Are you bothered by summer heat? We tested the new Xiaomi Smart Tower Fan 2, you'll appreciate its automations and low consumption

Lately, I’ve mainly been reviewing phones and tablets. That’s why I gladly reached for something different – the smart fan Xiaomi Smart Tower Fan 2 EU, which has been competing with my mobile air conditioner for attention during the hottest days for two weeks now. While my air conditioner is an expensive, energy-intensive, and somewhat noisy monster, this slim fan promises to be its cheaper and more economical, though understandably less effective, sibling. Is it worth the less than two thousand, or is it just another unnecessary “smart” product?

The design is very discreet

At first glance, the Xiaomi Smart Tower Fan 2 is nothing exceptional – it’s a classic white tower fan, the kind you can find in any larger electronics store. Personally, I appreciate its discretion – after a week, I practically stopped noticing it in the living room, which I can’t say about my monstrous mobile air conditioner. Not only does it take up half a square meter of valuable floor space, but it also sends a hose out the window towards me like a silent reproach that I’m wasting electricity again.

The top side is surrounded by five buttons with several pictograms and LED indicators. If you’re not keen on the smart solution, you can set a timer, four levels of fan speed, or oscillation directly on the fan.

Performance: Won’t replace an air conditioner, but more than holds its own

Let’s state the facts right from the start: no fan, not even the most expensive one, will ever replace an air conditioner. While an air conditioner actively lowers air temperature (in the case of my mobile unit, it can reduce room temperature by up to 6 °C), a fan merely circulates the air. The laws of physics cannot be circumvented, so don’t expect miracles from the Xiaomi Smart Tower Fan 2.

During testing, I had the opportunity to compare both devices in practice. At an outdoor temperature of 33 °C, my mobile air conditioner was able to cool the room to a comfortable 24 °C, but at the cost of hellish noise. The Xiaomi fan only lowered the temperature by one degree, but it definitely made staying in the room more bearable – and at a fraction of the energy cost.

Xiaomi states that the fan has a range of up to 10 meters and a wide 150° angle – I can more or less confirm both parameters. I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the airflow even at the furthest end of the room, about 6 meters from the fan. When set to the highest power and wide oscillation angle, the fan can truly “air out” an entire average-sized room.

Noise: Quiet as a mouse, but sometimes acts up

Another major contrast to air conditioning is noise. In night mode, the fan is almost inaudible – values around 30 dB are quieter than a whisper. Even at medium power, it remains pleasantly quiet, which you’ll appreciate especially when working or watching TV.

At maximum power, however, the fan already produces noticeable noise around 60 dB, and a slight vibration of the entire structure is added. Several times it even happened that the fan at maximum power started emitting an unpleasant resonant sound – I had to move it slightly for it to stop. I suspect this is due to the not entirely rigid base construction, which sometimes doesn’t ensure perfect stability on the uneven floor of my apartment.

Smart Features and Automations

Integration into the Xiaomi Home app is not just for show; it brings real added value far beyond simple remote control. While with many “smart” products, app connectivity is more of a marketing gimmick, here it’s about features I use daily.

At the heart of the smart home is, of course, the Xiaomi Home app. Waiting for the fan to be set up and paired took no longer than two minutes, and the reward is full integration into the ecosystem.

Directly in the app, you’ll find countless options, including the ability to blow a variable breeze, which can mimic a terrace, airflow by a lake, or even in an orchard. And if that’s not enough, you can set your own airflow curve. These are precisely the little things that I incredibly enjoy about the Chinese manufacturer’s gadgets.

In addition, only in the app can you set up to 100 different fan speeds; physical controls offer only four intensity levels.

What I appreciated most was the ability to create automations in combination with other devices. For example, I set up:

• Automatic fan activation when the Xiaomi Temperature and Humidity Monitor 2 measures more than 24 °C
• Automatic shutdown after 2 hours at night, so I don’t unnecessarily blow air through the room all night
• Reduced power and night mode activation at 23:30, when I usually go to bed
• Notification alert when the temperature drops below the set value and the fan turns off

Furthermore, Xiaomi is constantly expanding its range of smart fans. Newer models such as Xiaomi Smart Standing Fan 2 Pro EU and Xiaomi Smart Tower Heater Lite have already appeared on the Czech e-shop mistore.cz, offering similar functionality and the same integration options, just in a different design. For those who prefer a standing fan over a tower fan, the Smart Standing Fan 2 Pro EU can be an interesting alternative.

Although I primarily tested control via a Xiaomi phone, I was pleased that the app works perfectly fine on iOS devices as well. Alternatively, the fan can also be controlled via Google Assistant or Alexa, making it suitable for virtually any smart home regardless of the preferred ecosystem.

Air Conditioning vs. Fan: Health Aspect

Perhaps a lesser-known fact is that air conditioning can be a health risk if used improperly. Since I started using a mobile air conditioner at home, I’ve noticed that I more frequently suffer from dry eyes, a stuffy nose, and occasional headaches when staying in an air-conditioned room for extended periods.

In addition to cooling, air conditioning also dries out the air, which can irritate mucous membranes. Furthermore, it creates temperature differences that can be a shock to the body when frequently moving between an air-conditioned room and the outdoor heat. Personally, after a recent vacation with intensive air conditioning use, I ended up with an unpleasant cold.

The Xiaomi fan does not have this problem – it only circulates the air in the room, it does not change its humidity or temperature. From this perspective, it is a healthier alternative, albeit at the cost of less comfort during extreme heat. Nevertheless, I would not recommend it blowing directly on you.

Personal Impressions After Two Weeks: Surprisingly Good Investment

After two weeks of use, I must say that the Xiaomi Smart Tower Fan 2 has become an unexpectedly important part of my home. While I only turn on the air conditioner during extreme heat (above 30 °C), the fan runs practically daily – it’s quiet, energy-efficient, and provides pleasant refreshment even at milder temperatures.

I found myself choosing the fan over the air conditioner more and more often, especially in the evenings and while working. It’s not just about energy savings, but also about the subjectively more pleasant feeling of circulating air, which isn’t as “artificial” and cold as from an air conditioner. Plus, I don’t have to think every minute about whether I’ll wake up sick the next day.

From a practical standpoint, I also appreciate its mobility – I can easily move the fan from the living room to the bedroom or study as needed, whereas the air conditioner is tied to one place due to its exhaust hose and is incomparably heavier.

What are your experiences with smart fans?