3 handheld fans to buy if Shark and Dyson are out of your budget

The handheld fan market has changed dramatically over the past year. What was once a £10 impulse buy has evolved into a category filled with premium gadgets, led by the Shark ChillPill (£130) and Dyson HushJet Mini Cool (£99).

There's no denying these models are clever, but they're also a significant investment for something you'll probably only use during the warmer months. If you're simply looking for a quick and effective way to beat the heat, there are plenty of excellent alternatives that cost a fraction of the price.

After doing some digging, I've found three handheld fans that deliver exactly that, and you'll find each of them below.

1. Blueair AlwaysCool Portable Handheld Fan

Blueair is best known for the best air purifiers, but it recently entered the handheld fan market with the launch of the AlwaysCool Portable Handheld Fan. Using the brand's AeroSilent Technology, the fan delivers airflow of more than 17mph, allowing users to cool down within seconds.

It has a lay-flat design and a tilting head that adjusts between 0 and 75 degrees, allowing it to be used comfortably as either a handheld fan or a tabletop model. Controls are handled via an intuitive scroll wheel and a premium LCD display that shows the current fan speed, whilst a coloured light ring provides a quick visual indication of the remaining battery level.

Blueair also claims the AlwaysCool can run for more than 32 hours on a single charge, making it one of the longest-lasting handheld fans currently available. It also comes in two colour options – Cloud Linen and Night Charcoal.

£59, blueair.co.uk

2. JisuLife Handheld Fan 5 Plus

JisuLife is known for making some of the best affordable handheld fans on the market, and the Handheld Fan 5 Plus is one of our favourites. It features turbocharged airflow for fast, powerful cooling, but thanks to its built-in noise reduction, it remains impressively quiet at the same time. That's an area where some users have found Dyson's HushJet Mini Cool falls a little short.

The fan offers five speed settings and is powered by a 4,000mAh rechargeable battery, delivering anywhere between 3-16 hours of runtime depending on the speed you choose. It then recharges fully in around three hours via USB-C.

Like Dyson's latest handheld fan, the JisuLife also includes a lanyard, making it easy to wear around your neck for hands-free cooling. It comes in two colours – green and white.

£20, currys.co.uk

3. Muji Rechargeable Handheld Fan

If you're looking to spend even less, the Muji Rechargeable Handheld Fan is an excellent choice. The latest version improves on its predecessor with four fan speeds and a foldable design, making it even more portable than before.

Its battery life isn't quite as impressive as the Blueair or JisuLife models, lasting between 2-10 hours depending on the speed setting, but that's still more than enough for commuting, travelling or keeping cool on warmer days. It's also available in four stylish colours.

£18, uk.muji.eu