Best Handheld Fans for a Breeze on Demand (2026)
The only downside is that it doesn't fit well into a lot of chunkier phone cases, including my iPhone 15's Casetify case. The Phone Fan
The only downside is that it doesn't fit well into a lot of chunkier phone cases, including my iPhone 15's Casetify case. The Phone Fan comes with a little USB-C extender, which allows it to work with my case, but it's a loose fit and constantly falls out if I'm not holding it at the perfect angle. Those with slim phone cases, however, will not have this issue. Decibels low/high: 49â63 dB Max wind speed: 866 ft/m Battery capacity: N/A Extra features: 4 speeds, USB extender Available colors: Black, lavender (shown) Photograph: Kat Merck Others Tested Aecooly Portable Handheld Fan Air Gimbal for $35: I was originally interested in this handheld fan for its fun World Cupâedition designs, which are now on sale. (There are also World Cup versions of the Aecoolyâs Cold Air Ultra misting fan, shown below.) Itâs a fine fan, but it is quite loud for the amount of airflow it puts out. There are other fans with more features for half the price. JisuLife Ultra2 Photograph: Kat Merck Jisulife Handheld Fan Ultra2 for $76: This fan is so strong, itâs almost comicalâ1,614 feet per minute on my anemometer. (For reference, this is stronger than a typical full-sized tower fan.) It also emits a high-pitched whine not unlike a jet engine (60 decibels on its lowest setting), and its mallet-like shape makes it too bulky to slip into a pocket. However, it does double as a power bank and a flashlight, and itâs got a short carrying lanyard you can attach to make it slightly less unwieldy.
The 9,000-mAh battery capacity is also a plus. Jisulife says this can last up to 25 hours, which I have no reason to doubt, as Iâve been using it on and off for most of the year and the battery has yet to run out. Dyson HushJet Mini Cool for $100: With so many decent portable hand fans on the market for around $20, I'd expect great things from a fan that costs $100. While this one is fine (aside from a resemblance toâI'm sorry to have to sayâa worm anus), the wind speed and overall performance were only marginally better than that of the cheaper fans. I do like that it comes with a stand for use on a desk, though, as well as the ribbon lanyard for wearing around your neck, but it's alsoâdespite the nameâquite loud at nearly 70 decibels on high. PlayHot Handheld Turbo Fan Photograph: Kat Merck PlayHot Handheld Turbo Fan for $19: WIRED reviewer Kristin Canning loved the versatility of this fan, the contained blades, and the fact it fit into her small crossbody bag. I've used it all summer, and it's a solid fan, but the Diveblues above offers better performance and more features for the same price. JisuLife Pro 1S Handheld Fan for $75: A handy scroll wheel controls the speed (as opposed to up-and-down buttons) on this lightweight fan, and the magnetic center cap comes off in two phases. The first section reveals an absorbent pad about the size of a pea, for saturating with essential oil, and the second section comes off to reveal a digital screen that shows power level and battery life.
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