Comparative analysis, or which is better to buy - a Tefal or Philips steam generator

foto5409-1 Steam generators - devices for ironing linen, clothing and other textiles from various fabrics and removing stains and dirt from them with steam.

They are produced by many well-known manufacturers of household appliances, including Tefal and Philips. The products of both of these brands are reliable, which makes them difficult for consumers to choose.

Let's try to figure out what is better to choose - a steam generator Tefal or Phillips.

Content

Differences between Philips and Tefal
Advantages and disadvantages
Which one should you choose and in what cases?
Let's sum it up

Differences between Philips and Tefal

According to research by Roskachestvo, conducted jointly with the authoritative expert organization ICRT, Philips steam generators are leaders in ironing quality, and Tefal models are distinguished by the largest amount of steam produced per unit of time.

Along with Tefal and Philips 3 more well-known brands took part in the study, a total of 40 models were tested. Of these, in terms of ironing quality, all three first places were taken by Philips steam generators (the leader is GC9640/60).

Analogs from Tefal were inferior to almost all Philips models in their ability to iron polyester and cotton fabric, as well as denim, although they outperformed other competitors.

A completely different picture was established in terms of steam generation power. According to this criterion, the first place is occupied by the GV9560E0 Pro Express Ultimate Care model from Tefal.

In production

Philips steam generators presented on the Russian market are mostly produced at enterprises of this brand operating in China, Indonesia or the Netherlands. In the Russian Federation, assembly of such products is not carried out.

Unlike Philips, which only has a TV production plant in the Russian Federation, Tefal steam generators have been produced in our country since 2005. There are also models assembled in France on the market.

In the lineup

foto5409-3 The Philips brand offers steam generators of various capacities and with tanks of different sizes. They also differ in the coating of the sole. The Tefal models have the same differences.

One of the most expensive Tefal models - GV8960 - easily irons any fabric. Steam pressure 6 bar, with steam boost - 340 g/min.

GV 7620 (about 10,000 rubles) produces steam with a maximum pressure of 5 bar. For GV7310 (about 8500-8800 rubles) the same figure is 4.5 bar. It irons cotton fabrics well.

The Philips model GC 9222 with a maximum steam pressure of 6 bar ensures fast and high-quality ironing.

Great choice - Philips HI5914. It is lightweight, fits comfortably in your hand and has an attractive design. The steam pressure reaches 5 bar. The Smart Calc-Clean system is used to remind you to descale.

In price

The cost of models with approximately the same performance characteristics differs from both brands. Options from Philips are slightly more expensive.

So the Philips GC 9222 model costs about 20,000 rubles, while the Tefal model with the same maximum pressure indicator - GV8960 - will cost about 17,000 rubles.

At the same time, models from Philips are more popular. This is evidenced by ratings on Yandex.Market.

In service

Both household appliances from Tefal and Philips are reliable, but not immune to breakdowns.Tefal products have a lifespan of 2 years from the date of retail sale or manufacture unless the date of sale can be determined.

foto5409-5 The warranty does not apply to cases where the problem arose due to:

using the wrong type of water
scale that was not removed according to the instructions;
mechanical damage to the steam generator or its overload;
discrepancies in frequency and voltage of electric current, etc.

Philips has a fairly extensive network of authorized service centers in the Russian Federation. There are more than 500 of them in the capital. There are Tefal brand service centers in most regions of the Russian Federation. There are more than 150 of them in the capital alone.

Advantages and disadvantages

For comparison, we will select two popular models of both brands - Philips GC4850 and Tefal FV5375. Their performance characteristics are quite similar.

Model	Philips GC4850	Tefal FV5375
Power, kWt)	2.6	2.4
Continuous steam (g/min)	50	40
Steam boost (g/min)	180	160
Price in rubles	5500	4400

Both steam generators have sprinklers, descaling systems, etc. Judging by consumer reviews, both steam generators provide excellent care for ironing. The devices glide perfectly over the fabric without catching or damaging.

The Philips model has a Steamglide Plus type sole, while the Tefal model has an Autoclean Cathalys sole.

foto5409-4 Autoclean Cathalys outsole made from Durilium. A thin layer of palladium is sprayed onto its surface.

As a result, when organic substances present on the fabric come into contact with the sole, a chemical reaction occurs. Water and a small amount of carbon dioxide are released, which automatically cleans the surface.

The Steamglide Plus sole of Philips models, thanks to holes of different shapes and sizes, creates an air cushion above the fabric.Ironing occurs with virtually no contact between the sole and the fabric.

Among the advantages of the Philips GC 4850 it should be noted:

ergonomic design, thanks to which the steam generator is easy to use without getting tired of ironing;
powerful steam generation, ensuring smoothing of even the most difficult wrinkles.

Tefal FV5375 is appreciated by consumers for:

fast heating;
accurate operation of the self-shutdown system.

In terms of the last parameter, Tefal outperforms Philips. This is where its advantages end.

Moreover, the list of consumer complaints regarding devices from Tefal is quite long:

the steam generator has difficulty ironing even ordinary shirts;
weak heating, which does not correspond to that declared by the manufacturer, due to which even for synthetics it is necessary to set the maximum heating temperature;
The cord is not long enough;
long cooling;
possibility of stains appearing on the fabric.

The last disadvantage, however, is associated with consumers’ non-compliance with the rules for operating steam generators.

A common drawback of both devices is the need to add water, since with a large enough tank it is only enough to iron 3-4 things.

Which one should you choose and in what cases?

foto5409-6 For ironing things, it is better to purchase Philips models. These perfectly smooth out any creases.

Thanks to more powerful steam generation, Tefal models are more versatile. They are also suitable for high-quality cleaning of premises.

Tefal is less suitable for ironing, since things remain somewhat damp and cannot be immediately put away in the closet.

Let's sum it up

Phillips steam generators are slightly more expensive than Tefal options with similar technical characteristics.

Models of both brands have proven their ability to withstand intensive use during test drives. The choice of brand depends on the buyer's goals.