I tested Dyson's new Supersonic r against the Supersonic Nural – and this is the hair dryer I'd recommend to most people

If you're willing to blow about half a month's rent on a new hair dryer, Dyson has you covered – but should you invest in the Supersonic Nural or the Supersonic r?

The former is probably what you think of when you hear 'Supersonic' – it's the latest version of the dryer with the compact, symmetrical barrel that everyone went nuts for when it first launched. The latter is a further reimagining of the format. This pipe-shaped dryer was originally a professional-only gadget, but it's now available in a consumer version.

I've tested both, and they're among the very best hair dryers on the market. You can read more about each one individually in my Dyson Supersonic Nural review and Dyson Supersonic r review. But which one is more highly recommended?

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Both models have their strengths, but for most people, I think the Nural offers greater versatility and better value for money, and it's the cheaper of the two. However, it's still worth learning about the Supersonic r – it may be a better fit for your needs. Here's a closer look at how the Dyson Supersonic Nural and Dyson Supersonic r match up, based on my side-by-side testing.

Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural: price

• Supersonic Nural list price: $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$749
• Supersonic r list price: $569.99 / £449.99 / AU$799
• Both premium options; Nural offers a bit more for the money

The Supersonic Nural launched in May 2024, with the consumer version of the Supersonic r following about a year later in April 2025 (the professional version had been on sale since February 2024). Both are now widely available, and neither are cheap. In fact, they're just about the priciest hair dryers you can buy.

The older Supersonic Nural is the more affordable option – relatively speaking, of course – with a list price of $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$749, compared to $569.99 / £449.99 / AU$799 for the Supersonic r.

Both look and feel premium, and boast tech and features that you can't find elsewhere on the market. Of the two, I think the Nural justifies its lofty price tag a little better than the r – I'll get into exactly why in the Design and Performance sections.

Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural: specs

Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural: design & features

• Supersonic r is lightweight and ultra-streamlined
• Nural has a distance-sensing Scalp Protect mode
• Both recognize attachments and remember setting preferences

The Nural looks a lot like other, older Supersonic dryers, with its compact barrel. In this version, Dyson added a Scalp Protect mode. Sensors recognize how close the dryer is to the user's head, so it can heat up or cool down to maintain a constant temperature on the scalp.

This mode means you can get up close to your head without burning your scalp, and should mean less heat damage overall. To indicate what's happening, the inside of the dryer glows different colors, in a cool, kinda space-y way.

The r looks very different. For this model, Dyson completely reimagined the hair dryer format once again, redesigning the internal mechanics so they could all fit in one slim, r-shaped tube with a diameter of 1.5 inches / 3.8cm.

To achieve this, it has shifted some of the tech into the plug, which, in contrast, is really very chunky. But hey, better the extra bulk on the wall than in your hand. (The overall product weights provided on the Dyson website are inconsistent – perhaps because some include the cable/plug and some don't, so I'm going to dig out my scales and update this article with specifics as soon as possible.)

Both dryers have three temperature settings plus a cool shot, and three wind speeds. The Nural has the bonus of a Scalp Protect mode, which is missing on the r. The cable on the r is longer – to my mind, a big benefit, because there's nothing worse than a too-short cord on a hair tool.

Dyson is one of the very best brands when it comes to styling attachments. There's a wide range of compatible attachments for both the Nural and the r, and they cater for different hair types too (for example, alongside the standard diffuser and concentrator, you'll find a wide-tooth comb for coily hair, and a flyaway tamer for frizz).

The exact attachments that are included depend on where you live and which bundle you buy, so I won't get too much into that. What I will highlight is that in both cases, the dryer will recognize which item is clipped on. The first time you attach a tool, the dryer will adjust to the recommended temperature and wind speed, and after that, it'll revert to your last-used settings for each.

Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural: performance

• Both powerful, efficient dryers
• The r is very comfortable to use and incredibly easy to direct
• Nural's Scalp protect mode could be a game-changer for hair health

Onto the really important bit: how do the Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural perform in the real world? If you're looking for a powerful, efficient dryer, neither will disappoint. Officially, the r has a higher wattage while the Nural offers faster airflow, but, in practice, I struggled to find a difference in power – both dried my hair equally quickly.

Where the r has the edge is in maneuverability. Don't get me wrong; the Nural is comfortable enough to use and direct – that was one of the reasons the design became so popular in the first place. But the r's pipe-like design makes it incredibly easy to direct the airflow, even in typically tricky-to-reach spots. (The back of my head never looked better than when I was conducting my Supersonic r review.)

The Supersonic r is comfortable to hold in the hand and light enough to use for long periods. You can really tell this design was originally created for hairdressers, who would be drying multiple heads every day.

However, where the r's professional origins haven't translated so well to consumer use is in the controls; these are tiny and slightly tricky to adjust on the fly. They definitely feel like they've been designed for someone who has a clear view of the dryer while using it on someone else's head.

In contrast, the Nural's controls are easy to find and adjust. The wind speed and temperature controls, and the Scalp Protect mode button are placed around the edge of the dryer's barrel, and despite being compact, are easy to find and press.

So what about the Nural's USP: the Scalp Protect mode? I was really impressed with this. It worked reliably throughout my testing, and the power of the airflow meant my hair still dried nice and quickly, even though I was using less heat.

While I'd usually default to hair-frying max-temperature and max-power mode when drying my hair, I found myself sticking on Scalp Protect mode while testing the Nural. I'm sure my hair would thank me in the long run. It's a shame this isn't included on the r.

In terms of attachments, there's not a lot in it. While the r's options look a little different from the Nural's, the selection is roughly the same. One exception is the diffuser – curly-haired users might want to take note of the fact that the Nural is compatible with Dyson's newer, two-part Wave+Curl diffuser. The r just has a more traditional, all-in-one diffuser.

With both models, the attachments snap on and off easily and feel secure in use, and there are stay-cool sections to help you avoid burnt fingers. The sensor-based attachment memory is an excellent addition when it comes to streamlining the styling process, too.

Dyson Supersonic r and Supersonic Nural: which should I buy?

Buy the Dyson Supersonic Nural if...

Buy the Dyson Supersonic r if...