Fans have come a long way since I last bought one, and thank goodness. The modern-day designs are sleek and better equipped to cope with living in extreme temperatures without the mechanical sound effects, none more so than the brilliant new Shark TurboBlade fan.
I've been using the new Shark TurboBlade fan in my home over the past few weeks of unprecedented hot weather. Living with a converted attic bedroom makes sleeping in the heat a real challenge, so as you can imagine, I was dreading the recent heatwave. But thankfully, the new fan arrived just in time, and it's safe to say it's been a game-changer. The almost 'silent' fan has made living and sleeping in the sweltering heat a breeze, quite literally.
While it's hard to rival the power of the Dyson Purifier Hot + Cold, this powerful fan is brilliantly competitive, in terms of effectiveness and design qualities, for far less money. Is it worth £250? Absolutely.
Shark TurboBlade fan review
Here's how the high-speed multi-directional cooling fan measures up...
Dimensions |
H112-130 x W80cm |
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Weight |
8.8kgs |
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Oscillation |
40, 90 & 180 degrees |
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Cord length |
3m |
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Voltage |
90W |
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Number of speeds |
10 |
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Guarantee |
2 years |
Unboxing
There's nothing worse than the thought of unpacking your desperately awaited fan in the heat, only to find it arrives damaged. That is highly unlikely to happen with the Shark TurboBlade fan thanks to superb packing.
Each component is tightly packed within a model cupboard intersection to ensure there's no room for movement during transportation.
One thing I especially loved was that each section was also contained in a dust bag, similar to when you buy a designer handbag. This not only indicates the premium nature of the design it also provides a safe, thoughtful way to store your fan during the cold winter months. And on that note, it breaks done into small sections to make for easy storage to help keep your home decluttered when it's not needed.
To get the fan up and running, all I had to do was interlock the three elements: the base, the main pole section and the end of the fan blade. Each is clearly labelled to show what goes where, so it was a super easy task to complete.
Despite the remote control being incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, there is a manual that demonstrates how to get set up and explains the different speeds and oscillation options. From unboxing to cooling took a matter of minutes.
First impressions
Forget the unattractive, bulky air cooling units and office-looking tower fans; this design is as chic as it is effective.
The sleek, slimline charcoal grey and bronze appliance fits in seamlessly with my decor like a futuristic art installation. It is the one-stop cooling solution that suits any style. While I'd like to say I'm just happy to stay cool, there is an element of wanting my interiors to feel considered at all times, so a stylish fan has been a real bonus.
Considering the rise in temperatures in recent years, it's safe to say fans will become more commonplace in our homes, so it's better to have one that makes your home look more expensive, right?
How does it measure up?
The TurboBlade premium and thin model fits comfortably in any room, featuring a telescoping pole that adjusts based on height preference. It measures 80cm in height as standard, which can then be adjusted to 95cm when the blade is horizontal.
When the nozzle is rotated to stand upright, the fan measures 130cm in height (the tallest configuration it offers)
I was surprised by how lightweight it feels, because it looks quite hefty and premium. Weighing 8.8kg, it is light enough to carry from room to room with ease. This is made even easier thanks to the shape, the central pole is easy to get both hands around to ensure safe manoeuvring.
The telescopic pole is adjustable in size to cater to various needs (i.e., sleeping, home gym, activities). The movable multi-directional arms allow you to pivot and twist to cool 360 degrees of coverage.
The flexibility is a major selling point with this TurboBlade fan. Thanks to the tilting motion, I have been able to use it as a tower fan beside my standing desk during the day, to cool myself from head to toe in the blistering heat of the day.
Then, by night, the horizontal tilt allows me to cool the length of my bed, providing far better cooling coverage than most standard fans. Especially when you factor in the 3 different oscillating modes, to extend the area of coverage. The fan is so powerful that it can "project blades of air up to 20 meters at the highest speed."
In addition to being able to adjust the position of the nozzle, you can set the fan in three different oscillating modes: 45, 90 and 180 to create a cooling blanket for widespread, horizontal coverage.
Is the Shark TurboBlade fan easy to use?
This fan really couldn't be any easier to use, and I say that as someone who dreads all things technical. There's a simple button on the base of the fan that allows basic control on the spot, but the thing I enjoy most is the remote control that allows for the extras.
You can use the control from anywhere within the room; you don't have to be standing immediately in front of the device. You can control the speed settings, oscillation modes and angles, timer, and Boost mode.
Ten different speeds based on preference, including Sleep Mode, which mutes chimes, dims lights, and optimises fan speed, designed for sleep; BreezeBoost, for a burst of powerful airflow; and Natural Breeze Mode, which gently randomises airflow to simulate natural wind.
The timer is also incredibly easy to use, with 5 different time blocks: 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours. This is purely controlled by the remote, but it is easy to navigate thanks to the flashing LED light system on the base of the fan.
A quirky but brilliant design element includes the magnetic remote control pad on the top of the fan, meaning you can safely store it to ensure you never misplace it. It also makes it easier to transport from room to room because the control becomes a part of the fan - no need to keep a free hand to carry that too. Simple enough, but impressively savvy to make everyday use even easier.
How quiet is the Shark TurboBlade fan?
It's important to state that this model doesn't sound like a traditional fan. There's no trace of a mechanical clicking noise; it's more like ambient white noise. The airflow sounds similar to the gentle hum of the cabin air on an aeroplane.
I confess I am not someone who struggles to sleep with noise, so even on the highest setting, I was able to drift off seamlessly. Therefore, to give a better indication of just how quiet the new Shark TurboBlade fan is, I used an app that reads sound levels to demonstrate just how effective the silent modes are.
*All readings were taken at a distance of 1 metre, to replicate the distance you are most likely to experience the fan in your home.
On the lowest setting, Speed 1, the decibel metre reading gave an average of 38, which is marginally higher than a 'Light whisper'. By day, it is undetectable, and even by night, it is barely noticeable. The Speed 1 setting is more than adequate to keep you cool at night, if you do struggle with sound disturbance.
Even on Speed 10 BreezeBoost, which is a cooling burst of powerful airflow, it still only measured an average of 59 decibels. I use this mode to instantly cool a room, then choose a gentler speed once the initial hot air is dispersed.
Who would it suit?
This new fan is ideal for people who want a model that is as stylish as it is effective. It would suit those who desire to own a Dyson model but don't want to spend that amount of money. While the Shark TurboBlade is by no means a budget option, it is far less expensive than the £600 price tag of best-selling Dyson models.
It would suit anyone who wants a flexible approach to cooling by offering different heights, angles and oscillation capabilities. Perfect for those with curious little ones or pets because of the bladeless design. As the owner of a sensitive little whippet, I have loved having a fan that can be on full blast but not scare him – it's done a fabulous job
It's also ideal for those who want a low-maintenance appliance, thanks to the wipe-clean outer casing for easy cleaning (because cleaning a fan can be tricky on most other models) and the DustDefence technology for long-term power optimisation.
How we test?
At woman&home, we take product testing very seriously. When it comes to cooling products, from cooling mattresses to cooling pillows, it's not always so easy to demonstrate the results, but for fans, we've found methods for assessing them in ways that are useful to you as a buyer.
In the case of the Shark TurboBlade fan, we measured the elements we believe are most beneficial to inform your buying decision – how effective is the cooling, how quiet is it and is it good value for money?
To measure noise, I used a decibel measuring application to take an average reading of the 10 different speed levels. This is to gauge if it's a suitable model for those who are looking for a 'silent' fan to aid with problems sleeping in the heat.
To test the cooling, I used this fan in my east-facing hot lounge during the day to combat intense heat and my unbearably hot loft bedroom by night. These living conditions during the heatwave were most certainly a prime time to test the power of the many different settings this fan has to offer.
Aside from the practical tests, we also make sure to give you notes on other relevant factors, like ease of use, style and general points of interest. We'll let you know what it's like to unbox, whether there are any extra touches and special features, and how it compares to other models on the market. That way, if you choose to invest in one, you'll know exactly what you're getting yourself into.
We pride ourselves on only recommending the products we have tried, tested and fallen in love with.
