Should You Buy a Dyson Bladeless Fan?

In the late 2000s, Dyson shook up the household fan market by releasing something completely new and very different: the Dyson bladeless fan. These open circles looked like something out of a sci-fi show and seemed to pull air out of nowhere. They were cool then and still are today, but the price tag is pretty hefty.

There are plenty of questions to ask about these fans. How do Dyson bladeless fans work, for starters? And do they deliver something compelling, something that’s worth the investment?

Find answers to your questions in the guide below.

First, credit where it’s due: Dyson’s bladeless fans look amazing. You’ve quite literally never seen anything else like them because Dyson invented the bladeless technology.

If you’re looking to make a visual statement and you like the modern aesthetic that’s going on with these fans, you should absolutely pick one up. Blowing air around your home has never looked cooler.

Second, it’s worth noting that the technology going into these fans is deeply impressive. These fans feature a motor concealed in the unit’s base and use both inducement and entrainment to pull air through the center of the fan opening.

If you’re curious to learn more about how exactly the original Dyson Air Multiplier worked, How Stuff Works has an explainer. All the modern models work on the same basic principles, just adding in new features and functions.

Here’s one crucial thing to note, though. For all the new technology, Dyson bladeless fans don’t blow any better than conventional fans. So performance is pretty much the same.

Here’s the main issue with these Dyson bladeless fans: they’re still just fans.

Do they look cool? Sure they do. Do they use new technology? Absolutely. But do they contribute anything meaningful that regular fans can’t do? Honestly, no, not really. The only practical difference is the lack of fan blades.

This could potentially offer some benefit to families with small children or small pets. But even then, companies will build fans in a way that prevents fingers or paws from fitting in and getting damaged.

So why should you spend $300 at minimum (and that’s on sale) for a Dyson bladeless fan when you can get a fan from $30 to $50? Well, that’s a good question. And, incidentally, it seems Dyson thought so as well. Even though everyone knows these devices as bladeless fans, Dyson has in recent years quietly changed its marketing.

If you look at the Dyson website, you won’t find a section for fans. You’ll only find a section for “air treatment” or “air purifiers.” They’re definitely still fans — but now, they all at least offer air filtration or purification. And Dyson is pushing that element far more than the fan aspect.

As mentioned above, Dyson has done away with all their basic bladeless fans. Now, every model they make offers some additional benefit. For example, they all offer some form of air filtration or air treatment using HEPA filtration. The more expensive units also produce heat, working as both a fan and a space heater in one. You’ll also find an air purifier + humidifier combination unit.

The most expensive heater and humidifier models also feature formaldehyde filtration technology for even more air filtration.

The latest generation of Dyson fans air purifiers includes a handful of additional smart features. Some include a screen that shows the level of air quality in real-time, while others show you the same stats via the Dyson Link app. You can control your Dyson bladeless fan from the app or even use voice control as a part of a smart home setup. Dyson fans support Alexa, Siri, and Google Home.

Additionally, fans come with a remote that’s curved to match the top of the unit and that stays attached via magnets.

All of these features are pretty cool, but it’s hard to get away from that central nagging question: do you really need any of this in a fan? And is it worth spending anywhere from $400 to 900 for the privilege?

For most people, the answer is no. You can get air-purifying fans or hot and cold fans for much, much cheaper. And most people should. Unless the bladeless approach adds value to your life or the aesthetic is worth the price, you’re better off sticking with something more reasonably priced.

Upsie offers extended warranties for fans, air purifiers and other small appliances. In addition, Upsie’s warranties are comprehensive and affordable. So, whatever you end up choosing for your fan or air purifying needs, pair it with an Upsie small appliance warranty.

Trust Upsie for your warranty needs, so you don’t have to worry if something breaks down. You’ll be covered, and you won’t even have a deductible to worry about!

Ready to get protected? Get your warranty now.