The smart revolution continues to expand over every inch of our homes. We can switch on the heating before we get home, have fridges order more milk when we’re running low, and even get obscure questions answered just by saying them out loud.
With summer here, our attention has turned to keeping cool as temperatures rise. While desk fans are handy for WFH days and a tower design with a timer is perfect for nodding off to a gentle breeze, techies know one above them all is superior: all hail the smart fan.
This isn’t one that’ll appear on a panel of University Challenge; rather its ‘smartness’ lies in its tech capabilities. There are models that can purify the air, hook up to Alexa and be controlled through apps, keeping you one step ahead of a heatwave.
Dyson leads the charge, naturally, but it’s far from the only brand adopting new tech into household appliances. We’ve gathered the best models below, all at varying price points, to help take the edge off summer temperatures. If you’re new to them, don’t worry - you’ll soon be a fan.
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Dyson Purifier HEPA Cool Formaldehyde purifying fan
Settings: 10
Keeping air flowing around the room is all good and well, but if you live by a busy street, you run the risk of bringing unwelcome pollutants to your space too.
Enter Dyson, long the leader when it comes to smart home electricals, and it’s Dyson Purifier HEPA Cool Formaldehyde purifying fan which not only cools warm air, but ‘washes’ it of nasty particles like formaldehyde (emitted from household paint, varnishes and printers), nitrogen dioxide (caused by road traffic, tobacco and fuel-burning heaters), PM10 particles from pollen and allergens (a godsend for hayfever sufferers and asthmatics) and general household odours (think cooking, pets and kids).
It comes with a magnetic remote control, which can sit happily atop the unit, but can also be controlled through your phone’s Dyson Link app via Bluetooth. There are 10-speed settings, and it propels cool air into the room using its patented air multiplier technology.
The smartest thing of all is that it continually detects dust, allergens, mould and formaldehyde particles in the room, before trapping them into high-performance filters that never need replacing. So, while it’s expensive, buying new filters is one cost you won’t have to factor in past the initial purchase of the machine.
It oscillates and also can remain stationary, giving you the choice of focused or circulating cooling. And you can set it to a timer or keep it on Night Mode to keep sticky nights at bay.
As flexi-working means we spend so much more time at home and with busy roads and general pollution tainting our space, Dyson’s latest device is a real investment in home air quality improvement. The twin action function - purifying and cooling - means it will become a household must-have this summer. Simple to set up and even easier to use, after just one night we felt the difference.
Comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £599.99, Dyson
Dyson AM07 White/ Silver Cool Tower Fan
Settings: 10
If the above is a little too expensive Dyson’s older fans still offer excellent tech for money. The AM07 harnesses its famous ‘air multiplier’ technology to project a steady stream of airflow - all while running as quietly as a mouse.
Dyson has made this to be 60 per cent quieter and more energy efficient than its older models – and it’s been given a Quiet Mark award by the Noise Abatement Society to prove it. One for bigger spaces, the fan comes with a remote control and timer that will set it on and off at pre-set intervals ranging from 15 minutes to 9 hours.
It won’t purify the air, but if that’s something you’re happy to do without, this is a great device to add to basket.
Buy now £255.00, Argos
AirGo Smart Fan
Settings: 6
Picture the scene: a sweltering night before a day WFH. Avoid toiling at a stuffy desk and turn your fan on while you’re brushing your teeth; the AirGo can be controlled through an accompanying app. You can use it to adjust the speed or temperature when you’re busy fixing lunch or making a call - handy if the fan is on the other side of the room.
It also works with Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa voice assistants so you don’t even have to use your handset if it’s charging or not in the immediate vicinity.
Noise-wise, it comes with noise-reduction technology which means it won’t make a racket when you need to concentrate or are trying to get off to sleep.
Buy now £99.99, Amazon
Dimplex Ion Fresh cooling fan
Settings: 3
While this fan can’t be controlled by anything other than the included remote and control system, it’s smart thanks to a feature called the Ioniser. This optional mode washes the air clean of dust particles, which is particularly helpful if you live with someone with allergies or your home is by a busy street. So, rather than pushing air around the room, it will flood your space with fresh air - a healthier prospect all around.
The tower design comes in a black and copper colour scheme and also has a tilt feature and 70-degree oscillation so you’ll always find the right angle to enjoy cooling breezes, wherever you are in the room. Meanwhile, a natural mode mimics outdoor wind and the sleep mode gradually cuts the fan’s speed before shutting down completely, a godsend when you’re trying to catch your 40 winks. Comes with a three-year manufacturer guarantee.
Buy now £75.00, Argos
Princess Smart Black/Silver WIFI Connected Tower Fan
Settings: 3
The Princess Smart Tower fan works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so if you like talking to your electricals, this fan ticks the voice control box.
The slim three-speed tower design won’t take up much room, even in the smallest of spaces, while the 50W motor comes into its own when the mercury soars past 25 degrees (one can dream).
The black and silver Princess oscillates quietly in an 80-degree arc and has a timer so you can set it before bed or turn it off before you get home to enjoy the perfect temperature when you walk in, whatever the weather outside. Use the control panels or connect with the app.
Buy now £70.00, Argos
SMART AIR Cool + Purify Tower Fan - White
Settings: 12
While we wait all year for warm summer days, sleeping when there’s a hot spell is no fun at all. That’s why a smart fan like this one is so useful.
There are 12-speed settings (which you can feel from up to six metres away) and a choice of four wind modes, including Baby to help your little one drift off. But that’s not all: this fan purifies and sterilises air too, obliterating 99 per cent of harmful particles in your home.
It works via the touch display and a remote control so you can control it from anywhere in the room.
Buy now £149.99, Amazon
GEOSMART PRO AirLit Smart Pedestal Fan with Beauty Mirror - White
Settings: 4
Answering the age-old question - "Can a fan be a multi-hyphenate?" - Geosmart knocks versatility from a single appliance out of the park. It’s not just a fan, this device is also a ring light, a smartphone holder and a mirror, making it a summer dressing table must-have.
Set it on your desk, or extend the stand to raise it from the floor. In terms of features, choose from four fan speeds, tilt and oscillate. It’s USB-charged with a full battery giving you 15 hours of run time, making it perfect for taking on trips away. Download the app to increase its potential; as well as controlling it from afar, you can set automatic schedules too. And it’s Google and Alexa voice assistant compatible too. All at this bargainous price. Phew!
Buy now £94.99, Currys
BONECO F220 Air Shower floor-standing fan 85cm
Settings: 4
Some days are so screamingly warm, they make you want to stand inside a wind tunnel. Boneco’s Swiss-made design answers that breezy daydream, with 270-degree manual rotation, multiple speed levels and a max of 33W power usage.
Thanks to the deep blades, the flow will flood your indoor spaces and circulate air effectively around the entire room, bringing the temperature back down to reasonable levels.
If you’ve got high ceilings or multiple floors that you want to cool, the Boneco F220 is ideal: it will pour cool air in, just like a shower, to help you regulate temperatures quickly and quietly.
Buy now £143.94, Amazon
Smart Air by Midea Fast Chill Tower Fan - 33 Inch
Settings: 3
This two-in-one fan and air cooler doesn’t move air around the room like some other fans, but recycles the warm, stuffy air to make a cool breeze. Using its Fast Chill technology, it actively chills the air while it passes through a special water curtain.
It oscillates, can be controlled with a remote, has three speeds and is guaranteed to keep your room, if not your whole house, cool as a cucumber for the summer.
Buy now £120.00, Argos
Daewoo Bladeless Tower Fan & Heater
Settings: 10
Why buy a fan when you can buy a fan and a heater? Daewoo Bladeless Tower Fan & Heater will see you through the hottest summer days and the coldest winter nights with its 35w fan and 1950w heating.
The bladeless design means its presence won’t keep you up at night, and the nine-hour timer can help to save energy and control the room’s temperature. With 10 speeds and the ability to control it with a remote control, you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t buy it sooner.
Buy now £178.95, Amazon
