Shark ChillPill review – is it worth the hype?
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I can’t scroll on social media for long without seeing someone rave about the Shark Chillpill, and after seeing so many positive reviews, I was desperate to see whether it was really one of the best cooling fans on offer.
While the price tag (£130) seemed a little high for a handheld fan, I was keen to test it out and see what all the fuss was about. I’ve had Shark products in the past, and I haven’t been disappointed with their quality, so my hopes were very high.
To find out whether the Chillpill is worth your money or is just another influencer fad, keep reading. I’ve shared my honest review below, including the specs you need to know and how it performed with each attachment.
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Shark Chillpill: specs
|
Size |
4.5 cm L x 8.41 cm W x 11.2 cm H |
|
Weight |
0.35 kg |
|
Battery life |
660 minutes |
|
Charging time |
3.5 hours |
|
Speeds |
10 |
|
Warranty |
2 years |
Shark Chillpill: first impressions
The Shark ChillPill arrived in a glossy sleeved box and included the fan, three attachments, a charger, a few filters and, of course, the instructions. There’s also a QR code printed on the box, which leads you to a virtual assistant and set-up videos.
As far as fan aesthetics go, I was really impressed with its sleek design – the carbon colour looks neat and attractive, and it’s something I’d be happy to carry around on a hot summer’s day. However, you can also buy it in pink, blue, green, purple, brown and rose gold, which also look very stylish.
As I expected from a Shark device, the fan is comfortable to hold and has a high-quality build. It was slightly heavier than I was expecting, weighing 0.35kg (more than a standard can of baked beans).
It would be handy if it came with a sleeve to store the attachments in, but luckily, the box it comes in has dedicated slots for each one, and it’s compact enough to keep hold of rather than recycling it once it’s opened.
Shark ChillPill: set-up
The Shark ChillPill was incredibly quick to set up: simply charge it up, clip on your chosen attachment, turn it on, and select the speed. As I previously mentioned, there are three different attachments to choose from:
1. High-speed fan: Choose from 10 different settings (1 to 5 is recommended for indoors, while 5 to 10 is suggested for outdoors).
2. Ultra-fine mist: Fill the misting pod with water and enjoy a refreshing spray, either as a constant mist or in interval mode.
3. InstaChill cooling plate: The ice-cool pad provides instant relief from the heat and works best on the wrists and neck.
The attachments are pretty easy to install – twist the current attachment to the left to remove it, twist the new one to the right to attach it, then twist it to the right once more to lock it in place.
The top of the device rotates, allowing you to prop it up on your desk or hold it in your hand. You can also buy various attachments for it, like this strap from Amazon for hands-free cooling on the go, or this clamp from Amazon that attaches to bicycles or prams, making it versatile no matter where you’re going.
Shark ChillPill: performance
1. Fan attachment
For the amount of noise it makes on the lower settings, I felt it it didn’t deliver enough of a breeze, and it was pretty distracting. In fact I’m writing this review right now while using it, and I’ve had to turn it off to concentrate.
That being said, if you can put up with a bit of noise, speeds 9 and 10 offer decent power – and you wouldn’t notice the noise if you were using it in a busy city, or at noisy event such as a music festival.
2. Ultra-fine mist
I was expecting the mist to be overpowering and leave water droplets on my face, but it was much finer than I thought it would be. There are pros and cons to this: while it doesn’t leave my face looking sweaty or ruin my make-up, it would be more refreshing if there were more of a spray. I do really like this attachment though, and it’s nice that you can shut off the water nozzle if you just want to use the fan.
3. InstaChill Cooling Plate
If you want instant relief from the heat, the cooling plate is a great feature that I haven’t actually seen on any other fan. But, it’s a bit of a shame that the cooling plate produces a humming noise, as it sounds quite loud when the device is pressed against your neck.
(Image credit: Future)
Shark ChillPill: final thoughts
While I did enjoy testing the Shark ChillPill, and there’s no doubt it has all the quality and design aesthetics you’d expect from a Shark product, for me, the performance wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped. It scores brownie points for having multiple attachments, but if budget is limited, it may not be the best buy.
If you don’t mind something with a cheaper look and feel, I can recommend this Rainberg Rechargeable Hand Held Fan from Amazon, which I’ve been using for just over a year. It might not have the street cred of the ChillPill, but it’s kept me cool during many a heatwave and won’t break the bank.
Rechargeable Fan
Featuring an impressive 15-hour battery life and a 90-degree adjustable design, this cooling fan is a bargain at under £13, and comes with a stand and strap.
For more honest shopping advice, read my review on the Meaco 6″ Sefte Portable Fan or find out why our former news editor switched from a fan to this air circulator – and hasn’t looked back since.