Noirot's Spot Plus heats without a fan, so the only sound in the room is the occasional tick of metal expanding. That, plus a lifetime warranty, is what the extra money buys. It suits bedrooms and anywhere a fan would be heard.
De'Longhi's SlimStyle is the faster heater. Two fans push warm air out rather than letting it rise off the panel, so a cold lounge room comes up to temperature sooner. It costs less and carries seven years instead of a lifetime.
Noirot Spot Plus 2000W
2000 watts for a room up to 20 square metres, 745mm wide and 100mm deep, with a wall bracket pre-attached and a pair of castors in the box. The thermostat is the selling point: it holds a set temperature closely rather than swinging above and below it. Daily and weekly timer on this model. Owners rate it 4.5 at The Good Guys.
No fan means no noise and no moving parts to fail, which is also why the room takes longer to warm through.
What We Like:
- Completely silent
- Lifetime warranty
- 100mm deep on the wall
What We Don't Like:
- Slow to lift a cold room
De'Longhi SlimStyle 2400W
2400 watts, three heat settings, a 24-hour timer and an Eco+ mode, at 820mm wide and 75mm deep. The double-fan arrangement spreads heat sideways instead of straight up, which is what makes it quicker than a still panel. Wall bracket included. Owners rate it 4.1 at The Good Guys.
The fans are audible. Several owners describe a low hum that is fine in a living room and noticeable in a bedroom at night.
What We Like:
- Warms a cold room faster
- 75mm deep, the slimmest here
- Seven-year warranty
What We Don't Like:
- The fans are audible at night
Side by side
| Noirot Spot Plus 2000W | De'Longhi SlimStyle 2400W | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300–350 | $250–300 |
| Power | 2000W | 2400W |
| Room size | Up to 20m² | Up to 70m³ |
| Fan | None | Double fan |
| Heat settings | Variable thermostat | 3 plus Eco+ |
| Timer | Daily and weekly | 24 hour |
| Width | 745mm | 820mm |
| Depth | 100mm | 75mm |
| Wall mount | Bracket pre-attached | Bracket included |
| Child lock | Yes | Key lock |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | 7 years |
| Owner rating | 4.5 (64) | 4.1 (193) |
Owner ratings are from The Good Guys, with review counts in brackets.
What actually differs
Noise. Noirot has no fan and the SlimStyle does. Noirot has no fan at all, so it makes no sound in use. The SlimStyle's fans are what make it faster, and they are audible in a quiet room.
How fast the room comes up. A still panel warms the air touching it and lets convection do the rest, which is gradual. Fans short-cut that. In a lounge room used for a few hours in the evening, the SlimStyle is warm sooner; in a bedroom heated before bed, the difference stops mattering.
Warranty. Limited lifetime against seven years. Noirot's is among the longest offered on any appliance sold here, and it reflects a heater with nothing in it that moves.
Running cost. Both are resistive heaters, so both turn a kilowatt of electricity into a kilowatt of heat. At 2400 watts the SlimStyle draws more while it runs and reaches the set temperature sooner; over an evening the difference in cost is small. Neither is cheap to run compared with a reverse-cycle split system, which is covered in panel vs oil column vs fan heater.
Mounting. Both go on a wall or stand on castors. The SlimStyle is 75mm deep against Noirot's 100mm, and Noirot is the narrower of the two.
Who each one suits
Noirot Spot Plus suits bedrooms, nurseries and home offices, and anyone who has returned a heater because of fan noise.
De'Longhi SlimStyle suits a living room that needs to warm quickly on a winter evening, and buyers who would rather spend the difference elsewhere.
FAQs
Can either be left on all night?
Both have a thermostat, a tip-over cut-out and overheat protection, and both are designed to cycle unattended. Noirot adds anti-freeze protection, which holds a room just above freezing rather than heating it.
Do panel heaters need installation?
No. Both ship with castors for floor use and a bracket for the wall, and neither needs an electrician. Wall mounting is a matter of finding studs and using the supplied fixings.
Is 2400 watts better than 2000?
Only for larger rooms. Both are limited to 10 amps at a standard power point, and a 2400-watt heater in a small bedroom simply cycles off sooner.
