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CNET’s key takeaways
- The Jisulife Pro1 Mini handheld fan is the most compact and least expensive handheld fan I’ve tested so far.
- The Pro1 Mini is quiet, easy to use and has a long battery life.
- Its 17 mph top speed is lower than that of other handheld fans I’ve tested, but I don’t think that matters as long as the fan works.
As CNET’s wellness editor, I’ve spent this entire summer testing the latest handheld fans, from the Shark ChillPill and Dyson HushJet Mini Cool to Jisulife’s Ultra2 and Blueair’s AlwaysCool. As I live in Los Angeles, I’ve had plenty of days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit that have been ripe for testing, especially as someone who runs hot.
But when I’m running out the door and want something compact to throw in my bag, I always reach for Jisulife’s Pro1 Mini, which launched in April.
The 6.35-ounce, 2.17 by 1.97 by 5.59-inch fan is the smallest, least expensive handheld fan I’ve tested, but it doesn’t feel like it.
My experience with Jisulife’s Pro1 Mini
Other handheld fans, like the 55-mph Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, focus on speed, but I don’t think that number matters as long as the fan moves enough air to keep you cool. And the 17-mph Pro1 Mini does.
By comparison, Shark’s $150 ChillPill also goes up to 17 mph, but it’s over twice the price of the $56 Pro1 Mini. However, the ChillPill comes with two attachments that offer different cooling formats: a dry-touch water mister and a cooling plate. Even though it’s my favorite cooling device of the summer, I don’t think everyone needs those extra attachments to chill out. And I don’t always reach for the ChillPill when running out the door because it weighs more than the Pro1 Mini at 12.3 ounces.
The Pro1 Mini comes with one attachment: a magnetic aroma pod that can be affixed to the center of the fan. Inside, there’s an aroma pad where you can place one to two drops of a water-based essential oil, which should blend with the airflow when you turn the fan on. However, I haven’t used this feature because I don’t love the idea of a scent blowing directly in my face.
Included are a travel pouch, a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable, five extra aroma pads and a retractable lanyard that can be worn handheld, around the neck, over the shoulder or crossbody. However, the fan can stand on its own if you want to place it on a tabletop.
It’s also simple to work. On the back of the fan, there’s a safety lock, and once you switch it off and press the power button on the front, the fan turns on. Then, you select a speed from one to 100 using the wheel on the front. That’s it.
Battery life and charging time
The Pro1 Mini’s 4250-mAh battery can run for up to 30 hours, which is more than the ChillPill (11 hours), HushJet Mini Cool (6 hours) and JisuLife Ultra2 (25 hours), but slightly less than the AlwaysCool’s 32 hours.
The Pro1 Mini takes as little as 2 hours to charge, which is less than the time required for all the aforementioned fans.
Price compared
I wouldn’t call the Pro1 Mini affordable at $56, or at its full price of $70, especially given that Jisulife offers fans for under $20. However, I haven’t tried those models, and since some don’t list their airflow speed, it can be difficult to compare them based on specs alone.
At a full price of $60, Blueair’s AlwaysCool also offers up to 17 mph of airflow. However, even though it looks similar to the Pro1 Mini, it is larger at 2.44 by 2.56 by 7.28 inches and about 9 ounces.
The design
Currently available in black and, for $7 more, light purple, the Pro1 Mini features a rear honeycomb cover to prevent your hair from getting caught in the fan and an artificial leather exterior, which provides a nice handfeel. It has an LED display that shows the airflow speed level and battery percentage.
While I love the design and light purple color I have, what I think the fan really has going for it is its compact size.
Noise level
Jisulife reports that the noise level ranges from 50 to 70 decibels. According to my measurement with the Decibel X app, this is accurate. While not directly comparable, I measured 69.9 dBA at the highest speed.
Compared with other handheld fans, the Pro1 Mini is lower. For instance, I measured the Shark Chillpill at 74.6 dBA, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool at 77.5 dBA and Jisulife’s own Ultra2 at 79.9 dBA. However, the Pro1 Mini’s noise level is higher than the Blueair AlwaysCool’s 55.7 dBA.
JisuLife Pro1 Mini handheld fan
The specs
- Full price: $70
- Speeds: 100, up to 17 mph
- Sound level (speed 100): 70 dBA
- Attachments: One (aroma misting pod)
- Warranty: 12 months
- Weight: 6.35 ounces
- Dimensions: 2.17 x 1.97 x 5.59 inches
- Motor speed: 17,000 rpm
- Battery capacity: 4,250 mAh
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Battery charge time: 2-3 hours
- Included in box: lanyard, travel pouch, USB-C to USB-A charging cable, magnetic aroma pod, five aroma pads
CNET’s buying advice
- If you want a compact fan under $60, based on my testing, I’d recommend Jisulife’s Pro1 Mini.
- There are other handheld fans, even from Jisulife, that are less expensive, but I haven’t tested them yet, and the lack of information about airflow speed makes it difficult to compare them on specs alone.
- If you’re looking for a handheld fan with additional cooling capabilities and don’t mind the price, I’d recommend the $150 Shark ChillPill, which includes water-mister and cooling-plate attachments.
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