Honeywell HO-5500RE Oscillating Tower Fan Review

The Honeywell HO-5500RE is a solid budget pick for anyone who wants a remote and a timer without spending more than £50. Airflow on medium and high is respectable, and the included remote sets it apart from most rivals at this price. The top speed is noisier than you might hope, so treat it as a medium-setting fan for everyday use and it will serve you well.

The HO-5500RE makes a straightforward case for itself: a remote-controlled, oscillating tower fan at an affordable price. While many budget fans skip the remote to hit a low price point, the HO-5500RE keeps it as a standard feature, making it an appealing option for anyone who wants basic convenience without upgrading to a premium product.

Design and build quality

The HO-5500RE is a compact and functional tower fan, standing at around 92 cm with a slim profile that fits neatly into corners and against walls. The all-black finish is clean and unobtrusive, matching the aesthetic of most home office or bedroom setups without demanding attention.

The plastic housing is solidly built without notable flexing or creaking. The base is wide enough to be stable on carpet, and the fan does not walk across the floor even on its highest setting. Controls on the unit are simple and clearly labelled, with the remote adding the same core functions at a distance.

The remote is a compact unit that covers the essential controls well. It is not backlit, which makes it slightly harder to use in the dark, but the buttons are large enough to find by feel after a day or two of use.

Airflow and cooling

Three speed settings keep the HO-5500RE simple and easy to use. The low setting delivers a gentle breeze suitable for background cooling or desk use, medium is good for most everyday situations, and the high setting produces a strong draught that is effective for personal cooling on warm days.

The oscillation sweep covers a standard bedroom or living room, though like most fans at this size it works best when aimed roughly in your direction rather than expecting it to cool an entire room evenly from one corner. For practical tips on fan placement, the tower fan buying guide is worth a read.

Noise

The low setting is liveable for overnight use in a bedroom if you are not a particularly sensitive sleeper. It produces a steady, unobtrusive hum that sits in the background rather than demanding attention. The medium setting is noticeably louder but acceptable for daytime work or evening use in a living room.

The high setting is where the HO-5500RE shows its limitations. There is a clear motor hum at full power that is noticeable in a quiet room. Running it on high overnight in a bedroom is not recommended for light sleepers. This is a common trade-off at this price point: the fan is best treated as a medium-setting appliance for the situations where noise matters. If quiet sleep is a priority, the Honeywell HY254E QuietSet is engineered specifically for that purpose and is worth the extra spend.

Running costs

At about 45W, the HO-5500RE costs roughly 1.1p an hour at the Ofgem price cap of around 24-25p per kWh. Running it on medium for eight hours overnight adds around 9p to your electricity bill. The built-in timer is helpful for reducing unnecessary running time if you fall asleep before remembering to switch it off. See our tower fan running cost guide for a broader comparison.

Features

A remote, a timer and oscillation are the three features that set the HO-5500RE apart from bare-bones budget fans at a similar price. The timer allows the fan to switch off after a set period, which is useful for overnight use. Oscillation covers the standard sweep expected from a tower fan at this height.

What is absent is the eight-speed granularity of the QuietSet, any sleep mode, or smart connectivity. For buyers who want simple, practical features without complexity, the HO-5500RE delivers exactly what it promises.

Is the Honeywell HO-5500RE worth it?

The HO-5500RE is a practical, no-nonsense fan for buyers who want a remote and a timer at a budget price. The airflow is good for the money, and the basic features cover most everyday needs without overcomplicating the experience.

The noise on high speed and the limited three-speed range are the main compromises. If either of those matters to you, spending an extra £25 on the Honeywell HY254E QuietSet gives you eight speeds and a much quieter low end. But if the price is the deciding factor and you want Honeywell reliability with remote control, the HO-5500RE is a fair deal.

Find out how it ranks alongside other options in our best tower fans with remote guide, and see the full Honeywell tower fan range.