This past weekend has been a scorcher in many parts of the UK, and the balmy weather looks set to continue. If you're in the market for one of the best fans to help you beat the heat, I have some suggestions for you. I spent two years writing about fans for TechRadar, and this year's crop of air-movers is especially strong. There are plenty of innovative designs to explore, alongside tried-and-tested options if you'd prefer to stick with what you know.
On the mini-fan front, two new-to-the-market options are the Shark ChillPill and HushJet Mini Cool. The ChillPill looks like a pair of binoculars, with different heads to switch between a fan, mister, and ultra-refreshing cooling plate. The Mini Cool is Dyson's compact cooling option, shrinking down the brand's fan expertise into a handheld form that can be slung around your neck on hot days.
For something that's still portable but a little less dinky, the updated Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo, and Dreo TurboCool 516S are top tabletop options. The former has a handle so you can easily carry it out and about; the latter is app-connected for remote control. Both have misting capabilities to really help take the temperature down.
If you're seeking whole-room cooling, look for a pedestal or tower fan. The Duux Whisper 3 and Sefte Pro featured here can both extend or retract to operate at different heights, to suit different situations. At TechRadar, we're also big fans of the unusual Shark TurboBlade, with its windmill-like arrangement of air-blasting arms. That one's completely sold out, so I've included Dimplex's version below (sorry, Shark).
Cool customers
Bonus fans
Above I've focused on more interesting or quirky fan designs, but if you just want to keep things simple, there are tons of great options to choose from. Below, I've pulled together a selection of models that we've either reviewed ourselves, seen in action, or come from brands that consistently impress us on test. The 1056 Meaco circulator below is the model currently installed in my bedroom.
Pros
- Cooled me down quickly
- Easy angle adjustment
- Operates quietly
- Strong and smooth airflow
- Sleep mode, oscillation, and timer features
Cons
- No app controls
- - Remote was unreliable on occasion
- Could be considered large for a desk fan
