Best Hair Dryers · head-to-head

ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer vs Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer is cheaper at $169.99. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer or Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer?

The Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer is the cheaper at $169.99. The Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer
US price $329 Current MSRP at Ulta Beauty $169.99 Current price on laifentech.com
BrandghdLaifen
Released20202024
Wattage (W) 1875 1400
Weight (g) 544 407
Heat settings 3 3
Speed settings 3 2
Ionic Yes Yes
Cool shot Yes Yes
Attachments included Contoured concentrator nozzle (1); diffuser sold separately Smooth nozzle, diffuser nozzle, concentrator nozzle (3 magnetic nozzles)
Motor (rpm) 110000

Sources — ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer: ulta.com (verified 2026-06-15). Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer: laifentech.com (verified 2026-06-15).

What's the difference between the ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer and Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Wattage (W): ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer 1875 vs Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer 1400
  • Weight (g): ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer 544 vs Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer 407
  • Speed settings: ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer 3 vs Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer 2
  • Attachments included: ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer Contoured concentrator nozzle (1); diffuser sold separately vs Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer Smooth nozzle, diffuser nozzle, concentrator nozzle (3 magnetic nozzles)

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer

Two whitelisted reviewers both rate the ghd Helios among the best dryers they've tried: TechRadar timed it with a stopwatch and decibel meter, Real Homes tested it hands-on. Both praise fast drying (roughly a minute to go from wet to dry) and a smooth, frizz-free finish, and both flag the high £159 price as an investment rather than an impulse buy. TechRadar additionally notes the powerful airflow strips volume. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Fast drying — took wet hair to dry in around a minute; Smooth, frizz-free finish; Well-built, attractive design with a premium silicone-feel shell.

Flagged: Expensive at £159 — an investment, not an impulse buy; Powerful airflow leaves hair lacking volume.

Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer

Two whitelisted outlets (TechRadar, TechHive) reviewed the Laifen Swift Special hands-on; both call it a strong, well-designed Dyson Supersonic alternative at roughly half the price. TechRadar measured just-under-seven-minute drying and 79dB noise - quieter-sounding but not the claimed 59dB. Common gripes: short cord, no separate cool shot, limited attachments. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

Praised: Fast, powerful drying that rivals the Dyson Supersonic; Premium, luxe design at roughly half the Dyson price; Leaves hair smooth and shiny with less frizz (negative ions).

Flagged: Not as quiet as the claimed 59dB; No separate cool shot button; Short 1.8m/5.9ft cord.

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