There was a time when a portable fan was an afterthought. It was something you panic-bought for cheap on Amazon during a heatwave, tossed haphazardly in your bag and used until it died mid-commute on a boiling subway platform (speaking from personal experience.)
But for many people these days, portable fans are part of the “leaving the house” lineup: wallet, keys, earbuds… portable fan.
So when Dyson and SharkNinja both dropped elevated, premium takes on the portable fan category at nearly the same time, it set the stage for a very real question: how much should you spend to stay cool on the go, and what are you actually getting for it?
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Dyson HushJet Mini Cool brings the power
Let’s start with the $99 Dyson HushJet Mini Cool. Dyson is a company that completely understands airflow at a molecular level. There’s a reason Dyson fans, purifiers and even hair tools are so coveted.
This fan’s design might be getting a few jokes online, but in person it reads minimal and intentional, especially paired with its accessories: a carrying case, a desk stand, and a lanyard that makes it wearable. I love a hands-free moment.
With airflow reaching up to 55 miles per hour (or 25 m/s) on boost mode, this thing moves air. There are five speed settings plus that hold-to-boost feature which, fair warning, is powerful but not exactly ergonomic for long stretches.2
Battery life ranges from about six hours on the lowest setting to closer to 90 minutes when you’re pushing it. Still, when it comes to pure fan power, Dyson unsurprisingly delivers.
Shark ChillPill is more than just a fan
Then there’s the Shark ChillPill, which costs about $50 more with the justification that it’s not *just* a fan. Yes, you get 10 speed settings, but airflow tops out lower than Dyson’s (25 f/s vs. 25m/s,) and I can feel the difference. Even at max, the ChillPill’s fan doesn’t quite hit that same blast of relief. That said, it does last longer with up to 11 hours of battery life.
What the ChillPill lacks in fan power, though, it makes up for in cooling creativity. The ChillPill comes with a dry mist attachment: fill it with water, and it delivers either a steady or intermittent mist that feels like a throwback to those oversized summer camp spray bottles, in the best way. Pair that with airflow, and I find it genuinely refreshing.
Then there’s the InstaChill cooling plate, which uses conductive cooling to deliver a concentrated cold sensation on contact. I’m actually familiar with Shark’s implementation of this tech thanks to the CyroGlow LED face mask I use every day, featuring similar plates around the eyes to promote de-puffing.
It’s the kind of feature that sounds gimmicky until you try it, and then suddenly it’s the only thing you want when you’re overheating, stressed or stuck on a sweltering flight. I’m sure my fellow hormonal women can relate to the relief of an icepack on your neck or wrist when your body feels like it’s been lit on fire — the ChillPill’s cooling plate is that same relief, but accessible on-demand.
The only downside? It’ll drain battery life a lot faster than simply using the fan.
Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs. Shark ChillPill: Which should you buy?
So which portable fan would I actually buy?
If you just want a fan, and a really good one at that, the Dyson HustJet Mini Cool is the better (and cheaper) choice. It’s more powerful, more straightforward and that’s arguably why it’s already racked up a giant waitlist.
But if you’re someone who will actually use the extras, the Shark wins on experience. Personally, I’d take Dyson’s airflow with Shark’s accessories in a perfect world. But since that doesn’t exist (yet), I’d go with the ChillPill. Because if we’re embracing the era of the luxury portable fan, we might as well go all in.
That said, no one is forcing you to spend upwards of $100 on a fan. This Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan with over 70,000 Amazon reviews is less than $20. It won’t match the performance of the Dyson or Shark, but it sure hurts the wallet a lot less.
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