The Shark ChillPill is actually a reasonably versatile personal fan compared to its competitors – we found the cooling plate and misting features particularly impressive. However, those features drain the battery quickly, which is a definite downside.
We recently reviewed the new $169 Dyson Hushjet personal fan, and now Shark has come out with their own version, the ChillPill. Personal fans have been around for many years, and are a reasonably common sight in our hot Australian summers. It’s no surprise that new fan gadgets are released each year to try to capture some of our personal cooling budget.
In a side-by-side comparison, the wind pressure from the ChillPill and the Dyson feels similar and both have a bladeless design. We weren’t particularly impressed by either in terms of wind speed and the ChillPill is a little heavier at 350g compared to Dysons’s 212g.
Shark have actually added a few attachments that take this personal fan to a new level
So what does the ChillPill offer to justify charging an extra $30? It’s all about features.
While the Dyson fan is basically a standard personal fan in sleek packaging, Shark have actually added a few attachments that take this personal fan to a new level (more on these in the “key features” section below).
Design-wise, there are also a few things we like, including a useful cover for the USB-C charging port that protects from dust and moisture, something the Dyson version lacks. And the whole device twists so that it blows upwards towards your face if you are sitting at your desk.
However, the controls are not very intuitive. It also comes with a wrist strap which can be a little confusing to attach at first.
Shark says the ChillPill battery lasts up to 11 hours on the lowest fan speed
In terms of battery life, Shark says the ChillPill battery lasts up to 11 hours on the lowest fan speed and about 1.5 hours on maximum speed. By comparison, Dyson’s personal fan claims to deliver up to six hours of run time on a single charge, depending on your chosen airflow speed. We did not test the full battery life on either product.
The ChillPill comes with two added features that we think make it a compelling product – one of which is a misting feature.
The fan comes with an interchangeable misting head which, when attached, changed the game for this reviewer. The added moisture is light enough not to add a noticeable layer to your skin, but has a noticeable cooling effect (the evaporative effect on your skin mimics the way the body uses sweat, to create a cooling sensation).
The downside to this is that it requires a wick (4 supplied) which needs to be replaced every 30 days (or less with frequent use). The wick resides in the water container that you need to fill up – this creates the mist.
The fan comes with an interchangeable misting head which, when attached, changed the game for this reviewer
The second feature is the cooling plate, which was also impressive. It is a silver-coloured metal plate attachment that cools your skin through direct contact.
When you attach this plate, the fan element is completely removed, but it offers an alternative way to cool down if the breeze just isn’t cutting it. Pressing it against the neck, wrists or forehead is very refreshing, and works to create a rapid cooling effect.
The downside of these features is that Shark claims they are more energy-hungry than the fan attachment, so they use up the battery faster. You can get about four hours of the misting mode or up to two hours for the cooling plate on a single charge.
Does the ChillPill personal fan actually cool you down?
The breeze the ChillPill creates is similar to the Dyson (which didn’t really impress us) and both products were quite noisy at their top speed. But the addition of the very effective cooling mist and cooling plate attachments makes this product one that we would actually consider, though it is seriously pricey for a personal fan.
In short, it’ll cool you down, more so than other personal fans – though you do pay a premium for it.
Is it worth it?
This is an expensive product (considering you can buy basic misting fans for $30 or so), but it certainly looks the part and it offers unique features you won’t find elsewhere.
If cost isn’t a barrier for you, we think it does deliver a superior cooling performance that might justify the price tag.
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Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement.
Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just.
Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint.
Find Matthew on LinkedIn.
Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement.
Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just.
Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint.
Find Matthew on LinkedIn.
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