Which steam generator iron should you choose?

A steam generator iron is a very handy home appliance as it can dramatically reduce your ironing time and will create clothes that are completely crease-free.

Here, we look at three highly rated steam generator irons at different price points so that you can decide which one is the best option for you.

Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron

The Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron is rated as a Best Buy by Which?, but it’s certainly not the right option for people searching for a steam generator iron on a budget due to its £329.99 price tag.

However, this iron’s high price point is perfectly justified by how easy it is to use and how effective it is at doing its job.

The Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron will enable you to iron your clothes really quickly, and its 1.8l detachable tank means that you can iron continuously for two hours (if you want to)!

It takes just 2 minutes for the iron to heat up, and you don’t need to worry about messing around with different settings depending on what you’re ironing – which also saves time.

The reason for this is that the Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron boasts OptimalTEMP technology which means that it can tell what material it’s being used on, and will adjust its temperature in line with this.

This might sound like a scary prospect, but Philips guarantee that you can iron everything from silk to jeans on the same setting with no burning or scorching. The Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron is also super easy to use, either with an ironing board or on hanging clothes and curtains.

Lightweight and easy to use steam iron

It’s lightweight and designed in a way that ensures that you can avoid wrist ache whilst ironing, and it boasts a scratch-proof soleplate and safety lock too.

Maintaining the Philips PerfectCare Elite GC9650/80 Steam Generator Iron is easy too thanks to its convenient De-Calc Plus system. This system enables the steam iron to collect limescale as it goes, and you’ll see a warning indicator when it needs emptying. Then, simply open up the plug and watch the water and limescale particles wash away.

This iron also has an eco mode so you can save energy whilst still producing perfectly crease free clothes, and it has been found to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria, leaving your clothes super fresh and perfectly clean.

The The Philips PerfectCare Elite is available to buy online at amazon.co.uk and johnlewis.com

Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron

If you’re looking to spend a little less, you might like the Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron. Also highly rated, this steam generator iron comes in at £269, which still puts it at the higher end of the scale, but is quite a bit cheaper than the pricey Philips option.

An easy-glide soleplate makes the Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron a pleasure to use, and its precision tip means that ironing collars and around buttons is a breeze.

The Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron offers many of the same benefits as the Philips iron too.

Steam iron controls

Boasting smart technology that will enable you to iron any fabric at the touch of a button, this iron works to provide the perfect balance of heat and steam to ensure that your clothes look great – no matter what material they’re made out of.

With its 7 bar pressure power and 400g/min steam boost option, this iron is capable of tackling the most stubborn of creases, even when they’re set into thick fabrics.

The Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron’s 1.6l water tank means that you won’t need to keep stopping to refill and easily can make your way through your basket of laundry, and its safety lock is there to give you peace of mind.

Removable limescale collector

Like the Philips steam generator iron, the Tefal Pro Express Anti Scale GV8932 Steam Generator Iron has a removable scale collector that makes maintaining it very easy, and this feature also ensures that you won’t get troublesome staining on your garments.

Other great benefits of choosing this iron are its cord storage compartment, Eco mode, and vertical steam option.

The Tefal Pro Plus is available to buy online at johnlewis.com

Morphy Richards Auto-Clean
Power Steam Elite Steam Generator Iron

The Morphy Richards Auto-Clean Power Steam Elite Steam Generator Iron is a highly rated option with a lower price tag, making it the perfect choice if you’re looking for a steam generator iron on a budget. With its impressive 2.2l water tank, this device can help to halve your ironing time – making this household chore far easier.

The Morphy Richards Auto-Clean Power Steam Elite Steam Generator Iron’s 180g steam output enables it to eliminate even the most stubborn creases in the toughest materials, and it has a 310g steam boost option for when you need a little extra help.

Steam iron locked onto its base

This iron locks securely onto its base to make it easy to store and carry around, and its Ceramaslide ceramic coating means that it’s durable and non-stick, allowing it to glide effortlessly over your garments.

Steam iron settings

It’s very easy to select the correct steam and temperature settings when using the Morphy Richards Auto-Clean Power Steam Elite Steam Generator Iron, so you can ensure that you’re using the correct settings for each item of clothing.

However, it isn’t able to select the correct options for you unlike the two steam generator irons mentioned above, which is perhaps partly responsible for its lower price tag.

One great feature that this iron does boast in line with the other two is its Auto-Clean function, so you don’t have to worry about changing filters or maintaining it yourself.

The Morphy Richards Power Steam Elite is available at johnlewis.com


Decided which steam generator iron is the one for you? Buy your perfect match and make ironing easy today.

See Also
Cordless steam iron
Should you buy a cordless steam iron?
Hand held garment steamer
The Ultimate Guide to Clothes Steamers