The Russell Hobbs KE5550BKR Retro Electric Kettle is a charming retro kettle with a useful gauge, best for tea drinkers. Rated 4.5 out of 5 across 1,137 user ratings. The main drawback: durability is the most common complaint. We scored it 4.4 out of 5.
Retro kettles are usually bought for their looks, but the front temperature gauge on this Russell Hobbs turns out to be the feature people use most. The price of the charm is a thin, uninsulated body that gets hot to the touch, and durability draws more complaints than anything else.
NoFussDeal rates the Russell Hobbs KE5550BKR Retro Electric Kettle 4.4 out of 5 at $49.99. Last updated September 26, 2026.
A dial on the front shows the water temperature as it heats, so you can switch off early for drinks that should not be made with boiling water.
A rear water level gauge reads up to 1.7 litres, and markings inside show 1, 2 and 3 cups for quick small boils.
A removable, washable filter behind the spout keeps limescale out of your drinks, and the spout pours a single controlled stream.
The retro shape and stainless steel finish are the first draw, and the large, grippy handle makes a full kettle easy to control.
None of the six owner reviews we read mention it. Score 90: its 4.5 star average on a 100 point scale.
Russell Hobbs lists the wattage as 1500 watts. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
Russell Hobbs lists the capacity as 1.7 liters. One of the six owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product four or five stars. Score 90: its 4.5 star average on a 100 point scale.
Russell Hobbs lists the wattage as 1500 watts. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84:…
Russell Hobbs lists the wattage as 1500 watts. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Russell Hobbs lists the material as Plastic and the item weight as 2.6 pounds. None of the six owner reviews we read mention it. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Three of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 78: we started at 90 and took off 12 because it d…
Three of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 78: we started at 90 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.
77% of ratings are five stars and 9% are four. 5% are three stars and 9% are one or two. The spread skews positive, but enough ratings sit low that the drawbacks below are worth reading. Score 90: its 4.5 star average on a 100 point scale.
Two of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion…
Two of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 14% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Based on 1,137 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.5 out of 5, recorded 12 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon
I bought this several months ago and use it at least twice a day. I love the Heavenly Blue color, the retro look, and the front dial showing the water temperature. I typically only use this … Read it on AmazonNic Mc · July 9, 2020 · Verified
I've been very pleased with this kettle after using it heavily over the past few weeks. Operation is single-button simple, the kettle heats water quickly and retains the temperature for a de… Read it on AmazonKindle Customer · September 27, 2019 · Verified
I use this at least a couple times a day every single day and it has, so far (owned about 2-3 months), been wonderful. It is consistent, works as expected and saves me a lot of time compared… Read it on AmazonSmallzilla007 · December 22, 2019 · Verified
This pot does NOT mess around. It doesn't sit and gurgle and bloop and eventually heat up. It is like BAM, HOT!We drink coffee and tea in the mornin. I drink instant coffee and she drinks te… Read it on AmazonCaptain C. · May 7, 2019 · Verified
After going through 2 cheap $20 electric kettles within 5 months -- first one lasted 3 months, the other two, before they each developed a short -- I decided to upgrade in the hopes of havin… Read it on AmazonSammygirl · October 1, 2020 · Verified
I love the color and shape of my kettle on the counter. It doesn’t really match anything in my kitchen but it seems to make it all the more charming. I love how handy it is to turn on or off… Read it on AmazonSecond Soprano · November 18, 2020 · Verified
Rinse the inside, fill to the maximum, boil and pour the water away to clear any manufacturing residue.
Set the base on a dry, level counter near an outlet. The base itself stays cool when the kettle is lifted off.
Pull off the lid and use the inside markings for 1 to 3 cups, or the rear gauge for larger amounts up to 1.7 litres.
Set the kettle on its base and flick the switch down to start heating.
Switch off when the front gauge reaches the temperature you want, or let the kettle turn itself off at the boil.
For most buyers, yes: we score it 4.4 out of 5. The Russell Hobbs KE5550BKR is more practical than its retro looks suggest. Rated 4.5 out of 5 across 1,137 user ratings.
Durability is the most common complaint. The thin, uninsulated body gets hot during use.
Rinse the anti-scale filter regularly, more often in hard-water areas. Descale with a vinegar and water solution when you see white build-up inside, then boil and discard fresh water.
Switch off when the gauge shows the temperature your tea calls for, instead of boiling and waiting for it to cool.
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The Russell Hobbs KE5550BKR is more practical than its retro looks suggest. The front temperature gauge lets you brew tea and coffee at the right temperature, the 1500-watt element heats quickly, the cup markings and anti-scale filter are thoughtful touches, and the spout pours cleanly. The thin body gets hot and durability is uneven, so it is a kettle to enjoy while it lasts rather than one to hand down.
A good-looking kettle with one feature that genuinely earns its place, the temperature gauge. Handle it by the grip, keep the filter clean, and accept that durability is its weak point.
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