DewscopeHair Dryers & Stylers3 min read
Laifen Swift 4 Review: Good Enough to Skip the Dyson at $200?
The $199.99 Swift 4 spins its motor at 115,000 rpm and weighs just 407 g. We compare its specifications, the early test evidence and the price gap to Dyson to see who should skip the premium dryer.
Our verdict
For most people the Swift 4 is the better buy: a fast, light dryer at under half the Dyson's price. You give up Dyson's smoother finish and its scalp sensor. The 1.5-minute drying claim is marketing and the oil nozzle is unproven.
Best forThick, long or curly hair where speed and a light handle matter
What we liked
- 115,000 rpm motor and 23 m/s airflow for $199.99, under half the Dyson price
- Only 407 g with a slim 38.9 mm handle, easy on the wrist
- Six heat modes on an LED ring and a quoted 59 dB noise level
- 30-day money-back guarantee lowers the risk of trying it
What held it back
- The 1.5-minute drying claim has no independent test behind it
- Oil-mist Nourishing Nozzle is unproven and needs refill pods
- Earlier Swift models were louder than claimed, with a short cord
- Dyson is still reported to give a smoother, less frizzy finish
For most people, yes: skip the Dyson. The Laifen Swift 4 costs $199.99, weighs 407 g and moves air as fast as dryers priced at more than twice as much. What you give up is the Dyson's reputation for a smoother, shinier finish and, on the newest model, a scalp sensor. If you do not care about those, the extra $230 or so is hard to justify.
We did not log drying times with a stopwatch. This review draws on Laifen's own specifications, the published tests of the earlier Swift models that this one improves on, and how Dyson's current line compares on price.
What changed from the first Swift
The Swift 4 keeps the formula that made the original Swift popular and pushes the numbers up. Laifen's page lists a motor spinning at 115,000 rpm, airflow of 23 m/s, and 1,500 W of power on a 110 to 120 V supply. The first Swift was rated at 110,000 rpm and 22 m/s.
The handle is 38.9 mm across and the body weighs 407 g. That is under a pound, and it is the number you feel on day one: a long drying session on thick hair is easier on the wrist than with a heavier dryer. Six temperature modes show on a color-coded LED ring, and Laifen says a sensor checks heat 1,000 times a second, per a
