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Verdict: the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 is the best steam iron for most UK homes, and it has been for years. It gives you 3100W, 70g/min of continuous steam, a 210g shot, a 350ml tank and a 3m cord for budget money. Mumsnet named it best overall steam iron for 2026 and Expert Reviews made it a Best Buy. The catch is weight: at about 1.5kg before you add water, it is one of the heavier irons on sale. If that worries you, the Steam Glide Pro 20562 gives you the same steam figures in a lighter, cheaper iron.
Reviewed
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
Step up
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: –
- Steam shot: 230g/min
Main rival
- Power: 2800W
- Continuous steam: 40g/min
- Steam shot: 150g/min
The Powersteam Ultra has been Russell Hobbs’ flagship corded iron since about 2018, and the 20630 is still the version sold at Amazon UK, Argos and Currys. It is the iron we recommend first in our best steam irons guide and in our Russell Hobbs guide, so this review explains what it does well, where it falls short and which models to consider instead.
One note on the specifications. Russell Hobbs, Argos and Amazon all list 70g/min of continuous steam, and Expert Reviews quotes the same figure. Currys lists 45g/min. We have used the manufacturer’s figure, but either way the 210g shot is the number that matters for stubborn creases.
At a glance
- Reviewed Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 (£). Check price
- Step up Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra 26340 (££). Check price
- Main rival Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000 (££). Check price
- Lighter and cheaper Russell Hobbs Steam Glide Pro 20562 (£). Check price
How we chose these picks
We compared the manufacturers’ published specifications, independent UK tests and reviews (including Russell Hobbs specifications as listed at Amazon UK, Argos and Currys (model 20630), Expert Reviews' Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra review, Mumsnet's best steam irons 2026, owner reviews at Argos and Amazon UK), and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We checked that every product was on sale in the UK when this page was last updated, and we re-check stock every month. We do not hands-on test products ourselves, and we say so on every review. Commission from retailer links never affects which products we pick. Read how we research.
Comparison table
| Model | Power | Continuous steam | Steam shot | Tank | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 | 3100W | 70g/min | 210g/min | 350ml | £ |
| Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra 26340 | 3100W | not published | 230g/min | 350ml | ££ |
| Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000 | 2800W | 40g/min | 150g/min | 400ml | ££ |
| Russell Hobbs Steam Glide Pro 20562 | 2600W | 70g/min | 210g/min | 300ml | £ |
Price tiers compare models within this guide: £ budget, ££ mid-range, £££ premium, ££££ top of the range. We do not list exact prices because they change daily. Tap “Check price” to see the current price on Amazon UK.
Full review
Reviewed
Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630: Reviewed
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
- Tank: 350ml
- Weight: 1.47kg empty (Argos lists 1.59kg)
- Cord: 3m
- Soleplate: Ceramic, tapered tip with button groove
- Heat-up: Under 30 seconds (manufacturer); 47 seconds to three dots in Expert Reviews' test
- Auto shut-off: Yes: 30 seconds flat, about 8 minutes upright
- Anti-scale: Anti-calc cartridge and self-clean
- Extras: Vertical steam, anti-drip, spray, variable steam, filling beaker included
- Guarantee: 2 years
Steam and crease removal. 70g/min of continuous steam is more than most irons at twice the price manage. For comparison, the Morphy Richards Turbo Glide gives 40g/min and the Tefal Ultragliss 50g/min. In practice that means fewer passes over cotton shirts, and the 210g shot deals with denim, linen and the stubborn creases in bedding. Expert Reviews found it “speedy through creases” and rated it the best steam iron for large piles of ironing. Mumsnet’s tester said it handles stubborn creases quickly and praised the chunky, easy-to-find buttons. Russell Hobbs’ UK product page quotes 70g/min of continuous steam; some retailer listings give 45g/min, so treat the exact figure as approximate.
The soleplate. The ceramic soleplate is the other reason this iron works so well. Expert Reviews described the glide as very smooth with no snagging, and owners say the same. The tip is tapered with a groove for buttons, so it gets into collar points, cuffs and plackets without you having to go round them. Russell Hobbs claims it is 50% smoother than its older Powersteam Pro.
Weight: the big trade-off. Expert Reviews weighed it at 1.47kg empty, and Argos lists 1.59kg. With a full 350ml tank you are holding close to 2kg. Many owners like this, because the weight does some of the pressing for you and you do not have to push down. Others find it tiring over a big pile and set it down between items. If you have a sore wrist or shoulder, look at our lightweight irons instead, or at the Steam Glide Pro below.
Day-to-day use. Heat-up is quick: Russell Hobbs says under 30 seconds, and Expert Reviews measured 47 seconds to the three-dot cotton setting. The 350ml tank lasts a full session of shirts, and a small filling beaker comes in the box. The 3m cord is longer than most rivals and makes the vertical steam function genuinely usable on curtains and hanging jackets. Auto shut-off kicks in after 30 seconds lying flat or about eight minutes upright, with a beep, which owners mention as reassuring. There is a temperature dial, a steam slider, spray and shot buttons, and nothing else to learn.
Scale and leaks. There is an anti-calc cartridge and a self-clean function. Russell Hobbs recommends running self-clean monthly in normal water areas and more often in hard-water areas. Owner reviews mention far fewer leaking complaints than for many cheaper irons, and the anti-drip system stops water marks at low temperatures. It is still a normal iron, so in a very hard-water area a Tefal with a removable scale collector is easier to keep clean.
What owners mention. At Argos it scores 4.5 out of 5 across more than 3,000 reviews, and 90% of customers recommend it. The praise is consistent: strong steam, quick heat-up, a long cord, a big tank and value for money. The recurring complaints are the weight, a cord that some owners find kinks, and a small number of reports that steam output felt inconsistent over time, usually fixed by running the self-clean.
- 70g/min continuous steam and a 210g shot for budget money
- Very smooth ceramic soleplate with a tapered tip
- Large 350ml tank and 3m cord
- Auto shut-off, anti-drip and self-clean
- 2-year guarantee
- Mumsnet best overall and Expert Reviews Best Buy
- Heavy, especially with a full tank
- Ceramic soleplate can mark if dragged over zips
- Grey and black only
- Some owners report the cord kinks
Our verdict: Families and anyone with a big weekly pile who wants strong steam without paying premium prices.
Step up
Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra 26340: Step up
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: –
- Steam shot: 230g/min
- Tank: 350ml
The newer Powersteam Ultra with a stronger 230g shot. Choose it over the 20630 for linen and thick cotton if the price gap is small.
Full review, pros and cons in our best russell hobbs irons 2026 guide
Main rival
Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000: Main rival
- Power: 2800W
- Continuous steam: 40g/min
- Steam shot: 150g/min
- Tank: 400ml
Less steam on paper, but a bigger 400ml tank, a precision tip and a lighter body. Expert Reviews rated it best for crease removal.
Lighter and cheaper
Russell Hobbs Steam Glide Pro 20562: Lighter and cheaper
- Power: 2600W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
- Tank: 300ml
The same 70g/min and 210g shot for less money, with a smaller tank, lower power and no auto shut-off listed.
Full review, pros and cons in our best russell hobbs irons 2026 guide
Powersteam Ultra 20630 vs 26340 vs Steam Glide Pro
| Powersteam Ultra 20630 | Powersteam Ultra 26340 | Steam Glide Pro 20562 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 3100W | 3100W | 2600W |
| Continuous steam | 70g/min | Not listed | 70g/min |
| Steam shot | 210g/min | 230g/min | 210g/min |
| Tank | 350ml | 350ml | 300ml |
| Cord | 3m | Not listed | Shorter |
| Auto shut-off | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Price tier | £ | ££ | £ |
Russell Hobbs now sells three irons with very similar steam figures. The 26340 is the newer Powersteam Ultra with a slightly stronger 230g shot. It costs more and has far fewer owner reviews, so we still rank the 20630 first unless you iron a lot of linen. The Steam Glide Pro 20562 matches the 20630’s 70g/min and 210g shot for less money, but with a smaller tank, lower power (so slower recovery between shots), a shorter cord and no auto shut-off listed. If the 20630 is on offer, buy the 20630. If not, the Steam Glide Pro is the best cheap alternative. See all of them in our Russell Hobbs irons guide.
Powersteam Ultra 20630 vs Morphy Richards Turbo Glide
The Turbo Glide 302000 is the obvious rival at a similar price. On paper the Russell Hobbs wins easily: 70g/min against 40g/min, and a 210g shot against 150g. In use the gap is smaller, because the Turbo Glide’s soleplate and precision tip flatten creases very well, and Expert Reviews rated it best for crease removal. The Morphy Richards has a bigger 400ml tank with steam-time markers and is about 100g lighter. Choose the Russell Hobbs for raw steam and bedding, and the Morphy Richards if you mostly iron shirts and want a lighter iron. Our Russell Hobbs vs Morphy Richards guide compares the two brands in more detail.
Getting the best from the Powersteam Ultra
- Do not fill the tank to the top for a few shirts. Several owners point out that a full 350ml adds noticeably to the weight, and you have to empty it afterwards anyway.
- Wait for the light to go out before using steam. Steam on a low setting is what causes drips on any iron.
- Run self-clean monthly, or every couple of weeks in a hard-water area. Fill the tank, heat to maximum, hold the iron over the sink and press self-clean until the water runs clear. Full steps in how to descale a steam iron.
- Use the tip for buttons. The groove behind the tip is designed to pass under button rows, so iron the placket from the tip rather than around it.
- Empty the tank after each session and store it upright. This is the single best way to avoid scale flakes and leaks.
- Lift it over zips. Ceramic soleplates are smooth but can scratch; a zip dragged under 1.5kg of iron will leave a mark.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 worth buying?
Yes. It gives you 70g/min of continuous steam, a 210g shot, a 350ml tank and a 3m cord at a budget price, and it is Mumsnet’s best overall steam iron for 2026 and an Expert Reviews Best Buy. The only real drawback is its weight.
How heavy is the Russell Hobbs 20630?
Expert Reviews weighed it at 1.47kg empty and Argos lists 1.59kg. With a full tank it is close to 2kg. Many owners like the weight because it presses creases with less effort, but it can tire a sore wrist.
Does the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra switch off automatically?
Yes. It switches off after about 30 seconds if left lying flat and after about 8 minutes if left standing upright, and beeps to warn you.
What is the difference between the Russell Hobbs 20630 and 26340?
Both are Powersteam Ultra irons with 3100W, a 350ml tank and auto shut-off. The newer 26340 has a slightly stronger 230g shot (against 210g) and costs more. The 20630 has years of owner reviews behind it and is usually the better value.
Can I use tap water in the Russell Hobbs 20630?
Yes. It has an anti-calc cartridge and a self-clean function designed for tap water. In a hard-water area, run self-clean more often or mix tap water with distilled water.
Related guides
- Best steam irons UK
- Best Russell Hobbs irons
- Russell Hobbs vs Morphy Richards
- Best lightweight steam irons
- How to descale a steam iron
Sources: Russell Hobbs specifications as listed at Amazon UK, Argos and Currys (model 20630); Expert Reviews' Russell Hobbs PowerSteam Ultra review; Mumsnet's best steam irons 2026; owner reviews at Argos and Amazon UK. Prices change often, so check the latest price before you buy. How we research.
