Dreo HM713S Smart Humidifier: Because Breathing Shouldn’t Be as Dry as Last Year’s Fruitcake [Review]

When looking into the market for humidifiers, I mostly encounter two kinds. One kind is the cute or decorative kind, and the other is the more techie kind with a futuristic look and often with smart home and IoT features. Today, I want to share our test results with you in this Dreo HM713S Smart Humidifier review.

To test the device, we received a press sample unit of the HM713S Smart Humidifier from Dreo to write this review and take photos of it ourselves. We also looked at negative reviews from buyers on Amazon and want to address these points further below.

Design, specifications, and user experience

The HM713S boasts a sleek design, housing a large 6L water tank. Its dimensions are 11.41D x 6.14W x 13.93H (inches), weighing 5.95lbs. While the sizeable water tank ensures a longer runtime, its overall size might make it tricky to place or conceal in smaller spaces.

One of the things that impressed me was the quality of the ultrasonic mist. It operates quietly at a noise level of 28 dB, making it suitable for any room. The device has a rated power of 26W (Cool) and 280W (Warm), with a maximum mist output of 300ml/h (cool mist) and 500ml/h (warm mist).

Use cases and target audience

Smart humidifiers like the HM713S can solve various problems associated with dry indoor air. They can help prevent influenza, make a cough more productive, reduce snoring, and maintain healthy skin by ensuring optimal humidity levels. These devices can also relieve symptoms related to allergies and dryness. In some cases, your doctor might also recommend the usage of a humidifier in places where you spend a lot of time.

When it gets old outside, and people turn on their heaters, this can also make the air very dry, which can be countered by adding a humidifier to a space. People who value convenience and control would find a smart humidifier particularly appealing. With features like remote control, scheduling, and integration with smart home systems, these devices offer a seamless and personalized user experience.

Performance and features

The HM713S is equipped with Dreo’s patented MistWave technology, which creates a 43-inch tall mist for even humidity distribution. It offers cool and warm mist functions catering to different environmental conditions.

Video: Pupu Liang, TechAcute

One of the standout features of this model is its Auto Mode. This mode monitors the humidity in the room and only releases mist if the humidity percentage is below the set threshold. This feature ensures your preferred humidity level without switching the device on and off manually.

Smart functions and connectivity

The HM713S is compatible with the Dreo App, Alexa, and Google Home. However, integrating the device with these platforms proved to be a bit challenging. After contacting Dreo’s support team, I discovered that the humidifier hadn’t been launched in Europe (from where I was testing), so they had to unlock the device in the app first. Once this was done, the connectivity worked fine. I expect that regular buyers would only need to follow the instructions to connect their humidifiers to their smart home systems without needing assistance from the support team.

Aroma Pad Tray against health concerns

Using aroma oils in humidifiers can potentially be unhealthy if not done correctly. However, the HM713S comes with an aroma pad tray that allows users to infuse their water mist with different fragrances safely, according to Dreo. This feature adds another layer of customization to the user experience.

Of course, you still need to ensure that your oil is made for this purpose and read the instructions carefully. Also worth noting is that some of these aroma oils could harm pets, so read the manual, read the manual, read the manual.

What about the negative Amazon reviews?

Amazon is a good place to check the opinions of the product of people who bought the device before and see their ratings and comments. This is often quite useful when finding the right product for you. The overall score of all ratings for the HM713S is 4.3 stars, which is mostly leaning towards a fine product, but we looked into what the people wrote who gave it only a 1-star rating. What do we find?

• Users complained about water leaks.
• Users complain about the device turning off and on constantly.
• Users complain about the device shutting off automatically even though water is in the tank.
• Users complain about poor instructions.
• It stopped working, turned off automatically, and the like…

From all of these, I would say that water leakage in a water tank this large is indeed a bigger risk than the device simply not working. While we have not encountered any leakage in the test period, I still recommend you not place any water-holding device on or near objects, plants, and furniture that must not get wet. If you are unsure if a device would leak, try it out on a spot or area that could not become an issue if there was leakage. If you don’t trust a new device at first, which is normal, do not operate it while you are not in the room, and perhaps do not fill the tank up to maximum while still testing things out yourself. Again – we did not have a leakage problem in the test, but if you want to be sure, you can try these approaches out if you feel that would be a safer way to start getting used to the device.

Sensor issues and the device switching off are also nothing we encountered during the test, but it sounds like something you could figure out together with the Dreo support. Based on my experience, they answer in less than 24 hours and do not stop until the problem is solved. Leakage and sensor issues or undesired deactivation of the device could also be user errors or a misunderstanding about what this or that mode might do, so talking about your problems with the support will help users figure out whether it’s their fault. In Auto Mode, the system switching on and off itself would be expected as it will stop when reaching the threshold you programmed as the target value.

The buttons and display work fine; I can’t say the instructions were poor either. The app works fine, steps you through the process, and the paper instructions and manual help users set everything up safely if they read them. I cannot confirm these negative reviews are general issues, but such should always be read and considered. However, the major group of buyers did not encounter issues, so the total score is 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which is pretty solid, and I’d not be too concerned if I were going to buy this device.

Interested findings when testing air quality

From a previous review of the Airthings air quality sensor, we still had a sensor device operating, and we received a warning about way too high particulate levels in the air where the humidifier was running. This was concerning, to be honest, and could be a health issue if too naively dismissed. After further research, we could, however, find out that the type of ultrasonic mist that the Dreo HM713S Smart Humidifier emits will be considered particulates like fine dust.

Such is the classification, and air quality monitors will likely show a spike for this category, but it is no problem. This is not plastic or other toxic material in the air. But why does this happen? Air quality sensors will consider water mist as particulates, even though it’s not of health concern if it is only based on water. This means there is no issue, even if you have an air quality monitor giving you an alarm when using a humidifier that uses this type of technology.

Pros and cons

We found the device helpful and functional without issues during the test period. If you want to check all the pros and cons, read on.

Pros

• Easy to use: This smart humidifier is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to operate.
• Large water capacity: The Dreo HM713S boasts a large water tank, reducing the need for frequent refills.
• Smart features: With its smart features, such as remote control and timer settings, this humidifier offers convenience and flexibility. Connecting with Alexa or Google Home can help you control the device with voice commands.

Cons

• Price: Compared to other humidifiers on the market, the Dreo HM713S may be considered pricey by some consumers. Considering the tech, the cost is not overpriced, but people looking for a humidifier might have another budget in mind.
• Size: Due to its large water tank, this humidifier might take up more space than other models.
• Maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to keep the humidifier in optimal working condition, which could be time-consuming for some users, even though that would also be the case for many types of humidifiers.

In conclusion

The Dreo HM713S Smart Humidifier offers efficient humidification, smart control, and added aroma diffusion benefits while maintaining optimal indoor humidity levels. Although the device’s size may pose placement challenges, and initial setup may require some patience, these minor issues do not overshadow its overall performance and value. If you are looking for a humidifier that provides a sophisticated mist and lets you integrate it into your smart home, the Dreo HM713S Smart Humidifier could be a good candidate for you.

YouTube: Dreo Smart Humidifier HM713S (promotional clip)

Photo credit: All images shown were taken by Pupu Liang for TechAcute.
Editorial notice: We have received a free Black Shark S1 Smart Watch to create this review but did not receive any money for covering it.