This is WIRED's 2026 buying guide to fans, aimed at readers dealing with hot weather who want to upgrade beyond an old-fashioned pedestal fan. The reviewer highlights how modern fans now offer smart features such as radar-based person tracking, mood lighting, misting, and app or remote control, presenting a curated set of recommendations across different fan types and budgets after roughly two years of testing.

The guide's top picks include the Vornado Vora 8 as best air circulator, the Dreo TurboPoly Fan 508S as best pedestal fan, the Dreo Nomad One (307) as best tower fan, and the Lasko 20-inch Classic as best box fan, with prices ranging from around £18 to £100. The July 2026 update added the Dreo 513S ceiling fan, revised the "Others Tested" section with new entries from Elecom Nestout, Lasko and Balmuda, and included fresh details on Matter smart-home compatibility for Dreo's TurboPoly 765S.