REASONS TO BUY
Efficiently reduces wrinkles
Misty water spray
400+ steam holes
Retractable cord
REASONS TO AVOID
Filling the water tank could be easier
CHI Steam Titanium Review
An above-average steam iron with a conveniently retractable chord and an ergonomic soleplate that can tackle most wrinkles
Credit: Chi Steam
RELATED: Best Irons of 2023
Our Verdict
The CHI Steam Titanium performed above average across all our testing metrics, claiming a spot among our top-ranked steam irons. This iron is an absolute pleasure to use, from its ergonomic handle to its slick glide. It works well across all fabrics, requiring only a few swipes to smooth out even the deepest-set wrinkles. The impressive steam output makes ironing easy, while the retractable cord helps clean up. It is a bit of an investment when compared to our budget-friendly options but well worth the extra few bucks if you're looking for a well-rounded appliance at a still-fair price.
Editor's Note: We updated this review for the CHI Steam Titanium on April 21, 2022, with an unbiased assessment of value and a closer look at other comparable products.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
CHI Steam Titanium | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $100 List $85.38 at Amazon | $65 List $62.05 at Amazon | $120 List $139.80 at Amazon | $55 List $49.74 at Amazon | $25 List $14.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Efficiently reduces wrinkles, misty water spray, 400+ steam holes, retractable cord | Good shape for detailing, great temperature, excellent ironing performance, retractable cord | Great steam output, excellent glide, precise | Powerful steam burst, pointed nose for precision, budget-friendly | Inexpensive, portable |
| Cons | Filling the water tank could be easier | Tank opening is small, doesn't spray very far | Expensive, uneven soleplate temperature | Minimal steam output, lack of steam holes on soleplate | Lacking in power, underwhelming ironing performance |
| Bottom Line | An above-average steam iron with a conveniently retractable chord and an ergonomic soleplate that can tackle most wrinkles | A top-scoring product with excellent performance, heat output, and usability for less than you might expect | A top-notch model at a top-tier price for anyone that demands high-end ironing performance | A high-performing iron equipped with a powerful steam burst and the ability to tackle most fabrics and most wrinkles | A steam iron that is perfect for travel but is too weak for regular chores at home |
| Rating Categories | CHI Steam Titanium | Rowenta DW2459 Access | Rowenta DW7180 Ever... | Black+Decker D3030... | Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot |
| Ironing Performance (35%) | |||||
| Steam Output (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Heating (15%) | |||||
| Specs | CHI Steam Titanium | Rowenta DW2459 Access | Rowenta DW7180 Ever... | Black+Decker D3030... | Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot |
| Wattage | 1400W | 1725W | 1700W | 1700W | 800W |
| Weight | 3 lbs | 3.1 lbs | 2.9 lbs | 3.4 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Cord Length | 8' | 7.5' | 8' | 8' | 8' |
| Soleplate Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Titanium Infused Ceramic | Stainless Steel | Non-Stick |
| Measured Steam Output (from 5 min test) | 110 g | 53 g | 120 g | 44 g | 12 g |
| Average Temperature (after 5 min of heating) | 304 °F | 362 °F | 313 °F | 338 °F | 332 °F |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Titanium performed admirably across all our metrics and was most impressive in ironing performance and steam output. Read on to learn all the nitty-gritty details.
Performance Comparison
A sleek iron with a pointed soleplate nose for ultimate precision.
Credit: Laura Casner
Ironing Performance
We took the time to test each steam iron on many different kinds of fabric, from silk and cotton to synthetics, like polyester. The CHI Steam Titanium performed well with all of them, particularly on cotton and linen.
The Titanium requires very few passes and no additional steam on both cotton and linen. It takes roughly two passes to smooth over both materials completely, and there was no issue with deep-set wrinkles created by long-term folding or compression of the garment. While this steam iron leaves a few small moisture drips on materials that require additional steam, it is still an efficient option. The Titanium rids hard-to-work-with materials like silk of most wrinkles, leaving no watermarks behind.
The CHI Steam Titanium glides with ease on top of most fabrics.
Credit: Laura Casner
Polyester can be difficult to work with because, like many synthetics, the risk of it melting if the iron reaches a high enough temperature is eminent. The CHI Titanium takes a few extra swipes to get the ball rolling, but there aren't many wrinkles that it can't handle once the steam gets flowing.
We love how the Titanium navigates tricky collars.
Credit: Laura Casner
The water spray emits in the form of a fine mist, which helps keep from soaking the fabric underneath while still offering enough moisture to release deep-set wrinkles. The Titanium navigates buttons, collars, and pleats easily, but it is rather heavy, which requires the user to put a little extra effort into their steam ironing. The nose is plenty pointed, but the taper is slightly less aggressive compared to some of the higher-performing models in our test suite. We do not find this an issue with most garments, but it is important to note for those seeking the highest level of precision.
The presets make things easy.
Credit: Laura Casner
Steam Output
It is no surprise that steam is what sets a steam iron apart from a regular iron, which is why this is a vital metric. The addition of hot moisture allows for efficient wrinkle-reducing and helps the user avoid burning their garments. We were extremely pleased with the results of the Titanium in this metric.
On average, the CHI Titanium emits a whopping 55 grams per minute, which is well above the average in our test suite.
The soleplate has over 400 steam holes strategically placed to ensure that the maximum amount of steam is being released at any given time.
Ease of Use
The Titanium performs above average in this metric as well. During our hands-on testing, we considered the cord design, handle ergonomics, and ease of filling. While this iron was a bit of a struggle to fill, overall, this iron is a pleasure to use.
A retractable eight-foot cord allows for a quick and easy clean-up, even if the iron is still hot. An eight-foot cord also makes it easier to iron larger fabrics, like bedsheets.
The nose of the soleplate tapers in a way that makes navigating pleats, buttons, and collars a breeze, although it is not quite as tapered as other steam irons we experienced.
We have just two issues with the Titanium. The metal accents are slick, which makes holding the appliance a little slippery when wet. The second is that there is no way to move the small flap in the fill hole, making it difficult to fill without making a mess.
While the Titanium is generally easy to use, filling it up can get a little messy.
Credit: Laura Casner
Heating
While ironing performance and ease of use are important, a steam iron wouldn't be much of an iron if it didn't pack some heat. The Titanium performs admirably, but there is a little room for improvement here.
After roughly five minutes, the average heat across the soleplate was 304 degrees Fahrenheit. We discovered a little inconsistency across the soleplate during our testing, but nothing too dramatic.
The iron stayed above 300 degrees with a difference of 54 degrees from the coolest to the hottest spots. This inconsistency is pretty average and did not affect the overall performance.
Should You Buy the CHI Steam Titanium?
This above-average steam iron is a great purchase. It falls somewhere between our most and least expensive options, and we feel it's a great investment. The CHI Titanium is a great option if you are looking for specific features like a retractable cord and a mist-like water spray. If those features don't give you butterflies, you could save a few bucks by going with one of the cheaper options in our test suite.
What Other Steam Irons Should You Consider?
With a retractable cord, over 400 steam holes, and an ergonomic soleplate, it's hard to go wrong with the CHI Steam Titanium. That said, even though it earns an above-average score across nearly all of our testing metrics, it is notably out-performed by the value-minded Rowenta DW2459 Access.
—
Michelle Powell and Hayley Thomas
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