(checked 2026-10-10)
Wirecutter's top pick: in price-hidden testing, panelists preferred this roughly $30 iron over models costing hundreds more. The plastic body feels cheap, and the heat lock is confusing.
Top complaints
- Feels cheap
Wirecutter testers say the plastic housing 'feels a bit rinky-dink'. One said that although it is light, it feels cheap in the hand.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Confusing heat lock, clamp can pinch
To lock the temperature you hold minus for two seconds, and to unlock it you hold plus. None of Wirecutter's testers found this intuitive. Some panelists also found the clamp pinched their palms until they had more practice.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Frizz control not for everyone
In Amazon's review summary, frizz control is the most mixed topic: 76 of 328 owners who mention it are negative. Mentions of effectiveness are mostly positive (1,050 positive, 177 negative).
What owners love
- Straightens curls in a few passes
A Wirecutter tester with thick 3C curls said it took only a few passes at 425°F to make each section completely straight, while another iron at 450°F needed more passes for a less satiny result.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Pricier features at a budget price
It has nine heat settings (300-450°F), a large backlit display, an on/off chime, a 9-foot swivel cord, auto-off and dual voltage (Wirecutter).
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Fast heating, lasting results
Amazon owners praise its heating speed (981 positive mentions vs 114 negative). They say it halves straightening time and keeps hair straight for days, shiny and without damage.
- You want a tool that feels solid and premium
- You change settings mid-style (the lock is fiddly)
- Sleek results on a tight budget
- Curly and coily hair (goes up to 450°F)
- Edges and the nape (narrow 1-inch plates)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick (updated 2026-09-02; 19 irons tested, 21 testers with hair types 1C-4B). It won price-hidden testing, and its only flaws are the cheap-feeling body and the awkward heat lock.