I put two 'Dyson dupe' hairdryers to the ultimate test — here's how the Laifen SE 2 and the Dreame Glory Mix compare

As painful as it is to admit, hairdryers are getting more expensive — yet they still perform the same basic function. When Dyson announced the Supersonic almost a decade ago, it became the cream of the crop, with many a dupe striving to be like the original, but cheaper.

After reviewing the Supersonic Nural last year — a.k.a. Dyson's "most intelligent" hair dryer — I've been rather invested in the world of hair tools, particularly how influential factors like technology, price and virality are growing increasingly important these days.

Dyson shines in the technology department, revolutionising how airflow can be utilised over heat, but its steep prices, with tools costing upwards of AU$800, give room for dupes to take centre stage in the virality sphere.

When considering a hair tool purchase, customers are more likely to consult social media, Reddit reviews and YouTube tutorials, to see exactly how these tools perform — even if the functions are the same as an ageing tool they have at home.

The two hair dryers I've put to the test — The Dreame Glory Mix and the Laifen SE 2 — have both made considerable waves online, with rave reviews on TikTok, YouTube and Reddit promoting the purchases of these "Dyson Dupes". One online reviewer even went so far as to say that the Dreame Glory replaced their Dyson Supersonic.

I've conducted comprehensive testing of the Glory Mix and the SE 2, comparing them right down to the dollar, so that you can decide which Dyson dupe is right for you. So enough with the waffling — let's get down to business.

Dreame Glory Mix v Laifen SE 2: Price, availability and attachments

The Laifen SE 2 launched in Australia in July, retailing at AU$299. The dryer is available at different retailers, including JB Hi-Fi and Laifen AU. This model is currently available in Australia and China; however, it is not available in other markets, such as the U.S. and the U.K.

Meanwhile, the Dreame Glory launched in 2023, retailing at AU$349. The Dreame Glory Mix is also available at Amazon, JB Hi-Fi and directly from Dreame AU. Unlike the SE 2, the Dreame Glory has wider availability and can be purchased globally.

Both dryers come with the same attachments — a diffuser, smoothing nozzle and concentrator nozzle. The dryers do have different specialty modes, but have similar airflow and temperature settings for the most part.

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Dreame's end cap displays its modes by illuminating the setting in use. Ranging from cold, thermostat, warm and hot, Dreame's modes are interchangeable by using the button underneath the airflow switch. Dreame's specialty thermostat mode brings the temperature of the dryer down to the room around you, and is recommended for use with its concentrator nozzle.

Laifen's end cap is much simpler in design, only showcasing an LED strip with different colours to represent the mode in use. Ranging from cold, warm and hot, the Laifen will change in colour from red, orange and blue. Laifen does have an extra child mode, which locks in the warm setting for use on kids' hair or pets, and it also has a mode that switches throughout the heat settings in a cycle, illuminated by a pink light.

Dreame Glory Mix v Laifen SE 2: Specifications

Dreame Glory Mix v Laifen SE 2: Performance

Now, to accurately measure the performance of both dryers, I put them through the same tests. As broken down below, these tests included recording the temperature of each dryer, airflow setting, time taken to fully dry results, and noise reading when in use. Both dryers were tested on thick, wavy, mid-length hair that had its fair share of colouring and light breakage on the ends.

(Full transparency — I did not compare the dryers' concentrator attachments, as Dreame's nozzle has a separate function from Laifen's. More on that later…)

High heat and airflow settings

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While testing both dryers, my most used settings were high heat and high airflow, as the thickness of my hair tends to be the most problematic factor when blow-drying. Over the month of testing, the SE 2 averaged 13.34 minutes from completely wet to dry, whereas the Glory averaged 14.45 minutes.

In a nail-biting tiebreaker, I tracked how long it would take for each dryer to completely dry one half of my head, without using any attachments or brushes to quicken the process. From start to finish, Dreame took 3.44 minutes and Laifen took 3.04 minutes, landing on top once again.

In terms of noise readings, my decibel meter clocked 101dB for Dreame and 99dB for Laifen. Temperature-wise, both dryers were around 95℃ at their hottest, and recorded around 73℃ at the lowest.

Even though Dreame had the higher RPM rate and quieter dB reading, as per its specifications, Laifen had it beat when using high airflow and high heat settings.

Winner: Laifen SE 2

Low heat and airflow settings

As for lower settings, the Dreame Glory did redeem itself in more ways than one. Dreame averaged around 16.20 minutes during my tests, and Laifen had a tougher time, averaging 18.02 minutes from fully wet to dry. The decibel readings were on par, with both dryers averaging around 95dBs.

The biggest difference between the two with these settings was airflow, as I felt Dreame had more power behind it on a slower setting. This does go back to its specs, claiming 110,000RPM, and the dryer having a slightly higher temperature (85℃ v 80℃ for Laifen). With this in mind, Dreame was the definitive winner in this category.

Winner: Dreame Glory Mix

Diffuser attachment

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As with my preferred settings, I used both diffusers to fully determine the design of the attachments and the overall time it took to diffuse my wavy hair. I used my everyday products, including a curling creme and hair oil, as I normally would when diffusing my hair.

Dreame's attachment is more rounded, curving at the base, and its prongs are closer together within the mound. Laifen's attachment, on the other hand, is more conical with fewer prongs in the centre of the attachment.

The dryers took a similar amount of time to diffuse my hair, both totalling around 17 minutes each. I did end up preferring Dreame's attachment overall, as I found the additional prongs helped shape my waves and leave a lasting style. That said, both tests did result in some frizzier-than-usual roots and flyaways, but that could also be the result of Sydney's gloomy, rainy weather and higher-than-normal humidity on test day.

Winner: Dreame Glory Mix

Frizz-free smoothing attachment

Much like the tiebreaker test above, I wanted to showcase the smoothing attachments more subjectively by styling one half of my head with each dryer before an event. After blow-drying, I used the smoothing attachments with a round brush, passing through sections of hair until I achieved a frizz-free finish on both sides and spritzing with medium-hold hairspray.

Now, again, I am sure the outside humidity played a role in this, but Dreame's side ended up curling my ends inward and puffy after a few hours. Laifen's side did have some humidity issues, however, the hair stayed mostly straight, with no obvious flicks or curls in sight. Despite the attachments being almost identical, Laifen did reign supreme in this test.

Winner: Laifen SE 2

Dreame Glory Mix v Laifen SE 2: Subjective measures

In terms of subjective measures, there were a few glaring differences that caught my attention while testing. For starters, while the attachments included were the same (if not similar), Laifen's concentrator nozzle angled out like a trapezium, whereas Dreame's was round, similar to Dyson's.

Theoretically, concentrator nozzles help direct the airflow for more precise styling, often used to reduce frizz and leave a smoother finish. Laifen says this is for more controlled airflow, but I found it a little tricky to manoeuvre, especially if I was using a round brush that was slightly smaller than the attachment. With that in mind, I preferred using Dreame's nozzle more, as it was easier to manage.

Looking at it from an aesthetic colour perspective, Laifen's attachments didn't colour match with the machine, but rather complemented it in a mauve pink. Again, this is very similar to the Dyson in that regard, as the Supersonic's attachments are black, no matter what colourway you choose. This is totally subjective, but I did prefer that the Dreame's gold colourway was everywhere, including the attachments, and I found it to be a nice touch.

One of the Dreame attachments did pique my interest the most, though, and surprisingly, the experience of it was something I won't forget. Its concentrator doubles as a perfume nozzle, which houses a scented ring on the inside. Dreame provides a bellflower-scented ring with the dryer and a packet of blank rings for you to spray your own perfume or cologne with.

I used my own body/hair mist to try it out, spraying a blank ring with 1ml as per the device's instructions. Using thermostat mode, I dried my hair as normal. There was no obvious scent while drying, and after I was done, there was a very faint smell of my perfume. I'll be honest — how beneficial this mode is or its use case is worth pondering, but it was interesting to say the least.

Dreame Glory Mix v Laifen SE 2: Verdict

If you have a Dyson mindset on a dupe budget, then it's hard to go past either of these great dryers. The Laifen SE 2 boasts cute colourways, while the Dreame Glory Mix houses specialty attachments and power.

Though if I had to pick one over the other, purely on a budget standpoint, I would recommend the Laifen SE 2. Not only does it have a cheaper price tag, but it comes with modes specifically designed for using the dryer with kids or pets. While the Dreame was definitely speedier in some cases, the Laifen was consistent in my tests for everyday hair drying and styling. Plus, I feel the attachments that come with the SE 2 would have more regular use cases than, say, the perfume nozzle that comes with Dreame.

If you're more swayed by hairtool aesthetics and can fork up the extra cash, the Dreame Glory Mix is a worthwhile investment. No matter which one you choose, though, these dryers are certified "Dyson dupes", making them all the easier to recommend for budget-conscious buyers. And at the end of the day, they do the same thing — and that's drying hair.

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