Skip to content
Blow & Barrel
Menu

Buying guide

Best Dyson Supersonic alternatives

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Shark SpeedStyle Pro: 5 attachments, Scalp Shield

    Five attachments, including a diffuser, which the base Supersonic does not include.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Laifen Swift Special: 110,000 RPM, 407 g

    Stated motor speed of 110,000 RPM matches Dyson's V9 figure.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    Panasonic EH-NA9N: sensors, folding, 500 g

    Two built-in sensors adjust settings, similar to Dyson's intelligent heat control idea.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

The Dyson Supersonic set the template for the modern premium dryer: a small fast motor, tight heat control and magnetic attachments. Several brands now offer the same ideas, and some add things Dyson leaves out, such as a folding handle or a diffuser in the standard box. This guide compares the strongest non-Dyson options on the facts each maker states: motor speed, airflow, weight, wattage and attachments. We have not tried to say which one dries faster than a Supersonic, because no listing gives a like-for-like test. Instead we point out where each one matches a Dyson spec, where it beats it on paper, and what it does not tell you.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Shark

Shark SpeedStyle Pro: 5 attachments, Scalp Shield

The closest match to the Supersonic's attachment approach, with five IQ tools that auto-set heat and airflow and a Scalp Shield mode for root drying.

In its favour

  • Five attachments, including a diffuser, which the base Supersonic does not include.
  • Scalp Shield mode lowers air temperature for the roots, similar in idea to Dyson's scalp mode.
  • 1,750 W rating is above the Supersonic's 1,600 W, per the specs.

Good to know

  • Motor speed and airflow are not published, so power is hard to compare.
  • At 662 g it is heavier than the Laifen and Elchim alternatives.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer, High-Velocity Lightweight Dryer for All H...

No. 2 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Special: 110,000 RPM, 407 g

A high-speed brushless dryer that matches the Supersonic's stated 110,000 RPM motor speed, with magnetic nozzles and a lower weight on paper.

In its favour

  • Stated motor speed of 110,000 RPM matches Dyson's V9 figure.
  • Diffuser, smooth nozzle and concentrator come in the box.
  • 59 dB stated noise level is a published figure Dyson does not give.

Good to know

  • The spec table says 2.24 kg against 407 g in the bullets.
  • Hottest setting is 176°F (80°C), cooler than Dyson's 100°C top step.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Laifen Swift Special Hair Dryer High Speed 200M Ionic for Fast Drying

No. 3 · Panasonic

Panasonic EH-NA9N: sensors, folding, 500 g

Panasonic's answer to the sensor-led Dyson, with two sensors that adjust heat, nanoe and mineral ions and a folding body.

In its favour

  • Two built-in sensors adjust settings, similar to Dyson's intelligent heat control idea.
  • Lighter than the Supersonic at a stated 500 g, and it folds.
  • Diffuser and concentrator both included.

Good to know

  • Warranty is 1 year, against 2 years on several Dyson listings.
  • No motor speed or airflow figures are given.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Panasonic EH-NA9N-H895 Hair Dryer with Diffuser nanoe & Mineral Ions, ...

No. 4 · ghd

ghd Helios: 2,200 W professional alternative

ghd's professional dryer in plum, a different approach from Dyson with a higher wattage, Aeroprecis airflow design and a 3 m cable.

In its favour

  • 2,200 W is well above the Supersonic's 1,600 W rating.
  • A 3 m cable is stated, which Dyson listings do not give.
  • 2 year ghd consumer guarantee and cool shot button.

Good to know

  • At 820 g it is heavier than any Supersonic model listed on this site.
  • Only one nozzle is included, and there is no diffuser.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: ghd Helios Hair Dryer, More Shine, Lightweight, Ultimate Styling Contr...

No. 5 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Premium: 22 m/s with wall mount

Laifen's Premium gift box with a 110,000 RPM motor, 22 m/s airflow and LED heat display. A lower-cost route to a Supersonic-style dryer.

In its favour

  • Stated 22 m/s airspeed and 110,000 RPM motor.
  • Heat is monitored 100 times per second, per Laifen.
  • Magnetic wall mount included for tidy storage.

Good to know

  • Only one nozzle, the smooth nozzle, comes in this box.
  • Warranty is listed simply as 2, with no detail.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Laifen Swift Premium High-Speed Hair Dryer Royal Blue Gift Box

No. 6 · Panasonic

Panasonic EH-NA0J: four care modes

A Panasonic nanoe MOISTURE+ dryer with Hot and Cold Alternating, Scalp, Skin and Hair Tip modes. Matches the Supersonic's 1,600 W rating.

In its favour

  • Four named care modes go further than the Supersonic Origin's settings.
  • Intelligent Sensing monitors air and room temperature.
  • Concentrator and diffuser both in the box.

Good to know

  • The listed 1.78 kg looks like a packed weight, so the dryer weight is unclear.
  • No motor or airflow figures are published.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Panasonic EH-NA0J-N895 nanoe MOISTURE+ and Mineral Hair Dryer, Diffuse...

No. 7 · Elchim

Elchim Anemos: 290 g, 1,000 L/min

An Italian professional brushless dryer that matches Dyson's quoted motor speed while weighing far less, with a published noise figure.

In its favour

  • 290 g is less than half the weight of the Supersonic Origin.
  • Published 1,000 L/min airflow and under 69 dBA noise.
  • 1,800 W rating, above the Supersonic's 1,600 W.

Good to know

  • The listing does not say which attachments are included.
  • Heat settings and temperature control are not described.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Elchim Anemos Digital Sonic Micro-brushless Black Hair Dryer - Profess...

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Brands and models

Blow and Barrel chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.