The Chronos is the newest wired flat iron styler to launch from hair instruments big, GHD. It guarantees to model hair 3 times sooner than earlier fashions whereas enhancing shine by 85% and lowering frizz by half. It options HD motion-responsive know-how and a re-engineered wishbone hinge for simpler curling.
For
- Curved, compact design
- Adds shine and reduces frizz
- Great for curling hair
Against
- Expensive
- Speed and shine comparisons are deceptive
The GHD Platinum Plus, first launched in 2018, is GHD’s former flagship styler and the Chronos’ predecessor. It’s a wired, 1-inch flat iron styler that makes use of ultra-zone predictive know-how to make sure constant warmth throughout the plates. It claims to ship 70% stronger hair, 20% extra shine, and twice the colour safety than older fashions.
For
- Versatile
- Creates easy kinds
Against
- Features six-year-old tech
- Pulls on the hair
For greater than 20 years, GHD has dominated the overwhelming majority of best hair straightener lists. It was a pioneer of the ceramic-plated, flat-iron stylers and all through its time on the prime, GHD has seen an increase in imitators whereas frequently battling to remain forward.
As a outcome, the GHD hair instruments vary has grown considerably in that point. It now contains curling tongs, hair dryers, a wet-to-dry styler, a cordless straightener, and a rising assortment of wired, flat-iron straighteners, the newest of which is the GHD Chronos.
Having first launched within the US firstly of the 12 months, earlier than arriving within the UK and Australia in late February, the Chronos is the successor to the earlier flagship, 2018’s GHD Platinum Plus.
As you’d count on, the Chronos is dearer. It comes with a number of promised improvements, from sooner styling to shinier hair, however is it actually higher than the Platinum Plus, or does the relative affordability of the Plus now make it a better option?
In this information, we evaluate the 2 stylers to see how each stacks up in opposition to the opposite that can assist you resolve which higher fits your wants.
GHD Chronos vs Platinum Plus: pricing
Both the GHD Chronos and Platinum Plus sit on the increased finish of the hair instruments market, and each can be found straight from GHD within the UK, US and Australia.
Despite its age, the Platinum Plus has not solely held its worth however has repeatedly elevated in worth because it launched. In 2018 when it launched, it price £175 / $249. Today it prices $289 / £239 / AU$415.
By comparability, the Chronos will set you again $329 / £289 / AU$465. Since the Chronos launched, a number of retailers together with GHD itself have discounted the Platinum Plus. However, it does not seem like a everlasting change.
In the US, you should purchase the Chronos and Platinum Plus from GHD’s official Amazon store, in addition to Walmart and Ulta. For some motive, the Chronos does not seem while you search on Walmart, however you could find a direct link here.
In the UK, they’re each out there through Lookfantastic, Selfridges, John Lewis, and Harvey Nichols. The Platinum Plus is on the market on Amazon, however the Chronos is not as a consequence of launch on Amazon UK till 15 April. In Australia, each can be found at Adore Beauty.
- Winner: GHD Platinum Plus
GHD Chronos vs Platinum Plus: Design
Realistically, there are solely so some ways you may design flat-iron straighteners, and as such the Chronos seems remarkably just like the Platinum Plus.
Both can be found in black and white colorways, each are created from plastic with a matte end, and each have 1-inch black ceramic scorching plates with an extremely gloss coating, and energy buttons positioned on the within of the stylers’ arms. They every then warmth up inside 20 seconds and have the identical 2.7m, 360º wire.
Place the stylers subsequent to at least one one other, nonetheless, and you will spot some key variations. The Chronos is notably smaller and extra compact, regardless of providing the identical dimension plates because the Platinum Plus.
The Platinum Plus measures 12.6 x 4.72 x 3.54 inches and weighs 1.65 lbs. The Chronos measures 11.8 x 4.6 x 2.8 inches and weighs 1.63 lbs.
The hinge on the Chronos is created from brushed, reasonably than shiny chrome, and has been redesigned to make it simpler to make use of. This new hinge is much less more likely to entice your hair than the Platinum Plus, a mannequin that already improved upon earlier GHD straighteners with its spring design.
One of my largest complaints with the Platinum Plus is that the hinge does not snap the arms again in place as rapidly as I’d like. This is a minor level, and also you quickly get used to it, however this has been solved on the Chronos.
Elsewhere, the Chronos has curvier edges than the Platinum Plus. This makes it simpler to twist with, whereas its compact dimension makes it simpler to maneuver round your head and journey with.
When you press the ability button on every styler, a high-pitched beep rings out to let you understand that the straighteners are on. Once the plates on every styler attain the utmost temperature of 365F / 185℃, each beep once more to let you understand it is prepared to make use of.
Features-wise, the Platinum Plus options ultra-zone know-how. This know-how depends on sensors to watch and management the distribution of warmth alongside the 2 plates. This makes positive that there are not any chilly or scorching spots throughout use, and that the warmth stays constant to provide you fast and even styling.
Chronos has upgraded this know-how to what it calls HD motion-responsive know-how. It works equally to the Platinum Plus’ ultra-zone know-how, in that it depends on sensors to evenly distribute the warmth. However, the Chronos is alleged to be able to monitoring the angle of the styler and likewise the way it’s getting used to make the temperature controls and dispersion much more exact.
GHD hasn’t gone into nice element about how the HD motion-responsive know-how differs from the ultra-zone know-how, apart from saying that the Chronos “responds to your styling motion with 2x more responsiveness and intelligence” to make straightening your hair sooner.
Elsewhere, the Chronos is powered by GHD’s newest technology ceramic heater and can robotically flip off after 10 minutes if it is not getting used. The Platinum Plus’ computerized shut-off does not kick in for 30 minutes.
GHD Chronos vs Platinum Plus: Specs
As the Chronos is the successor to the Platinum Plus, it gives plenty of superior options and upgraded specs.
GHD Chronos specs
- Size: 11.8 x 4.6 x 2.8 ins (299.7 x 116.8 x 71.1mm) (L x W x H)
- Weight: 1.63 lbs (0.74 kg)
- Technology: HD motion-responsive know-how
- Plate width: 1-inch (26.8mm)
- Styling temperature: 365°F (185℃)
- Heat-up time: 20 seconds
- Automatic shut-off: 10 minutes
- Warranty: 3 years
The Platinum Plus shares plenty of specs with the Chronos, by way of plate design and temperature settings, however it’s the barely extra inferior product with regards to know-how and specs.
GHD Platinum Plus specs
- Size: 12.6 x 4.72 x 3.54 inches (320 x 119.8 x 89.9mm) (L x W x H)
- Weight: 1.65 lbs
- Technology: Ultra-zone know-how
- Plate width: 1-inch (26.8mm)
- Styling temperature: 365°F (185℃)
- Heat-up time: 20 seconds
- Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes
- Warranty: 3 years
GHD Chronos vs Platinum Plus: efficiency
GHD says that the Chronos:
- Styles hair 3 times sooner
- Boosts shine by 85%
- Reduces frizz by half
- Creates kinds that final 24 hours
- Offers 3x breakage safety
GHD additionally claims the re-engineered hinge and barrel “craft high-definition curls and waves simply”.
You would possibly assume, as I did, that these comparisons had been to the Platinum Plus. However, they are not.
The sooner styling occasions are compared to the GHD Original. The shine and frizz comparisons are primarily based on naturally dried hair. The 3x breakage safety is in comparison with a rival styler used at a warmer, 455°F (235°C) temperature, whereas the endurance of the styler relies on client testing through which 86% of a comparatively small pattern of 142 shoppers mentioned the model lasted all day.
This is to not utterly take away from the advances and improvements within the GHD Chronos, however it’s value noting as a result of the efficiency comparisons might not appear as spectacular at first look. There had been, in fact, comparable enhancements cited when the Platinum Plus launched. Namely, it created 75% extra shine, supplied 2x the colour safety, and left hair feeling 70% stronger – however these had been once more compared to older fashions.
In actual phrases, the Chronos took a mean of 3 minutes and 15 seconds to straighten my hair, which is 10 seconds sooner than the Platinum Plus, on common. Curling my hair utilizing the Chronos took 9 minutes and 45 seconds on common, whereas the Platinum Plus took 10 minutes on common.
Frizz was decreased, in comparison with after I let my hair dry naturally, and whereas the outcomes had been comparable with each stylers, the Chronos simply pipped the Platinum Plus to the put up on this take a look at.
Both kinds added shine, however the shiny end was extra noticeable with the Chronos to the purpose I acquired a number of compliments on days I used the Chronos, versus days I used the Platinum Plus.
In phrases of responsiveness, if there was a distinction between the Chronos and Platinum Plus it was so small, it was barely tangible. Both appeared to warmth the plates and magnificence my hair evenly. I did discover that I did not need to cross the Chronos over my hair as many occasions as I do with Platinum Plus however once more that is the distinction between one cross versus two so is comparatively small.
When it got here to longevity, my GHD Chronos model held for longer than after I styled my hair with the Platinum Plus however neither got here near 24 hours. At greatest, the Chronos model held for 4 to 5 hours, and the Platinum Plus model lasted three to 4, however as quickly as I stepped outdoors, each kinds fell aside.
So far, so comparable.
However, the Chronos does supply one very important enchancment in efficiency over the Platinum Plus, and that’s how nicely it glides over the hair. I hadn’t realized how a lot the Platinum Plus pulled my hair till I used the Chronos.
This extremely easy expertise, coupled with the Chronos’ extra compact design and curved barrel, makes curling my hair extremely pleasant and that is the place the Chronos actually excels.
Winner: GHD Chronos
GHD Chronos vs Platinum Plus: verdict
Given that the Chronos is filled with the newest GHD improvements, it is not stunning it is the higher of the 2 fashions. Its smaller, curved design is nice for creating curls and the plates glide over the hair effortlessly. It’s marginally sooner than the Platinum Plus, provides extra shine and the kinds final barely longer.
However, the Platinum Plus nonetheless greater than holds its personal. The majority of enhancements seen on the Chronos are virtually indistinguishable. Despite being six years outdated, the Platinum Plus continues to be a implausible styler and greater than does the job.
In this manner, I really feel the Platinum Plus is healthier worth for cash however should you can afford the additional money, you then at the least know you are getting GHD’s better of the most effective with the Chronos.