SwitchBot's fan is a smart evolution for a bedroom or office fan, but not everyone needs so many features.
At CNET, we've been looking for high-tech ways to cool off, and I think I may have found my favorite. Classic desk fans are plain models you plug in and flip a switch to get a rotating blast of cool air. In comparison, SwitchBot's rechargeable, wireless smart fan is an evolutionary epoch ahead, a solid design packed with touch panel features, app settings and, of course, a variety of cooling models I found very effective.
Not everyone needs a smart fan, especially if they are happy saving money (this tech-filled model retails at $100). But if you've been looking for a massive upgrade to an old-fashioned fan, you'll find it here.
Read more: The Best Tower Fans of 2025
Many modes and no noise
SwitchBot offers a touch panel, remote and app for control options.Â
SwitchBot's fan setup is simple, even including app connections. The wireless fan comes with an outlet plug you attach to charge the battery for several hours (it's also USB-C compatible) and a hidden on/off switch to enable the fan or disable it entirely to save the battery. The design is particularly solid for a desk fan, with a hefty base and shields that fully protect the blades.
On that base, I found a series of touch controls that can set every aspect of the fan, from oscillation to fan speed -- as well as a remote control. Those controls and the LED panel were responsive and intuitive enough that I didn't need any guide to quickly find out what they did. Technically, you don't need the app for anything, which is nice for users who do, in fact, want to keep the fan within arm's reach.
The 10-speed fan with 11-inch blades is no slouch at cooling, either. It provides a powerful airstream that, at the lowest speed, I could still easily feel from 10 to 12 feet away, with higher speeds enough to send air out across a larger room. Controls include back-and-forth oscillation, movement up and down, or both if you're feeling fancy.
As for noise, the fan is the quietest I've ever heard. I didn't even bother breaking out my decibel reader to try and measure it, even at higher speed levels. SwitchBot says the fan is rated at 22dB, but I think it may be even quieter than that, which makes it ideal for a bedroom fan when sleepers don't like a lot of noise. It beeps when you change settings, but you can fortunately turn the beep off in settings.
App controls and battery life
SwitchBot's app lets you switch between modes or select your speed.
I tested the SwitchBot fan significantly out of arm's reach, setting it up across the office to see how the app controls worked. Like other SwitchBot devices, setup takes only seconds once you've created an account.
The fan controls are straightforward. There's an on/off button, a sliding bar to control speed with a swipe, and several additional modes like a Natural mode to mimic a breeze and a Baby mode for especially quiet action (as well as a child lock for when kids may want to start pressing buttons). The fan even has a bright or soft nightlight mode.
SwitchBot's apps offers controls for every aspct of the fan, including the nightlight.
As of now, the 3,600-mAh battery is still charged well enough to work after several days of intermittent use, although I haven't been using the nightlight setting. I'm a bit conflicted about the wireless design. It's very handy if you want to move the fan from room to room depending on where you are, but desk fans aren't devices people move around a lot, so I think it's likely this fan will stay plugged in until users want to shift it for specific events.
Have you been thinking about a desk fan upgrade?
SwitchBot's smart desk fan has every high-tech feature possible, as long as you're willing to pay that $100 price tag. And the app's controls make it uniquely suited for operating when you're not nearby, like when you're sleepy in bed and the fan is across the room, or if it's in a child's room across the house -- or if you're just feeling especially lazy on the sofa.
Not everyone needs this much fan. But summers are getting hot, and it's nice to have a desk model around that can do anything while staying silent.
For more, check out the top smart devices of 2025 that I reviewed but still can't stop using.Â