A tower fan that fits on a corner of your desk and promises to cool you down quietly sounds like the perfect compromise for a small apartment. The Klarstein Highrise is a 3-in-1 appliance (fan, air cooler, humidifier) designed for compact spaces. Its slim profile and 90 cm height let it fit into a bedroom or office without getting in the way.
Evaporative cooling with the Klarstein Highrise: how humid air makes a difference
Before we talk about airflow or speed, there’s one thing worth noting. The Highrise doesn’t work like an air conditioner. It uses evaporative cooling: air passes through a damp filter, cools by a few degrees, then flows back into the room.
The principle is simple, but it has a direct consequence: the appliance adds moisture to the surrounding air. In a room that’s already humid, evaporation slows down and the cooling effect becomes noticeably weaker.
Have you noticed that a regular fan feels less effective in muggy weather? The Highrise amplifies this effect because it adds moisture to the air. The drier the air, the more noticeable the cooling. In a well-ventilated home, with a window slightly open to let fresh air in, the results are decent. In a bedroom sealed up on a humid summer night, moisture can build up and make the air feel clammy rather than cool.
We’ve written a review of the Klarstein Highrise that looks at how it performs in real-world conditions. The difference in how it feels in dry air versus humid air is striking.
Compact tower fan: dimensions and everyday use
The Highrise has a footprint of about 24 cm in diameter—less than an A4 sheet of paper laid flat. Its 90 cm vertical profile lets it circulate air at torso height when you’re sitting, which is the most common use case (at a desk, on the sofa or in bed).
The appliance offers three fan speeds with oscillation. Oscillation sweeps air around the room without you having to reposition the fan, a real comfort boost when you’re working or sleeping. A remote control and timer round out the features, letting you operate it from a distance.
A fixed water tank: a minor practical drawback
The water tank is built into the body of the appliance, so you can’t remove it to fill it at the tap. You have to bring the water to the unit in a jug or bottle. It may seem like a small detail, but it takes a little more effort day to day than a removable tank.
To boost the cooling effect, the Highrise can use ice packs. Place them in the tank to lower the water temperature and enhance evaporative cooling for an hour or two. Keep a few in the freezer if you plan to use the air-cooling mode regularly.
Noise levels and night mode: does the Highrise live up to its quiet-running promise?
A tower fan creates less turbulence than a pedestal fan with exposed blades. Its airflow is channelled, and the internal mechanism produces a steadier whoosh.
At low speed, the Highrise is quiet, comparable to a light background noise. At maximum speed, the airflow is more noticeable, which is normal for an advertised output of around 530 m³/h.
One detail noted by several users: the control panel LEDs stay on all the time. In a dark bedroom, the light can disturb your sleep. A piece of opaque tape fixes the problem, but it’s a design oversight Klarstein could have avoided on an appliance marketed for nighttime use.
Klarstein Highrise: who is it for, and what kind of home suits it?
The manufacturer specifies a maximum coverage of around 45 m³, equivalent to a room of roughly 20 square metres. That’s suitable for a bedroom, studio apartment or home office. Beyond that, its cooling performance drops off.
Here are the situations where the Highrise performs well:
- A home office or bedroom that gets plenty of sun, with the option to leave a window slightly open to refresh the air and limit moisture build-up
- Occasional use during heatwaves, alongside natural ventilation (a cross-breeze between two openings)
- Fan-only mode (without water) in rooms that are already humid, to avoid making the air feel heavier
And the situations where it has its limitations:
- A closed, poorly ventilated room on a hot, humid night, where the added moisture cancels out the cooling effect
- A large living room, where the airflow isn’t enough to cover the space evenly
- As a replacement for a portable air conditioner, since the Highrise doesn’t control the room’s temperature or humidity
Electricity consumption and running costs
With a power rating of around 35 to 40 watts, the Highrise uses a fraction of the electricity consumed by a portable air conditioner (often ten to twenty times more). Over a full season, the difference on your electricity bill is significant.
Running costs aren’t limited to electricity. The water in the tank evaporates and needs topping up. Ice packs take up freezer space. The humidifier filter eventually gets clogged and needs regular cleaning to prevent odours. These are minor inconveniences, but worth bearing in mind before you buy.
The Klarstein Highrise does a good job as a compact tower fan, with an extra cooling boost when conditions are right. Its slim profile, quiet operation at low speed and low power consumption make it a sensible choice for a small room.
The main question to ask before buying is how humid your home gets: if your summers are dry, evaporative cooling works well. If the air is already humid, fan-only mode will feel more comfortable than air-cooling mode.
