TechRadar Verdict
The Dreo PolyFan 704S ticks almost every box you need for a pedestal fan, and some boxes you didn't even realize you needed. It's powerful and quiet and, thanks to its smart features, offers a high level of customization and control. Dreo has thought of almost everything and you'll struggle to find a fan that performs better without paying twice or three times as much. It's not cheap and it has some small design and feature elements that let it down, but overall it's great value for money and none of these flaws are deal-breakers.
Pros
- +
Whisper-quiet operation
- +
Powerful but not overbearing
- +
Smart features are game-changing
Cons
- -
Plastic stand lets down look and feel
- -
Lacks oscillation speed controls
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Dreo PolyFan 704S two-minute review
As someone who is always hot and has been known to wear flip flops and shorts in winter, I own – and have tested – a huge number of fans in my time. This includes cheap, desktop models right up to Dyson behemoths and I can honestly say the Dreo PolyFan 704S beats them all.
It's a high-performing, smart pedestal fan that comes with a huge, and impressive array of features. Not only does it provide nine speeds of powerful airflow that cools you down without ever leaving you feeling icy cold, it covers a huge distance despite its relatively small, 9" / 22.7cm fan head. This is due to its huge 110ft / 33.5m wind distance coupled with the fact you can angle it by 150-degrees horizontal and 120 degrees vertical. Even in Turbo mode, where the fan operates at maximum speed, the fan is surprisingly quiet, while in Sleep mode and at lower speeds you can barely tell it's on. So much so I often went to turn the fan on, via the app, before realizing it was already running.
Speaking of the app, the fan comes with Wi-Fi built in which means that you can connect and control it from both your phone, as well as your voice through smart speaker integration. Via the Dreo app you can set the angle, control the speed and oscillation, set timers and schedules and even customize the fan to match its speed to the room's ambient temperature. Or, via Alexa or Google Home, you can turn the fan on and off, increase or decrease the fan speed, and even adjust the angle by as little as one-degree increments, hands-free.
It's not perfect. The premium features and performance are let down slightly by the fan's plastic stand, which makes it look and feel cheap. I'd also like the option to change the oscillation speed but these are very minor points. In all my time testing the best fans, I'm yet to find a fan that ticks as many boxes as the Dreo PolyFan 704S and this makes it great value for money and a worthwhile investment.
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: price and availability
- List price: $149.99 (silver); $159.99 (gold)
- Only available in the US
There are four models in Dreo's PolyFan range, starting with the entry-level $89.99 PolyFan 311 up to the flagship $199.99 PolyFan 715S. The Dreo 704S launched in Spring 2024 and, at $149.99 for the silver version, sits just below the flagship in terms of price and features. You can alternatively buy a gold model for $159.99.
This makes the 704S one of the more expensive pedestal fans, not just in the Dreo range but more widely too. You can buy basic pedestal fans for around $50, while good-quality pedestal fans tend to cost $100. However, when you add smart features like those seen on the 704S, these prices rise to between $130-$150 meaning Dreo's model is on a par with its rivals.
You can buy the PolyFan 704S direct from Dreo in the US, as well as Amazon, and Walmart.
The best like-for-like alternative to the Dreo 704S is the $135 Ofuzzi Breeze 10 Pro+. It offers similar app and voice controls, is almost as quiet and has a slightly narrower, 140 degree horizontal oscillation range. It only produces half the wind distance and the app isn't available on the Google Play Store; you have to download it via the Ofuzzi website.
While $149.99 isn't cheap, especially when you can get a standard pedestal fan for a third of the price, the Dreo 704S is priced fairly compared to similar models on the market. You're largely paying for the smart features and the fan's power, but both are more than worth the investment making the fan great value in my opinion.
- Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: specs
| Price | $149.99 |
| Fan size | 9" / 22.7cm |
| Voltage | 120V |
| Power settings | 9 |
| Oscillation | 120 degrees vertical; 150 degrees horizontal |
| Mounting type | Pedestal |
| Max wind speed | 26ft/s |
| Wind distance | 110ft / 33.5m |
| Noise | 25dB-51dB |
| Control | Touch buttons, remote, app or Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 13.7 x 8.7 x 37.5-42.5" / 34.8 x 22.1 x 95.3-108cm |
| Weight | 17.82 lb / 8.1 kg |
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: design
- Plastic, conical stand feels and looks cheap
- By contrast, the fan head is high-end
- Touch controls and display
- Adjustable height + vertical oscillation is welcome
The Dreo 704S isn't the most elegant pedestal fan I've used. I reviewed the silver model and while the fan head is classy and well-built, the plastic, conical and chunky design of the stand and base makes the overall fan look and feel cheap. That's not to say it's ugly; it will comfortably fit in to most people's homes but I would have preferred more metal accents or features to give it a more premium feel to suit its price.
The major plus side to this, however, is that the fan is easy to move around. It weighs 17.82lb / 8.1kg and has a handle on the rear to make it comfortable to pick up and reposition. The base measures 13.7 x 8.7" / 34.8 x 22.1cm (D x W), making the 704S compact enough for tight spaces while still feeling sturdy and secure and delivering powerful airflow.
The fan head sits between two arms that allow for an impressive range of oscillation, both horizontally and vertically. As you change the fan head's position, it glides smoothly between these arms and looks high-end. The fan itself is made using three blades (said to have been inspired by the wings of an owl) behind a 9" / 22.7cm circular protective grille. In stark contrast to the plastic stand and base, the fan head and grille look and feel high-end.
The fan's touch controls are then aligned vertically down the front of the base. From top to bottom:
- Wi-Fi indicator light
- Power button
- Fan speed – 1-9
- Fan mode – Normal, Natural, Sleep, Turbo, Custom, and Auto
- Timer – up to 12 hours
- Vertical oscillation
- Horizontal oscillation
You can also control the fan via remote control, or by connecting it to the Dreo app. This remote control can be stored on the fan's base via a small clip, to avoid it getting lost. However, I rarely used the remote – favoring the touch controls or the app – so it hardly ever left this clip.
At its tallest, the fan measures 42.5" / 108cm but can be dropped down as low as 37.5" / 93.5 cm. This range is more than adequate for when your sat on sofa, working at a desk or lying in bed. What's more, the fact you can tilt the head up on its 120 degrees vertical axis adds significantly to this height and range. I often stood over the 704S with the fan tilted towards my face in between reps, while working out. This is a very welcome bonus.
The majority of elements on the 704S fan are well considered. It's a shame it's let down by its plastic look and feel but this is a relatively minor flaw in an otherwise attractive and well-designed appliance.
- Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: performance
- Whisper quiet, even on Normal mode
- Extremely powerful, even on the lowest settings
- App adds unprecedented control and customization
While the design of the Dreo PolyFan 704S has a couple of flaws, the same can't be said for its performance. It's rare for me to say this, but I'm struggling to find fault with it.
Even on the lowest setting, the fan is powerful and effective. I could sit on the other side of the room and still feel the wind touching me. The air itself is cool enough to lower both my temperature, and the temperature of the wider room, without ever making me feel cold, or icy, as is common with powerful fans.
This made it an ideal fan to have in the bedroom at night. As did its whisper-quiet noise. The PolyFan 704S has a Sleep mode that reduces the strength of the wind, which in turn lowers the sound so it doesn't disturb you in the night. Yet I didn't need to use this mode. The fan is so quiet on Normal mode, even on the highest speed settings, that I could sleep comfortably and without distraction. The biggest benefit of using Sleep mode is that the speed gradually decreases throughout the night. This means that as the temperature drops outside, you're not still being blasted with a fast wind speed that no longer suits the temperature in your room.
At its quietest, the 704S lived up to the brand's promise of producing just 25dB of noise, akin to the sound of leaves gentle rustling. On the highest, Turbo mode this noise increased to slightly above Dreo's promised 51dB, averaging 56dB. A small, almost indiscernible difference and at a level that's equivalent to the humming of a refrigerator.
Speaking of modes, the differences are as follows:
- Normal Mode: This mode runs the fan at a fixed speed, selected manually.
- Auto Mode: This mode adapts the speed based on the ambient temperature.
- Turbo Mode: Runs the fan at the maximum speed.
- Natural Mode: Natural mode varies the fan speed to simulate a natural breeze.
- Custom Mode: This mode lets you set different speeds to correspond to different ambient temperatures. For instance, when the room temperature exceeds 23 degrees, you can set the fan to switch on at Speed 3 and so on.
- Sleep Mode: Air circulator speed decreases every 30 minutes, offering Level 1 to Level 9 options.
My favorite mode is Natural mode. It really does feel like there's a gentle breeze flowing over you and this is comfortable and calming. Auto Mode works really well, too. In my living room I have a large bay window that faces west. In the morning the room is cool but as the sun travels over the house and beams through the large window, this room can become stifling – the difference can be as much as 10 degrees. Auto Mode solved this problem. Without having to make any adjustments, the fan kicked into action before the heat could reach an uncomfortable level and maintained a cool temperature all day. Elsewhere, the Custom Mode is a great addition but beyond playing around with it in the app to see how it worked, I never used it. The other modes gave me more customization and automation than I needed.
When it comes to oscillation, the wide range of movement both vertically and horizontally, combined with the power and efficiency of the wind, means the PolyFan 704S can cover a surprisingly large space despite its relatively small fan head. You can select the angles at which the head oscillates from a list of presets – 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 degrees for horizontal oscillation, or 30, 60, 90 and 120 degrees in the vertical – or you can customize these angles in one-degree increments.
The presets can be accessed via the base's touch controls, and remote. It's easy to keep pressing the respective buttons until you reach the desired angle. However, you can only customize the more precise angles via the app, or using voice commands. My only, very minor complaint is that the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like. I'd love the option to speed this up but I'm nitpicking. I remarked to my partner during my review that "I love this fan" and it's true. From how easy it is to use, to the fact the large number of options and settings never feel overwhelming, its power, efficiency and how well it fits into my home and lifestyle, it's almost perfect.
- Performance score: 5 out of 5
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: voice control
- Easy to set up
- Adds an extra level of personalization
- Perfect for hands-free control
One of the standout features of the Dreo PolyFan 704S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker.
Once the fan is connected to your home Wi-Fi, via the Dreo app, you can connect it to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button. Once connected, go into the Settings menu on the Dreo app, select the Voice Control menu and you'll see all the relevant command prompts. I used my with Alexa and there are 26 standard prompts listed. Everything from, "Alexa, turn on Dreo Fan" to, "Alexa, increase Dreo Fan horizontal angle by five degrees", timers, and more.
I often used these controls at night when the fan was in my bedroom. If I hadn't set the angle or speed correctly before getting under the covers, I could ask Alexa to adjust the power and wind direction without having to leave my bed. It's pure convenience, or laziness depending on how you look at it, but it's a fantastic addition. Similarly, when I had the fan in the playroom, I could get the fan to follow where my youngest was playing, by asking Alexa to change the angle and oscillation, to make sure he remained cool while jumping around the round.
Beyond the standard Alexa-powered voice commands, thanks to Alexa Routines you can also create a sequence of events based on other criteria. For example, I set the fan to switch to Sleep mode at 10pm, or even switch off when it detected snoring. This is in addition to the timer and scheduling features found on the Dreo app. All of the Alexa features are managed via the Alexa app, and are simple to navigate and set up. Once you're in the Alexa app, you can also edit the voice prompts and control the fan's settings, adding yet another way to control the device.
Dreo PolyFan 704S review: app
- Offers a wide variety of customization options
- Easy to set up and intuitive to use
The app, alongside voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo PolyFan 704S. It's intuitive and everything is well-labelled and clear. When you first open the app it will search for nearby Dreo devices. If it doesn't, or it fails to find the devices, make sure Wi-Fi is enabled by pressing and holding the horizontal oscillation touch button for five seconds.
The app guides you through setup and once the fan is connected, you'll see an image of it on your app's homepage. From this homepage you can see how much time is left on the timer, the room's current temperature, what mode the fan is on, and any schedules you've set, at a glance. You can also access the fan's Wi-Fi and voice controls via the Settings button.
Clicking the image of the fan takes you to the full range of 704S' controls. There's a menu at the top that lets you switch between Standard, Turbo and Custom modes. In Standard mode, you'll additionally see four icons, each one corresponding with the four wind modes: Normal, Auto, Sleep and Natural. A slider on the right-hand side lets you manually adjust the fan's speed, above the fan's oscillation controls and 3D Angle Control.
You can then enable panel sounds, set the display to turn off after one minute, set a child lock and calibrate the oscillation.
Out of all of these features, my favorite – and the one I use all the time – is the 3D Angle Control. On this screen you can manually set the horizontal and vertical angle of the fan head by running your finger over the screen. Alternatively you can move it using the arrows, or set Common Angles. The latter is particularly useful if you like the fan at a certain angle in bed but you don't want to manually set it each night, after having changed it during the day.
Dyson fans and purifiers have offered a similar feature on its smart appliances for years, yet it's rare to find control like this on such a relatively affordable fan. I'd pay a large part of the PolyFan 704S' price for this feature alone.
- App score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dreo PolyFan 704S?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Performance and smart features far outweigh its relatively affordable price. | 4.5/5 |
| Design | The design of the Dreo 704S PolyFan is well thought out and considered; it's a shame the cheap-looking plastic stand lets it down. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | The fan is almost perfect in terms of speed, customization, and control. | 5/5 |
| App | The app is user friendly and presents everything in a clear, intuitive way. | 5/5 |
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
If you don't want or need all of the Dreo 704S fan's features, here are a couple of options to consider...
How I tested the Dreo PolyFan 704S
- I used the Dreo PolyFan 704S and its app for 4 weeks
- Positioned in different rooms around the house
I used the Dreo PolyFan 704S in different rooms around my home for four weeks. This included my living room, large open-plan loft, children's bedrooms, and master bedroom.
I used the device every day, and on nights when the weather was warm, on a range of modes and speed settings. I scheduled timers to turn the fan off, and tested all the features of the app, and its remote control. This includes using voice commands.
I also monitored how loud the fan was on different speeds, and in different modes.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed May 2024
