Is it easy to use?
This mini tower fan is simple to set up as you just plug-in and go. There’s no remote control but the panel on the front of the fan is intuitive and easy to use, allowing you to switch between the four cooling levels – Power Cool, Refresh, White Noise or Sleep and set the Auto-off timer, which is pre-set to either two, four or eight hours. There’s a set of easy-to-follow instructions in the box too.
What's in the box
Small, compact and very lightweight at less than 1kg, the Honeywell QuietSet HTF210BE is a personal fan designed to sit on a desk or bedside table and has a carry handle so it can be moved around with ease.
The fan has an unfussy design in black plastic and, as it’s mains operated, you’ll need access to a socket but it has a decent cable length of 1.5m. There are four cooling levels, from a gentle Sleep mode to Power Cool for the hottest days and it has a horizontal oscillating motion.
There’s also a handy Auto-off timer which is pre-set to turn off in two, four or eight hours so you can set the fan to go to sleep when you do.
Does it work well?
Testing this fan on a warm but not boiling hot day, I ramped up the central heating to max and heated my loft bedroom to an uncomfortable temperature which felt comparable to last year’s mini heatwave! I positioned the Honeywell QuietSet on my desk and thankfully the cooling effect was excellent, with the highest Power Cool setting easily able to cool me to at a comfortable temperature while sitting in my very stuffy room.
The oscillating motion also meant that the fan was able to cool a wider area. This setting is pretty quiet compared with some fans but it’s not silent, so if you are noise sensitive there are other (usually pricier) options which can offer a quieter cooling experience. And, if you’re looking to cool the whole room rather than just yourself, look for a larger option with more power.
The other three cooling settings are steadily quieter as you decrease the fan speed and give a gentle breeze, enough to keep you cool on a warm day, with the Sleep setting creating a steady hum that wasn’t silent but one I was able to fall asleep to. I liked the auto-off setting at night, as a way to help save money and energy by turning the fan off once the room was naturally cooler, but I would have also liked a remote control for added flexibility.
As a tower fan, this is a safe option if you have young children as there are no blades to worry about if this is picked up or accidentally knocked. Design-wise, this is an entry-level fan so the design is functional and lightweight rather than super stylish, but as an affordable desk or table fan it is a decent option that will do a good job of keeping you cool this summer.
Should you buy it?
This is an affordable tower fan, offering good value for money for an effective fan with some useful features, plus it has a three-year guarantee for peace of mind.
Want to double check this is the best fan for you? Take a look at how we rated the others in our round up of the best tower fans. And, if you’re in need of something smaller, check out our tried-and-tested round up of the best air coolers, as well as our pick of the best desk fans and the best air purifiers. For hot weather gear, check out the best sun umbrella ideas and seven stylish paddling pools.
