with this appliance. In addition to its high-level maintenance, the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer lacks a handle for its cooking pot, making shaking foods more difficult. Many competitors offer a heat-proof handle to grab, so you can easily shake veggies, chips, and other food items, but the Ninja 5-in-1 only has slightly protruding edges on its cooking pot for this, meaning you need to pick up the whole pot and shake it. This is tricky because you need to lift the 5.7L pot and try and shake its contents evenly, but also because those contents are hot. It's an addition that could have made air-frying certain foods much more convenient.

Design score: 4/5

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: performance

Air frying results are inconsistent
Baking, dehydrating, roasting, and grilling are excellent
Great recipes in inspiration booklet
Quality-of-life features like automatic preheat function

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer has five cooking functions: grilling, air frying, baking, dehydrating, and roasting.

The grill feature is by far the highlight, with the included inspiration booklet offering recipes to help you utilize the feature, alongside tips and recipes for marinades, seasonings, and more. To kick off my testing, I tried one of the booklet's kickstarter recipes: barbecue chicken breasts.

The recipe required frozen chicken breasts, with the cooking time set to take about 25 minutes, which I was a bit skeptical about. However, after 25 minutes and several bastings, I had perfectly cooked BBQ chicken fillets that were sticky and smoky on the outside but succulent inside. This doesn't account for the seven-minute preheat time, with the appliance automatically preheating on most functions. If you're in the no-preheat club, have no fear, as there's a button to skip this if you want to.

Chicken cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Burgers provided the same consistent results, but when the appliance chirped to let me know to flip the burgers halfway through cooking, it didn't give me much time to do so as the time continued to tick on. Frustratingly, this meant the cooking time ended, and the resting timer began, but the burgers weren't done, and I had to reprogram the grill to finish them off as I couldn't easily add on a few extra minutes. To ensure they were cooked, I inserted the probe and set the function to beef and 'medium well', which allowed me to save my food.

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Uncooked burgers in Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Burgers cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

While I usually have a control chicken wing rub I use for tests, I decided to use the Everyday Spice rub laid out in Ninja's booklet. After following the booklet's advice of waiting 30 minutes before grilling and checking the food guidelines, I added my wings to the grill. While I followed the recommended time and temperature Ninja gave for chicken wings, mine came out quite overdone on the outside but perfectly cooked and tasty inside.

Again, when cooking any meats in this appliance, I highly recommend utilizing the probe more than the food time guidelines, as it's a safety net if your food appears to be overdone on the outside, but you don't want to pull it out in case it's not cooked inside.

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Spice mix recipe for Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Cooked chicken inside Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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It's not just meats this grill provides solid results for, either. Following another of Ninja's recipes, I made flatbreads for the first time and cooked them to perfection, each taking only two minutes on the preheated grill.

These high-quality results were pretty consistent across the appliance's functions, as I perfectly dehydrated my leftover flatbread parsley in four hours, baked tasty lemon and blueberry muffins, and roasted my aforementioned harissa chicken with (relative) ease, so it was juicy inside and slightly crispy outside.

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Inside flat bread cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Muffins cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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The only issue I had with the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer's performance was its air fryer function. I will caveat this by saying a lot of air fryers require some experimentation for optimal results, and food guidelines are helpful but not always 100% accurate. Ninja acknowledges this in a way, noting in its air-frying food guidelines section that its times are a guide, and you need to adjust to your preference, check your food frequently, and shake or toss it. I kept this in mind when testing carrots, courgettes, frozen fries, and fresh fries, and regularly checked on and shook my with some overdone and some underdone. For example, many of my carrots had burnt edges and were almost roasted after roughly 15 minutes, while others were underdone.

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Carrots cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Cooked courgette inside Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Fresh fries cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

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Frozen fries cooked using Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer — (Image credit: Vic Hood)

Considering this is a premium air fryer, these results were disappointing, especially after the brilliant results of the other functions. Like many air fryers, it may take some trial and error to get optimal results with this function, but if you want an appliance that air fries consistently well off the bat, this may not be the appliance for you.

Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer?

Buy it if

You want that BBQ flavor in your kitchen

If you haven't room for a BBQ or simply love indoor grilling, this is a solid option with minimal smoke.

You want an air fryer with various cooking functions

In addition to grilling and air frying, this appliance can bake, roast, and dehydrate to a high standard, allowing you to cook a variety of food types to your liking.

You cook meat and fish regularly

If you regularly cook meat and fish and want to do so in an air fryer, the probe function on this appliance allows you to do so with peace of mind. There's nothing worse than cutting into your food only to find it's underdone inside. The included probe means you can track your food's internal temperature alongside its overall look, ensuring your meat and fish are cooked to perfection inside and out.

You want a Ninja air fryer under £200

Ninja air fryers are premium products, with many of the best costing over £250. With this appliance coming in just shy of £200, you can get that same Ninja quality but for a bit less.

Don't buy it if

You won't keep up with cleaning

This air fryer grill can be tough to clean, but thoroughly cleaning it and its detachable parts after each use is critical. While the included brush makes this a bit easier, the splatter guard and grill plate can prove particularly challenging.

You don't grill (or plan to grill) much

The biggest selling point of this air fryer is its ability to grill, so if you don't plan to utilize that function much, then it's probably not the air fryer for you.

You want an air fryer that works with little hassle

Frustratingly, the air fryer function on this air fryer is where we've had the most issues with uneven cooking. Like most air fryers, the more time you spend cooking food in this appliance, the more you'll get to grips with how to get the most optimal results. However, if you want a simple, consistent air frying function out of the box, this may not be the best choice for you.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: also consider

Not certain that the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer is right for you? Here are two other options you might like to consider.

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone

If you live outside the UK where the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer isn't available, this is two-drawer air fryer is a great alternative. It looks smart, and produces consistently good results (though we'd appreciate a reminder to shake to food for even cooking).

Read our full Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone review

Ninja Double Stack

If you don't have space for a full-width two-drawer air fryer, the Double Stack is the appliance for you. It's deeper and taller, but much narrower than the Russell Hobbs Satisfry or the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone, and in our tests it produced evenly browned, crispy fries every time.

Read our full Ninja Double Stack review

How I tested the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer?

I used the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, chicken wings, fresh vegetables, and muffins. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test.

First reviewed March 2025.

I tried the Dyson Airwrap i.d., and I regret to inform you that it’s way better than the old version

11:00 am | April 12, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dyson Airwrap i.d: two-minute review

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is the latest generation of the brand's ultra-popular multi-styler. Released in 2024, the i.d. introduces one significant upgrade on the original Airwrap: an i.d.curl switch that launches a curling sequence (wrap, curl, cool shot). This simple upgrade is an absolute game-changer – curling with the Airwrap i.d. feels effortless compared to other auto-wrap stylers I've tested, and the results hold far better, too. It's predictably expensive, but I truly think this is the best hair styler on the market right now.

In terms of design, it's the same tube-shaped dryer, onto which various styling tools can be attached. The main ones are the Airwrap barrels, which use the Coanda effect to attract hair, shaping it into a curl as it dries it, without the need for the extreme heat of traditional curling tongs. These are the ones that work with the i.d. curl feature – and to double-down on what I've said above, the whole thing is now extremely straightforward to use.

You don't need to mess around with finding the cool-shot button mid-curl, or take a guess over how long each bit of hair has been wrapped; you just flip the switch, drape a bit of hair over the wand, wiggle it about a bit, and the i.d. will do the rest for you. The timings of the curl sequence are based on information you supply in a companion app (another new development) about your hair type and styling aims. And while nothing has changed with regards to how the Coanda function works, I found my curls remained in place for far longer than they have done using other auto-wrap multi-stylers, purely because the process is automated for you here.

With the i.d., Dyson introduced a new tapering barrel alongside the parallel ones of previous models. As before, changing the direction of curl is as simple as twisting the knob at the top of the barrel – something even today's best Airwrap dupes don't yet offer.

The auto-wrap curlers are the main reason to buy an Airwrap, but for styling enthusiasts this styling tool comes with a plethora of compatible add-ons. There are enough drying attachments that mean it can rival today's best hair dryers, too, along with brushes for smoothing or volumizing hair. The variety of attachments on offer also open up the Airwrap to different hair types and lengths – there's a wide-tooth comb for coils, for instance. However, in terms of effectiveness, I can only really speak to my own experience (I have armpit-length, wavy hair).

Price-wise, the Airdrop i.d. is firmly a premium buy; in terms of design, usability and build quality, though, I can't fault it. If you're enthusiastic about styling, like to curl your hair often, and care about long-term hair health, the i.d. is worth the investment. That's the short version; read on for my full Airwrap i.d. review.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. review: price & availability

List price: $599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849
Launched: August 2024

Dyson products almost always sit in the premium end of the market, and the Airwrap i.d. is no exception. From Dyson direct, it has a list price of $599.99 in the US, £479.99 in the UK, and AU$849 in Australia. At time of writing, in the US and UK, you can choose between a "Straight+ Wavy" or "Curly+Coily" bundle, which comprise different attachments, but the pricing for both remains the same. In Australia, it's just the one standard bundle right now.

The Airwrap i.d. first launched in August 2024, a newer version of the Airwrap (read our Dyson Airwrap (2022) review for more on that model), which Dyson appears to be phasing out.

The i.d. certainly isn't cheap, and of course you're paying a bit of a premium for the Dyson name. However, there's nothing else quite like it on the market right now, and I can fault it for either build quality or attention to detail when it comes to the design.

You can pick up cheaper dupes, a few of which even arrive with feature auto-wrapping barrels. Of these, the Shark FlexStyle is perhaps the best regarded, and costs $279.99 / £269.99 / AU$499.99. In the US, you also have the Sharper Image Revel 6-in-1 Multi-Styler at $269.99, while in the UK there's the Revamp Dynamic Radiance Pro Blow Dry 7-in-1 Ionic Air Styler at £179.99. The Airwrap i.d. is a clear step above all of these models for build quality and features, however – none can do clockwise and anti-clockwise curls on the same barrel, and none have an automated curl sequence.

Dyson isn't especially known for its discounts, but they do crop up from time to time, and are well worth taking advantage of if you do spot one.

Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Dyson Airwrap i.d. specs

Dyson Airwrap i.d review: design

Tube-shaped dryer onto which styling accessories attach
Auto-curl sequence button and companion app
Extensive range of compatible attachments

The Airwrap i.d. is a tube-shaped hair dryer onto which various styling accessories can be attached. Primary among these are the Airwrap barrels, which use the Coanda effect to attract hair so it automatically wraps around the barrel and is shaped into curls as it dries. The attachments twist into place easily, and there's a lock switch on the rear of the dryer to release them when you want to swap in another one. I'll get more into the attachments themselves below.

Top end of Dyson Airwrap i.d. and accessory lock — Accessories attach to this top section, and lock into place (Image credit: Future)

On the dryer itself are three sliding buttons to control the settings. There are cleverly positioned near the top of the barrel, out of the way of your grip, but they're easily accessible during styling. Since they're sliding rather than press buttons, you have much less chance of accidentally changing settings as you hold the barrel, too.

Closeup of controls on Dyson Airwrap i.d., leaning against storage box — Sliding buttons to control windspeed and temperature, and launch the curl sequence (Image credit: Future)

Two operate temperature (two heat options plus a cool shot) and windspeed (three options), but the third is probably the most interesting. This switches on the blower, but also operates the i.d. curl sequence, where there Airwrap will cycle through the settings required to create the perfect curl.

This function is new with the i.d., and works in conjunction with a companion app (see all the differences between the old and new models in my (Airwrap vs Airwrap i.d. comparison). Here, you complete a quiz about your hair type, length and styling goals, and the Airwrap will set its curl sequence settings based the information you've supplied.

On initial completion of the quiz, the Airwrap i.d. will remember your sequence, so you don't need your phone connected or with you to use the i.d. curl sequence. However, if you do have the app open, you can also see the progress of the sequence via a countdown graphic.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. with filter grille removed — There's a removable filter cage (Image credit: Future)

At the base of the dryer is a grille, behind which sits the filter. You can remove the grille to keep the filter clean – Dyson recommends doing this regularly to keep the i.d. working as efficiently as possible.

Attachments

The Airwrap i.d. has an extensive range of compatible attachments; in fact, more extensive than any other multi-styler I've come across. Don't expect to get all of these with your styler – different attachments will be included with different bundles, and some are only available to purchase individually via Dyson's accessory store.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. with conical curl wand attached — This tapering curl barrel is a new accessory option with the Airwrap i.d. (Image credit: Future)

The ones that the Airwrap first gained popularity for are the Airwrap barrels. These are curling barrels, but instead of heating up, they blast out directed air in such a way that the hair automatically wraps around them, shaping the hair into curls as the styler dries it. Dyson is the only brand (so far) that enables you to create clockwise and anti-clockwise curls using the same barrel. To switch direction, you twist the cool-touch knob at the top of the barrel.

The standard barrel is the same width all the way down, but with the i.d. Dyson has added a tapering barrel that creates curls that are tighter at the top and looser at the bottom.

Airwrap i.d. with auto-wrap barrel attached — The standard, same-width barrels are still included (Image credit: Future)

My review model was supplied with a couple of attachments geared towards use of the Airwrap as a hair dryer: the Fast dryer and Dryer+Flyaway smoother. One of the new dryer attachments introduced with the i.d. is the Blade Concentrator, but I didn't test this – and, as far as I can determine, it isn't included in any bundles right now. Bundles geared towards curly or coily hair will include a diffuser and wide-tooth comb.

There are various brush attachments in the range, some soft and some firm, and some for smoothing and some for volumizing, and in different sizes to suit different hair lengths. (I got a soft smoothing brush and large round volumizing brush included.)

My review model came with a storage / presentation box, but I'm not sure if this is included with every bundle, so check before you buy.

Design score: 5 out of 5

Dyson Airwrap i.d. review: performance

Comfortable and efficient to use as a dryer
i.d. curl sequence is effortless and delivers long-lasting results
Volumizing and smoothing brushes also work very well

As a dryer, the Airwrap i.d. works very well. It feels lightweight, well balanced, and it's comfortable to hold and easy to wield.

The Fast dryer attachment shifts the flow of air so it's at a right angle to the dryer, rather than shooting straight upwards. This means you can hold your arm in a natural and comfortable position. Some Airwrap-alikes have top sections that pivot to a right angle, for the same purpose. Dyson's attachment is more effective because it also widens the flow of air, and results in a noticeable boost in power.

On test, I found the Airwrap plus Fast dryer combo dried by armpit-length hair efficiently. It wasn't quite as speedy as a dedicated hair dryer such as the Dyson Supersonic Nural, but it's more powerful than other multi-stylers I've tested. (I've compared the Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Dyson Airwrap, if you're not sure which one you need.)

Dyson Airwrap i.d. with dryer attachment on it — With the Fast dryer attachment on, the i.d. works effectively as a hair dryer (Image credit: Future)

Curling

Before testing the Airwrap i.d., I thought the curl sequence might be a bit of a gimmick, but I've done a 180 on that view – I love it. It makes a massive difference to both the effort required to create curls and their staying power once you've finished styling.

Let's back up a bit. Setting up the i.d. curl sequence in the app is straightforward. You connect your Airwrap via Bluetooth by switching it on and holding it near your phone, then take a short quiz, which incorporates questions about your hair type, length, experience level and hair goals. Based on this information, the app will create your curl sequence settings.

This sequence includes wrapping, curling, and then a cool shot, timed to suit your hair type and needs. If you say you're a beginner, for example, you'll have longer to wrap your hair; if your curls tend to drop quickly, you'll get a longer cool shot. Note, though, that you can manually adjust the timings in the app at any time, if you find they don't suit you.

Reviewer having her hair done with a Dyson Airwrap i.d. in a salon — The app counts down each part of the curl sequence (Image credit: Future)

To launch the sequence, you flick the central button upwards, and then just get on with curling. If you're not used to this kind of curling, it will take some getting used to, but once you have it down it's easy. (I was shown how to use this by a Dyson-representative hairdresser, as shown in the photos here, but I also tested it out at home, and managed it just fine on my own.)

The i.d. curl switch takes the guesswork and fiddling about out of the equation. I've tested a few of these auto-wrap curlers now and there are two areas they prove most annoying. First, guesstimating the time you've been curling a particular section of hair – it takes longer than traditional tongs, in the region of 8-10 seconds per section – and second, locating and running the cool shot on each curl. The i.d. takes care of both.

In terms of results, I was super impressed. However, I'll state upfront that curls created in this way generally tend to fall out far sooner than those created with traditional hot tongs (you'll need to decide if the benefits to hair health and less heat damage is worth it to you).

Nevertheless, my curls created with the i.d. lasted far longer than those created with competitor stylers. I think this is all down to the automation features: each section of hair is curled for the same length of time; I'm not forgetting or cutting short any cool shots.

Smoothing and volumizing

I also tested out the volumizing and smoothing brushes that came bundled with my Airwrap i.d. Both have been deigned well and I had no complaints about how they worked in use. They clip on easily and feel secure in use, and each has a stay-cool section that you can grip hold of for removal. While in terms of functionality there isn't anything particularly unique here, they work well and help boost the versatility of the multi-styler for those times you don't want a curly look.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dyson Airwrap i.d.?

Buy it if...

You curl regularly
Where the Airdrop i.d. shines is for creating curls. The i.d. curl sequence makes the process effortless, with the results more likely to outlast those where you're relying on guessing timings yourself.

You care about hair health
This type of curling is far better for your long-term hair health over regularly frying your locks with a curling wand.

You're a styling enthusiast
The Airwrap i.d. isn't cheap, but the quality of the tool and swappable accompanying attachments come into their own for those who love to create different styles. Of all the multi-stylers, the Airwrap probably features the widest range of compatible accessories.

Don't buy it if...

You don't often curl your hair
If you don't regularly curl your hair, there's much less of a performance gap between this and the many Airwrap dupes and multi-stylers on the market. If you're only creating blowout styles, for instance, you could save a lot of money by going for a dedicated brush dryer.

You're on a budget
There are dupes that will do a very similar job, albeit with lower build quality and more effort required from you.

How I tested the Dyson Airwrap i.d.

Before receiving my review model, I first got a demo of the Airwrap i.d. from a Dyson representative in a salon. I then used the styler over a few weeks at home, testing out the curling system extensively, and using the other attachments too. I compared my experience to other alternatives I've tested, in terms of quality, usability, and how long the styles lasted.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

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