Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Duux Whisper Flex 2: two-minute review
Duux might not be a household name like Dyson or Shark, but it’s earned a quiet reputation for making quality fans with clever designs and silent performance. The Whisper Flex 2 builds on the foundation of the first Whisper Flex by adding a few thoughtful tweaks, which should make it one of the most versatile fans in the Duux lineup.
With 30 speed settings, dual-axis oscillation and smartphone app control, it’s certainly a feature-packed proposition. Add an upgraded control panel, plus height adjustment and an unobtrusive build, and the Whisper Flex 2 looks on paper like a solid contender for one of the best fans on the market.
On test, it broadly delivered on that promise. The Whisper Flex 2 impressed with its smooth, powerful airflow and near-silent operation, even at higher speeds. The 30 power levels give you fine control, while noise never creeps above a background whirr, even at higher power levels. Horizontal and vertical oscillation helps to circulate air efficiently in rooms of different sizes, too.
Build quality is solid, with a stable base and clean matte plastics. Its proportions are well-judged for portability, plus it converts into a desktop fan by removing the central pole. It’s just a shame that the optional battery and dock aren’t included – and the power cable feels like an afterthought.
It’s also an easy fan to use. The capacitive panel responds instantly, while the Duux app offers intuitive wireless control over power, speed, modes and schedules. Smart home integration isn’t as slick: on test, Alexa pairing was patchy and Google Home refused to connect at all. That said, the app is good enough that you won’t miss voice control.
For quiet, effective cooling with useful features and a clean look, the Duux Whisper Flex 2 is a smart summer upgrade. Read on for my full review.
Duux Whisper Flex 2 review: price & availability
- List price: £179.99
- Launch date: April 2025 (UK)
- Available now in the UK
The Duux Whisper Flex 2 is available now in the UK. It’s priced at £179.99 for the standard package, which includes the fan, remote control and power cable. At the time of this review (July 2025), pricing for the optional dock and battery pack has not been confirmed, as the kit is not yet available in the UK.
At £179.99, the Whisper Flex 2 sits towards the premium end of the fan market. That said, it comes in at significantly less than the Dyson CF1 (£249.99), which ranks highly in our list of the best fans for its quiet operation. It also costs a bit less than the Shark FlexBreeze (£199.99) – although that fan model includes a 24-hour cordless battery and mister attachment as standard.
The Flex 2 is more expensive than the MeacoFan 1056P (£139.99), another floor-standing fan with quiet, effective airflow.
Sitting in the middle of that line-up, the Duux Whisper Flex 2 offers decent value for money. Its attractive design and well-executed features make it an easy fan to live with, while its arsenal of modes give users the flexibility to use it in different ways and locations. For the money, it’s a versatile cooling tool.
It would represent even better value if the battery and dock were bundled in by default, and the limited smart home connectivity also loses the Flex 2 some points. But for those who want a reliable fan that runs breezy yet quiet, it gives a good return on investment.
- Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Duux Whisper Flex 2 review: specs
|
Type: |
Pedestal |
|
Speeds: |
30 |
|
Oscillation: |
120 degrees (horizontal), 100 degrees (vertical) |
|
Dimensions: |
34 x 34 x 95cm |
|
Weight: |
4.2kg |
|
Control: |
Buttons, remote, app |
|
Timer: |
Yes |
|
Additional modes: |
Natural Breeze, night mode |
Duux Whisper Flex 2 review: design and features
- Pared-back plastic build with a nice weight and feel
- Useful touches like a built-in handle and adjustable height
- Responsive and intuitive touch-sensitive control panel
From the design to the operating volume, the Whisper Flex 2 is an exercise in understatement. This is a minimalist pedestal fan with neat proportions and no hard edges. Whether the stone or the black version suits your space will come down to your decor, but I found the lighter of the two hit the right note. As tasteful as a rotating blower can be, the Whisper Flex 2 cuts a dash among some of the beefier units out there.
Don’t mistake this pared-back aesthetic for flimsiness: the Flex 2 finds a happy balance between portable and planted. The matte plastic is smooth but solid, while the base feels reassuringly weighty. It’s easy enough to move between rooms using the built-in carry handle, but I never worried about it toppling over.
Its full height puts the bottom of the blades level with most standard beds, making the Whisper Flex 2 ideal for bedroom use. This is lower than the maximum height of some fans, but with the option of vertical oscillation, I didn’t find myself wanting any extra elevation. The added bonus is that it never looms or dominates a space, even in small rooms.
You also have the option of removing the central pole component and converting the Whisper Flex 2 into a desk or table fan. This isn’t quite as quick as a telescopic design, but it’s simple enough to reconfigure and gives the fan welcome versatility, particularly if floor space is limited.
Assembling the Whisper Flex 2 is largely a matter of slotting things into place. Everything fits together with a reassuring click. There’s just a single screw to remove then cardboard packaging from behind the fan grille. Otherwise, it’s all slot to go. While several of the components are plastic, including the grille, it all feels well-engineered, with no rattles or wobbles.
On the base sits a touch-sensitive control panel with a clear digital display. This is a departure from the rotary dial found on other Duux models – and a definite upgrade. It’s a clean solution that’s responsive, intuitive and easy to read. The capacitive icons are sensibly arranged with buttons for power, speed and oscillation, as well as timer, night and Natural Breeze modes.
The last of those two are fairly self-explanatory: night mode dims the display, while Natural Breeze varies the airflow to simulate the wind. These are simple yet welcome additions that complement the feature set without complicating the interface. The only real omission is a temperature read-out and thermostat to match.
You also get an infrared remote control in the box, which duplicates the buttons found on the panel, adding a child lock button. Unlike previous models, it’s no longer magnetic, which means you can’t snap it neatly to the back of the handle on the fan. That said, sticking it there would interrupt the otherwise clean lines, so its absence isn’t a dealbreaker.
Smart functionality is also a key selling point, with support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as wireless control via the Duux smartphone app.
The only real disappointment is the included power cable. It works fine, but feels like a standard, off-the-shelf cord. It’s thin, glossy and awkwardly utilitarian next to the fan’s cohesive, attractive design. A colour-matched cable and plug would enhance the overall look.
An even neater solution comes in the form of the optional dock and battery pack. This pairing turns the fan into a cordless one, meaning you don’t need to trail the cable across the floor. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available in the UK at the time of this review.
Still, thoughtful details and a clean finish make the Whisper Flex 2 a fan that’s quietly refined.
Duux Whisper Flex 2 review: performance
- 30 power levels, from the lightest breeze to serious airflow
- Impressively quiet, even when running at higher settings
- Two-axis oscillation really helps to shift the air in any room
With 30 speed levels to play with, the Duux Whisper Flex 2 gives you granular control over airflow. Ramp it up and the performance doesn’t disappoint: on maximum power, the fan moves serious amounts of air – more than enough to cool a large room. At no point did I find myself wanting more oomph.
Even at lower numbers, I could feel a steady, meaningful breeze from two metres away. That incremental speed control also makes it easy to find a sweet spot for different situations. I started one night with the fan set to 15 at the end of the bed, before waking up chilly and dialling it down to 8.
During a particularly hot day, I ran it on 20 while standing at my desk and felt properly cooled, even with the sun streaming in. Whether you’re working, sleeping or just trying to stay chilled on a hot day, the Whisper Flex 2 has more than enough power on tap.
The Whisper Flex 2 also earns its moniker in terms of noise. Duux claims it runs at just 13dB on the lowest setting. Ambient noise meant I couldn’t match that reading in my home environment, but I can certainly believe it. On its gentlest settings, the Whisper Flex 2 is close to silent in real-world use.
While the volume does pick up a touch at higher speeds, the fan never emits more than a smooth background whoosh. There’s no buzzing or motor whine, just clean airflow. I happily worked and slept undisturbed with it running beside me.
Dual-axis oscillation adds another flourish. With two vertical and three horizontal arc settings, the Whisper Flex 2 sweeps through the chosen range, circulating air more effectively than single-axis rivals. You can almost feel the room breathe as it projects air up and over.
The Natural Breeze setting is a welcome one, mimicking the ebb and flow of real wind. If you don’t like the feeling of a constant air current targeted at you, this is a less intense alternative. Night mode is also useful, dimming the control interface for less light pollution. It wakes again with just a touch – an example of the instant responsiveness of the capacitive buttons.
The position of the panel on the base of the unit makes sense, although it does expose the buttons to the pokes of curious youngsters. It’s also where you’ll need to aim the infrared remote, which isn’t convenient if the fan is tucked at the end of a bed or behind furniture. Still, the remote itself is nicely sized with chunky rubber buttons.
Smart control is more of a mixed bag. On one hand, the Duux app is a big win. It instantly found the fan on my Wi-Fi network. Once connected, I could easily adjust the speed, mode and timer from my phone. The app also lets you set schedules (provided you create a Duux account). For many people, this will be the best and most intuitive way to control the Whisper Flex 2.
Smart home integration is less convincing. An account is required to connect, but I couldn’t get past the login screen for Google Home. With Alexa, there is an updated skill for the Flex 2, but the fan didn’t always respond to commands. When it did, control was limited to power on and power off. Given how well the app works, the smart home support almost feels unnecessary.
Even without the smart home frills, the Duux Whisper Flex 2 is a seriously capable cooling machine.
- Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should I buy the Duux Whisper Flex 2?
|
Section |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Value for money |
A fully featured fan that offers a lot for the money, although the battery pack should be included as standard. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
An understated fan with neat features, including a built-in handle and adjustable stand – although its max extension is on the shorter side) and built-in handle. The control panel is intuitive, too. Remote control not magnetic. |
4/5 |
|
Performance |
Hushed at every setting with no shortage of power across 30 levels. Two-axis oscillation really helps to move air. However, smart home integration is patchy and remote control requires line-of-sight to the base. |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Duux Whisper Flex 2
- I used the Duux Whisper Flex 2 in different rooms for a fortnight
- I evaluated how easy the fan was to set up and control
- I assessed the noise and strength of its airflow at different power settings
To test the Duux Whisper Flex 2, I used it as most buyers would: to cool a room, day and night. Helpfully, during my fortnight with the fan, the UK summer delivered some of the year’s hottest weather, giving me the perfect conditions to push the Whisper Flex 2.
I unboxed and assembled the fan myself, which gave me a first-hand impression of both its build quality and the setup experience. I then ran the Whisper Flex 2 through all 30 of its power settings, from lowest to highest, to assess how effectively it was able to move and project air. I stood at different distances from the fan to see how far away I could feel its airflow.
As part of this assessment, I operated the fan in rooms of different sizes. This was primarily to see how well it could shift air in various spaces, making use of the vertical and horizontal oscillation modes. It also gave me an idea of how easy the fan is to reposition.
Because the fan is pitched as one of the quietest on the market, I paid particular attention to its noise levels. I measured these at different power settings, both by using a decibel meter app on my smartphone and holistically, by running the fan overnight in the room where I was sleeping.
To evaluate the fan’s functions, including its smart home connectivity, as well as the accessibility of its interface, I ran through all of its modes and settings using the remote control, the touch-sensitive control panel and the smartphone app. I also tried connecting the fan to both Google Assistant and Alexa.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(471x244:473x246)/CNN-New-Years-Eve-with-Anderson-Cooper-123124-9952e5f00fc1425f87113ba2bfb97b29.jpg "Anderson Cooper Says He Once ‘Hated’ New Year’s Eve While Co-Hosting CNN Broadcast")
