Windmill Fan

The Windmill Fan is a smart desktop fan that delivers strong air flow despite its diminutive size. You can control it with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands, create cooling schedules via its companion app (available for Android and iOS), and enable automations to have it turn on and off at sunrise and sunset. It doesn't oscillate, but you can manually tilt it up or down to direct airflow. At $79, the Windmill is an appealing smart fan, but for $20 more, the Dreo CF714S Air Circulator Fan supports vertical and horizontal oscillation and even reacts to the current room temperature, so it remains our Editors' Choice.

Design and Features

The 2.5-pound Windmill Fan comes in a variety of colors including black, white, pink, butter (yellow), or marine (blue) to match your decor. At 10.8 by 8.0 by 6.8 inches (HWD), it won’t take up much room on your desktop. Its three fan blades are protected by a grill measuring 8 inches in diameter, and it has a 65-degree manual tilt range. It lacks the mechanical oscillation capabilities you get with the $100 Dreo CF714S, which is bigger and heavier than the Windmill at 16.2 by 13.7 by 11.4 inches and 7.2 pounds.

(Credit: Windmill)

The Windmill's base holds a dual-purpose power and fan speed button. Tap and hold it for one second to turn the fan on and off, or give it a quick tap to cycle through five airflow speeds including Whisper, Low, Medium, High, and Boost. Five tiny white LED indicators below the button tell you the current fan speed setting. Around back is a power jack and under the hood is a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio for connecting the fan to your home network and a Bluetooth radio for pairing it with the Windmill Air mobile app (available for Android and iOS). There is no temperature sensor for automatic adjustments, a perk you get with the Dreo CF714S.

In addition to the fan, you also get a small three-button remote that lets you turn it on and off and change speeds. It otherwise uses the same app as the Windmill AC and can also be controlled using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. Apple HomeKit and IFTTT are not supported.

(Credit: Windmill)

When you launch the app, it opens to a Device screen with a slider to control the fan speed, and a button to turn the fan on and off. Tap the Automations button at the bottom of the screen to customize on and off schedules, create one-tap scenes that allow for quick access to your favorite settings, or program the fan to turn on and off based on the sunrise and sunset. Tap the Notifications button to learn about other products Windmill offers.

To access the fan’s settings, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the Device screen. Here you can edit the name of the fan, update its firmware, check its connectivity status, and configure the LEDs to fade out after 10 seconds.

Installation and Performance

Setting up the fan is simple. I plugged it in, downloaded the app, and created an account. I tapped Add New Device on the Devices screen, enabled Bluetooth and network connectivity, and followed the instructions to hold the power button down for five seconds, at which point the LEDs began flashing. The app immediately recognized the fan so I joined its network, selected my Wi-Fi SSID when prompted, and entered my Wi-Fi password. Once connected, I gave it a name to complete the installation.

(Credit: John R. Delaney)

The Windmill worked well in testing. While operating in Whisper mode it produced a nice breezy effect, while Boost mode provided very strong airflow (up to 388 cubic feet per minute, according to Windmill). The fan instantly responded to app controls, and I had no trouble turning it on and off and changing fan speed using Alexa voice commands. My Alexa routine to have the fan turn on when a Wyze Floodlight v2 detected motion worked as intended.

The fan is relatively quiet when running in Whisper and Low modes but becomes louder as the fan speed increases. Using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app, I recorded a sound level of 31dB while in Whisper mode, 42dB in Low mode, 45dB in Medium mode, 62dB in High mode, and 69dB in Boost mode. To put that in perspective, most medium-size air purifiers put out between 50 and 60dB when operating at high speed, while medium-size portable room air conditioners typically come in at around 50 to 55dB.

Verdict: Compact and Capable

The Windmill Fan does an excellent job of moving air for such a small device. Its compact footprint and sleek design make it ideal for use as a desktop or bookshelf fan, and voice control makes it easy to operate. You don’t get much in the way of extra features, though. If you require mechanical oscillation action, the Dreo CF714S is the way to go. It's bigger and costlier than the Windmill, but it offers automatic and remote-controlled oscillation and a temperature sensor that triggers the fan depending on the ambient air, remaining our Editors' Choice for smart desktop fans.