Let's start with the spout, it's the size of mouse's ear. It takes too long to fill through the spout so you have to open the lid. The lid seems to have been designed to be opened only occasionally (for cleaning) so this is not made easy and is not clear how to open or close it (how far to twist it?) The lid design is such that you have to twist it an unknown amount but its handle is so small to grab that it quite often flies off. Also, when you replace the lid you don't know how to twist it to make sure its closed properly. It's a risk because if you pour a full kettle when the lid is not on then it will spill out and burn you. Also:The kettle has no light so you don't know if it's on.The kettle has not gauge on the outside so you have no way of knowing how full it is (unless you use the lid) or if you've overfilled it.The worst part is that it sometimes leaks whilst pouring because of the lidOverall a really terrible design. I only started using it 6 weeks after purchase so I'm probably stuck with - another waste of the Earth's resources.

Let's start with the spout, it's the size of mouse's ear. It takes too long to fill through the spout so you have to open the lid. The lid seems to have been designed to be opened only occasionally (for cleaning) so this is not made easy and is not clear how to open or close it (how far to twist it?) The lid design is such that you have to twist it an unknown amount but its handle is so small to grab that it quite often flies off. Also, when you replace the lid you don't know how to twist it to make sure its closed properly. It's a risk because if you pour a full kettle when the lid is not on then it will spill out and burn you. Also:
The kettle has no light so you don't know if it's on.
The kettle has not gauge on the outside so you have no way of knowing how full it is (unless you use the lid) or if you've overfilled it.

The worst part is that it sometimes leaks whilst pouring because of the lid

Overall a really terrible design. I only started using it 6 weeks after purchase so I'm probably stuck with - another waste of the Earth's resources.

Its not quiet and that is the only reason i got it.

Really like this kettle, and it is a second purchase of this model. First kettle became very hit or miss whether to boil or not and took a long time to start. Replaced it with same model and afterwards opened base of old kettle, having satisfied myself that the old kettle worked perfectly in new base.What I found was pretty frightening. Totally surprised not to have had a FIRE. The 3KW carrying cable (live wire) had burnt quite far out from the attachment point (centre pick up). In one way, an OK method of connecting wires; there is insulation BUT the wires cross and I imagine get quite hot from a 3KW load.I contacted Russel Hobbs via their web site (as I had already bought a second, same model kettle and now intended to open new base to check).Had an E- acknowledgement from R-H saying they would be in touch, which unfortunately they have not botherd to do. Also informed them I had photographs of the burnt wires (old base, frighteningly, will still work, hit and miss). Thought it might be worth warning about this problem as R-H obviously have no concern whatever.

Really like this kettle, and it is a second purchase of this model. First kettle became very hit or miss whether to boil or not and took a long time to start. Replaced it with same model and afterwards opened base of old kettle, having satisfied myself that the old kettle worked perfectly in new base.
What I found was pretty frightening. Totally surprised not to have had a FIRE. The 3KW carrying cable (live wire) had burnt quite far out from the attachment point (centre pick up). In one way, an OK method of connecting wires; there is insulation BUT the wires cross and I imagine get quite hot from a 3KW load.

I contacted Russel Hobbs via their web site (as I had already bought a second, same model kettle and now intended to open new base to check).
Had an E- acknowledgement from R-H saying they would be in touch, which unfortunately they have not botherd to do. Also informed them I had photographs of the burnt wires (old base, frighteningly, will still work, hit and miss). Thought it might be worth warning about this problem as R-H obviously have no concern whatever.

I expect more from a major brand name like Russell Hobbs. Sadly, those expectations seem to have been unreasonable. The issues are:Kettle does not rest securely in its stand. It ‘wobbles’ as the kettle boils. It doesn’t seem like it would fall over on its own but a slight knock might tip it over. It’s not very reassuring.The lid does not have a hinge it has a sprung laden latch that clicks into place below the lip of the kettle. Burnt myself slightly after the first boiling (you usually have to run a new kettle a few times before using it) as the latch made the lid pop off & hot water droplets scalded me.No water gauge on the outside of the kettle. Surely this is a standard feature these days? Like car stereos. There is a line on the inside of the kettle marked 1.7 litres. Hopefully everyone using this kettle will think to wear their glasses first thing in the morning to be able to see this.Noisy. Not the loudest kettle I’ve ever had but difficult to hear anyone talking over the noise it makes.

I expect more from a major brand name like Russell Hobbs. Sadly, those expectations seem to have been unreasonable. The issues are:

Kettle does not rest securely in its stand. It ‘wobbles’ as the kettle boils. It doesn’t seem like it would fall over on its own but a slight knock might tip it over. It’s not very reassuring.

The lid does not have a hinge it has a sprung laden latch that clicks into place below the lip of the kettle. Burnt myself slightly after the first boiling (you usually have to run a new kettle a few times before using it) as the latch made the lid pop off & hot water droplets scalded me.

No water gauge on the outside of the kettle. Surely this is a standard feature these days? Like car stereos. There is a line on the inside of the kettle marked 1.7 litres. Hopefully everyone using this kettle will think to wear their glasses first thing in the morning to be able to see this.

Noisy. Not the loudest kettle I’ve ever had but difficult to hear anyone talking over the noise it makes.

Kettle is well made and nice and simple to use. Quite like the fact that the lid lifts off rather than flips up with button. It quickly boils a single cup. However I had to return it because of the way it made the water taste. Even after following the initial use instructions to remove any manufacturing residue and after a full weeks use the water still tasted tainted - a chemical residue was clearly still leaching into the water. This could be reduced by always fully emptying the kettle and adding fresh water every time but even if a small amount was left in from the last use I found myself pouring tea and coffee down the sink as it was undrinkable. I have never had anything like this before and was surprised from a make such as Russell Hobbs - maybe I got unlucky with a batch that was somehow contaminated. Anyway no problem returning this using Amazon refund process. Now gone back to my 20 year old Philips kettle.

Kettle is well made and nice and simple to use. Quite like the fact that the lid lifts off rather than flips up with button. It quickly boils a single cup. However I had to return it because of the way it made the water taste. Even after following the initial use instructions to remove any manufacturing residue and after a full weeks use the water still tasted tainted - a chemical residue was clearly still leaching into the water. This could be reduced by always fully emptying the kettle and adding fresh water every time but even if a small amount was left in from the last use I found myself pouring tea and coffee down the sink as it was undrinkable. I have never had anything like this before and was surprised from a make such as Russell Hobbs - maybe I got unlucky with a batch that was somehow contaminated. Anyway no problem returning this using Amazon refund process. Now gone back to my 20 year old Philips kettle.

Fair

Does not work vary well????????

I've had this for about a year now and bought it when it was priced £16.00. Overall, it's a decent piece of kit BUT I do have some issues with its design, as well as with it sometimes not switching off when it's over a certain level (end up flicking it off myself).What's good?- Looks nice.- Boils one or two mugs worth of water quite quickly.- Has worked for about a year so far with minimal issues (with some regular usage everyday).What's bad?- No water level indicator outside of the kettle. I find this absolutely insane and wasn't something I knew before I purchased the kettle. It's all well and good having indicators inside of the kettle, but it's not exactly easy to see them. I'd not recommend the kettle based solely on this point.- Sometimes when boiling at near-full, it WILL NOT turn off once hitting boiling. I find this quite a problem as I like to leave the kettle boiling and go out of the room to tidy up or something while I wait.- It's noisy. Not just a bit easy. Conversation ending.- Cable is quite short. Probably less than 30cm. Not the biggest dealbreaker, but it does constrain our positioning of it.- I find it still leaks when pouring it, even when half full.- We've found it needs to be cleaned more than past kettles. This might just be our water in a different area.- Not the largest volume. In hindsight, I would have liked something with more volume.To be absolutely honest, I WOULD NOT recommend this. For the price, I think you can get A LOT better kettles with better designs, higher volumes, as well as higher quality. I would strongly advise you look at lower ranked or slightly more expensive (£20) models as you get quite a lot more for your money in my opinion. I'm just waiting for this to break so I can buy something better...

Wife says to me "this tea tastes awful, must be chlorine in the tap water". I taste mine - revolting chemical taste but not sure it's chlorine. Does this coincide with us using the new kettle? Yes it does. Several boils later and it's no better. Cups poured down the sink. Test. Two cups of tea made. One using the kettle to boil the water, the other using a saucepan. Tea tasted. What a difference. There is clearly something wrong with this kettle, at least most certainly with the one we were sent and I'd expect them all to be like it. So it's back in its box, labelled up and back to Amazon it goes. Too cheap, I think. Going for a Morphy Richards at twice the price, but tea is our national drink after all.