Published: 5:04pm, 15 Jul 2025Updated: 5:36pm, 15 Jul 2025
The airflow rate among rechargeable portable fans could vary as much as more than 1.5 times, according to a study by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog.
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The Consumer Council, which tested 16 handheld and two neck-mounted products, found that among the lighter handheld models it examined, there was a variance of more than 1.5 times, while the discrepancy among the heavier models could be more than 1.3 times.
“It is worth noting that among models with similar fan head size, the air flow could still vary considerably,” said Consumer Council Acting Chief Executive Francis Ho Ying-foo at a press conference on Tuesday.
“For example, there is almost a one-fold difference in airflow rate between the highest and lowest performing models even when the fan sizes are similar. Consumers should not assess airflow capacity solely based on the head size of the fan.”
The council conducted its tests by fully charging the fans and then measuring their airflow rates at the highest speed setting, with any “cold compress” function disabled and running purely on battery power.
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Among the lighter handheld fans examined, weighing between 93 and 189 grams (3.3 and 6.7 ounces), the airflow rate ranged from 0.91m³ to 2.34m³ per minute, a difference of more than 1.5 times.