Compact electric heaters are a practical and, above all, flexible way of keeping small to medium-sized rooms warm in winter. In the DREO WH517S test, we were able to take a closer look at just such a heater. In addition to a powerful heating output, the model also aims to impress with an app connection and voice control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Does the plan work?
Technical data
| Model | DREO WH517S |
| Power output | 800 to 2000 W |
| Dimensions | 39.9 x 31.0 x 12.0 cm |
| weight | 2.7 kg |
| Heating element | Fan, PTC (PTC thermistor) |
| Heating modes | – 1x fan-only mode – 4x heating modes |
| App control | Yes |
| Voice control | Google Assistant + Amazon Alexa |
| Safety and security | – Tip-over protection – Automatic switch-off in case of overheating – child safety lock |
| Operating volume | 28 dB |
| price | € 109.99 * |
Scope of delivery
DREO WH517S test: design and workmanship
It is impossible to hide wall heaters like the DREO WH517S in a room. You shouldn’t even do that with most models, as otherwise the heating output could be significantly reduced. But the good news about the DREO heater is that you don’t have to! After all, our model with a wood-look front is a sight to behold. Chic accents in silver, black and gray give the smart heater a modern and high-quality look.
Alternatively, the heater is also available with a white front. In combination with its rather compact dimensions of 39.9 x 31.0 x 12.0 cm, the heater should not stand out in a negative way, even in smaller rooms. The fact that the appliance cannot be mounted flat on the wall, but must be kept a good centimeter away to allow the room air to be drawn in, does not change this. Accordingly, the design of the DREO heater should appeal to all those who are looking for a simple aesthetic.
But it’s not just the look that’s right here. The build quality is also at a really high level. It doesn’t crack or creak at any point, which is anything but a matter of course in this price range. The control and operating unit on the electric wall heater is a 2.4-inch circular display. Here you can read important parameters such as the current room temperature. Thanks to the large white digits, this is easy even from a distance.
Below the display is a control bar, which is easily recognizable with its chic brushed aluminium look. Here, for example, the temperature can be adjusted to + or – at the touch of a button. You can also set the timer here, establish WiFi connections or simply switch the heating on and off. Alternatively, you can also use the included remote control. Voice control via Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant is also possible.
DREO WH517S test: Installation and commissioning
The DREO WH517S is not the first electric heater that we have had the pleasure of putting through its paces in our test center. In 2022, we already put the AENO Smart Heater GH1S (review, € 252.90 *) through its paces. One major difference between the two heaters is the choice of installation location.
While AENO gives users the choice of placing the heater on the floor using a stand or mounting it on the wall, there is no alternative to wall mounting with the DREO WH517S. This means that you will need a drill. You should keep this in mind if you want to buy the DREO model. However, if you have a little manual dexterity, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Especially as DREO provides assistance during installation. Not only is there a practical drilling template included, which not only specifies the drilling positions. It also has an integrated spirit level. Very practical! Once a total of four screws have been fitted into the wall, the appliance can be hung up and the power cable plugged into the socket. The heater can now be operated. The enclosed remote control is also used for this.
However, if you want that smart home feeling, the next step is to install the DREO app. Commissioning via the app is similarly quick and straightforward. First, your smartphone searches for the smart heating and then requests contact with the home network. Once you have given your approval, the heating is already in the network and can be conveniently operated via the app.
DREO WH517S test: DREO app
With the DREO app, the manufacturer has succeeded in creating a catchy, clear and self-explanatory way to monitor and control the heating. On the one hand, the app serves as a kind of external display that you can use to read the most important parameters of the WH517S even when you can’t see the heater. Thanks to the WiFi connection, you don’t even have to be within range of the heater.
Instead, you can monitor the smart home gadget even thousands of kilometers away from your vacation. This is useful, for example, if you want to use the device to protect your garden plants from frost and store them in your apartment or house over the winter. On the home page of the app, you can see the current temperature. You can also see whether the heating or fan is currently active.
There is also a large on/off button right here, which you can use to switch the system on or off immediately at the touch of a button. A look at the app’s advanced settings opens up even more customization options. For example, you can switch between °F and °C units. You can also adjust display details or create a schedule. Alarm signals can also be customized according to your wishes.
A corresponding siren sounds, for example, when the heating registers a sudden drop in temperature. This can save a lot of electricity if the heating is inadvertently switched on during airing. You can also use the app to enable the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants. This is practical, for example, if you’re sitting on the couch in the evening, don’t have your phone to hand and suddenly get cold feet.
DREO WH517S test: practical experience
The practical experience of testing the DREO WH517S can actually be summarized quite quickly. I was really positively surprised by the small heater. In particular, the heating power that the small smart home gadget has to offer is really impressive. The WH517S is as simple as it is ingenious. The heater draws in ambient air via the back. Once this has been heated inside, it flows back into the room through the black fins.
DREO uses a Hyperamic ceramic heating element to heat the air. In the test, I was particularly impressed by the sheer speed with which it heats up the air. It takes just a few seconds for the air in the interior to heat up and be released outside again. There are a total of 5 different modes to choose from. Firstly, there is the “Eco mode”. Here you can set the desired room temperature manually. There is also a “Fan only” mode, in which only the fan runs.
The three levels H1 (800 W), H2 (1200 W) and H3 (2000 W) are then available for the fastest possible heating. The orientation of the plastic air outlets can be adjusted and swiveled up or down by 30°. Unfortunately, it is not possible to swivel to the right or left. Of course, a heater is not a toy and also involves a few risks. Accordingly, DREO has provided its WH517S with a number of well thought-out safety features.
The WH517S not only has a reliable child safety lock. Overheating protection is also on board. The safety plug is reinforced and the wiring is completely insulated. Should a problem nevertheless occur, the appliance issues intelligent safety notifications. Incidentally, IP24 certification also allows it to be used in damp rooms such as basements or bathrooms.
Conclusion
The DREO WH517S is an excellent heater that heats medium-sized rooms extremely quickly and then keeps them reliably warm – ideal for winter. With a total of four heating levels and a separate fan mode, the smart home gadget creates a cozy atmosphere. The whole thing is rounded off with a stylish, modern design and uncomplicated control. The heating can be operated on the device itself, but also by remote control, app or even voice control. There are also extensive safety features that make it safe to use.
In my opinion, however, the heater has one decisive shortcoming – it cannot be used flexibly. In view of its compact dimensions, I think it would have been a good idea to offer a suitable stand as an alternative application option. Then the DREO WH517S would be even better in terms of flexibility. Perhaps DREO will offer a suitable solution in the near future. But if you have a specific room in mind anyway that you want to equip with an electric heater and don’t mind the lack of flexibility, you’ll get a really good piece of heating technology here.
DREO WH517S
Design and processing
Hardware
Performance
Ease of use
Flexibility
Price-performance ratio
91/100
The DREO WH517S impresses above all with its impressive heat output and ease of use. However, I would have liked a little more flexibility in terms of positioning.
