Philips 8000 Series PSG8130/80 Steam Generator Iron review: "it's completely transformed the way I do my ironing"

Price on writing: £300 | Buy now from Currys

Sajana testing the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron

How we tested

Mumsnet tester Sajana put the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron through its paces in her family home. She pitted the iron against everyday fabrics such as cotton and jersey, as well as delicates including silk and lace tops and dresses. Analysing the iron's performance, she scored it against a set of standardised criteria, taking detailed notes on what the iron is like to use as part of her daily routine. During the review process, the Philips 8000 Series was compared to Sajana's Russell Hobbs 21370 SteamGlide, her Tefal Handheld Clothes Steamer and the Philips PerfectCare Elite Steam Generator.

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Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron: the verdict

• Performance: 15/15

• Quality and durability: 13/15

• Ease of use: 13/15

• Value for money: 12/15

• Steam power: 10/10

• Storage: 6/10

• Weight: 9/10

• Ease of maintenance: 9/10

• Total: 87/100

"We use a Russell Hobbs SteamGlide steam iron, but I also rely on a Tefal Handheld Clothes Steamer since many of my silk and lace tops/dresses can’t be ironed directly with a standard iron.

"When I received the box for the Philips 8000 Series I was a bit shocked by the size of it. It’s a fairly large appliance, the iron and base take up much more space than a standard iron; but it still fits neatly at the end of my ironing board - a Minky Ergo Prozone.

"The user manual wasn’t very clear, but the appliance itself is so intuitive that it didn’t take me long to figure it out. As long as you have the space for it and don’t need to pack it away every day, it’s an excellent product to live with. It delivers great results and actually makes ironing enjoyable; coming from someone who usually doesn’t enjoy it at all.

"I can get through the ironing much faster now, easily twice as much as I managed with my old iron. I love that I only need one appliance instead of two, and the results are even better. My clothes look more perfectly pressed than before, with no water marks at all.  

"I’d definitely recommend it to friends who invest in quality clothing and want to keep their garments looking their best."

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What's the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron like to use day to day?

"One of the reasons I wanted to try a steam generator iron is that I own quite a few delicate garments that can only be steamed. Even with my Tefal steamer, I often ended up with water stains on silk tops. This iron-and-steamer combo has been a dream; it lets me steam garments vertically or use it directly on the ironing board. Thanks to its large water tank, I can get through far more ironing than I ever could with my old setup.

"Another standout feature is the lack of traditional temperature controls. Instead, it automatically adjusts the heat based on the fabric and the speed you iron. I was skeptical of the claim that it wouldn’t burn anything, even if left flat on clothing, but after testing it (on something inexpensive), it really didn’t burn; a pretty incredible result.

Clothes steamed and ironed by the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron during testing

"The iron itself is lighter than a standard iron, with most of the bulk housed in the base that holds the water. While it does take up a fair amount of space on the ironing board, a small side table could be a good workaround if space is tight.

"It is quite bulky and does require plenty of storage space, but I think that’s necessary for it to perform as well as it does. The large water tank means fewer refills, and the ironing system itself works unlike any I’ve used before. Overall, it’s an excellent product."

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Does the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron speed up ironing?

This iron allows Sajana to get through her ironing pile twice as fast, so when compared to a regular steam iron, the difference it makes is huge. However, the real test is how it compares to another premium steam generator iron, so I analysed its performance compared with the slightly older model the Philips PerfectCare Elite.

Philips have upgraded their premium steam generator offer, and the 8000 Series packs considerably more punch than its predecessor.

The Series 8000 is slightly lighter, at 4.9kg compared with the PerfectCare Elite's 5.1kg. But where it really shines is where it counts: its steam power.

With a 150g continuous steam output, the PerfectCare Elite was impressive - earning it the top spot in our best steam generator irons round-up two years running. The 8000 Series is even more powerful, with 170g of continuous steam helping it glide through creases with the greatest of ease. And when you hit some tough creases, it's got a 700g/minute steam shot to blast through (the PerfectCare had a 500g/minute steam shot). Combined with 8.5 bar steam pressure, this is one seriously powerful iron.

In fact, of the 10+ steam generator irons we've tested at Mumsnet, in terms of steam power the Philips 8000 Series is second only to the Tefal Pro Express Vision, which is around £100 more expensive.

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Side and back view of the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron

Is the Philips 8000 Series Steam Generator Iron good value for money?

"It is on the expensive side, but after using it for a while, I can confidently say it’s an excellent product; you really do get what you pay for. I’ve never owned a steam generator iron before, but despite the cost, this one has completely transformed the way I do my ironing."

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.