With Singapore’s year-round muggy heat, we are always looking for ways to stay cool and dry. Fans and air-conditioners are staples for our indoor spaces, while portable fans, cooling sprays, and more have become essentialsonce we step out of the door. 

But not all portable fans are made equal — and more expensive doesn’t always mean better. This is according to the Consumer Council of Hong Kong that recently published their research into 16 handheld and two neckband rechargeable portable fans, which included well-known brands such as JisuLife and Muji other models on the market.

The test split the handheld portable fans into heavier (204g to 277g) and lighter (93g to 189g) groups based on the fan’s weight (excluding accessories). Prices of the fans ranged between HK$59 (S$9.72) and HK$339 (S$55.84) for handheld models, and HK$99.90 (S$16.45) and HK$239 (S$39.37) for neckband fans. 

The Consumer Council assessed the portable fans on seven criteria: safety, airflow rate, charging efficiency, battery life, energy efficiency, noise level, and ease of use. 

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Which portable handheld fans are worth the money?

For one, and perhaps the most surprising finding, the most expensive model and the cheapest model both came up on top with 4.5 out of 5 for overall performance (more on that below!). 

Larger fan head sizes also did not always correlate to greater airflow. Airflow rates on the tested fans varied by over 1.3 times among the heavier models and by over 1.5 times among the lighter handheld models. The Gongtian F30 blew the rest away with 2.98 cubic metres per minute of airflow, while the XPower C06 Cooler Mini sputtered along, offering only 0.91 cubic metres of airflow per minute. 

Finally, higher battery capacity did not result in longer runtime, as battery voltage also had to be taken into account. The JisuLife Pro 1S lasted for 3 hours and 15 minutes on a full charge. The Lemoistar Limo-FN7, meanwhile, could not reach an hour during testing.  

As for safety, only the Momax IF18 1°Go handheld fan failed the test as it reached a charging temperature of 56.6 degrees Celsius. This temperature was 20 degrees above international safety standards.

Best Portable Fans Tested And Available In Singapore

Of the six that scored 4.5 out of 5 for overall performance, the following four are available in Singapore.

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Cheapest option with second-longest runtime: Muji USB Rechargeable Compact Handheld Fan ($18.99)

Noted for its affordable price tag, the Muji handheld fan came in with the second-longest runtime at over two hours on a full charge. The airflow isn’t the best, however, clocking in at 1.38 cubic metres per minute. Nevertheless, the iteration is lightweight at slightly less than 100g and has four speed modes. Buy now

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Longest battery life and third-strongest airflow: JisuLife Pro 1S Handheld Fan ($68.30)

With a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh, the Pro 1S model is available in Dark Grey and Light Brown. It was also found to offer over three hours of runtime on the highest speed with a full charge, delivering 2.25 cubic metres of airflow per minute. The JisulLife handheld fan weighs 260g and has an all-aluminium alloy body with an LED digital display. Buy now

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Strongest airflow: Gongtian F30 Handheld Small Fan ($37.52-$55.03)

Clocking in at 2.98 cubic metres per minute, the Gongtian F30 achieved the strongest airflow among all the models tested. It lacked in the runtime department, however, at only 1 hour and 52 minutes on the highest speed. A full charge was also found to require almost five hours. Two lower speeds are available, with the brand claiming that the runtime at the lowest speed is six hours. There are four colours to pick from: black, white, light blue, and light green. Buy now

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Fourth-highest airflow rate: Bruno BDE029 Handy Fan in Light Blue ($21.54)

The Bruno BDE029 Handy Fan sits in the middle among the top-ranked portable fans tested. It provided 2.23 cubic metres per minute of airflow, needing almost 3.5 hours to charge fully, and offered two hours of runtime on max speed. The fan offers four speeds and weighs twice as much as a similar-looking Muji. Buy now  

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