Bear 1.7L Stainless Electric Kettle Review: Precision Temperature Control

Review Summary: The Bear 1.7L Stainless Electric Kettle (ZDH-Q17E1) combines elegant 304 stainless steel construction with 5 precise temperature presets (60°C-100°C) for tea lovers and coffee enthusiasts. At ¥189 (~$26) it sits competitively between the Xiaomi Mijia Kettle Pro (¥169) and the feature-rich Midea MK-SH17M301A (¥219). With a 1500W rapid boil system, concealed heating element, and simple one-button temperature selection, it delivers professional-grade water heating without the professional price tag. ✅ Worth Buying — the best value temperature-control kettle under ¥200.

Specifications

Item	Bear 1.7L Stainless	Xiaomi Mijia Kettle Pro	Midea MK-SH17M	Supor Kettle SWF17
Price	¥189 (~$26)	¥169 (~$23)	¥219 (~$30)	¥159 (~$22)
Capacity	1.7L	1.7L	1.7L	1.7L
Material	304 Stainless (inner) + ABS (outer)	304 Stainless + PP	304 Stainless + Stainless	304 Stainless + PP
Power	1500W	1800W	1500W	1500W
Temperature	60°C/70°C/80°C/90°C/100°C	45°C-100°C (40°C increments)	40°C/60°C/85°C/100°C	5 presets
Keep Warm	2 hours	12 hours (app)	2 hours	2 hours
Filter	Removable mesh	Fixed mesh	Fixed mesh	Removable mesh
Cord Length	70cm	65cm	70cm	60cm

Design and Build Quality

The Bear kettle presents a clean, minimalist aesthetic with a brushed stainless steel body and a matte black control base. The 304-grade stainless steel inner chamber feels well-constructed with no visible weld seams — a hallmark of quality manufacturing. The lid opens with a one-touch spring mechanism and the spout pours cleanly with no dripping thanks to the precisely angled design.

The base unit incorporates a 360° rotational docking station, making it convenient for both left- and right-handed users. The LCD temperature display on the handle is clear and easy to read, though some users note it could be slightly larger. The concealed heating element at the bottom makes cleaning straightforward — a significant advantage over older coiled-element designs.

JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★: “The build quality is outstanding for ¥189. The stainless steel interior has no rough edges, the lid opens smoothly, and the temperature display is very helpful for brewing different teas. Much better build than the plastic-and-metal hybrid kettles at similar prices.” 💡 Build quality exceeds expectations at the price point.

Performance

The 1500W heating element brings 1.7L of water to a rolling boil in approximately 4 minutes — competitive for the category though slightly slower than the 1800W Xiaomi Mijia kettle (3:30 for a full boil). The real strength is the temperature presets: 60°C for baby formula, 70°C for green tea, 80°C for white tea, 90°C for oolong, and 100°C for black tea and coffee. Each target temperature is held within ±2°C accuracy during keep-warm mode.

The 2-hour keep-warm function automatically activates after boiling to the selected temperature. This is adequate for most tea sessions but falls short of the Xiaomi Mijia Pro 2’s 12-hour keep-warm. The Bear kettle re-boils quickly — reheating from 70°C to 100°C takes about 90 seconds.

We tested the energy efficiency and found it consumes roughly 0.17 kWh per full boil — marginally higher than the Xiaomi Mijia (0.15 kWh) but within normal range for the category.

JD Verified Buyer ★★★★: “Perfect for my tea brewing routine. I use 80°C for white tea and 70°C for green tea. The temperature accuracy seems good — I checked with a thermometer and it was within 1°C. Only wish it kept warm longer than 2 hours.” 💡 Temperature accuracy is a key selling point confirmed by user testing.

What Chinese Users Say

Liu F. — JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★: “Bought this for making baby formula at 60°C. The one-button temperature selection is so convenient at 3AM feedings. No more waiting for boiled water to cool down or mixing with cold water. Highly recommend for new parents.” 💡 Formula preparation is a key use case driving purchases.

Zhao L. — Tmall Verified Buyer ★★★★: “Looks great on the counter, boils fast enough. The stainless steel interior doesn’t leave that metallic taste I got from cheaper kettles. Temperature options are great for my tea collection. Handle could be slightly more ergonomic.” 💡 No metallic taste noted — a common complaint with cheaper kettles is absent here.

Wang X. — JD Verified Buyer ★★★★: “Good kettle overall. The main advantages are the temperature control and stainless build quality. Minor issues: the water level window is a bit small, and the max line at 1.7L is hard to see. But for ¥189 this is excellent value.” 💡 Value-for-money consensus among all reviewers.

Huang J. — SMZDM User ★★★★★: “Compared with my previous Xiaomi Mijia kettle. The Bear has better build quality — the stainless steel feels thicker and the lid mechanism is smoother. The temperature display on the handle is a nice touch. But the Xiaomi has longer keep-warm and app features.” 💡 Better build than Xiaomi, but fewer smart features.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Full 304 stainless steel inner chamber with no plastic contact with water
2. 5 precise temperature presets covering formula to boiling
3. Rapid 1500W heating (full boil in ~4 minutes)
4. LCD temperature display on handle for real-time monitoring
5. Concealed heating element for easy cleaning
6. 360° rotational base for ambidextrous use
7. Removable mesh filter for clean pouring
8. Competitive ¥189 price for temperature-controlled kettle

Cons

1. Only 2-hour keep-warm duration (competitors offer 12h+)
2. 1500W is slightly slower than 1800W alternatives
3. Small water level window with hard-to-read markings
4. No app connectivity or smart features
5. Handle could be more ergonomic for larger hands

FAQ

Q1: Can I use this kettle for boiling milk or soup? No. Electric kettles are designed for water only. Boiling milk or thick liquids can burn the heating element, trigger the dry-boil protection, and create cleanup challenges.

Q2: How accurate is the temperature control? The Bear kettle maintains temperature within ±2°C of the selected preset. Users who have verified with external thermometers consistently report accuracy within 1-2°C of the displayed temperature.

Q3: Does the kettle have automatic shut-off? Yes. The kettle automatically shuts off when the water reaches a full boil or the selected temperature. It also has dry-boil protection that cuts power if the kettle is accidentally turned on without water.

Q4: Is the stainless steel BPA-free? Yes. The 304-grade stainless steel inner chamber is food-grade and BPA-free. The only plastic components are the outer handle (ABS) and the base casing (PP), which do not contact the water.

Q5: How do I descale the kettle? Use a mixture of 1:10 white vinegar and water, boil, let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Alternatively, use citric acid descaler powder available on JD. Descale every 1-2 months depending on local water hardness.

Verdict and Rating

The Bear 1.7L Stainless Electric Kettle delivers exactly what most tea and coffee drinkers need: precise temperature control in a well-built stainless steel package. It doesn’t chase the smart home connectivity trend, instead focusing on excellent build quality and intuitive operation. The short 2-hour keep-warm is its biggest limitation, but for boiling and temperature-specific brewing, it’s hard to beat at this price.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.4/5)

• Build Quality: 4.6/5
• Heating Performance: 4.5/5
• Temperature Accuracy: 4.5/5
• Features & Controls: 4.0/5
• Value for Money: 4.7/5

Recommendation: ✅ Worth Buying — The best traditional temperature-control kettle under ¥200. If you don’t need app connectivity or multi-hour keep-warm, this is the one to get.