When talking home appliance investments, there’s nothing quite like being the proud owner of a Dyson. From vacuum cleaners to air purifiers alike, the brand’s innovative products are at the top of many homeowners’ wish lists – but are Dyson fans worth it?
As temperatures begin to rise, chances are you’re either bringing your trusty fan down from the loft or considering an upgrade in preparation for what looks to be another hot summer ahead. And suppose you are thinking about investing in one of the best fans over a portable air conditioner. In that case, you’re probably wondering if Dyson’s fans’ design really matches their premium price tag.
I’ve taken a closer look at some of the Dyson fans we’ve tested here at Ideal Home to see what they offer and how they perform to help you decide whether one of the brand’s bestsellers will earn a rightful spot in your home this summer.
The Dyson fans we’ve had the pleasure of extensively testing are indeed Ideal Home approved, securing ratings of 4.5 stars as a result of their build quality, multifunctionality, and style.
However, as much as we’ve had positive experiences with Dyson appliances across the board (even dubbing their floorcare products as the best vacuum cleaners available on the market), we’ll also be the first to admit that they come at a seriously expensive price tag far above the average.
Therefore, are Dyson fans really worth the investment? Here’s what we think.
Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact
Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde
Pros of Dyson fans
Let’s dive into what Dyson fans have to offer over competitors in the market and why you’d want to choose one over cheaper alternatives.
1. Sleek and stylish appearance
Let’s be real, many home appliances aren’t necessarily eye candy, especially if we’re talking about fans. That said, we think this is exactly what makes a Dyson fan so appealing because its sleek, bladeless, and modern design is far from an eyesore. This is something we saw in full effect when we tested the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact, in which our reviewer Molly praised its ‘stylish, minimalist design.’
Not only that, but its slim profile means it can easily be tucked away into the corner of a small living room or a small bedroom when it’s not in use.
2. Multifunctionality
Another notable positive about a Dyson fan is just how versatile they really are. When you invest in a Dyson, not only are you reaping the cooling benefits of using it as a fan, but, depending on which model you go for, also as an air purifier and even a heater.
For example, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde Fan Heater offers the 3-in-1 multifunctionality of a purifier, fan, and heater for year-round indoor climate control. Meanwhile, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde excels as one of the best air purifiers that simultaneously offers a cooling effect, making it ideal for the summer.
And let’s not forget the newest kid on the block, the Dyson Purifier Cool PC1, that Senior Digital Editor, Jenny McFarlane, put to the test most recently. Compared to the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde, it’s £200 cheaper, super lightweight and purifies and cools with all the latest Dyson cooling technology.
So, while you’d be forking out a couple of hundred pounds for a Dyson fan, if you invest wisely, you could eliminate the need to then purchase a separate air purifier or electric heater completely, depending on your needs.
3. Performance
Of course, the one thing that fans of Dyson will always rave about is the performance of its products. If you’re looking into Dyson fans, it’s likely because you’re seeking reliable ways to keep your bedroom cool ahead of the looming stifling summer to come and believe us when we say that a Dyson will not disappoint. Although like every other fan on the market, they don’t technically cool the air, Dyson fans do make you feel cooler.
When reviewing the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact, Ideal Home‘s Kitchen appliances editor and certified expert, Molly Cleary, assured that it helped her and her partner get a ‘better night’s sleep’ and also made a ‘noticeable difference’ to how comfortable they found their home during warmer stints of weather.
Better yet, if you’re a hay fever sufferer and have looked into whether air purifiers help with allergies, it could be worth considering the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde. Our reviewer, Millie Fender, noted that the fan was ‘effective at purifying the air in [her] home’ and also combated last year’s extreme London summer with the device’s auto-cooling features.
4. Ease of use
Operating a Dyson appliance, whether it’s a device designed for cleaning, indoor climate control, or even haircare (come on, who doesn’t love the Airwrap), has historically always proven extremely easy and user-friendly.
Dyson fans, irrespective of whether you’re purchasing a standalone fan or one with other capabilities, come with a remote control, which is super handy for overnight when you might not want to get out of bed to change fan speed.
Some of the combined fan and air purifier models even boast an easy smartphone app and voice command compatibility that can help you identify changes in the air quality and also tweak cooling settings without disturbing sleeping children.
5. Clever technology and features
Let’s not forget this major pro of Dyson fans over competitor models. The brand seamlessly combines functionality with its intelligent design.
Central to this is Dyson’s Air Multiplier technology, which amplifies surrounding air to deliver a smooth, powerful airflow without the buffeting or choppiness of fans with blades.
The bladeless design not only makes the fans easier to clean but also ensures greater safety with little ones around and contributes to its fans’ whisper-quiet operation, bar the higher settings, when compared to competitor fans.
All of these features make Dyson fans perfect for bedrooms, home offices, and even living rooms, where noise levels matter, especially when watching the telly. On top of that, smart features like real-time air quality monitoring, automatic air purifying capabilities, and app connectivity make them really convenient.
Cons of Dyson fans
While there are so many amazing advantages to buying a Dyson fan, there are a few things to consider before you hit that buy button.
1. Premium price tag
Obviously, when weighing up whether Dyson fans are worth it, it’s important to address the undeniable elephant in the room: the price. Yes, it’s steep and definitely an investment that should be carefully considered before being made.
Although still very expensive, there are a handful of Dyson deals currently up for grabs, offering savings of up to £100 – especially for the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact, available for £349.99 at Dyson right now, or the Dyson Cool tower fan, now £80 cheaper at Currys, at £269.99.
Alternatively, if you’re lucky, you might be able to nab other wish list products you’ve had an eye on with the help of a Dyson discount code.
2. Size and portability
Something to note about the Dyson fans we’ve tested is that they can be pretty hefty. Yes, a majority of them share the same slimline design, which makes them really desirable for stowing away when not in use; however, the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact is quite large, coming in at 1m tall, while the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde can take up quite a bit of space.
So, while they do work well in smaller rooms, it’s always worth checking dimensions and considering that where you decide to put it will be primarily where it lives. They can be moved, of course, with their relatively lightweight design, but Dyson fans are not as compact as other options if that’s one of your biggest priorities in a fan.
3. Noise levels
When purchasing a fan, unless you want to sacrifice the prospect of sleeping better at night, noise levels are a big thing to take into consideration.
Unsurprisingly, operating any fan (Dyson or not) at its highest speed will result in a noticeably louder experience, but it’s often nothing too crazy unless you’re particularly sensitive to noise.
When testing the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde, our reviewer Amy noted that even as a light sleeper, she was able to keep it running in her bedroom overnight without being disturbed.
For the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact, the highest speed sat at roughly 60 db. However, Molly assured that ‘you can still feel effectively cooled at a much lower and quieter level.’
Jenny also mentioned that the new Dyson Purifier Cool PC1’s night mode was quiet enough to sleep, and still cooled her down effectively on particularly hot nights.
Our verdict
So, are Dyson fans worth it? In our opinion, yes. As mentioned above, we recognise that it’s a big investment, but if you’ve got the budget to introduce it to your roster of summer cooling devices, we’d highly recommend one. Even more so if you can snap one up as a result of a good deal.
But, rest assured that there are plenty of other more affordable options on the market that’ll also be just as sufficient if you can’t see yourself forking out a small deposit for a fan this summer.
All the Dyson fans we’ve tested scored a glowing 4.5 stars, and the reviewers have spoken highly of their ‘flawless’ performances and how they have been ‘won over’ so much so that it justifies their premium price tags.
But of course (going back to the same argument), sitting at a couple of hundred pounds each, no matter how hot British summertime gets, it’s a big investment. If you’ve got the cash to splurge, you’ll be nothing less than glad that you did.
So there you have it: we think Dyson fans are well worth the investment if you can afford to splash the cash.
You can dig deeper into other brands’ expensive models in our article on Is an expensive fan worth it?, and learn about the features worth investing in to see you through many summers ahead.
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