Smeg 50's Style KLF03

I was dazzled by its looks – I only have myself to blame. I read the reviews. I saw the disappointment. I brushed them aside and bet it wouldn’t affect me. I was wrong. Purchased in December 2019, by mid 2020 I’d noticed a bubble start to appear just below the lid opening on one side of the kettle. I read the reviews again and found multiple complaints of the same issue. And many others. I kicked myself.

For such an expensive item, I was so disappointed. It just boils water, but it looks so nice.

The good points? It’s nice to look at and it boils water. It is also noticeably quieter than our last De’Longhi kettle. This is somewhat important in an open plan kitchen/living set up.

The outcome for me? By end November 2020, the bubble measured about 5 cm across and was gradually increasing in size. I’m fairly sure it would have continued to grow, and eventually it would break open to reveal the surface underneath the painted exterior. Did it effect boiling water? No. But it was not going to be siting on my benchtop once that bubble burst. For the cost, I’d hoped to get several years out of it.

Would I recommend you buy one? If you can’t live without it, then yes. But you must go in expecting it to fail so I would only do so if you purchase from a reputable retailer who will make the refund or replacement a painless endeavour. Of course, yours might not fail. I doubt they all do.

I was offered a replacement under warranty. My experience was with Appliances Online. Couldn’t have been more helpful. (I’ve also had a exceptional returns experience for a different product (hair straightener) from a Harvey Norman store in Oxley Qld.) Choose your retailer carefully. While they are all required to follow the same laws, some just do it much kinder and with less drama than others.

SMEG - it is obvious from your contact with customers here, that you do care. I appreciate that. Good brands can go bad though. Your manufacturing sites need to up their game. Whilst I've been happy to chance it on small appliances, I would not risk it with larger and more expensive ones, and that is a real shame. I'm about to redo a kitchen and I've ruled out SMEG perhaps to my detriment.

Nicely Finished – Fast boil, retro looking and close to $100 off the price when I bought it. This model is not the temperature adjustable type. I got the black exterior as it looked really stylish. Stick with the basics, less to go wrong. The kettle is well built, has a matt stainless heater base, soft opening lid, reflective exterior, silver powerbase, handle and spout. An internal switch light makes it look a bit more vogue. Nice...... Show details

Quality and satisfaction – The kettle looks smart and is pleasing on the eye. My only complaint is that it's a little small for more than one person so feel. Issues relating to perceived discolouration pertaining to the SS bottom inside the hub were resolved by descaling, thanks to the advice from SMEG Diamond Service Show details

Stylish and Great quality – This is a wonderful electric kettle of Smeg. Very functional and I love the style! Does a great job, when makes an awesome cup of tea and boil water, water and tea comes out smoothly even at the highest setting. If you like a decorative stuff as well as multi-purpose gadget at your kitchen area, it must a good choice. Show details

I wrote this to Smeg Diamond Service: I am writing to express my disappointment regarding my Smeg kettle. This is now the third kettle I’ve owned, one purchased and two replacements and each one has failed in the same place, that is, about halfway along the rim on the left-hand side of the filling point. (See attached photos). When I purchased a… Read more

Smeg kettle, I did so because I believed I was buying a premium product, something that would far outlast the cheaper brands. Unfortunately, my experience has been the opposite. Having the same fault appear again and again is both frustrating and disheartening, especially from a brand I trusted for its reputation for quality. I want to register how concerning it is to see the same defect repeat across multiple units. It makes me question the durability and design of this model, and whether it truly reflects the quality that Smeg promotes. I hope this feedback is taken seriously, as I would much prefer to continue being a loyal Smeg customer rather than having to look elsewhere for something of quality in the future.

I am awaiting their response.

See photo - plastic on the swith came off for no reason, didn’t even rub it, just discovered it cracked and came off after 5 months of use. I also hate that it needs two clicks to start working. As for noise, it’s as noisy as a kettle gets. Three stars for doing the job of boiling the water, so far. Show details

Bought a so we thought a great product we were so wrong just after the 2 year warranty and the lid hinge BREAKS WOW Show details

It is very disappointed that I spent $190 for a smeg kettle and it works worse and more noisy than the kmart kettle. I record the video with the noise and get rejected from warranty team. They said it is not loud enough to be replace. So if anyone thinking about using smeg kettle, please consider and do not be distracted by the look. And buy some ear plug when using it. Show details

I do have to admit the smeg kettle is something I have wanted for a long time. So mother's day May 2025 my boys bought one for me, I was so excited. But 6 weeks later I wish they had not spent the money. It boils the water, but it it not hot compared to my cheap revile kettle. So I took it back to place of purchase and they advised because it… Read more

does boil it is working. Ibknow it is working but it is not hot. They told me tobget a thermometer and tobtest it myself. So I did and yes the breville boils the water and it is hoter.What a disappointment on a brand that my boys should have not purchased. All I wanted was a replacement as it is faulty and still under warranty.

Don’t buy this piece of junk. This is the 3rd replacement and now just out of warranty it’s falling apart like the rest of them. Always the same issues and I can’t believe they still sell this model. Show details

Gorgeous waste of money – Bought it to match my Smeg toaster but would not recommend it. Good points: Looks gorgeous. Boils water. Not overly noisy. Bad points: Expensive. Paint started chipping within a few months. Within two years the lid no longer attached to the body, plastic on the handle had discoloured, build up had formed around the spout and couldn't be… Read more

removed, and the base of the spout leaked boiling water whenever the kettle was poured. Verdict: Don't be seduced by the gorgeous appearance unless you want an expensive kettle that won't last. Edited 15.02.2025: Smeg contacted me in response to this review and replaced the kettle even though it was out of warranty. Only time will tell if the same issues occur with the replacement, but it was great customer service from Smeg and restored my faith in the brand.

High price, low quality – We bought this around 3 years ago for 279.00 (NZD) to match our smeg toaster and knife block. Biggest waste of money ever, it has blistered and is leaking. I won't be buying any Smeg products in the future. The quality does not match the price tag!

Smeg kettle – After 2 years my kettle lid has broken I have been buying smeg products for over 10years and very disappointed this has happen contacted smeg and got no reply attached is a photo Show details

Not well engineered – Blistered after a few months then the hinge snapped. They look good but the vinyl wrap they use blisters. The lid hinge then broke completely. Not a good product. Get a kettle that doesn't have the vinyl wrap Show details

Smeg Kettle bubbles – Paid $219.50 for this kettle and was happy at first and now it has bubble coming out and getting bigger each time, am extremely disappointed in his product, in believing that it was worth the money and now i regret giving away my stainless steel Russell Hobbs which never had any issues or problem i believe that i should be refunded or given a replace Kettle ASAP (See Attached Photo) Show details

A little over rated – Purchased the black Smeg 50's kettle from Joyce Mayne 26/9/23 paid $198 have found it to be a little over rated beautiful designed kettle but very heavy to lift once water is filled, the lid sticks all the time so have given up filling it from the lid so I fill water into the spout I know I should return it but there is no more black available so… Read more

will persevere with the filling into the spout, the colour hasn't been applied well either as the black paint is slighly peeling near the handle I will see how it goes in another month then will return for an optional colour

Smell – I have just returned my kettle because of the awful smell it produced when the water was boiled. The smell filled my whole kitchen. The water also tasted terrible, even after filling, boiling and refilling over 10 times. Stupidly, I accepted a replacement as the option. The new kettle is exactly the same. I’ll try returning it today and will look for another brand. Show details