Philips GC4938/20 Azur Advanced Steam Iron, 0.33 Litre, 3000 W
Philips Azur Advanced Steam Iron
GC4938/20
Philips Brand Promise
Philips is No.1 Global Ironing Brand* with over 65 years expertise in ironing technology and innovation.
*Euromonitor data, 2002-2016.
For Great Results Faster*
Assured no burns**, up to 20% more steam through the fabric
Iron everything from jeans to silk with no risk of burning** thanks to OptimalTEMP technology and the steam output now penetrates up to 20% deeper into the fabric for faster crease removal*.
* Compare to Philips GC4910.
** Ironable fabrics only.
| | | |
|---|---|---|
OptimalTEMP TechnologyThanks to OptimalTEMP technology, we assure this iron will never cause burns to any ironable fabric and you can iron everything from jeans to silk, from linen to cashmere safely, in any order, without waiting for the temperature to adjust or pre-sorting clothes. Philips steam irons with OptimalTEMP makes your ironing easier and faster and has been tested and approved by independent textile experts for its excellent ironing performance. | Continuous Steam up to 55 g/min Penetrates up to 20% More Steam Through FabricStrong and consistent steam output penetrates up to 20% more steam through fabric to remove creases faster.* | SteamGlide Plus Soleplate for Ultimate Easy GlidingOur exclusive SteamGlide Plus soleplate – with its advanced titanium layer and six-layer coating – delivers ultimate gliding performance over any fabric. Non-stick, scratch-resistant and easy to keep clean. |
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
3000 W to Heat up QuicklyDelivers a fast warm-up and powerful performance to get your ironing done quickly. | Up to 240 g Steam Boost Blasts Stubborn CreasesPenetrates deeper into fabrics to easily remove stubborn creases. | Quick Calc Release in 15s for Long-Lasting Steam PerformanceImproved steam generation ensures calc breaks up easily and now collects up to 5x more calc* in container. With Quick Calc Release, the container is easily removed and emptied in under 15 seconds for long-lasting steam performance every day. | Smart Calc-Clean Reminder for Easy MaintenanceThis iron has a smart calc-clean reminder which indicates when the descaling is needed. Simply flip the quick calc release lever to pull out the calc collector and empty the calc for long-lasting steam performance. |
 |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power: quick heat up | 2400 W | 2500 W | 2600 W | 2800 W | 3000 W |
| Continuous steam / steam boost | 45 g/min, 170 g | 45 g/min, 180 g | 50 g/min, 210 g | 50 g/min, 210 g | 55 g/min, 240 g |
| OptimalTEMP: no burns assured | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| Soleplate | SteamGlide soleplate | T-ionicGlide soleplate | SteamGlide Plus soleplate | SteamGlide Advanced soleplate | SteamGlide Plus soleplate |
| Automatic shut-off | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calc solution: extend iron lifetime | Built-in-calc-clean | Built-in-calc-clean | Self clean and built-in-calc container | Self clean and built-in-calc container | Quick Calc Release |
| Water tank capacity | 320 ml | 300 ml | 300 ml | 350 ml | 330 ml |
| Power cord length | 3 m | 3 m | 2.5 m | 2.5 m | 3 m |
| Weight of iron | 1.3 kg | 1.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 1.5 kg |
| Weight: | 1.79 kg |
| Dimensions: | 13.5 x 33.3 x 17.5 cm; 1.79 Kilograms |
| Brand: | Philips |
| Model: | GC4938/20 |
Heavy
you do have to fill the water tank quite often and the iron is somewhat heavy
Very easy to use, never burns anything, calc cleaner not so good
Really easy to use no temperature control, doesn’t damage even the most delicate fabric.
One annoying thing is calc cleaner doesn’t seem to work very well, even when you have just used it tend to get brown water on your white sheets !!
Excelle
This steam iron is of high quality, the temperature control is automatic. I will recommend it.
Very easy to use, has some really good features.
There are not really many settings on this iron to worry about, you can just set it to IQ and iron anything. On this setting it only produces steam when it is moving, if you stop it stops. It will stop producing steam if it is stood on its end and it will turn itself off if it doesn’t move for two minutes (so you can’t accidentally burn your house down) then it turns back on as soon as you move it. It is quite large so I guess that should make ironing quicker. The size didn’t seem to hinder it’s use but that coming from a 5’10 man. My partner who is a 5’2 45Kg woman might have a different take on that.
My only negatives for this are it is very heavy compared to my old iron, it could maybe benefit from a larger water tank but that would further increase the size and weight of this thing.
Excellent iron.
Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b
Excellent iron.
Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b
Excellent iron.
Best iron I’ve ever used. Very hot not too heavy. A must buy for effortless ironing.b
Very nice shaped
It’s a very good item nice long cord and it works very well with the different types of materials temperatures set up themselves only bad things is I think it is very heavy and also it tips over easily if in the upright position apart from that I would recommend this iron for the price
Does a great job of ironing without any heating adjustment control.
Very good cable length, no need for an extension lead. Cable tidies away, no controls and works very well.
Great to use!
Bought this in a rush and didn’t realise it had no temperature dial! Soooo, very nervous when I first used it. But, now I just love this iron. The handle is so comfortable to hold, and it irons everything wonderfully well.
it does what it says on the box
I received the iron very promptly It is brilliant this is from someone who detests ironing. I did wonder if it would work as it said it does I ironed bed linen mixture of pure cotton and poly/cotton and no altering the temp, I even tried a flimsy scarf no problems. I can recommend this iron very pleased.
best iron I have brought eve
It’s a heavy iron and bigger then I expected as it’s bugger than my old iron as you can see from the picture but it’s an amazing iron all round u can iron from 1 fabric straight to the next any type y want when u come to it no need to wait it auto changes depends on the speed y iron the slower u go the lower the temperature goes
The first on is Used product!!! But the replacement one is perfec
I think the product has been used before! When I open the box, there are some water on the surface of the iron. And there are some loose scale particles in the quick calf release. And the main point, there are 2 scratches on the iron surface!!!!!!
Updated: The replacement one is in perfect condition.
Perfect ironing with less hassle
Really like this iron and the fact you don’t have to sort clothes. You can just lift cotton item one second and synthetic the next. The only drawback is you have to fill the small water tank quite often as it produces a lot of steam. It was an expensive iron but I think it was well worth i
Super iron! Not very reliable!
I have two minor gripes about an otherwise excellent iron. It’s heavier than expected & therefore more difficult to lift into an upright position. The instructions say that you don’t need to stand it up, you can leave it flat on the ironing board. Which leads me on to my second gripe! Despite having a mesh ironing board with a thick fabric cover, the area where the iron sits while I move the garment ready to iron the next bit, it gets very damp thanks to the steam. Having said that, despite the gripes it does an excellent job of ironing and has a good length of cable.
Update: sadly, have had to return it (November) as it stopped working, despite trying it in three different sockets and cleaning the filter yet again.
super iro
It is a super iron, no settings required for different jobs, but it is very pricey. For the money we shouldn’t have to put up with flimsy brittle plastics though. The front “door” where you put the water in is an example. This is our second Elite, the plastic on the first one came to grief. The poor quality of the plastic bits knocked the star rating off a would be 5* for the rest of the iron.
Brilliant for pressing cotton for quilting.
Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.
Brilliant for pressing cotton for quilting.
Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.
Brilliant for pressing cotton for quilting.
Amazing, this iron is great. So easy to use, never burns, glides easily. A little heavy though.
2 year warranty
Great Iron.
Dislike. The same iron that I bought before
this one emitted smoke and foul electrical burning smell after 7 months. With the warranty of 2 years sent that one back with a 1 week turn around. Bought this new one ( a week is too long not to have an iron), now we have two the same ( so now we have a spare for next time). Will see how long the new one lasts.
🙂
Great Iro
Although the iron is slightly heavier than other ones of the same size it glides beautifully over the garments and irons them flat without any effort.
Great Iro
Although the iron is slightly heavier than other ones of the same size it glides beautifully over the garments and irons them flat without any effort.
Good produc
Very good product. Found it really weird that I wasn’t in control of a temperature dial but it works well on all different materials.
Quite heavy but as you don’t have to stand it up once you’re underway, not a problem
Perfect iron.
This iron makes life so much easier. Probably best iron I have had ever own. Makes ironing quicker and easier. Long cord it’s a extra benefit. It’s a bit heavy but I think it is a positive, perfect amount of steam. So far very happy
Worth every penny
I do not like ironing but with this iron I could go on and on ironing.. lol. The fact that you don’t need to turn anything to regulate temperature is spectacular, you only set it to what you want. Irons very thin materials without burning. Would highly recommend.
Superb piece of equipme
This is an upgrade from our ‘basic’ iron. I mean this iron works wonders. So powerful and so much steam coming out it is sooooo easy to iron with this beast! Jean’s, T- shirt or voile curtains? No need to switch setting go on just iron. Money well spend . Ps. it is on a heavier side to handle but when you iron the steam just makes it glide like on ice . I guess you can sense that we love our new iron..
Good but not for price
We had old model of this b4 and just wanna upgrade but it didn’t make any change for not a small price. So we got now 2 irons doing same job.
Easy and great results - worth the extra
Having now used this for a few months I cant believe it is quite as good as it is. It really does adjust to the fabric that is being ironed, from cotton sheets to delicate fabrics, all in a seamless manner.
Just great, more expensive than most but defiantly worth it based upon my experience.
The best investment ever !!!
I am happy to the moon and back with this iron, I had the previous model and I thought it was good, but this is gorgeous. Super easy to iron, it took me an hour to iron 12 shirts, only positive feedback from me
Odd feature but otherwise grea
When I first started using the iron I thought I had made a big mistake. It kept dripping water and just didn’t seem to be the iron you’d expect to pay 160 for. However I realised that I wasn’t letting the iron come to temperature which was causing all these issues.
This would be my only comment, it’s not that intuitive to see when the iron is warming up and when it is ready to use. Unless you know what you are looking for that is (steam led flashing means warming up) .
Otherwise great iron that’s as easy as plug in and use.
Brilliant Iro
Brilliant had earlier model before for years which was great- thought I’d have a change & bought a different make iron – what a mistake! Then bought this iron & Im so pleased, does a great job & knocks spots off other makes. Only criticism is there is no way of securing the cable when you store i
Excellent iro
This is an excellent iron. I love the fact that you do not need to select any temperature as it adjust itself to whatever you are ironing. Before, I used to iron only a certain laundry in one go, for example I ironed delicate clothing together one day and another day I ironed all the bed linen. With this iron, I do not have to categorise the laundry that needs to be ironed, I just iron everything together whenever I have time and this has made ironing much quicker and much more efficient. The steam is very good on this iron, it is as powerful as my previous heavy duty steam iron. Well worth the price.
Great steam
This is powerful steam which is exactly what I wanted. I have a steam generator iron but wanted something a bit more portable. Obviously it is heavier than a steam generator iron as it contains the water but I found it still very manageable
Best iron I have ever bought.
I have never been quite so excited over an iron since I read the reviews & couldn’t wait to start ironing. This is the best iron I have ever bought and simply glides over the items making the job so much easier. My only regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner.
Best iron I have ever bought.
I have never been quite so excited over an iron since I read the reviews & couldn’t wait to start ironing. This is the best iron I have ever bought and simply glides over the items making the job so much easier. My only regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner.
Plug and go Ironing
I was initially unsure about the automatic temperature control but having used this a while it is actually a pleasure and you don’t need to do anything but put water in the iron and start pressing your clothes.
The irons plate is smooth and I like the iron.
Best Iron I've ever had!
This Iron is not cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for. Such a pleasure to use. It Irons very effectively, and I don’t have to change the temperature to match what I’m Ironing the Iron dose it for you. The only fault is as it generates great steam it needs to be filled with water often.
Best Iron I've ever had!
This Iron is not cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for. Such a pleasure to use. It Irons very effectively, and I don’t have to change the temperature to match what I’m Ironing the Iron dose it for you. The only fault is as it generates great steam it needs to be filled with water often.
For my coming military training, efficient and easy to use.
I bought this for my coming military training. Before I bought Azur Elite, I bought Azur GC4567/86. Used a wrinkled shirt for tried that 2 irons, the shirt’s material and the cutting it needs a lot of patient on ironing time. Azur GC4567/86 it is good for most of the normal clothing however, on the wrinkled shirt some wrinkly it’s still left. Azur Elite it works very well on that shirt and saved half of the iron time for me. Then I returned the Azur GC4567/86 and chosen Azur Elite with my coming military training.
FANTASTIC
At the beginning I was afraid that there is no temperature control, but really adapts itself to the fabric, I iron as linen, cotton, polyester and silk without any problems and especially a lot of steam gives. I guess I never had such a great iron.
Brillia
Not having to change a temperature dial makes life a lot easier. No leakage, good steam, good on creases. My favourite iron that I have ever owned (and the most expensive).
Quality iro
The best iron I have ever owned and worth paying the extra for it. The only issue I have is that it does take a while to warm up, but the job it does once warm makes you forgive it for that.
Great Iron!
I wish I had changed my iron sooner! This is a little on the heavy side but nothing too bad compared to my previous iron. I live the fact that I do not need to adjust the temperature for different items such as going from delicates to jeans. The way this iron automatically adjusts the temperature is magic!
Like some others I have issues with the heating up, sometimes its fine but other times you have to do the IT bit. Turn it off and on again hence the 3 stars for ease of use :). Second time around its fine. I must admit after my Rowenta 400 hole steam iron started creating more water on the clothes than steam (I must admit this is a fantastic iron though and it was only this incident that put me off replacing it like for like) and lots of research i was really sceptical about not having a temperature control. After reading many reviews and watching the videos of it i took the plunge and bought it last September. I must say a sceptic has been converted, it performs wonderfully. I don’t know how it works but it does, and very well. As i said, and this is the only reason for the non 5 star review, its frustrating having sometimes to turn it off and on again.
Does what it says it does.
Has a temper, sometimes won’t heat up but turn it off and on and it’s good to go. Could probably get it sorted by contacting Philips but I’m too lazy. When it works it’s a great and easy iron that needs no attention. It is pricy but feels worth it.
Quality product but heavy
Quality product with lots of steam and automatic temperature selection. Would be 5 stars if it was a little lighter as heavy weight makes it tiring doing a lot of ironing in one go
Irons like a boss
Perfect. Can do anything. Got me worried about the temperature but it’s smart – don’t understand how it gets the material right but everything is perfectly ironed without being burned… Defnitely a good purchase.
Irons like a boss
Perfect. Can do anything. Got me worried about the temperature but it’s smart – don’t understand how it gets the material right but everything is perfectly ironed without being burned… Defnitely a good purchase.
Great advance in iron technology
This is a great iron, possibly the best I’ve had because it doesn’t adversely mark clothes like normal hot plate irons. It irons mainly by steam. My minor, very minor criticism is that it takes longer to heat up than a normal iron (I’d say another 30 seconds).
Excellent Iron - pricy but does the job very well
I order this product as I had used a Philips Steam Generator Iron which I loved. I decided to get this model as I moved to a smaller flat and did not have the space for a steam generator iron. This is just as good as the steam generator. The iron heats up quickly and the steam output is excellent. There is a manual steam trigger for extra blasts of steam when required. Overall I am very happy with this product.
Fantastic steam output.
Absolutely love this iron. I do a lot of ironing with lots of different types of material & I don’t have to worry about waiting for the iron to cool down for certain types of material. It glides over clothing & bedding, etc with great ease & the steam output is brilliant. I highly recommend this iron.
A very efficient time and money saver. Best iron ever.
Only used once but the best iron I’ve ever had. Creases disappear and ironing time is almost halved. Nothing not to like. If you value your time and/or have someone in to do your weekly ironing it will save you time and money.
GREAT FOR ALL FABRICS
The results from this iron are extremely good: my parents have some man-made fabrics which I loathe and loathe ironing them. This iron knocks the creases out of them. Easiest and best results that I’ve ever had from an iron (usually buy German). Very quick and easy to fill with no splutter. It produces just the right amount of steam. Perhaps a little heavier than my last iron but this is off-set as it’s so smooth to use. I like technology but was reluctant to buy as I thought there would be more to go wrong and sometimes a lot of it is unnecessary and gimmicky. The IQ system does work. Through habit, I start with low temp garments and finish with jeans. Pristine results and saving me time.
I am a man who loves a gadget so when I needed a new iron the lack of a temperature dial got me interested.
I have to say all the online reviews are right and this is a brilliant iron.
Pros:
*Can iron any type of ironable garment without needing to think about temperature.
*No need to use a cloth to iron garments such as trousers that would normally look shiny. Ironing directly is easy and they look perfect.
*using this iron I can iron twice as quickly as normal (bear in mind I am a man!)
* No more using liquid descaller, just open the compartment underneath the iron and empty.
Cons:
# The iron is heavy although this means you don’t have to press down too much when ironing, but could be a problem for arthritis suffers.
# The colour looks great but it is difficult to see the water level.
# As this is a high volume steam device watch those fingers when ironing small areas.
# The cable tidy is pretty useless so I tend not to use it.
All in all I have been using this for a few weeks and can recommend it despite the price.
Fantastic iron.
Only 2 things not perfect:
1. It’s heavier than most irons. The manufactuer is aware of this. In their use instructions, they state that it’s safe to rest the iron on it’s soleplate while hot. It is. The reason they suggest doing this is to have less straun on your wrist. Lol.
2. It’s very expensive – much more than I normally pay for an iron, BUT, it’s so east to use. No steam or temperature settings to adjust. Just plug in and go, glides across any fabric! The iron “knows” how hot to get and how much steam to produce.
The easily removeable calc-clean is a plus, too.
The best iron!
I cannot believe I am excited over an iron but this is truly the best iron I’ve ever owned. It has cut my ironing time down and does an amazing job.
The best iron!
I cannot believe I am excited over an iron but this is truly the best iron I’ve ever owned. It has cut my ironing time down and does an amazing job.
Works very well
Nice weight and the ‘intelligent’ aspect is novel.
You get plenty of steam and the only downside is, when using the Max setting it can leek a little if the tank is more than half full. Safety cut out is very useful cos I’m at that forgetful age! 🙂
Masses of cord so easy to use, but it does take a few minutes to come to temp.
Works very well
Nice weight and the ‘intelligent’ aspect is novel.
You get plenty of steam and the only downside is, when using the Max setting it can leek a little if the tank is more than half full. Safety cut out is very useful cos I’m at that forgetful age! 🙂
Masses of cord so easy to use, but it does take a few minutes to come to temp.
Great Steam Iro
I was very sceptical at first, having used a number of pure steam irons before that didn’t work. This does. It can be used on any type of material. It’s easy to clean out. I have used it on a daily basis for a few months now and the steam output is still at full max (usually at the stage when most irons start to clog up).
Most effective iron ever owned
What a pleasure to use. Gets creases out of shirts with ease thanks to the high volume of steam. No setting to worry about. No burning clothes. If I had to state a criticism it would be that it’s on the heavy side but certainly worth its weight!
iro
pleased with iron as replacement to earlier model that served us well for plus 5 years so being conservative we want longer use before giving 5 stars
iro
pleased with iron as replacement to earlier model that served us well for plus 5 years so being conservative we want longer use before giving 5 stars
I Brought this iron for my husband! THATS RIGHT .. he never ever ironed before he used his now he ENJOYS doing it! Ladies if this is what it takes to get your husband to do the ironing it’s well worth the money!
Jokes aside it’s a very good iron – we’ve brought so many cheap irons over the years and I wish we had spent a bit more in the first place because this is the perfect iron very easy to use!
I enjoy ironing now!
The iron is amazing. It’s very strong and very easy to use. It just have 1 button and adjusts the temperature and steam depending the material you’re ironing. It consumes a lot of water and it’s a bit heavy but totally worth it.
I enjoy ironing now!
The iron is amazing. It’s very strong and very easy to use. It just have 1 button and adjusts the temperature and steam depending the material you’re ironing. It consumes a lot of water and it’s a bit heavy but totally worth it.
Good purchase
It’s an expensive iron but I bought it in the sale so it was a good price. It is an extremely good iron although it is on the heavy side it does an excellent job on all ironing.
Good product but pricey
Great product, so far have not burnt anything on the intelligent iQ mode. It does however use up the water really fast so often find myself refilling using the handy fill cup 2-3 times for every bit of ironing. Quite heavy but this is to be expected for an AIO (all-in-one). Some creases don’t fully come out like my previous Bosch proper steam system which is why I haven’t rated 5/5. Still good overall though.
Bought it for 130 and have not been disappointed! My previous Philips iron lasted for 8 years, so this one has some high expectations to meet.
The ironing is fast, the de-calc is effective and I can forget about setting temperatures as this hasn’t burnt anything (yet)!
An emergency purchase to replace a steam generator. It’s as good as your going to get for an iron but it is very heavy! Not as good as a steam generator but you’d expect that at less than half the price. It also uses a lot of water.
Love i
I have used many irons as I do a lot of ironing. This really is brilliant and makes an easy job of ironing. No need to Change the temp as it is done automatically. I have ironedwool, silk and cotton and have great results very quickly. I woul by this again without though
Worth the expense!
Simply the best iron I have ever owned or used! – no setting to worry about, fantastic steam pressure, good weight and size – Ironing has suddenly become less of a chore!
Product seems to be “cheap”, it is dificult to describe it, you have to see it. It regulates temperature autimatically but somehow there is sometimes feeling that there is not enough heat when ironing. Instead of heat it uses a large amount of steam. It means that material may get very wet and in case of thik material it is not easy to iron. But nevertheless it is good iron and generally makes ironing better than to use some classical model.
Excellent steam iron.
This is a really good iron. It’s top-of-the-range, which you would expect for this price. It doesn’t hiss like irons usually do, doesn’t burn delicate fabrics and has a really large reservoir so it doesn’t need topping up all the time.
The only thing I would say is that, for this price, it might be worth spending a little more on a steam generator iron, which holds the reservoir in a separate compartment, making the iron very light. However, for this price, this is a great iron.
The iron age ...
Very long lead. Good weighty feel. I ironed a variety of different textiles, and it did well on all.
To be honest, I have always hated ironing, and have never found an iron that makes it even a jot more ‘enjoyable’.
It’s simple to use, heats a bit slowly, and essentially it’s just another iron. A bit expensive. But does a good job.
Super speedy
What an amazing iron this is! I’ve used Philips irons with the big water tank, and although they are marvellous for loads of ironing, you don’t really want to get that out for a few items, or buy something so large if you live on your own. This has all the properties of the tank iron scaled down, and you can even leave it on the fabric and it won’t burn. It glides so effortlessly over the fabric, and removes the creases just as easily as the bigger iron. It’s great that I no longer have to wait for it to heat up or cool down between different fabrics, as as soon as it’s ready, it’s ready for everything. The only difference between this and the bigger iron is that you have to fill up the water chamber more often.
Family Ironing
Having got used to using a lighter cordless iron beforehand, it took me a little while to get used to this heavier model. However I am now won over by its versatility. Better steam output means less effort and not having to adjust settings for different fabrics makes this a much speedier task. An added bonus is that other family members no longer have the excuse of not knowing which heat setting to use so the whole family can now enjoy ironing…
Quite simply in my experience of reviewing irons (which I estimate is around twenty or so different modules and manufacturers) Philips’ PerfectCare (Steam Generator range) are the best. In terms of technology, results and ease of use they are unbeatable. The only downside is that SG irons require a bit of space, can be cumbersome to move around and, as such may not be as practical for some people’s requirements.
Essentially what you have here is Philips answer to that: they have managed to cram many of the technology and advantages of their SG Perfectare irons into this ‘conventional’ style iron. And by and large they have succeeded (but there are notable trade offs).
The dynamic IQ feature (which essentially calculates how much steam is automatically delivered based on how much the iron moves) works well enough: you just set it to this mode and basically let the iron do the rest (in terms of temperature settings irrrespective of the fabric). The great thing about this is that you do not have to keep placing the iron upright on its backplate each time you reposition the item you’re ironing: just leave it face down on the ironing board (or indeed on the clothes themselves if you want: they will not scorch). While there’s no question this iron produces masses of steam some of it I found to be wasted i.e. after moving the iron over clothing and placing it on the ironing board to reposition your clothing item, the iron remains actively, producing the steam for another second or so until it ‘realises’ you’ve stopped (at which point it cuts out, waiting for it t be triggered again by moving it: which it does instantaneously).
Generally speaking though the iron operates very effectively and it has a range of modes that actually surpasses Philips’ SG range-topper (namely a setting for ‘ionic’ mode ironing: which claims to infuse silver irons into the clothes making them more hygienic). Most people will probably opt for the Dynamic IQ mode though but – where extra steam is required – this can be achieved via the manual trigger under the handle/index finger (which produces an impressive ‘woof’ of additional steam)
The other trade-offs I mentioned earlier are however significant, The first is that potential purchasers should be aware that this is a big iron (bigger, in fact, than any iron I have previously tried). It is also very weighty at more than 2kg. True, it glides smoothly but those with joint pain etc should consider whether this iiron would be suitable for them (and by way of contrast SG irons are half this weight or less – but then again they are not encumbered by all gubbins this iron requires on the unit – including water tank- as they housed in the ‘base unit’). The economy consideration is that the water tank rapidly depletes -and you will find you will need to replenish it possibly several times over the course of an ironing session (which is irritating). In a sense this is the inevitable byproduct of this iron being able to produce masses of steam.
In conclusion, if you’re short o space and/or need to do your ironing in a number of locations (but still want many of the significant features and advantages of Philips’ Perfectare system) then this could be the ideal solution. There are a couple off drawbacks (as mentioned) but if these are not a concern then it would justify serious consideration. On the other hand, if space and portability are not a concern then my general advice would be to buy one of Philips steam generator irons (for not much more financial outlay at the bottom end of their range).
I like that I am able to iron in any order rather than by temperature settings. As I live in a very hard water area I use ironing water instead of tap water. The iron would be a little heavy for some people but the handle fits my hand perfectly. There is a long cable. The only downside is the price, but I am very happy with it.
Head and shoulders above the res
There are irons that do the job.
They do the job well.
Then there are irons that are simply head and shoulder above the rest, enter the new Philips GC4938/20
(What a terrible name for such a great iron)
It is simple put a superb iron and is almost as good as those with a steam generator.
So what is there to love about this iron?
The sharp needle point for pleats and getting into corners
The lead, which is 3m long
It has a weight to it, Which gives it a solid reassuring feel (however it may be a little heavy for arthritic fingers/hands)
OptimalTemp, turn on and use, no need to adjust temperature its all down to the steam.
There is a safety auto shut off, which is such a good feature
Fantastic
This is a fantastic iron – probably everything you need in an iron and more short of buying one of those big steam beasts. It looks good and does a fantastic job. It has a lovely long cord and is easy to keep clean thanks to its quick calc release and calc reminder. I liked the vertical iron feature too.
It just glides across creases, smoothing them with ease.
This is a fantastic iron. It comes to temperature quickly and just glides across the clothes, removing creases with ease. Out of the box, the manual is clear and everything works as expected. A very well made and high quality iro
A really great iron.
This is a pretty special iron and although it looks conventional, in many ways, it is far superior to many other makes. I like Philips irons as they work well and the technology is ever changing.
It weighs in at a reasonable weight and the sole-plate is substantial and glides beautifully over any item. The steam is even and powerful. The iron has no dial or switches to change settings for a different fabric, it has in-built intelligence that ‘knows’ when you iron different fabrics and adjusts the temperature accordingly and it won’t burn! That makes it a very special iron in my book and something I had only encountered with steam generator irons.
There is a de-calc facility which helps with limescale build-up, too.
A superb iron and one I would definitely recommend.
Not all irons are made equal - this one is the creme de la creme of standard steam irons
Not all irons are made equal and this one is at the higher end of the standard steam iron spectrum (not including steam generator irons, which are lets face it a rather different concept altogether).
Gone is the dial in the middle to adjust the settings for different fabrics – now this does take a little getting used to, but less than you might imagine. This is a clever iron, which adjusts to the fabric you are ironing. The first few times that you switch fabrics, it feels a bit wrong, but after a while you brain adjusts in a similar way to the iron and you recognise that your brain won’t meltdown or frazzle and nor will your clothes!
The cable is a great length, to sole plate is well-shaped and glides across fabric well and the steam production is great – penetrating fabrics well, so that it knocks the creases out better than pretty much any other steam iron I have used. I love that Phillips are so assured about their design, that they give a 2-year warranty – so that you can rest assured it won’t break after 1 year and 1 day! Finally – and this won’t matter to many people, but it is so pretty. This makes ironing more of a pleasure for me as it brings a smile to my face when I look at it. There isn’t enough time in the world to have to feel more miserable about ironing and this lovely thing makes is a pleasure (well almost!!)
Steam through your ironing with Optimal Temperature Technology
On using the Philips GC4938/20 for the first time, I was impressed with the look of the iron, I loved the colour combination, weight of the iron and the fact that it comes with an extra long cord so your not tied to the plug socket giving you increased flexibility when ironing. With the iron comes a black filling jug, which holds enough water to fill the iron in one go. The next thing you notice with the iron is that you have no temperature settings, other than steam, no steam or a steam boost button. The iron has optimal temperature technology, which basically means you don’t have to keep adjusting your irons temperature settings. You can iron, silk and jeans one after the other without any adjustment and time wasting. Using the iron was comfortable, its heat plate warms up within 2 minutes, the light on the iron pulsates when its warming up and remains constant when ready. Another great feature with this iron is the auto-shut off, the iron powers down after 8 minutes of non-use when its sat on its heel plate or powers down after 3-4 minutes if left on its heat plate, this alleviates the worry of going out and thinking you’ve left the iron on.
I liked using this iron and although it retails at the higher end of iron prices, it does come with a 2 year guarantee and with its features it is possible worth paying a little more for something that should last.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
==================
I love an iron. Some are awful and make the task more difficult whilst some really make ironing a pleasure. OK, ok, not a pleasure but it can make a big difference in the ironing experience. They can make it easier.
The question is, does this iron do a good job?
UN-BOXING
=========
Un-boxed and ready to roll in 5 minutes. There are some instructions, but as a man I simply cast them aside.
HOW WELL DOES THIS IRON GET THROUGH CRUMPLED CLOTHES
========================================================
The greater the amount of steam the quicker and easier it should be to iron with. There isn’t a correlation between the wattage and “steaminess”
In fact some premium steam irons that state they are “powerful” don’t produce more steam than some much much cheaper irons.
It’s a powerful steam iron. Classical in its design. I was surprised that it got through the ironing in a very quick fashion. The steam is very effective with NO leaking drips.
THE GLIDE
=========
The iron’s soleplate is important. If it glides effortlessly, it makes the ironing much easier.
The glide was one of the best with this. It has something called steamglide ceramic. It seems to work.
LIMESCALE
=========
If you’re in a hard water area, after a while the steam can dry up. Some irons combat limescale quite well, whilst others don’t: meaning it’s more difficult to iron with.
I didn’t spot any issues with this.
EASE OF USE
===========
The design has a part to play. Some irons create problems whilst others have a thoughtful design.
The design of this is fine. A pretty traditional type iron which looks quite modern. It has a cord of 3 metres. In its construction it doesn’t feel cheap and feels quite solid.
SOLEPLATE SCRATCHING
====================
If the iron is susceptible to scratching, it’ll cause snagging and the ironing can be burdensome.
This iron didn’t scratch at all.
SCORES ON THE DOORS
===================
For the money I’d give this 9.3/10.
A top of the range iron which feels like it’ll last a few years. If you’re after a good solid iron that’ll sail through the ironing it’s one to put on the short list.
... Philips irons for several years now and have been pleased with every one
We have used Philips irons for several years now and have been pleased with every one, only replacing them when they get damaged in some way. This model has 3000w of power (more than our previous model) so it really should power through creases and it has a 3m power cord, which is very useful for our needs anyway. The Phillips system means you can iron anything in any order without worrying about the temperature sterling’s, which is very practical and if it’s important to you, its good looking. Maybe you could quibble with the price, as you could get one of the steam reservoir models for around the same price but not everyone has room for one of those. This is a superb iron, well worth the money
Looking first of all at the main claims:
-“Extra long cord”: yes, 3 metres is much longer than most irons — the norm is 2/2.2 metres. Why manufacturers save a few pence on this is beyond me.
-“Up to 20% more steam penetration/steam boost blasts stubborn creases”: unsure what the supposed benchmark is, but it certainly penetrates effectively (rather than just lying on the surface, which reduces the point of steaming) and gets rid of creases well.
-“Soleplate delivers ultimate gliding performance”: rather a florid description, but it is one of the smoothest soleplates I’ve encountered
-“Quick calc scale release”: unable to assess this until it’s been in use for a little while
It is heavy, but is well-balanced, and this — coupled with the smooth soleplate — makes it easy to use.
It is stable when stood up on end, unlike some irons I’ve met.
The power cord goes has a ball-joint, meaning that the cord can flex more freely rather than being jerked as with ordinary cords. (When you put the iron back on its end, the joint lets the cord tuck neatly under a recess.)
So far very good, but I have two minor quibbles:
-The OptimalTEMP feature is great, but as far as I can tell it works only in steam mode — without this it appears to be stuck on “cool”. (I know a lot of people nowadays steam everything, but you don’t have to; we are among those old-fashioned people who use a washing-line, and we tend to get the stuff for ironing in when damp, thus avoiding the need for steaming.) As there’s no manual adjustment, nothing you can do about this.
-The cord is a bit harder to wind round the iron than usual, and as there’s more of it this is a potential issue. Some people, of course, may leave the ironing-board permanently up with the iron on it, but not everyone has that much room.
I am very impressed with this iron, and would like to give it five stars, but at this price I feel it should be almost perfect.
Takes a bit of getting used to!
One of my old irons is a Philips Azur and I love it – so I thought this would be an updated version.
However it is nothing like the old version.
This one has just 3 options, steam iron, dry iron, extra steam burst.
The iron heats up to what is called “optimalTEMP techology” – there is no temperature control to adjust!
I have tried it out on silk and very creased cotton and it works well – though it does take some getting used to!.
It is also very quiet – very little hissing of steam (I often use a steam geneator which makes a lot of noise).
Very pleased with this iron – although it does feel a little weird!
This is a very good quality steam iro
This is a very good quality steam iron, that ticks all the right boxes. It looks magnificent. I am very pleased that the cable is long and I have a good range from the socket. There is a really good heatplate which glides nicely over all materials, it is also large enough to provide good coverage in only a few strokes for most items of clothing. The steam function is very good, much better than I’ve had from previous irons I’ve owned.
Wizzes through the ironing but is heavy.
This is a smart and sleek looking iron. It has good sized water tank and a decent sized filling jug, not a tiny one that usually is supplied with some irons. It glides over the clothes and removes creases really easily. There is no temparature dial as everything is ironed on the same heat. The cord is plenty long enough to reach halfway across my bedrom to where I do my ironing and then winds around the base for storage. The only thing that puts me off is that the iron is heavy so if you want a lightweight iron then this probably is not for you, but if weight is not a issue then this is a great iron especially if you have a family and speed is essential then this will wizz through the ironing.
One fantastic iron that does what it says on the box.
This Philips Azur Advanced steam iron is absolutely amazing to use. It’s a very well weighted iron that ticks all the boxes for me. I have been knitting so needed a gentle steam so i could each piece of the cardigan. This iron never once scorched the acrylic pieces. All in all I’m thrilled with this iron.
technology
Up to 55g/min continuous steam, 240g steam boost and 3000W for fast crease removal
SteamGlide Plus soleplate for ultimate gliding
Smart calc reminder and Quick Calc Release in 15s for long-lasting steam performance
Automatic shut-off when iron is left unattended; drip-stop keeps garments spotless while ironing.
Very Good
I have reviewed a number of Philips irons for the Vine programme and in particular 5 high pressure steam irons, plus other less powerful ones I have to say I do like their irons. Having tested all these irons, I have to say that this one is no exception, it is very good and very clever.
This iron glides through creases with incredible ease. It is also easy to fill. This is also a very clever iron, as it can sense what is being ironed and it adapts its temperature automatically without touching any switch. It simply switches temperature from low for silk like material to high for cotton. Philips guarantees that no matter what you iron, it will adapt itself automatically and there will never be a burnt item of clothes. The plate itself is very well made from very high quality materials and this thickness helps the ironing process. You can use this iron to press clothes whilst on a hanger with its vertical steam feature. which can kick out a great deal of steam. We have found it works perfectly with my cotton shirts and irons the silk ties with complete ease. This really is a great iron.
Overall this is a fantastic product and whilst it is not the cheapest iron Philips make, it is simply brilliant. I am happy to highly recommend the product.
... greater steam power all from a standard iron- glides like a dream and has a smoother easier discernible difference ...
Usual fabulous quality with greater steam power all from a standard iron- glides like a dream and has a smoother easier discernible difference on linen and cotton sheets which are really dry.
There’s a wide and confusing range of steam irons available from Philips. You really need to decide which features are important to you and choose an iron to suit. The table in the Amazon description isn’t very helpful. The comparison tool on the Philips website is better but incomplete.
The bottom line, though, is that this is one of the best. If you can afford it, you’re likely to be very happy with it. The only thing that might stop me wholeheartedly recommending it is that, for not much more money over the current 120, you can buy a Philips steam generator iron with similar technology. Not everyone wants a steam generator though, in which case this is a superb alternative.
It’s a smart-looking model, easy to fill from the supplied jug and equally easy to empty. It glides well on everything from silk to denim, gets into tight corners and around buttons, and is very effective at removing creases. You can use it vertically too. It cuts out after a minute or two, if left soleplate-down, and a light tells you it’s done so — move the iron and it will fire up again. The handle seems comfortable for a range of hand sizes. You get almost 3 metres of cord and it can be wound round the end of the iron for storage.
Best of all is OptimalTEMP. We love it. It really works as they claim and makes life so much easier.
We haven’t had it long enough to say how well the anti-calc system works but, based on other Philips irons we’ve owned, we’re pretty confident that scale won’t be a problem.
This is a first-rate iron, the best non-generator we’ve used.
Easy to use, plug and play
This iron arrived in a bold, smart, dark turquoise colour. It is a little heavier than I was expecting but Philips have redressed a number of complaints I have had with other models in the range.
Firstly the electrical cord is long which means that I am not tied to the plug socket when ironing plus there is room at the base of the iron to wind the cord round. Granted, it is not a retractable cord but this is a huge improvement on other models I have tried.
There is a water jug with which to fill the iron. In hard water areas, distilled water is still the preferred medium and have you ever attempted to fill an iron straight from a 5 litre canister of distilled water? More water ends up out of the iron than in! Thank you Philips for the water jug.
Lastly, there is a huge improvement on the calc release button. It is now really easier to pull from the bottom (once the iron is no longer hot) and clean and replace to ensure long-lasting steam performance.
To use the iron, simply fill with water to maximum setting, plug in and when the flashing blue light ceases to flash, then the iron is hot enough to iron. It is as simple as that. No settings are required as it has optimal temp technology which means that it will iron everything from jeans to silk, burn-free without adjusting the temperature. However, you have a choice of steam, no steam or a steam boost. Setting to steam was most effective but I did find it quite challenging to press down the steam boost button whilst using a heavy iron and all in one hand. Nevertheless, my ironing looked most professionally finished.
With a 2 year guarantee, this iron, whilst retailing quite dearly at 120 (February 2018), does have much to recommend it. In my opinion, it may be worth paying the little extra to do what is in effect, the most boring and mundane of weekly household chores!