Dreo smart humidifiers

Dreo HM735S vs HM717S vs HM713S: large cool mist or warm/cool hybrid?

The Dreo HM735S, HM717S and HM713S all add smart controls to top-fill ultrasonic humidification, but the central choice is not simply 11 versus 8 versus 6 liters. The HM735S is the large cool-only tower. The smaller HM717S and HM713S add heated warm mist, with the placement, heat and cleaning implications that come with it.

Choose the operating plan first

If you specifically want a warm-mist option, the HM735S is not a candidate: its exact DR-HHM005S manual describes cool mist, and its current product page does not offer a warm mode. The HM717S is an 8-liter cool/warm hybrid; the HM713S is a 6-liter cool/warm hybrid. Those hybrids make more sense when warm output is a real requirement, not merely an extra mode in the feature list. Warm mist can be hot, and each model’s heat-related placement and cleaning instructions should be read before use.

If cool mist is sufficient and refill interval matters, the HM735S is the largest of these three at 11 liters. Dreo’s up-to-100-hour figure is a best-case maker claim, not a promised schedule: mist level, room dryness and ventilation determine how quickly water is used. Its 30.91-inch tower has a different footprint from the HM717S (14.45 inches high) and HM713S (13.93 inches high). The two compact hybrids use a broader, shorter body; the HM735S is a tall floor-standing form. Measure the space and include clearance for its top fill, outlet and cleaning—not just the box height.

Smart does not mean interchangeable

Each model supports connected controls, but exact details differ. HM735S adds a physical remote in its model manual and lets you set an Auto target from 30–90% in five-point steps. HM717S also offers cool/warm mist, an app and automatic humidity targeting. HM713S is the smaller hybrid with a comparable connected control idea, but its page/manual disagree about some specifications and its room-area claims are not used as a firm threshold. For all three, a sensor is useful only when the unit has breathing room and its reading is not dominated by an HVAC outlet or a nearby plume.

Dreo lists “up to” room areas, runtime and quietness rather than independent room testing. HM735S has a 700-square-foot manufacturer range on its current product page. HM717S and HM713S have unresolved area conflicts, so a finder that asks for a minimum area will not treat their disputed numbers as proof. If a strict area threshold is the deciding factor, verify the room independently instead of assuming one of the Dreo headlines guarantees a result.

Refills are only half of ownership

All three are top-fill, so you do not need to turn a full tank upside down to reach a bottom cap. The larger HM735S can be topped up through a separate inlet while it stands on the floor, but its full water load is still substantial and its manual calls for a water-resistant, level surface with 12 inches of clearance. Keep the mist away from walls and electronics. The smaller HM717S manual recommends placing that model about two feet above the floor—a placement rule that may matter more than its tank capacity—while HM713S’s manual also requires clearance and sensible nozzle direction.

None should be treated as maintenance-free. Dreo recommends purified or distilled water to limit mineral residue, and the ultrasonic mechanism can still need regular cleaning. HM717S and HM713S have warm-path components to maintain; HM735S instead has a large tank, cartridge, droplet collector and aroma-pad tray. Oils belong on the model’s designated pad, never in tank water. Check each model’s manual for its actual cleaning schedule before deciding that fewer refills are worth the upkeep.

Quick decision

• Choose HM735S for a large, cool-only tank, remote/app choices and a tall floor-standing setup.
• Choose HM717S when you want a smaller 8-liter reservoir and both cool and warm mist; read its raised-placement and area-claim cautions.
• Choose HM713S when a 6-liter hybrid is enough and you also want both mist temperatures; its conflicting range/power details stay unresolved.

When a requirement changes between these choices, use it as an exclusion rather than treating every added mode as an upgrade. A warm-mist requirement rules out HM735S. A maximum height below 30.91 inches rules it out too. A minimum area requirement cannot be met by HM717S or HM713S from their disputed figures. For a buyer who wants the largest tank and no heater, HM735S is the distinctive fit—but only if its footprint and care routine work in the room.

Sources: Dreo product pages and the exact-model manual sources linked in the HM735S, HM717S and HM713S reviews.