The Shark ChillPill: I’m a fan of this fan. That’s why I’m going to use it all summer

CNET’s key takeaways

• At $150, the Shark ChillPill is expensive, but I think it might be worth it for those who want a device that functions as more than a personal fan.
• I’m particularly impressed with the ChillPill’s mister and dry-touch cooling pad, which can reduce skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
• I sometimes encountered issues tapping the screen to activate the device. I also don’t like that all the accessories are sold separately, from $10 to $40.

Back in elementary school, I was jealous of the kids who had these portable fans that doubled as water misters. The new shark ChillPill Personal Fan immediately reminded me of these fans, but in a more modern form.

The ChillPill is three in one, both in what it does and how it can be used.

As a wellness editor who tests the latest health tech for CNET and as a burnout person, I was excited to try the ChillPill as summer approaches. Especially since I also have the new Dyson HushJet Mini Coolits first-ever portable fan, and two popular JisuLife fans, the Ultra2 And Pro1Minito compare it.

The ChillPill combines a 10-speed bladeless fan with airflow up to 17 miles per hour, a dry-touch evaporative mist that won’t leave you soaking wet, and a cryotherapy-inspired cooling pad that lowers skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The latter measurement was calculated from controlled testing at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, with the plate applied to the neck at its highest setting.

Lightweight at 0.77 pounds, the ChillPill can be worn on your person as a bracelet or across the body, attached to a jacket or purse strap, twisted to rest on a table, or attached to a stroller or exercise device.

My experience testing the Shark ChillPill

I started using the ChillPill when temperatures rose above 90 degrees Fahrenheit here in Los Angeles, and I can confirm that it made a difference. Unlike traditional portable fans, having the mister and cooling plate is particularly useful.

The cooling plate is simple, but very cool

The Cooling Pad is my favorite ChillPill accessory, and it has two modes: Level 1 (ideal for indoor use) and Level 2 (for both indoor and outdoor use). I could actually feel a difference between the two.

I love placing it on the back of my neck for instant cooling. Although this is not its intended use, I also like to put it on level 1 under my eyes to reduce puffiness.

The cooling plate was easy to clean with an alcohol wipe, keeping things hygienic. To clean the exterior of the device, wipe it with a soft, damp cloth, avoiding moisture in the fan inlet, outlet, and charging port.

The gentleman won’t leave you soaked

As for the mist pod, it uses dry-touch evaporative misting, leaving you feeling cool, not damp. Definitely an upgrade over those field fans that are also water sprayers. It has two modes, constant or interval.

I like that the mister comes with three replacement humidity wicks (normally $5 for three), which act like straws to direct water to the misting outlet, regardless of the angle of the device. Depending on frequency of use, wicks should be replaced monthly.

You will want to empty the water tank and let it air dry after each use. A weekly clean soak with undiluted distilled white vinegar is recommended and instructions are available here.

The misting accessory tank holds approximately 14 milliliters of water, which can be sprayed continuously or in interval mode to extend the water duration. (Just be sure to twist the accessory cap to open its protective cover.)

You can also use all 10 speeds with this feature. In constant mode, water lasts up to 5 minutes; in interval mode, up to 10 minutes. So make sure you have a water bottle handy if you plan to fill it away from a sink.

The fan could better balance speed and silence

Up to 17 miles per hour, I found the ChillPill’s fan sufficient, but it’s about a third the speed of Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool, which goes up to 55 mph in boost mode. It’s also less than half the speed of the JisuLife Ultra2 and Pro1 Mini at 38 mph.

When I used the Decibel As for the HushJet Mini Cool, its boost mode reaches 77.5 dBA.

For reference, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association reports that a group conversation, a vacuum cleaner, and an alarm clock are around 70 dBA. Noise at 85 dBA can cause hearing loss if you listen to it for more than 8 hours.

While its lower speeds aren’t as noticeable, I’d say the ChillPill’s 10 speed is a little too strong for quiet, shared indoor spaces, but could easily be used outdoors.

The ChillPill rainbow of colors

The ChillPill comes in eight colors: heat (red), rose gold, mist (purple), carbon (black), dragon fruit (pink), matcha (green), iced latte (brown), and glacier (teal). One barrel has a lighter version of the color, while the other is darker.

The HushJet Mini Cool, by comparison, only comes in three colors: stone/blush (blush pink), ink/cobalt (blue), and carnelian/sky (red and light blue).

Comparison of battery life and charging time

At low speed, the ChillPill battery runs for up to 11 hours in fan mode; at maximum power, up to 1.5 hours. With the included USB-C charging cable, it charges in 3.5 hours.

For comparison, the 40-watt Dyson HushJet Mini Cool runs for up to 6 hours (5 hours less than the ChillPill) on speed 1. It is fully charged in 3 hours, which is 30 minutes less than the 15-watt ChillPill.

The 4.25-watt JisuLife Pro1 Mini, on the other hand, can be fully charged in at least 2 hours and lasts up to 30 hours on speed 1, while the 18-watt Ultra2 charges in 2.5 hours and runs for up to 25 hours on speed 1.

If you’re looking for battery life, the 30-hour JisuLife Pro1 Mini would be your best option. Between the ChillPill and the cool HushJet Mini, opt for the ChillPill.

The display button was my only drawback

The ChillPill’s circular LED display shows speed, misting settings, cooling plate levels, and battery life. After unlocking the travel lock (which I forgot to do), you tap the screen to turn the device on and off and change attachment settings. Turn the dial to increase or decrease the fan speed.

Sometimes I had to tap the screen multiple times to get it to work, which was the only problem I encountered while using the device.

Attachments are easy to use, but not travel-friendly

Accessories are also easy to swap by aligning them with the circular icon on the body of the ChillPill, then twisting until they click into place.

Two accessories will fit in the included travel pouch, but not the entire device. Carrying both the device and accessories can be a big task, and I find that the HushJet Mini Cool’s slim profile makes it easier to throw in a bag when traveling.

ChillPill accessories are expensive and sold separately

I wish the ChillPill came with at least one of its accessories, like the shoulder strap or the mounting clip. Instead, all are sold separately at the following prices:

• Bracelet: $10
• Shoulder strap: $25
• To squeeze: $40
• Clip: $30

Coupled with the $150 cost of the ChillPill, the price of these accessories seems steep. Still, I understand that they were created specifically for the ChillPill, and their proprietary ownership is probably what makes them more expensive.

While it’s also not cheap, Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool costs $100 and comes with a lanyard, a travel pouch that fits the entire device, and a charging stand. Other accessories will be available soon and sold separately.

Yes, the ChillPill has dual misting and cooling plate attachments, but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra $50 plus the cost of the other accessories.

I received the clamp attachment to test, and even though I don’t have a stroller or exercise machine, I was able to attach it to my balcony railing. Sitting on the balcony, soaking up the sun, was particularly nice while letting the ChillPill fan cool me down.

Shark ChillPill vs. Dyson HushJet Mini Cool

Specifications

• Cost: $150
• Speeds: 10, up to 17 mph
• Noise level (speed 10): 74.6 dBA
• Attachments: 3 (fan, mist and cooling plate)
• Guarantee: Limited to 2 years
• Weight: 0.77 pounds
• Dimensions: 1.77×3.31×4.41 inches
• Power : 15 watts
• Battery life: 11 a.m.
• Battery charging time: 3.5 hours
• Included in the box: device, fan cap, misting module, cooling plate, USB-C charging cable, three replacement misting wicks

CNET’s buying advice

• If you’re looking for a personal fan with extra features (like a misting pod and cooling pad), the Shark ChillPill is the perfect choice.
• While it’s a cool $150, the ChillPill is the only personal fan on the market (that I’m aware of) that doubles as a cooling pad and cooler. However, I’m not sure it’s worth it when you include the price of accessories which range from $10 to $40.
• If you’re just looking for a personal fan, I’d consider the $100 Dyson HushJet Mini Coolthe JisuLife even more affordable Ultra2 ($76, which doubles as a flashlight and power bank) or the Pro1Mini ($63, comes with a magnetic aroma capsule).