Shark ChillPill review: a handheld, pocket-sized fan that provides instant relief
The Shark ChillPill became my saviour during the UK’s recent heatwaves
For on-the-go cooling relief, the Shark ChillPill is a handheld, portable, pocket-sized lifesaver. With its 3-in-1 cooling power, it has an option for everyone, including Fan, Mist and InstaChill modes. Despite its petite, lightweight design which is easy to hold and travel with, the Shark ChillPill is surprisingly loud at times, and its mist option could be improved. But for quick cooling without having to resort to a huge fan, the Shark ChillPill is a must-have.
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+ Intense and effective 3-in-1 cooling
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Comfortable, lightweight design
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Easy-to-use touch and button controls
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Good battery life
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Surprisingly loud for something so small
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Misting is minimal yet very wet
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The UK’s weather is widely known as being unpredictable, cold and rainy. However, every now and again, we get hit by a glorious heatwave, but as always in this country, us Brits don’t know how to manage intense temperatures.
During these periods, many people run out to pick up the latest fan or air conditioning unit in the hopes of avoiding the heat. But what about when you’re out and about and need some cooling relief? Shark thought about this and launched the Shark ChillPill earlier this year, a portable 3-in-1 cooling system.
I’ve spent the past few weeks testing the Shark ChillPill and it definitely came in handy with the late May heatwaves that the UK was hit with. It’s quickly become my new travel essential, and it’ll be what I’m using this year’s summer season – here’s why.
Shark ChillPill review: price and availability
The Shark ChillPill is available to buy for £129.99 / $149.99 at Shark and select retailers, like Amazon, Currys and Boots. It’s available in multiple colours, including carbon, haze, glacier, matcha, iced latte and dragon fruit. I tried the glacier version.
Shark ChillPill review: design and features
The Shark ChillPill is a 3-in-1 Fan, Mist and InstaChill system which can be used both indoors and outdoors. It features a high-speed fan which has 10 speeds and a maximum velocity of 7.5m/s, and an ultra-fine mister that releases micro-sized droplets to cool you down. The InstaChill cooling plate cools on contact to lower skin temperature by up to 9°.
Measuring 11.2cm height, 8.4cm width and 4.5cm depth, the Shark ChillPill is extremely portable and travel-friendly. It weighs just 0.35kg so it can easily fit in your bag and is comfortable to hold. As a portable device, the Shark ChillPill can be held in your hand, sit on desks or tables, and adjusted at multiple angles.
The Shark ChillPill looks like a miniature set of binoculars. The smaller ‘tube’ of the Shark ChillPill is where the controls are, with one end featuring a circular screen while the other has a charging port. The battery life promises between 1.5 and 11 hours of use, and it takes 3.5 hours to fully charge.
The larger tube is where you attach the three accessories – fan, mist or cooling plate – and it has an easy twist system for adding and removing them. To turn the Shark ChillPill on or off, you simply hold down the screen for a couple of seconds. To adjust the speed, you twist the ring around the screen. The screen displays the battery – green for charged and red for uncharged – and the fan and mist levels. It’ll show a snowflake for the InstaChill plate.
Shark ChillPill review: performance
Considering the size of the Shark ChillPill, I truly didn’t expect it to be as powerful as it was. The controls were easy to use and while I tried all three attachments, I enjoyed the high speed fan the most. It has 10 settings to choose from, with the highest power being pretty extreme – the Shark ChillPill could easily rival a full-sized fan with its power.
With power comes noise, though. The Shark ChillPill started to get very loud around level five and it was almost deafening at speed 10. I tested the Shark ChillPill in a busy beer garden on speed five and it was very loud even with all the background noise going on. I was pleasantly surprised to find, however, that the Shark ChillPill didn’t heat up while in use though, or if it was sat in the sun.
I enjoyed the angles of the Shark ChillPill, particularly with the smaller tube lying flat while the large lay atop it pointing towards me. While it can comfortably sit on tables, it did make a slight whirring noise when it came into contact with it. Depending on the angles, the Shark ChillPill could go off balance at times so it took some trial and error. Holding the Shark ChillPill was nicely comfortable and great for personal cooling while on a hot train and standing in an airport queue.
Speaking of, I took the Shark ChillPill with me on a recent press trip and found that it wasn’t permitted to go in my checked luggage due to its battery. With the summer holidays approaching, this is worth keeping in mind as you will need to pack the Shark ChillPill in your carry-on. Aside from this one tidbit, the battery was very long-lasting.
The fan attachment of the Shark ChillPill is the star of the show, but the InstaChill is great, too. Touching the cool plate to the skin was very cold and immediately lowered my body temperature for instant relief. It felt pleasant on skin without being too chilly.
The ultrafine Mist was where I found an issue though. Even on a low speed setting, the mist felt far too wet. As it’s an attachment that screws onto the main device of the Shark ChillPill, you have to fill it up with a small amount of water for the mist to work. As expected, it doesn’t have much capacity for the water so the mist runs out quite quickly. I found myself enjoying the feel but didn’t like how soggy it left my skin and clothes.
Shark ChillPill review: verdict
The Shark ChillPill has become my new favourite fan, and it will definitely be coming with me to all my summer events – I’m currently recharging it as I’m writing this ahead of attending a wedding on the weekend. Its design is stylish and compact, as well as being easy to use via the screen controls and twisting attachments.
The mist accessory of the Shark ChillPill lets it down slightly. It’s nice to have but not the main thing that I’ll keep going back to when using the Shark ChillPill. The fan and InstaChill plate are brilliant, though, if you can get past the insanely loud noise, that is. At £129.99 / $149.99, it’s keenly priced, too.
Shark ChillPill review: alternatives to consider
Another personal, portable fan released in 2026 is the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool. like the Shark ChillPill, it’s a handheld fan designed for personalised cooling both indoors and outdoors. At £99.99, it’s cheaper than the Shark ChillPill and it’s Dyson’s cheapest fan.
