ConsFirst / Hair dryers / Compare
Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer vs Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on drying speed, quietness. Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer wins on weight & comfort.
The biggest complaint about the Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer is no diffuser included; for the Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer it's no cool shot, no hanging loop. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer | Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in hair dryers | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Hair dryer | Hair dryer |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 9% | — |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Drying speed | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Smooth results | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Weight & comfort | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Quietness | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Durability | 3.5 | — |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $60–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer
- No diffuser included
Wirecutter's only listed flaw: it ships with just a concentrator nozzle, so curly-haired users have to buy a diffuser separately.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Switches easy to hit by accident
Wirecutter calls the switches hard to press by accident. Several readers in its comments disagree: they say the cool-shot or low/off/high switch sits right where they grip and they keep shutting it off. One also says the concentrator falls off with a bump.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) reader comments - Mixed durability, can run too hot
Amazon's review summary calls durability mixed: some owners say it lasts many years, while others say it broke after 8 months. Heat feedback is also mixed, with some finding it too hot.
Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer
- No cool shot, no hanging loop
TechRadar notes it has no separate cool-shot button and no hook for hanging.
Source: TechRadar Laifen Swift review - Short cord
The cord is about 1.8 m (5.9 ft). TechRadar says that may limit professional use, and Tech Advisor lists the cord length as a con.
- Not as quiet as claimed; few speeds and attachments
Laifen claims 59 dB, but TechRadar measured 79 dB at 6 inches on the fastest setting. Tech Advisor lists only two airflow speeds, and the base model has one attachment (the Swift Special has three).
Who should pick which
Pick the Rusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair Dryer if
Fast drying without paying Dyson prices
Anyone whose arm tires holding a dryer
Outlets far from the mirror (8-foot cord)
Skip it if: You diffuse curls and want a diffuser in the box; You grip the dryer high on the handle; You want a long warranty
Pick the Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer if
Light weight and travel
A Dyson-style dryer for less
Low-frizz drying
Skip it if: You rely on a cool-shot button; Your outlet is far from the mirror; You want a whisper-quiet dryer
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