Philips GC4938/20 Azur Advanced Steam Iron, 0.33 Litre, 3000 W


Power: quick heat up 2400 W 2500 W 2600 W 2800 W 3000 W
Continuous steam / steam boost 45 g/min, 170 g 45 g/min, 180 g 50 g/min, 210 g 50 g/min, 210 g 55 g/min, 240 g
OptimalTEMP: no burns assured
Soleplate SteamGlide soleplate T-ionicGlide soleplate SteamGlide Plus soleplate SteamGlide Advanced soleplate SteamGlide Plus soleplate
Automatic shut-off
Calc solution: extend iron lifetime Built-in-calc-clean Built-in-calc-clean Self clean and built-in-calc container Self clean and built-in-calc container Quick Calc Release
Water tank capacity 320 ml 300 ml 300 ml 350 ml 330 ml
Power cord length 3 m 3 m 2.5 m 2.5 m 3 m
Weight of iron 1.3 kg 1.5 kg 1.5 kg 1.5 kg 1.5 kg


Weight: 1.79 kg
Dimensions: 13.5 x 33.3 x 17.5 cm; 1.79 Kilograms
Brand: Philips
Model: GC4938/20

63 Responses

  1. RodneyFxaw says:

     United Kingdom

    you do have to fill the water tank quite often and the iron is somewhat heavy

  2. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Really easy to use no temperature control, doesn’t damage even the most delicate fabric.
    One annoying thing is calc cleaner doesn’t seem to work very well, even when you have just used it tend to get brown water on your white sheets !!

  3. Rick Stella says:

     United Kingdom

    This steam iron is of high quality, the temperature control is automatic. I will recommend it.

  4. AlexisCase says:

     United Kingdom

    There are not really many settings on this iron to worry about, you can just set it to IQ and iron anything. On this setting it only produces steam when it is moving, if you stop it stops. It will stop producing steam if it is stood on its end and it will turn itself off if it doesn’t move for two minutes (so you can’t accidentally burn your house down) then it turns back on as soon as you move it. It is quite large so I guess that should make ironing quicker. The size didn’t seem to hinder it’s use but that coming from a 5’10 man. My partner who is a 5’2 45Kg woman might have a different take on that.
    My only negatives for this are it is very heavy compared to my old iron, it could maybe benefit from a larger water tank but that would further increase the size and weight of this thing.

  5. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b

  6. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b

  7. BennieSheehy says:

     United Kingdom

    Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b

  8. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Very good cable length, no need for an extension lead. Cable tidies away, no controls and works very well.

  9. Her Ugliness says:

     United Kingdom

    It’s a heavy iron and bigger then I expected as it’s bugger than my old iron as you can see from the picture but it’s an amazing iron all round u can iron from 1 fabric straight to the next any type y want when u come to it no need to wait it auto changes depends on the speed y iron the slower u go the lower the temperature goes

    best iron I have brought eve

  10. My Own Blog Review says:

     United Kingdom

    Really like this iron and the fact you don’t have to sort clothes. You can just lift cotton item one second and synthetic the next. The only drawback is you have to fill the small water tank quite often as it produces a lot of steam. It was an expensive iron but I think it was well worth i

  11. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.

  12. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.

  13. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.

  14. VaniaScarbrough says:

     United Kingdom

    Great Iron.

    Dislike. The same iron that I bought before
    this one emitted smoke and foul electrical burning smell after 7 months. With the warranty of 2 years sent that one back with a 1 week turn around. Bought this new one ( a week is too long not to have an iron), now we have two the same ( so now we have a spare for next time). Will see how long the new one lasts.

    🙂

  15. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Although the iron is slightly heavier than other ones of the same size it glides beautifully over the garments and irons them flat without any effort.

  16. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Although the iron is slightly heavier than other ones of the same size it glides beautifully over the garments and irons them flat without any effort.

  17. [email protected] Brittany @ The Pistachio Project says:

     United Kingdom

    This iron makes life so much easier. Probably best iron I have had ever own. Makes ironing quicker and easier. Long cord it’s a extra benefit. It’s a bit heavy but I think it is a positive, perfect amount of steam. So far very happy

    Perfect iron.

  18. LanX59ykpk says:

     United Kingdom

    I do not like ironing but with this iron I could go on and on ironing.. lol. The fact that you don’t need to turn anything to regulate temperature is spectacular, you only set it to what you want. Irons very thin materials without burning. Would highly recommend.

  19. RatiBinkley says:

     United Kingdom

    We had old model of this b4 and just wanna upgrade but it didn’t make any change for not a small price. So we got now 2 irons doing same job.

  20. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This is an excellent iron. I love the fact that you do not need to select any temperature as it adjust itself to whatever you are ironing. Before, I used to iron only a certain laundry in one go, for example I ironed delicate clothing together one day and another day I ironed all the bed linen. With this iron, I do not have to categorise the laundry that needs to be ironed, I just iron everything together whenever I have time and this has made ironing much quicker and much more efficient. The steam is very good on this iron, it is as powerful as my previous heavy duty steam iron. Well worth the price.

  21. dahida says:

     United Kingdom

    This is powerful steam which is exactly what I wanted. I have a steam generator iron but wanted something a bit more portable. Obviously it is heavier than a steam generator iron as it contains the water but I found it still very manageable

  22. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I have never been quite so excited over an iron since I read the reviews & couldn’t wait to start ironing. This is the best iron I have ever bought and simply glides over the items making the job so much easier. My only regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner.

  23. EdmundoHostetle says:

     United Kingdom

    I have never been quite so excited over an iron since I read the reviews & couldn’t wait to start ironing. This is the best iron I have ever bought and simply glides over the items making the job so much easier. My only regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner.

  24. DaciaBooth says:

     United Kingdom

    This Iron is not cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for. Such a pleasure to use. It Irons very effectively, and I don’t have to change the temperature to match what I’m Ironing the Iron dose it for you. The only fault is as it generates great steam it needs to be filled with water often.

  25. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This Iron is not cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for. Such a pleasure to use. It Irons very effectively, and I don’t have to change the temperature to match what I’m Ironing the Iron dose it for you. The only fault is as it generates great steam it needs to be filled with water often.

  26. WendellClouse says:

     United Kingdom

    Not having to change a temperature dial makes life a lot easier. No leakage, good steam, good on creases. My favourite iron that I have ever owned (and the most expensive).

  27. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I wish I had changed my iron sooner! This is a little on the heavy side but nothing too bad compared to my previous iron. I live the fact that I do not need to adjust the temperature for different items such as going from delicates to jeans. The way this iron automatically adjusts the temperature is magic!

  28. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Perfect. Can do anything. Got me worried about the temperature but it’s smart – don’t understand how it gets the material right but everything is perfectly ironed without being burned… Defnitely a good purchase.

  29. JessieZHEM says:

     United Kingdom

    Perfect. Can do anything. Got me worried about the temperature but it’s smart – don’t understand how it gets the material right but everything is perfectly ironed without being burned… Defnitely a good purchase.

  30. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a great iron, possibly the best I’ve had because it doesn’t adversely mark clothes like normal hot plate irons. It irons mainly by steam. My minor, very minor criticism is that it takes longer to heat up than a normal iron (I’d say another 30 seconds).

  31. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I order this product as I had used a Philips Steam Generator Iron which I loved. I decided to get this model as I moved to a smaller flat and did not have the space for a steam generator iron. This is just as good as the steam generator. The iron heats up quickly and the steam output is excellent. There is a manual steam trigger for extra blasts of steam when required. Overall I am very happy with this product.

  32. OctaviaQWK says:

     United Kingdom

    Absolutely love this iron. I do a lot of ironing with lots of different types of material & I don’t have to worry about waiting for the iron to cool down for certain types of material. It glides over clothing & bedding, etc with great ease & the steam output is brilliant. I highly recommend this iron.

  33. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I cannot believe I am excited over an iron but this is truly the best iron I’ve ever owned. It has cut my ironing time down and does an amazing job.

  34. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I cannot believe I am excited over an iron but this is truly the best iron I’ve ever owned. It has cut my ironing time down and does an amazing job.

  35. Sean Hollister says:

     United Kingdom

    Nice weight and the ‘intelligent’ aspect is novel.
    You get plenty of steam and the only downside is, when using the Max setting it can leek a little if the tank is more than half full. Safety cut out is very useful cos I’m at that forgetful age! 🙂
    Masses of cord so easy to use, but it does take a few minutes to come to temp.

  36. maleenhancementpillsi64 says:

     United Kingdom

    Nice weight and the ‘intelligent’ aspect is novel.
    You get plenty of steam and the only downside is, when using the Max setting it can leek a little if the tank is more than half full. Safety cut out is very useful cos I’m at that forgetful age! 🙂
    Masses of cord so easy to use, but it does take a few minutes to come to temp.

  37. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    pleased with iron as replacement to earlier model that served us well for plus 5 years so being conservative we want longer use before giving 5 stars

  38. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    pleased with iron as replacement to earlier model that served us well for plus 5 years so being conservative we want longer use before giving 5 stars

  39. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    The iron is amazing. It’s very strong and very easy to use. It just have 1 button and adjusts the temperature and steam depending the material you’re ironing. It consumes a lot of water and it’s a bit heavy but totally worth it.

  40. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    The iron is amazing. It’s very strong and very easy to use. It just have 1 button and adjusts the temperature and steam depending the material you’re ironing. It consumes a lot of water and it’s a bit heavy but totally worth it.

  41. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    It’s an expensive iron but I bought it in the sale so it was a good price. It is an extremely good iron although it is on the heavy side it does an excellent job on all ironing.

  42. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Simply the best iron I have ever owned or used! – no setting to worry about, fantastic steam pressure, good weight and size – Ironing has suddenly become less of a chore!

  43. Genevieve Quick says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a really good iron. It’s top-of-the-range, which you would expect for this price. It doesn’t hiss like irons usually do, doesn’t burn delicate fabrics and has a really large reservoir so it doesn’t need topping up all the time.

    The only thing I would say is that, for this price, it might be worth spending a little more on a steam generator iron, which holds the reservoir in a separate compartment, making the iron very light. However, for this price, this is a great iron.

  44. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Very long lead. Good weighty feel. I ironed a variety of different textiles, and it did well on all.

    To be honest, I have always hated ironing, and have never found an iron that makes it even a jot more ‘enjoyable’.

    It’s simple to use, heats a bit slowly, and essentially it’s just another iron. A bit expensive. But does a good job.

  45. Falcata Times says:

     United Kingdom

    What an amazing iron this is! I’ve used Philips irons with the big water tank, and although they are marvellous for loads of ironing, you don’t really want to get that out for a few items, or buy something so large if you live on your own. This has all the properties of the tank iron scaled down, and you can even leave it on the fabric and it won’t burn. It glides so effortlessly over the fabric, and removes the creases just as easily as the bigger iron. It’s great that I no longer have to wait for it to heat up or cool down between different fabrics, as as soon as it’s ready, it’s ready for everything. The only difference between this and the bigger iron is that you have to fill up the water chamber more often.

  46. Chris Beardsley says:

     United Kingdom

    Having got used to using a lighter cordless iron beforehand, it took me a little while to get used to this heavier model. However I am now won over by its versatility. Better steam output means less effort and not having to adjust settings for different fabrics makes this a much speedier task. An added bonus is that other family members no longer have the excuse of not knowing which heat setting to use so the whole family can now enjoy ironing…

  47. AundreaPhilipp says:

     United Kingdom

    There are irons that do the job.

    They do the job well.

    Then there are irons that are simply head and shoulder above the rest, enter the new Philips GC4938/20

    (What a terrible name for such a great iron)

    It is simple put a superb iron and is almost as good as those with a steam generator.

    So what is there to love about this iron?

    The sharp needle point for pleats and getting into corners
    The lead, which is 3m long
    It has a weight to it, Which gives it a solid reassuring feel (however it may be a little heavy for arthritic fingers/hands)
    OptimalTemp, turn on and use, no need to adjust temperature its all down to the steam.
    There is a safety auto shut off, which is such a good feature

  48. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a fantastic iron – probably everything you need in an iron and more short of buying one of those big steam beasts. It looks good and does a fantastic job. It has a lovely long cord and is easy to keep clean thanks to its quick calc release and calc reminder. I liked the vertical iron feature too.

  49. TwylaFSOWusdepx says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a fantastic iron. It comes to temperature quickly and just glides across the clothes, removing creases with ease. Out of the box, the manual is clear and everything works as expected. A very well made and high quality iro

  50. Shopping and Product Reviews Articles from EzineArticles.com says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a pretty special iron and although it looks conventional, in many ways, it is far superior to many other makes. I like Philips irons as they work well and the technology is ever changing.

    It weighs in at a reasonable weight and the sole-plate is substantial and glides beautifully over any item. The steam is even and powerful. The iron has no dial or switches to change settings for a different fabric, it has in-built intelligence that ‘knows’ when you iron different fabrics and adjusts the temperature accordingly and it won’t burn! That makes it a very special iron in my book and something I had only encountered with steam generator irons.

    There is a de-calc facility which helps with limescale build-up, too.

    A superb iron and one I would definitely recommend.

  51. Ashley Spiker says:

     United Kingdom

    On using the Philips GC4938/20 for the first time, I was impressed with the look of the iron, I loved the colour combination, weight of the iron and the fact that it comes with an extra long cord so your not tied to the plug socket giving you increased flexibility when ironing. With the iron comes a black filling jug, which holds enough water to fill the iron in one go. The next thing you notice with the iron is that you have no temperature settings, other than steam, no steam or a steam boost button. The iron has optimal temperature technology, which basically means you don’t have to keep adjusting your irons temperature settings. You can iron, silk and jeans one after the other without any adjustment and time wasting. Using the iron was comfortable, its heat plate warms up within 2 minutes, the light on the iron pulsates when its warming up and remains constant when ready. Another great feature with this iron is the auto-shut off, the iron powers down after 8 minutes of non-use when its sat on its heel plate or powers down after 3-4 minutes if left on its heat plate, this alleviates the worry of going out and thinking you’ve left the iron on.

    I liked using this iron and although it retails at the higher end of iron prices, it does come with a 2 year guarantee and with its features it is possible worth paying a little more for something that should last.

  52. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Not all irons are made equal and this one is at the higher end of the standard steam iron spectrum (not including steam generator irons, which are lets face it a rather different concept altogether).

    Gone is the dial in the middle to adjust the settings for different fabrics – now this does take a little getting used to, but less than you might imagine. This is a clever iron, which adjusts to the fabric you are ironing. The first few times that you switch fabrics, it feels a bit wrong, but after a while you brain adjusts in a similar way to the iron and you recognise that your brain won’t meltdown or frazzle and nor will your clothes!

    The cable is a great length, to sole plate is well-shaped and glides across fabric well and the steam production is great – penetrating fabrics well, so that it knocks the creases out better than pretty much any other steam iron I have used. I love that Phillips are so assured about their design, that they give a 2-year warranty – so that you can rest assured it won’t break after 1 year and 1 day! Finally – and this won’t matter to many people, but it is so pretty. This makes ironing more of a pleasure for me as it brings a smile to my face when I look at it. There isn’t enough time in the world to have to feel more miserable about ironing and this lovely thing makes is a pleasure (well almost!!)

  53. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 2 From Our UsersGREAT EXPECTATIONS
    ==================
    I love an iron. Some are awful and make the task more difficult whilst some really make ironing a pleasure. OK, ok, not a pleasure but it can make a big difference in the ironing experience. They can make it easier.
    The question is, does this iron do a good job?

    UN-BOXING
    =========
    Un-boxed and ready to roll in 5 minutes. There are some instructions, but as a man I simply cast them aside.

    HOW WELL DOES THIS IRON GET THROUGH CRUMPLED CLOTHES
    ========================================================
    The greater the amount of steam the quicker and easier it should be to iron with. There isn’t a correlation between the wattage and “steaminess”
    In fact some premium steam irons that state they are “powerful” don’t produce more steam than some much much cheaper irons.

    It’s a powerful steam iron. Classical in its design. I was surprised that it got through the ironing in a very quick fashion. The steam is very effective with NO leaking drips.

    THE GLIDE
    =========
    The iron’s soleplate is important. If it glides effortlessly, it makes the ironing much easier.

    The glide was one of the best with this. It has something called steamglide ceramic. It seems to work.

    LIMESCALE
    =========
    If you’re in a hard water area, after a while the steam can dry up. Some irons combat limescale quite well, whilst others don’t: meaning it’s more difficult to iron with.

    I didn’t spot any issues with this.

    EASE OF USE
    ===========
    The design has a part to play. Some irons create problems whilst others have a thoughtful design.

    The design of this is fine. A pretty traditional type iron which looks quite modern. It has a cord of 3 metres. In its construction it doesn’t feel cheap and feels quite solid.

    SOLEPLATE SCRATCHING
    ====================
    If the iron is susceptible to scratching, it’ll cause snagging and the ironing can be burdensome.

    This iron didn’t scratch at all.

    SCORES ON THE DOORS
    ===================
    For the money I’d give this 9.3/10.

    A top of the range iron which feels like it’ll last a few years. If you’re after a good solid iron that’ll sail through the ironing it’s one to put on the short list.

  54. Jeannie9798 says:

     United Kingdom

    We have used Philips irons for several years now and have been pleased with every one, only replacing them when they get damaged in some way. This model has 3000w of power (more than our previous model) so it really should power through creases and it has a 3m power cord, which is very useful for our needs anyway. The Phillips system means you can iron anything in any order without worrying about the temperature sterling’s, which is very practical and if it’s important to you, its good looking. Maybe you could quibble with the price, as you could get one of the steam reservoir models for around the same price but not everyone has room for one of those. This is a superb iron, well worth the money

  55. JosephKifer says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 2 From Our UsersLooking first of all at the main claims:
    -“Extra long cord”: yes, 3 metres is much longer than most irons — the norm is 2/2.2 metres. Why manufacturers save a few pence on this is beyond me.
    -“Up to 20% more steam penetration/steam boost blasts stubborn creases”: unsure what the supposed benchmark is, but it certainly penetrates effectively (rather than just lying on the surface, which reduces the point of steaming) and gets rid of creases well.
    -“Soleplate delivers ultimate gliding performance”: rather a florid description, but it is one of the smoothest soleplates I’ve encountered
    -“Quick calc scale release”: unable to assess this until it’s been in use for a little while

    It is heavy, but is well-balanced, and this — coupled with the smooth soleplate — makes it easy to use.
    It is stable when stood up on end, unlike some irons I’ve met.
    The power cord goes has a ball-joint, meaning that the cord can flex more freely rather than being jerked as with ordinary cords. (When you put the iron back on its end, the joint lets the cord tuck neatly under a recess.)

    So far very good, but I have two minor quibbles:
    -The OptimalTEMP feature is great, but as far as I can tell it works only in steam mode — without this it appears to be stuck on “cool”. (I know a lot of people nowadays steam everything, but you don’t have to; we are among those old-fashioned people who use a washing-line, and we tend to get the stuff for ironing in when damp, thus avoiding the need for steaming.) As there’s no manual adjustment, nothing you can do about this.
    -The cord is a bit harder to wind round the iron than usual, and as there’s more of it this is a potential issue. Some people, of course, may leave the ironing-board permanently up with the iron on it, but not everyone has that much room.

    I am very impressed with this iron, and would like to give it five stars, but at this price I feel it should be almost perfect.

  56. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    One of my old irons is a Philips Azur and I love it – so I thought this would be an updated version.
    However it is nothing like the old version.
    This one has just 3 options, steam iron, dry iron, extra steam burst.
    The iron heats up to what is called “optimalTEMP techology” – there is no temperature control to adjust!
    I have tried it out on silk and very creased cotton and it works well – though it does take some getting used to!.
    It is also very quiet – very little hissing of steam (I often use a steam geneator which makes a lot of noise).
    Very pleased with this iron – although it does feel a little weird!

  57. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a very good quality steam iron, that ticks all the right boxes. It looks magnificent. I am very pleased that the cable is long and I have a good range from the socket. There is a really good heatplate which glides nicely over all materials, it is also large enough to provide good coverage in only a few strokes for most items of clothing. The steam function is very good, much better than I’ve had from previous irons I’ve owned.

  58. ShawnaKeble says:

     United Kingdom

    This Philips Azur Advanced steam iron is absolutely amazing to use. It’s a very well weighted iron that ticks all the boxes for me. I have been knitting so needed a gentle steam so i could each piece of the cardigan. This iron never once scorched the acrylic pieces. All in all I’m thrilled with this iron.

    technology
    Up to 55g/min continuous steam, 240g steam boost and 3000W for fast crease removal
    SteamGlide Plus soleplate for ultimate gliding
    Smart calc reminder and Quick Calc Release in 15s for long-lasting steam performance
    Automatic shut-off when iron is left unattended; drip-stop keeps garments spotless while ironing.

  59. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a smart and sleek looking iron. It has good sized water tank and a decent sized filling jug, not a tiny one that usually is supplied with some irons. It glides over the clothes and removes creases really easily. There is no temparature dial as everything is ironed on the same heat. The cord is plenty long enough to reach halfway across my bedrom to where I do my ironing and then winds around the base for storage. The only thing that puts me off is that the iron is heavy so if you want a lightweight iron then this probably is not for you, but if weight is not a issue then this is a great iron especially if you have a family and speed is essential then this will wizz through the ironing.

    Wizzes through the ironing but is heavy.

  60. Lonnie6898 says:

     United Kingdom

    I have reviewed a number of Philips irons for the Vine programme and in particular 5 high pressure steam irons, plus other less powerful ones I have to say I do like their irons. Having tested all these irons, I have to say that this one is no exception, it is very good and very clever.

    This iron glides through creases with incredible ease. It is also easy to fill. This is also a very clever iron, as it can sense what is being ironed and it adapts its temperature automatically without touching any switch. It simply switches temperature from low for silk like material to high for cotton. Philips guarantees that no matter what you iron, it will adapt itself automatically and there will never be a burnt item of clothes. The plate itself is very well made from very high quality materials and this thickness helps the ironing process. You can use this iron to press clothes whilst on a hanger with its vertical steam feature. which can kick out a great deal of steam. We have found it works perfectly with my cotton shirts and irons the silk ties with complete ease. This really is a great iron.

    Overall this is a fantastic product and whilst it is not the cheapest iron Philips make, it is simply brilliant. I am happy to highly recommend the product.

  61. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Usual fabulous quality with greater steam power all from a standard iron- glides like a dream and has a smoother easier discernible difference on linen and cotton sheets which are really dry.

  62. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 3 From Our UsersThere’s a wide and confusing range of steam irons available from Philips. You really need to decide which features are important to you and choose an iron to suit. The table in the Amazon description isn’t very helpful. The comparison tool on the Philips website is better but incomplete.

    The bottom line, though, is that this is one of the best. If you can afford it, you’re likely to be very happy with it. The only thing that might stop me wholeheartedly recommending it is that, for not much more money over the current 120, you can buy a Philips steam generator iron with similar technology. Not everyone wants a steam generator though, in which case this is a superb alternative.

    It’s a smart-looking model, easy to fill from the supplied jug and equally easy to empty. It glides well on everything from silk to denim, gets into tight corners and around buttons, and is very effective at removing creases. You can use it vertically too. It cuts out after a minute or two, if left soleplate-down, and a light tells you it’s done so — move the iron and it will fire up again. The handle seems comfortable for a range of hand sizes. You get almost 3 metres of cord and it can be wound round the end of the iron for storage.

    Best of all is OptimalTEMP. We love it. It really works as they claim and makes life so much easier.

    We haven’t had it long enough to say how well the anti-calc system works but, based on other Philips irons we’ve owned, we’re pretty confident that scale won’t be a problem.

    This is a first-rate iron, the best non-generator we’ve used.

  63. AnneLandsboroug says:

     United Kingdom

    This iron arrived in a bold, smart, dark turquoise colour. It is a little heavier than I was expecting but Philips have redressed a number of complaints I have had with other models in the range.

    Firstly the electrical cord is long which means that I am not tied to the plug socket when ironing plus there is room at the base of the iron to wind the cord round. Granted, it is not a retractable cord but this is a huge improvement on other models I have tried.

    There is a water jug with which to fill the iron. In hard water areas, distilled water is still the preferred medium and have you ever attempted to fill an iron straight from a 5 litre canister of distilled water? More water ends up out of the iron than in! Thank you Philips for the water jug.

    Lastly, there is a huge improvement on the calc release button. It is now really easier to pull from the bottom (once the iron is no longer hot) and clean and replace to ensure long-lasting steam performance.

    To use the iron, simply fill with water to maximum setting, plug in and when the flashing blue light ceases to flash, then the iron is hot enough to iron. It is as simple as that. No settings are required as it has optimal temp technology which means that it will iron everything from jeans to silk, burn-free without adjusting the temperature. However, you have a choice of steam, no steam or a steam boost. Setting to steam was most effective but I did find it quite challenging to press down the steam boost button whilst using a heavy iron and all in one hand. Nevertheless, my ironing looked most professionally finished.

    With a 2 year guarantee, this iron, whilst retailing quite dearly at 120 (February 2018), does have much to recommend it. In my opinion, it may be worth paying the little extra to do what is in effect, the most boring and mundane of weekly household chores!