Russell Hobbs Honeycomb Kettle Review: a fast, no-fuss boiler that looks better than it feels

I’ve been using the Russell Hobbs Honeycomb 1.7L kettle for a few weeks now, and honestly, I bought it mainly because it was on offer and my old Tesco basic kettle sounded like a jet engine. I wasn’t expecting much beyond “it boils water”, but it’s a bit better thought-out than that. It’s still a plastic kettle, not some fancy stainless steel showpiece, but for daily tea and coffee runs, it holds up fine.

Day to day, the first thing I noticed is the speed. With its 3KW element and the little cup markers inside, one mug of water really does boil in under a minute. I didn’t time exactly 43 seconds with a stopwatch, but it’s noticeably quicker than my old 2.2KW kettle. For quick coffees during work-from-home breaks, that makes a difference because you’re not standing around waiting forever.

The other thing that stands out is the noise level. It’s not silent, obviously, but it’s less loud and harsh than cheaper kettles I’ve had. I can still hear the TV or have a conversation in the kitchen while it’s boiling, which wasn’t the case with my last one. It has that standard kettle rumble, but it doesn’t screech or rattle the worktop.

It’s not perfect though. It’s very much a “practical over premium” product. The plastic feel is obvious, and if you’re picky about finishes, you’ll notice that straight away. But for the price I paid and how it’s behaved so far, I’d say it’s a pretty solid everyday kettle that does what it’s supposed to do without any drama.

On value for money, this kettle sits in that sweet spot between the ultra-cheap budget models and the pricier metal or temperature-control kettles. I picked it up around the £20 mark on offer, and at that price it feels like a very good deal: fast boil, decent design, known brand, and a guarantee of up to three years if you register it. Compared to a basic supermarket kettle for £10–£15, you’re getting better looks, slightly better build, and nicer features like the rapid boil markers and cleaner pour.

Even at its more typical price (which tends to be a bit higher than £20), it’s still reasonable. You’re not paying for fancy features like variable temperatures, keep-warm modes, or stainless steel housing. If you need those, this isn’t the right product and you’ll have to spend more. But if your main requirements are: boils quickly, doesn’t look ugly on the counter, and doesn’t feel completely cheap, then this hits the mark without stretching the budget.

Running costs-wise, the 3KW element isn’t a downside as long as you actually use the rapid boil markers and don’t constantly fill it to the top for one cup. In practice, boiling just what you need will save more energy than quibbling over wattage numbers. The fast boil also means it’s on for a shorter time, which helps. It’s a fairly efficient setup for daily use, assuming you don’t waste water.

Overall, I’d say the value is good, especially if you catch it in a sale. You’re paying mostly for reliability, speed, and decent design rather than premium materials. If you’re okay with a plastic kettle and don’t need advanced features, it’s a pretty solid buy. If you want something that feels more high-end in the hand, you might want to stretch the budget to a stainless steel model instead.

Design-wise, this kettle is clearly trying to look a bit more upmarket than it actually is. The honeycomb-textured finish on the sides does make it look nicer than a plain smooth plastic kettle. On my black version, the mix of matt and high gloss surfaces gives it a bit of contrast, and it does match other black/silver appliances in the kitchen pretty well. If you care about things looking coordinated on the worktop, this one blends in nicely.

Up close though, you can tell it’s premium-looking plastic, not premium material. The texture is decent, but when you touch it, it still feels like plastic. That’s not necessarily bad, just don’t expect some heavy, solid feel. The upside is it keeps the weight down, so even when it’s full, it’s not a wrist workout. The downside is that if you’re used to stainless steel kettles, this will feel a bit cheaper in comparison.

The push-button lid on top is convenient. You press the button, the lid pops open smoothly, and you can fill it under the tap easily. No fighting with a stuck lid like on some older designs. The hinge feels okay so far, not loose or flimsy, but that’s one area I’ll be watching over time because plastic hinges can wear out. So far, after a few weeks of daily use, it still opens and closes cleanly.

One thing I do like is the perfect pour spout. It’s shaped so the water doesn’t gush everywhere or dribble down the side. When I pour into a narrow-neck flask or a small cafetière, it’s easy to control and I don’t end up with water all over the counter. In terms of footprint, it’s fairly compact – it doesn’t hog the whole worktop. Overall, the design is visually decent and practical, but if you’re very picky about premium feel, you’ll notice it’s still a plastic kettle at the end of the day.

This kettle is basically plastic inside and out, apart from the usual metal element area at the bottom. The body, handle, lid, and base are all plastic. The plus side is weight: even full at 1.7L, it’s manageable, and older relatives or anyone with weaker wrists won’t struggle as much compared to a heavy metal kettle. For everyday use, that’s actually a big advantage.

On the flip side, you don’t get that solid, cool-to-the-touch metal feel. The plastic here is decent quality for the price, but it’s still plastic. The finish doesn’t feel flimsy or creaky in my hand, but if you squeeze the sides you can tell it’s not thick, reinforced stuff. It feels similar to other Russell Hobbs plastic kettles I’ve used, maybe a touch nicer because of the textured pattern. I don’t baby my appliances, and so far it’s handled normal bumps and knocks without any marks.

Inside, there’s a removable washable anti-scale filter at the spout. In a hard water area like mine, that’s important. After about two weeks of use, I pulled it out and there was already a bit of limescale starting to build. It rinsed off under the tap with a quick scrub, so that part is easy enough to maintain. If you live in a very hard water area and don’t bother descaling regularly, you’ll probably be cleaning that filter fairly often.

One thing people always worry about with plastic kettles is taste and smell at the start. With this one, I did the usual: filled it, boiled it, emptied, and repeated a couple of times. After two or three boils, I didn’t notice any strong plastic smell or taste in my tea. So if you’re sensitive to that, just do a few flushes first. Overall, materials are nothing fancy but practical. You’re trading off a premium feel for lightness and a lower price, which is fair enough for this type of product.

On durability, I obviously can’t simulate years of use in a few weeks, but I can compare it to similar kettles I’ve owned. The general build feels on par with other Russell Hobbs plastic kettles I’ve used, which usually last a few years without drama. The handle feels secure, there’s no wobble where it joins the body, and the lid mechanism still pops open cleanly each time. No signs of cracking or looseness yet.

The parts I’d keep an eye on over time are the lid hinge and the finish. Plastic hinges can weaken if you’re rough with them, so if you’re the type to slam the lid shut, that might cause trouble down the line. The honeycomb texture should hide small scratches better than a plain glossy surface, which is a nice side effect. On my old painted metal Russell Hobbs kettle, the paint started wearing off after a few years, especially around the handle and spout. With this all-plastic design, you don’t have paint to chip, but you might get minor scuffs instead.

One positive point is the 2-year manufacturer’s guarantee plus 1 extra year if you register online. That gives you up to three years of coverage, which is decent peace of mind for an appliance in this price range. It suggests they at least expect it to survive normal household use. If something electrical fails early, you’re not completely stuck.

In a hard water area, long-term durability will also depend heavily on descaling. Like any kettle, if you ignore limescale, it will build up on the element and can shorten its life or make it noisier. The removable anti-scale filter helps catch chunks, but it’s not magic. You’ll still want to descale the inside every so often. Overall, I’d rate durability as reasonable for the price: not built like a tank, but if you treat it normally and descale once in a while, it should last a few good years.

In terms of pure performance, this kettle does what it claims. The 3KW power means it boils quickly. With the internal rapid boil zone markers (1, 2, 3 cups), a single mug of water boils in well under a minute. I didn’t bother with precise lab measurements, but side-by-side with my older 2.2KW kettle, this one clearly finishes first. For busy mornings or when you just want a quick cuppa between meetings, that speed is genuinely handy.

The auto shutoff works reliably. Once it hits boiling, it clicks off cleanly; I haven’t had any issues with it boiling over or staying on too long. The boil dry protection is reassuring as well. I tested it once by mistake, actually – I thought there was water inside and hit the switch. It clicked off quickly and didn’t try to heat for long. So if someone in the house is forgetful, that feature might save the kettle (and maybe your fuse) at some point.

Noise-wise, it’s noticeable but not annoying. It’s quieter than the cheapest kettles I’ve had, which often sound quite harsh. This has a more controlled rumble. You can still hear it in the next room, but it doesn’t dominate everything. If you’ve got an open-plan kitchen-living room, you’ll hear it, but for me it’s within a reasonable range. No whistling, no random loud clicks apart from the usual on/off sounds.

The pouring performance is one of the nicer bits. The perfect pour spout is not just a buzzword – it actually pours in a clean stream. Filling a narrow travel mug or a French press is easy and I haven’t had drips down the side so far. The 360° base also makes it easy to pick up and put back down from any angle, which sounds minor but is nice in daily use. Overall, in terms of performance, it’s solid and reliable: quick boil, safe shutoff, controlled pour. Nothing fancy, but exactly what most people need from a kettle.

Out of the box, you get the kettle itself and the 360° base with the power cord attached. No extras, no fancy booklet beyond the usual manual and guarantee info. It’s light in the hand, around 930 g empty according to the specs, and it feels like what it is: a mid-range plastic kettle from a known brand, not some heavy-duty metal unit. For me that’s fine, because I didn’t want anything too heavy when full.

The 1.7L capacity is standard but useful. To give you an idea, I can easily make drinks for 4–5 people in one go without having to refill. The internal markings for 1, 2, and 3 cups are actually handy. I usually just eyeball it, but with this one I found myself using those marks because they’re clear and help avoid overfilling. Less water = quicker boil = less power wasted, so that part is not just marketing fluff, it’s actually practical.

On the base, you’ve got cord storage, which is simple but effective. I hate having a long cable snaking across the counter, so I wound most of it underneath and just left enough to reach the socket. The 360° rotation means you can drop the kettle back on the base from any angle, which is pretty standard now but still worth mentioning. It’s convenient if multiple people use it and you’re not all right-handed.

There’s also a water window with internal illumination, so when you switch it on, the window lights up and you can see the water level clearly. It’s not some fancy lighting effect, it’s just practical, especially in a dim kitchen. Overall, the presentation is very no-nonsense: plug it in, fill it, boil water. No app, no temperature settings, nothing to fiddle with. If you just want a kettle that works without thinking, this fits the bill.