Humidifiers / Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
$89.99
VSVicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)
$19.79
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
Warm mist that never boils: 86°F is comfort, not sterilisation.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.5-point gap makes the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier the straightforward choice here. Warm mist that never boils: 86°F is comfort, not sterilisation.
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier and Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) are both closely matched humidifier models, and the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) is $70.20 cheaper than the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier ($19.79 vs $89.99). On Freedom From White Dust, the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) leads (10.0 vs 2.5/10) — the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.. On Humidity Control, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads (8.5 vs 1.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. On Safety Around Children, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads (7.5 vs 2.0/10) — burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery. Overall, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 6.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier | Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $19.79 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2015 |
| Humidification Technology | Ultrasonic, sold as "cool and warm mist". The warm mode pre-heats the water before the piezo disc atomises it — it does not boil it | Warm steam vaporizer. Current is passed through the water itself to boil it, which is why Vicks' own FAQ states "These units require water with minerals in it in order to function properly" — pure water does not conduct, so the unit will simply not steam |
| White Dust & Mineral Aerosol | Yes, in both modes. Warming the water does not change the mechanism: a piezo disc still aerosolises everything dissolved in it. the EPA's "Use and Care of Home Humidifiers" states that ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers "are very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air" and that they "can disperse materials, such as microorganisms and minerals, from their water tanks into indoor air". Dreo fits a mineral-absorption pad and sells no first-party replacement, so the aftermarket pads on Amazon are third-party and unverified | None. Boiling drops the minerals out as scale inside the steam unit rather than aerosolising them. The visible particulate this unit does emit is black, not white: Vicks' cleaning instructions tell you to flush it "until black particles are no longer emitted", and those are carbon from the element |
| Tank Capacity | 6 L / 1.58 gal, top-fill | 1.5 gal / 5.7 L |
| Rated Output per Day | Published, unusually: 300 mL/hr in cool mist, 500 mL/hr in warm mist — 7.2 L/day and 12 L/day respectively if run continuously. Both exceed the 6 L tank, so the 60-hour runtime cannot be a high-output figure | Not published by the manufacturer as a gallons-per-day or mL/hr figure. The only throughput anchor is the tank divided by the quoted runtime |
| Quoted Runtime (and at which setting) | "Up to 60 hours" — arithmetic settles this one. 6 L at the published 300 mL/hr cool-mist rate is 20 hours, and at 500 mL/hr warm it is 12. The 60-hour claim implies about 100 mL/hr, i.e. the lowest setting only | Sources conflict: Vicks' own product page says "up to 24 hours", Target's listing for the same V150SGN says 18 hours. There is no output setting to attribute either figure to — the unit has one speed |
| Rated Room Coverage | Not published by Dreo on the product page — the only sizing language is the retail headline "for Large Room". Dreo publishes output instead, which is arguably the more useful number | Sources conflict: Vicks' page and Walmart's listing say 600 ft², Target's listing for the same model says 300-500 ft² |
| Humidistat | Real closed-loop humidistat. Dreo rates the sensor at ±5% precision with a 30-90% RH adjustable target, plus manual, auto and sleep modes and 30 days of app-side history | None, and no output control either. One switch. It boils at full rate until the tank is empty or you unplug it — the single most over-humidification-prone unit in this set |
| Noise | 28 dB claimed by Dreo — a manufacturer figure with no independent measurement published, and comparable ultrasonics measure several dB higher in third-party testing | Not published. There is no fan, so the noise is the boil; users describe intermittent gurgling and, when scaled or over-salted, spitting |
| Filters & Cartridges (Annual Cost) | A mineral-absorption pad sits in the tank. Dreo does not sell a first-party replacement pack; the only replacements listed are third-party multi-packs, so budget is unclear and the pad does not eliminate white dust regardless | None required — no filter, no wick, no cartridge. VapoPads and VapoSteam are optional add-ons Vicks would like to sell you; the unit runs on plain tap water |
| Cleaning Burden & Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Top-fill opening takes a hand and the aroma tray lifts out, but the warm-mist heater adds a scale surface an ordinary cool-mist ultrasonic does not have. Nothing is dishwasher-safe. Dreo ships a cleaning guide and brush in the box, which is more than most | Weekly, and the routine is specific: Vicks says soak the steam unit "in 4 inches of white vinegar for 10 minutes", flush until black particles stop, then disinfect the reservoir with "1 teaspoon of bleach per gallon" for 20 minutes. The tank opening is wide. Scale build-up is what causes the spitting complaints |
| UV / Antimicrobial Claim | None claimed. No UV lamp, no antimicrobial coating. The warm mode is not hot enough to sterilise anything | Boiling is the entire hygiene mechanism, and Vicks makes no germ-free or sterilisation marketing claim for it anywhere in the FAQ |
| Mist Temperature & Burn Risk | This is the trap. Dreo's own spec says warm mode "reaches 86°F in 5 minutes" — 30°C, barely above body temperature. That is comfort, not sterilisation: a genuine warm-mist unit boils at 212°F. It also means the 280W warm mode buys you no hygiene benefit at all, and the mist is not sterile | Boiling. Vicks' placement guidance is to keep the vaporizer "at least four feet away from bedside" on a heat-resistant, waterproof surface. A 638W element and 1.5 gallons of near-boiling water is a scald hazard a toddler can pull over |
| Warranty | 12 months | 36 months |
| Colors | Silver, Blue | White |
Category Scores
Freedom From White Dust
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) leads clearly here, 10.0 against 2.5 — a 7.5-point margin on the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Output
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Runtime & Refill Interval
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. If that is what you are buying for, the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Cleaning & Access
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier and Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Running Cost
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-point margin on wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Quietness
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Humidity Control
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 8.5 against 1.0 — a 7.5-point margin on whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. If that is what you are buying for, the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Safety Around Children
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 7.5 against 2.0 — a 5.5-point margin on burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery. If that is what you are buying for, the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier if…
- • Humidity Control matters most to you — the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 8.5/10 here (whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it).
- • Safety Around Children matters most to you — the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 7.5/10 here (burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery).
- • Runtime & Refill Interval matters most to you — the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 8.0/10 here (how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is).
- • Your main use case is nursery.
Choose the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) if…
- • Freedom From White Dust matters most to you — the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) scores 10.0/10 here (the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.).
- • Running Cost matters most to you — the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) scores 8.5/10 here (wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase).
- • You want to spend less — it's $70.20 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is no-white-dust.
Pros & Cons
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
Pros
- +One of the very few humidifiers at any price that publishes a real output figure — 300 mL/hr cool, 500 mL/hr warm
- +Genuine closed-loop humidistat rated ±5% with a 30-90% setpoint range and 30 days of app history
- +6L top-fill tank plus app, Alexa and Google control for $89.99
- +Because output is published, you can actually compute the refill interval instead of trusting a runtime claim
Cons
- −"Warm mist" tops out at 86°F by Dreo's own spec — warm water, not steam. It does not sterilise, and it costs 280W against 26W in cool mode
- −Ultrasonic in both modes, so it aerosolises minerals as white dust; the mineral-absorption pad reduces scale, it does not stop dust
- −The 60-hour runtime and the published 300-500 mL/hr output contradict each other — 6L at 300 mL/hr is 20 hours, so 60 hours is the lowest setting
- −Dreo sells no first-party replacement mineral pad; the only options are unverified third-party multi-packs
- −Twelve-month warranty and no published coverage figure or independent noise measurement
Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)
Pros
- +Under $20 for 1.5 gallons of genuinely sterile, dust-free steam — nothing else here is close on price per gallon
- +Zero consumables: no wick, no cartridge, no distilled water, nothing to buy again
- +No fan, so there is no fan noise, and a three-year Vicks warranty at this price
- +Wide tank opening and a published, specific weekly vinegar-and-bleach cleaning routine
Cons
- −It cannot run on distilled or heavily filtered water. Vicks' own FAQ tells you to add "one or two pinches (1/8 tsp) of salt" — up to half a teaspoon — and warns that "too much salt can cause excessive boiling or blow a fuse"
- −638W of boiling water with no output control and no humidistat: one switch, full rate, until the tank runs dry
- −Real scald risk — Vicks says keep it four feet from the bed on a heat-resistant surface, which makes it a poor choice for a toddler's room despite the branding
- −Vicks and its own retailers disagree on both runtime (24h vs 18h) and coverage (600 ft² vs 300-500 ft²) for the same SKU
- −Emits black carbon flakes as the element wears, and the weekly vinegar flush is mandatory rather than advisory
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Freedom From White Dust, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) scores higher on Freedom From White Dust (10.0/10 vs 2.5/10) — the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine..
Which is better for Humidity Control, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores higher on Humidity Control (8.5/10 vs 1.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it.
Which is better for Safety Around Children, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores higher on Safety Around Children (7.5/10 vs 2.0/10) — burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery.
Which is better for Running Cost, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) scores higher on Running Cost (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase.
Is the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier worth the price difference over the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) is the cheaper option at $19.79 versus $89.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Freedom From White Dust.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier is the better fit if you mainly care about nursery. The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) is the better fit for no-white-dust.
What's the warranty on the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series)?+
The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier ships with a 12-month warranty; the Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) ships with a 36-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Premium Option
Carepod One Stainless Steel Humidifier (MS031S2) — $279.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.