'I've kept my Whisper Fan on all the time to keep me cool through the heatwave'
As the temperatures continue to rise in this heatwave, we're all looking for ways to keep cool, especially as we head closer to the summer months. Opening windows works (if you can) so long as there's a breeze, but arguably the best way to keep your room refreshingly chilled is with a fan. And I've got my hands on one that may just be the best fan I've ever used.
Perhaps the biggest problem with fans is the noise output, which restricts how much and when you can use it, and the lack of variety when it comes to speed and airflow. My new Whisper Flex 2 fan from Duux eliminates both of those issues. Promising a whisper-quiet sound that makes it an ideal choice for leaving on night and day, this smart fan also lets you pick from a huge number of fan speeds and positions. What's more, it comes with a remote control, app and voice control, which means you can switch up your fan settings without needing to even be in the room.
I've kept this impressively quiet fan running since it arrived. Since the heatwave seems to be here to stay for a while, this fan has been a lifesaver throughout the day and night. For those wondering, the setup of this fan could not be easier. The parts are conveniently labelled to help during the construction, and the instructions provided are simple and easy to follow. I had mine put together in under ten minutes.
With so many amazing features to discuss, the standout thing about this fan that won me over very quickly was the low, practically unnoticeable sound it emits while running. Obviously, the faster speed you set for the fan, the more sound is created, but it's so minuscule that I've managed to sleep with it running on a high setting without noticing it's still on. With no irritating rattling or whirring noises, this fan emits the perfect airflow at an impressively low volume.
When it comes to sleeping with this beauty on, there's a designated sleep setting that is perfect for those (like me) who prefer to sleep in the dark. The light-up touchpad that lets you control the fan on its base can get dimmed and switched off when the fan is set to sleep mode, so there's no extra light keeping you awake. Plus, with the remote and the app, you can set up a timer that ensures your fan doesn't stay on all night long - ideal for those who like to go to sleep cool, but don't necessarily need the fan on 24/7.
As I've mentioned already, this top-notch fan has WiFi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, so you can control the fan using your voice or take advantage of the handy and super easy to set up Duux smart app, that lets you adjust the fan's speed, oscillation and set that timer. For those who don't want to download the app or don't have access to Google Home or Alexa, the fan does come armed with a simple remote control, as well as the intuitive touch panel, which lets you control your fan just as easily.
My Whisper Flex 2 standing fan has thirty speed settings to choose from, which has come in handy this spring heatwave when the temperatures have been in flux and some days have been breezier than others, and it also comes armed with a natural wind mode. The Whisper Flex 2 has multiple oscillation presets that let you target airflow precisely around the room, ensuring you can find the optimal setting. The vertical oscillation can be set at 45° and 90°, and horizontal oscillation can switch between 30°, 60° or 90°, so you can easily aim the breeze at your bed, desk, sofa, etc..
And the pros don't stop there, as this flexible fan can quickly be adjusted between a 54 cm desk/table fan and a 92cm floor-standing fan, so it's versatile enough to transition from your home office to your bedroom with ease. Weighing just 4.2 kg, it is incredibly light and manoeuvrable, so you can seamlessly move the fan from room to room without any struggle - plus, it's designed with a handy handle feature on the back of the fan, making it even easier to carry.
As of right now, my new Whisper Flex 2 fan is up for grabs on Amazon with a delectable discount, bringing its price tag down from £179.99 to £149 while this limited-time deal. A similar model is also available for £170 from Argos or from B&Q for £119.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Lidl to sell Thermomix dupe on the middle aisle that is £1,050 cheaper than the original
KITCHEN FIND Lidl to sell Thermomix dupe on the middle aisle that is £1,050 cheaper than the original Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIDL will be selling a Thermomix dupe that is significantly cheaper than the original. Savings of more than £1,000 can be made with this middle aisle purchase from the discount retailer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The new Thermomix UK TM7 has been priced at £1,349 Credit: Thermomix 3 Lidl has a version of the gadget for as low as £299 Credit: Lidl Lidl is about to sell a dupe of the Thermomix worth £1,349 for just £299 for Lidl Plus customers. Called the Monsieur Cuisine Smart, this exciting kitchen appliance will be in stores from Thursday, September 4. It is a multi-functional device that can be used for everything you need, from food processing, cooking, searing, steaming, kneading, blending, and stirring. There are even programming options available for it to chop, shred, grind, pure or emulsify ingredients. You can therefore make anything from soups, sauces, or vegetable, meat or noodle dishes. The smart device has WiFi functions that provides free monthly recipe updates with a registered user account, along with over 600 pre-installed recipes with step-by-step instructions through its cooking pilot. There is also guided video cooking for selected recipes, that can be played on its fast-reacting 8-inch display screen. On top of that, there is voice control capabilities that can be activated via Google Assistant. Kitchen scales have been integrated into the device to enable weighing of ingredients that have been placed directly into the pot. With 1000W power, up to 1kg of dough can be processes, through 10 speed settings including turbo function for pulse blending. I'm a thrifty cook - I avoid oven costs by making a whole roast chicken dinner in my slow cooker Kneading dough or stirring soups and stews can be carried out in the anti-clockwise motion the Monsieur Cuisine provides. Furthermore, its facilitates precise cooking with temperatures from 37-130C that can be set in five degree increments. There is also a 99 minute timer. All the accessories are dishwasher safe, including the 4.5L stainless steel blender jug and various attachments that include a steamer, blade, and mixer. The product is exclusively available for Lidl Plus customers to reserve from August 21 to 25 on the Lidl Plus App. Regular customers can then purchase the Monsieur Cuisine once they are available in store next month. Lidl's version of the Thermomix seems to come with many functionalities of the original, at a much more affordable price. This deal comes after Lidl was also found selling another kitchen appliance that can be used for baking at a price £400 cheaper than others. It was their Silvercrest Kitchen Tools Stand Mixer, that was sold for only £49.99. The budget-friendly retailer also had XL dual view air fryer available for just £79.99 this summer. Lidl's 15L Salter air fryer was half the price of Curry's version, with six cooking functions and a sleek LED display. How to compare prices to get the best deal JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of.
The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
Best home security cameras 2025, tried and tested by a tech critic
Home security camera FAQs Is it better to have a wired or wireless security camera? Wired and wireless security cameras both produce the same result – video recordings accessible from your computer or smartphone – but each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Wireless cameras can be installed almost anywhere, so long as they are within reach of your Wi-Fi network, whereas wired cameras also need to be within reach of a power socket. If you can't take advantage of existing wiring (from an old CCTV installation, for example), you might need to drill through a wall, run a cable through a window, or hire a professional to do the work for you. Most wireless cameras are battery-powered, so you'll need to install the camera where it's easy to access, since the battery will need charging or swapping for a spare every few weeks or so. Wired cameras don't have this drawback, and can also be set to record more frequently, or even capture video 24/7, since there's no battery to run flat. Simply put, if you need constant recording, a wired camera is the way to go. If you want a camera that responds to specific, occasional movement (such as a person in the garden at night), a wireless, battery-powered option might be more convenient. Some wireless cameras can also be solar-powered, so you might never need to charge the battery yourself. Do I need to pay a subscription? Strictly speaking, no. All of the home security cameras we've featured in this article work without a subscription. But that's only half the story, because in some cases, how much they work is dictated by whether or not you pay a monthly or annual fee. For example, without paying for a subscription, Ring cameras and doorbells will alert you to movement via the smartphone app. You can then open the app and see a live stream from the camera. Or, you can open the app at any time and see what's going on. However, no footage is saved anywhere to view later. So if the camera spots something and notifies you, but you miss the notification – perhaps because you're asleep – there's no way to view recorded footage later. Paying for a subscription changes all this, since that unlocks Ring's cloud storage service. You can now view and download past recordings or, if you pay for the most expensive tier, set certain wired Ring cameras to record 24/7. Every moment is then saved in the cloud, ready to be viewed later. Other security camera systems, like Eufy, record locally to either a microSD card in the camera itself or to a central hub inside your home (which connects to your cameras wirelessly). Eufy does offer a cloud storage service, paid for via a subscription, but this is an optional extra. If you're happy with recordings being saved locally, there are no ongoing fees. If you want to upgrade to a whole-home security system, some subscriptions from the likes of Simplisafe and Yale include professional monitoring. What is the downside of wireless security cameras? As alluded to earlier, replacing and charging the batteries of wireless security cameras can be a chore. How long the battery lasts per charge will depend on how much the camera is used. If you set a garden camera only to record when human movement is detected late at night, then the battery should last a very long time. But if a driveway camera is triggered every time someone walks along the pavement, the battery will deplete much more quickly (and you'll be bombarded by unhelpful notifications). A great fix for battery drain is fitting a solar panel. This isn't an option for all wireless security cameras, but several companies make panels that connect to some of their models. In my experience, just a few hours of sunlight per day is enough to keep the battery topped up and completely removes the need to ever charge the camera again. That's why the Eufy S3 Pro is currently my favourite home security camera. Excessive battery drain can be fixed by adjusting where the camera is pointing and setting up a detection zone that tells it to ignore movement in high-traffic areas like pavements. Another consideration is Wi-Fi signal strength. You'll need to make sure the camera can comfortably connect to your network from its location – which could be far from the router if installed in the garden – and stream video smoothly. Installing a wireless camera usually includes some trial-and-error and might require a better router or a network extender. The verdict: Best home security camera The Eufy S3 Pro is currently my favourite home security camera. Being a three-piece kit, it isn't the cheapest surveillance option around, but I like how it combines 4K video with easy installation, local storage, excellent low-light performance and a solar panel for unlimited power. I'm also a big fan of the Eufy home security ecosystem more generally, since it has local storage with no subscription fee. Another good camera is the Ring Outdoor Cam Plus. New for 2025, this is a wireless and weatherproof camera that records 2K video and is a strong option to consider if you already have a Ring security system and are paying for a multi-device subscription. Lastly, I like Yale's recently revamped range of home security products. Both the indoor and outdoor cameras included in this guide performed well and are very easy to set up and install, with no ongoing subscription fee.
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Amazon Echo Dot on sale for £34.99 at Wowcher undercutting Amazon's price
Wowcher is offering the 5th Gen smart speaker with Alexa on sale for £34.99, down from £54.99 The evolution of small speakers and smart home technology continues to impress, offering superior sound quality and effortless hands-free controls. However, finding the right one to suit individual needs can be a bit of a task, especially with prices on the rise, leaving shoppers on the hunt for a bargain. Now, they can snap up the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: Smart Speaker with Alexa for £34.99, down from £54.99 on Wowcher. This is even cheaper than Amazon's price, where it still costs £54.99 and only dropped to £40 on Prime Day, according to CamelCamelCamel. With the Echo Dot 5th Gen, shoppers can experience clearer vocals and a deeper bass from their music. Equipped with Dolby Digital sound, this compact speaker delivers high-quality audio. Handy teeth whitening gadget shoppers take on nights out that makes them 'so much whiter' Amazon knocks 42% off 'brilliant' Ninja air fryer that's perfect for small kitchens Whether you're playing tunes, tuning into a podcast or catching up on an audiobook, the speaker's 5W RMS output fills the room with detailed, high-quality sound. Setup is a breeze with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing shoppers to stream wirelessly from anywhere in the house. It can also be paired with other Echo Dots for multi-room audio, or connected to smart home devices for a fully integrated setup, reports MyLondon. Everything can be controlled using Alexa's voice commands, from playing songs to checking the news, setting timers or adjusting controls. A quick tap on the top lets users pause, play or adjust the volume as well. If the Echo Dot doesn't tick all the boxes, shoppers may want to consider the JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, available at Currys for £119. This waterproof speaker can be paired with over 100 other speakers and boasts up to 20 hours of battery life. Alternatively, Argos offers the Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker for £229.95, featuring one internal speaker, Bluetooth compatibility, Google Assistant and Siri compatibility, and up to 20 hours of battery life. The Echo Dot has received a stellar rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on more than 43,000 reviews. One satisfied customer gushed: "I love my Echo Dot! It's compact, stylish, and the sound quality is surprisingly good for the size. Alexa responds quickly, sets reminders, plays music, gives weather updates, and even controls my smart lights. For the price, it's a great addition to any room. Super convenient and fun to use." Another happy user wrote: "I absolutely love this product. Easy to set up on the Alexa app. It doesn't pair with my wireless speaker. Great volume and listening to Spotify on it is just the best. It is so good, I even bought my mum one." A third reviewer titled their feedback 'incredible sound and an incredible item to boot...' and said: "Surprisingly powerful sound in a sleek, compact design. The newest Echo Dot is a game-changer. Despite its small size, it delivers impressively big, vibrant sound with rich bass and clear vocals-perfect for music, podcasts, or even just asking Alexa for the weather. "The audio quality is a noticeable upgrade from previous generations, making it feel like a mini speaker with serious punch. Setup was effortless, and the voice recognition is sharp and responsive, even with background noise. It blends beautifully into any room with its modern, minimalist design, and the LED display (if included) adds a nice touch for time and temperature at a glance. "Whether you're using it as a smart home hub, a bedside assistant, or a kitchen DJ, the Echo Dot proves that great things really do come in small packages. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their space with smart tech and surprisingly robust sound." However, not everyone was impressed, with one individual noting: "Red light will not go off." Another added: "Had this for a while now, been meaning to comment, it was an easy set up, it works well with the lights but there are times when it doesn't hear a thing I say. It's overrated, to be fair." The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: Smart Speaker with Alexa is available from Wowcher.
