Dyson Supersonic vs. ghd Helios vs. Xiaomi h500 Water Ionic – Which is the best hair dryer?

Using a hair dryer is inevitable for many people, especially in the colder months when it is not convenient to let your hair dry in the open air. However, not all conventional dryers are equally respectful of hair, and this can be a problem for those with more sensitive hair. For this reason, today we want to show you a comparison of three dryers among which, probably, is the perfect one for you. We are talking about the Dyson Supersonic, GHD Helios and Xiaomi h500 Water Ionic.

Honestly, at first we couldn’t help but have some prejudices and think that the Dyson and the GHD would be better because they are more specialized brands in the hairdressing sector. Instead, Xiaomi has delved into this area more recently, although it has done so with a hair dryer that has left us quite surprised, overall. One of the things that has surprised us the most is that it has intelligent temperature control, just like the Dyson. 

By contrast, the Dyson Supersonic takes the cake when it comes to the number of included accessories, and that’s one of the reasons its price tag is considerably higher. Despite these and other differences, which we will see below, they also have some similarities, such as ion technology or thermal regulation. If you want to discover all the differences between these three dryers, keep reading!

Dyson Supersonic vs ghd Helios vs Xiaomi h500 Water Ionic – Comparison Table

Next, we analyze the most important specifications of each dryer so that you can make a first comparison at a glance:

(Slide the table to see all the content)

Three dryers, three visual proposals

It is not difficult to identify the three dryers, because their design is completely different. The Dyson Supersonic and Xiaomi have a completely circular shape, although the Dyson features a more original donut-shaped design. For its part, the GHD Helios has a more conventional design, the typical shape of a dryer that we imagine when thinking about it. In this sense, it is more classic than its two rivals, at least aesthetically.

As for the available colors, the Xiaomi can only be purchased in white. The GHD Helios is in 4 color options (black, blue, white and burgundy); and the Dyson Supersonic can be obtained in 5 different combinations (Black and fuchsia; nickel and copper; black and nickel; blue and pink; and blue and copper.

Accessories included

Now, we focus on the set of accessories that the Dyson Supersonic incorporates, which is the only one of the three that has several accessories. That is, the GHD Helios and Xiaomi are compatible with various accessories, but these have to be purchased separately. Instead, the Dyson Supersonic includes the following heads:

• Flyaway head: it is a head with a very particular design, in the shape of a hook. It is designed for hair that frizzes the most, to which it provides more shine and softness so that it does not look so straight. This accessory uses Dyson’s own Coanda technology for this, and the smoothness is very noticeable.
• Narrow nozzle: this styling nozzle produces a faster air stream to set the style more locally, so you can focus on one part of the hair without affecting the rest.
• Soft drying accessory: it is a nozzle that generates a smaller air flow, so that drying is done more delicately. It is perfect for weak or too fine hair.
• Wide-toothed comb: this has been one of the great surprises we have found in the Supersonic. The wide-toothed comb is perfect for straightening hair for those with thick, curly hair that a normal comb gets tangled up in.
• Diffuser: Finally, the Dyson Supersonic is equipped with a diffuser, whose tines distribute the heat evenly to define the curls.

Power and air speed

Another important aspect that we should look at when comparing hair dryers is the maximum power they reach. In this case, the most powerful of all is the GHD, which reaches up to 2200 watts. The Xiaomi and the Dyson are more evenly matched, with powers of 1800 and 1600 watts respectively.

However, in the case of Dyson, we have to tell you that this power is not lower because the drying is lighter, but because it incorporates a digital motor that rotates at higher revolutions and with which more effective results are obtained while spending less energy. To give you an idea, the Dyson Supersonic’s V9 engine spins at 110,000 rpm, far from the 20,000 rpm at which the Xiaomi’s engine spins.

In this sense, each brand assigns its own name to the technology it uses. Dyson talks about Air Multiplier technology, due to the high speed of its motor. GHD talks about Aeroprecis technology, which channels the airflow through a brushless DC motor to generate a flow rate at 120 km/h. Finally, the Xiaomi dryer has a deep hydration technology with a DC motor. 

As far as air speed is concerned, the methods of measurement are different, although we already told you that Dyson and GHD are more even in this regard, while Xiaomi lags behind. In fact, the Dyson Supersonic and the GHD Helios have 3 speeds to choose from, while the Xiaomi dryer has 2.

Temperature monitoring

Hair dryers usually offer the possibility of regulating the temperature, because not all hairstyles require the same heat, nor do all hair types accept it. The Dyson Supersonic once again stands out from its two rivals, because it has 4 different temperature options that range between 28º C and 100º C. On the other hand, the GHD and Xiaomi hairdryers have 3 different thermal modes.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the Dyson and Xiaomi models have intelligent temperature control, so they include a sensor that measures the temperature in real time and adjusts it in the most convenient way. The Xiaomi, for example, alternates the temperature of the dryer when the outside temperature exceeds 22 degrees. On the GHD you can also change the temperature, but you have to do it manually.

Cable length

If you take the dryer with you when you travel, surely you can always plug it in the bathroom. However, there are times when plugs are scarce and, therefore, it is interesting to know how long the cable is in each model. The radius of action in which you can use it will depend on it.

The Dyson Supersonic has a 3-meter cord , while the GHD Helios goes 2.7 meters longer. Instead, the Xiaomi h500 Water Ionic has a 1.7 meter cable, being the shortest of the three.

Dyson Supersonic vs ghd Helios vs Xiaomi h500 Water Ionic: Which dryer is more interesting?

That mainly depends on the type of hair you have. As we told you at the beginning, not all dryers are equally effective for all people, and, in this case, it is important to have this clear aspect. For example, people with thick, curly hair will find the Dyson Supersonic more useful. Especially, for the accessories that it includes special for this type of hair. On the other hand, if you have more delicate hair, the Xiaomi is probably more interesting, since its air speed is lower and, therefore, it dries more gently.

That said, if this aspect doesn’t apply to you, there’s little doubt that the most technologically advanced hair dryers are the Dyson Supersonic and the GHD Helios. The difference is that the Dyson is more versatile because of the five accessories it has, but that makes its price higher. On the other hand, we love the design that Dyson proposes. Not only because it is aesthetic, but because it is super original.

They all share important features, such as temperature control, speed adjustment or ionic technology. That is, any of them is a guarantee of hair care. Still, the Xiaomi is the simplest dryer of all. For everyday use it’s fine, but if you tend to do more complex hairstyles, you should opt for the Dyson Supersonic or the GHD Helios. Among them, the decision will depend on how many accessories you want to use.