The Smeg is definitely form over function but works and is built well enough, it's not overpriced junk just overpriced. The lid on mine also gets stuck from time to time so it's not rare and yea the water level is so obscured I don't even bother and just guess the level usually. Very nice and thorough review!
About as perfect a comment as I have seen. Agree 100% with ALL what you say. They are nice (about the best looking imho) but are so overpriced for what you get. Not even double walled and after even a few years of careful use the paint started to chip off around the lid. Also my white one has discoloured to an off white drom about 1/4 way up to the top, Clearly the paint finish has suffered all those tears of high temp. ONLY good thing (other than its a real looker - which was v important to me) is that parts are available. Our hinge broken (one of the 2 runners snapped) and got another for £25 which now is about 1/7 of the price of a new temp adjustable KLFO4 one.
Completely agree about water level visuals. Very annoying no internal light. That’s easiest way. Quick switch on - lights up and can see. I got the top of range, very expensive. Makes silly noises but no internal light. Ill-thought through IMO.
Form over function indeed. I have owned a SMEG kettle for 5-7 years. The first 5 years were great! Then the base stopped working, meaning I could not heat water in the kettle. Replaced with another SMEG that worked great until 9-10 months later when the exterior paint on the kettle blistered. Replaced with another SMEG and over a year later the mechanism on the top broke so my kettle topper has an ‘overbite’. Gave up and bought a different electric kettle that I will be unpacking in the next day or so. It is a shame. I love the retro look.
The house I live in has 4 or 5 smeg products and from what I can tell it’s very low quality. The more modern stuff is ok, but the retro stuff is absolutely Chinese. The spout fell off the kettle, the coffee machine switch broke within a short time. So far the toaster is good. The gas stove seems solid (modern look). Stick to Bosch, AEG, higher range Philips, etc.
Thank you for such an in depth review. I am looking to buy one but in two minds now considering the pros and cons you have demonstrated such as the squeaky handle and water level obscureness. I’m quite surprised that a Kettle cost around £150 (in the UK) has a design and build quality is rather low. It seems overrated to me. Thank you once again.
i had a second one, lid failed. My brother had one for three years, lid failed. Oh and by the way, SMEG refused to acknowledge the problems, they said users do not know how to use it. The lady who sold me the unit at the department store even took a video and sent it their rep who refused to offer a refund... said there is no problem. So no i am not a fan. I went to another store and tested the lids, some get stuck some, dont...
@@ecologicaltime The lid opening mechanism is a plastic button ram rubbing on a plastic wedge and almost always seizes or becomes stickey over time. there is a RUclips video explaining how to remove the lid and access the parts (ruclips.net/video/NxN9mmjg4F4/видео.html). A tiny amount of high temp grease makes it perform perfectly again. Its not rocket science to fix BUT there is definitely an issue with the design that should be addressed by SMEG by making those small parts metal perhaps ? VERY pretty design but VERY over priced for what it is, like most Italian things its made to ,look good over its basic function as a kettle_and that's beings said by an Italian ! Also new spare parts are impossible to come by so the only way is to cannibalise old non working machines for the bits.
Very bad first customer experience with 2 of 3 SMEG appliances acquired in Dec. 2022. I had to replace the kettle one month later and now I have to replace the coffee maker which causes an electrical malfunction in my new kitchen (check was done by an electrician). Definitively lack of quality / reliability. Good design is not enough...
Love this review! Glad I watched this before purchasing ! Thanks so much for going straight to the point and being so thorough!❤️
The Smeg is definitely form over function but works and is built well enough, it's not overpriced junk just overpriced. The lid on mine also gets stuck from time to time so it's not rare and yea the water level is so obscured I don't even bother and just guess the level usually. Very nice and thorough review!
About as perfect a comment as I have seen. Agree 100% with ALL what you say. They are nice (about the best looking imho) but are so overpriced for what you get. Not even double walled and after even a few years of careful use the paint started to chip off around the lid. Also my white one has discoloured to an off white drom about 1/4 way up to the top, Clearly the paint finish has suffered all those tears of high temp. ONLY good thing (other than its a real looker - which was v important to me) is that parts are available. Our hinge broken (one of the 2 runners snapped) and got another for £25 which now is about 1/7 of the price of a new temp adjustable KLFO4 one.
I have the same kettle it looks sincerly beautiful I love it regardless of the price
Really thorough review. You could go further and do a tear down with commentary on the innards as to their safety.
Completely agree about water level visuals.
Very annoying no internal light. That’s easiest way. Quick switch on - lights up and can see.
I got the top of range, very expensive.
Makes silly noises but no internal light. Ill-thought through IMO.
Form over function indeed. I have owned a SMEG kettle for 5-7 years. The first 5 years were great! Then the base stopped working, meaning I could not heat water in the kettle. Replaced with another SMEG that worked great until 9-10 months later when the exterior paint on the kettle blistered. Replaced with another SMEG and over a year later the mechanism on the top broke so my kettle topper has an ‘overbite’. Gave up and bought a different electric kettle that I will be unpacking in the next day or so. It is a shame. I love the retro look.
The house I live in has 4 or 5 smeg products and from what I can tell it’s very low quality. The more modern stuff is ok, but the retro stuff is absolutely Chinese. The spout fell off the kettle, the coffee machine switch broke within a short time. So far the toaster is good. The gas stove seems solid (modern look). Stick to Bosch, AEG, higher range Philips, etc.
Yes. There are bubbles around that indicator and those bubbles are always there. No way to remove them. A bit annoying.
1:32 sounds like my bed
Does it beep when boiled?
Thank you for such an in depth review. I am looking to buy one but in two minds now considering the pros and cons you have demonstrated such as the squeaky handle and water level obscureness. I’m quite surprised that a Kettle cost around £150 (in the UK) has a design and build quality is rather low. It seems overrated to me. Thank you once again.
i had a second one, lid failed. My brother had one for three years, lid failed. Oh and by the way, SMEG refused to acknowledge the problems, they said users do not know how to use it. The lady who sold me the unit at the department store even took a video and sent it their rep who refused to offer a refund... said there is no problem. So no i am not a fan.
I went to another store and tested the lids, some get stuck some, dont...
@@ecologicaltime The lid opening mechanism is a plastic button ram rubbing on a plastic wedge and almost always seizes or becomes stickey over time. there is a RUclips video explaining how to remove the lid and access the parts (ruclips.net/video/NxN9mmjg4F4/видео.html). A tiny amount of high temp grease makes it perform perfectly again. Its not rocket science to fix BUT there is definitely an issue with the design that should be addressed by SMEG by making those small parts metal perhaps ?
VERY pretty design but VERY over priced for what it is, like most Italian things its made to ,look good over its basic function as a kettle_and that's beings said by an Italian !
Also new spare parts are impossible to come by so the only way is to cannibalise old non working machines for the bits.
Very bad first customer experience with 2 of 3 SMEG appliances acquired in Dec. 2022.
I had to replace the kettle one month later and now I have to replace the coffee maker which causes an electrical malfunction in my new kitchen (check was done by an electrician).
Definitively lack of quality / reliability.
Good design is not enough...
buy them every year just tired,every year is breaks ,switches ,and the only one year warranty
Kettle leaking at the bottom
Wow so stupid review 🙄
It's not because it's expensive or cheaper. SERIOUSLY you have to be delicate with the button. OMG