The sun has come out in force in the last few weeks and with sweltering temperatures it’s fair to say most of us are reaching for fan and shadow. So without any further ado, make your way to our round up our pick of fans out there to help you keep your cool this summer.
SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan, £99.99
This fan is height adjustable, so can be used full-size, or as a desk fan so you can enjoy the cooling impact while working. You’re also not limited by the position of wall sockets, as this has a rechargeable battery.
On its quietest mode it comes in at 22dB; perfect for cooling the kids’ room as they sleep. It oscillates through 90°, and you can tilt the fan vertically to direct the air flow where you want it. Control the speed from your phone through the app, or via your smart home system. There’s also a magnetic remote, which means keeping it safe from getting lost. Then there’s the battery, delivering up to 28 hours continuous use. And there’s even a nightlight built in.
Vonhaus 40-inch Bladeless Fan with Wi-Fi & HEPA, £99.99
If you’re a fan (ahem) of bladeless designs then this provides the look along with practical cooling power. It delivers a steady flow of air via its 10 speeds, and oscillates through 60°. So no matter where you are in the room you’ll feel the cooling effects.
There’s also several choices when it comes to control. Use the remote, download the app to adjust with your phone, or connect to your smart home system for voice control. And it has several modes, including sleep with noise levels as quiet as 28dB, so it shouldn’t disturb you during the night. What’s more, it has a built-in pre-filter and a Hepa 13 filter that capture pollen and dust, which is great news for anybody suffering from allergies.
Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S, £199.99
This is different in a good way, incorporating a misting function into its tower. This can lower room temperature by up to 6℃, says the company, great for a heatwave. There’s no need to worry about dampness, as the high-tech system delivers an adjustable, ultra-fine mist that quickly evaporates – so you likely won’t even notice it.
The water tank holds 6L, which should last through 24 hours runtime. The fan is also super quiet, with a noise level of 20dB on its lowest setting, so shouldn’t disturb at night. It has 12 speeds, a timer (up to 12 hours), four modes and oscillates through 90° for whole room cooling. Adjust the speed, oscillation, ambient light, and humidity with the remote control provided, by voice through your smart home system, or via an app on your phone.
Levoit Classic 42-inch Pro Tower Fan, £109.99
A good-looking addition to your home, this will happily sit in a corner of the living room fairly unobtrusively. This 42-inch tall version has 12 speeds, and on its lowest setting is whisper quiet at 25dB. It also oscillates through 90℃, plus you can manually adjust the vents up or down by up to 60℃ to further direct the airflow.
There’s a 12-hour timer, 12 speeds, and when you’re in auto, advanced sleep or turbo mode, the fan senses changes in ambient temperature, automatically adjusting the speed. Handy. It comes with a remote control that is stored on the fan itself, and the touch screen display on top is simple to use. You can also control the device via the VeSync app, and, if you purchase the smart version, via Alexa and Google Assistant.
Meaco Sefte 6-inch Portable Battery Air Circulator, £69.99
Meaco’s Sefte fans are generally considered among the best you can buy for performance, energy efficiency, and noise levels. And now there’s a newcomer to the range with the launch of the Sefte 6.
It’s small and cordless, so you can position it wherever you want it, whether that’s on a side table, desk or kitchen counter. The fan has 12 speeds, both vertical (manual) and horizontal (automatic) oscillation, a timer and an easy-to-read digital display. Noise levels are as low as 22dB, and you can switch off sound and lights; useful for nighttime.
The device delivers up to 26.5 hours of cooling on a full charge. Recharging is via a USB-C cable and takes around three hours. What’s more, the battery’s replaceable, so when it comes to the end of its life a few years down the road, it’s not the end of your fan. It also weighs less than 2kg, so is perfect if you’re going camping or caravanning this summer.
Aircraft Lume 2-in-1 Quiet Air Circulator Fan, £149
Super quiet, this can be used as a pedestal or table fan. It also has an ambient back light with three brightness settings, so doubles as a reading light when not using it for cooling.
There’s 12 settings and three modes – constant, natural and sleep – and a timer that’s programmable up to 12 hours. Impressively, the fan has both horizontal and vertical oscillation (up to 90°), and you can use both at once for optimum room cooling. We love the design of this fan and its simplicity – operation is manual or via the remote control provided, and there’s not an app in sight!
Duux Mist Air Cooler, £199.99
Similar in size to a portable air conditioner but lighter, this device has an advanced evaporative cooling system. That means it combines the power of a fan with a mist function. It’s also suitable for large areas up to 50m2.
It has three speeds (low, medium and high) and three settings (natural, normal and sleeping modes). The water tank has a capacity of 5.5L, which is enough to cool a room over several hours, and you can set the timer for up to nine hours. The water pump protection system shuts off the machine if the water level drops too far. Operation is via remote control or manually pressing buttons on the cooler. This is much more substantial than a fan, and weighs just under 10kg. However, it’s on wheels, so it’s easy to move from room to room.
Jisulife Handheld Fan, £71.99
Having a fan at home is essential during heatwaves, but having a lightweight, handheld fan you can take with you wherever you go is bliss. This version is the most powerful we’ve tried, and we think is well worth its price. It’s easy to use – the speed is controlled by a scroll wheel, and you can set this from 1 to 100 – and it’s versatile as it incorporates a torch. You can even use it to inflate air beds or as a dust blower for the car.
It has a rechargeable battery (USB-C), and the LED display shows how much battery power is available. That means you won’t be caught out by it dying when you need it most. Charging takes around 2.5 hours, and lasts for up to six. The brushless motor delivers a powerful airflow of up to 19m/s and it looks good, too, with an aluminum alloy body and metallic finish. Its noise levels at the lowest settings are around 45dB, rising to 75dB on the highest speeds.
Shark TurboBlade Multi-Directional Cooling Fan TF200SUK, £229.99
This bladeless fan has a distinctive shape that looks more like a lamp than a cooling device, blending in beautifully with the surrounding decor. It pivots from vertical to horizontal, and it oscillates up to 180°. You can even twist the vents to cool two spaces, or in any two directions at the same time.
The Shark TurboBlade is also powerful, projecting air up to 20m in boost mode. There’s 10 speeds and three modes to choose from, as well as a timer so you can set it between one to 12 hours. It’s also quiet – just 40dB on the lowest setting – so perfect for hot nights. It also comes with a magnetic remote control for ease of operation.
Vonhaus High Performance Air Conditioner 7000BTU, £239.99
An air conditioner is an effective alternative to a fan, and when you choose a portable version, it’s affordable and there’s no messy installation to deal with. This 7000 BTU model from Vonhaus is suitable for small to medium-size rooms, up to 15m2. It comes with two window venting kits for sliding and hinged windows, and it’s on wheels so you can move it from room to room.
Functions comprise cooling – the one we’re all going to be using this summer – sleep, with a noise level of 52dB, fan only and dehumidifier. The latter is a handy feature for winter, removing up to 16.8L moisture from the air each day. Simply set the temperature you want (16 to 32°C) and the air conditioner will adjust to and maintain that level. There’s also a 24-hour timer, child lock, auto shut-off, adjustable louvres on the front for directing airflow and a remote control for easy operation. It’s also class A for energy efficiency so won’t be as expensive to run as you might expect, coming in at around 20p per hour at current energy prices.
