KEEPING a room bearable in a heatwave usually means reaching for either a pricey portable air conditioner or a cheap fan that gives up by August.
However, shoppers are flocking to Amazon to buy a Russell Hobbs desk fan sitting at the sensible end of that trade-off, currently priced at less than £18.
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Russell Hobbs 9″ Portable Desk Fan, £17.99 from Amazon
It’s a compact nine-inch model, built for a desk, bedside table or kitchen worktop rather than a whole living room.
Amazon lists it as a best seller in its category, and it carries an Amazon’s Choice badge at the time of writing.
Over 4,000 shoppers have rushed to the retailer to buy the fan in the last month alone.
This is a low everyday price rather than a flash discount, and at under £20, it’s still one of the cheaper cooling buys from a name you’ll recognise.
You get two speed settings, a 90-degree oscillation to spread the air, and simple front controls.
It’s Quiet Mark certified, an independent scheme that flags genuinely low-noise appliances, and it comes with a one-year guarantee that stretches to two if you register it.
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At 1.31kg, it’s light enough to carry from room to room, and small enough to sit on a windowsill – handy, though an open window in summer tends to invite the odd visitor, which is where a cheap electric fly swatter comes in.
Reviews land at an average of 4.1 out of five from more than 6,300 ratings.
Plenty of buyers praise the airflow, with one calling it ‘a massive improvement’ on their old fan, and another saying setting three left the room ‘icy cold’.
Noise is where opinion splits, though.
Some reviewers find it quiet enough to sleep beside, while others are blunter — one likened it to ‘a mini outboard motor’ on the higher speed.
However, if you’re looking for a fan for a spare room, home office or a desk you sit beside during the day, it’s a reasonable buy at the price.
More fan deals on Amazon
Honeywell TurboForce Power Fan: £47.15 at Amazon – buy here
Midea 36 Inch 45W Portable Stand Fan: £47.80 at Amazon – buy here
DREO Smart Tower Fan: £84.99 at Amazon – buy here
Air Pro 10″ Desk Fan: £64.99 at Amazon – buy here
Levoit 25dB Silent Tower Fan: £109.99 at Amazon – buy here
Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Cordless Indoor & Outdoor Fan: £249.99 at Amazon – buy here
