Phox Wave Water Filter Jug review: I got great tasting tap water using refillable cartridges
This water filter jug creates great tasting, limescale-free water using refillable cartridges
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Score: 10/10
We like:
- Its slimline design
- It pours well
- Its refillable filter cartridges
We don’t like:
- It takes longer to set-up
- Some water spillage
What is the Phox Wave Water filter jug?
Phox is a water filter brand that aims to bring cleaner water to our homes while cutting back on disposable cartridges. The filters use coconut shell and ion bead granules that are easily refilled without the need for brand new cartridges. Replacement packs fit through your letterbox and you can set up a subscription to remove any guesswork about when they need replacing.
The Phox Wave is the brand’s newest water filter jug and is a slimline alternative to the V2 Glass Water Filter, which creates great tasting water but was too round to fit in the fridge. There are three different filter options – clean, alkaline and soft – so you can adjust it to the type of water in your area. At just under £40, it sits in the middle of the market, but its overall performance meant it was named the Best Buy in our list guide to the best water filter jugs. Here’s why.
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How we test water filter jugs
As a health journalist I know the benefits of staying hydrated, and I tested all of the water filter jugs in our latest guide. I assessed each model on several different metrics: design, water quality and taste, how easy they were to use (and crucially if they could fit in the fridge), and value.
I sampled the filtered water on its own, noting any changes in taste and tried it in my kettle, checking to see if it reduced limescale build up. I tried the different filters, and also looked at the Total Dissolved Solids in the water. This refers to the organic and inorganic particles found in the liquid. Some are beneficial – like calcium, magnesium and sodium – and others aren’t – like chlorides and sulphates. I used a TDS monitor, looking for a reading under 300 Parts Per Million (PPM), as recommended by Dr Tapas Sen, a nanomaterial chemistry expert at the University of Central Lancashire.
Throughout, I considered whether the water filter jug was easy to use. I wanted one that was lightweight, quick to fill and leak-free to pour. I cleaned each jug and judged what the cartridges were like to change, their filtration speeds and cost.
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Design
Score: 9/10
This new jug from Phox has a similar slimline design to a classic Brita filter jug, making it easy to slide into a fridge door. The rectangular body holds 2.8-litres of water in total, of which 1.6-litres is filtered.
When empty, it only weighs 0.7kg, and even once it was full, I still found it lightweight to use and pour from. The square handle and large spout helped, too.
I liked the blue water drop design on the lid that you push down so you can fill the jug up with water. If you prefer room temperature water, it certainly won’t look out of place on the worktop in most kitchens either.
Water filter cartridges
Score: 10/10
Phox lets you choose the best water filter cartridge for you based on your water supply. You can check the water in your area on its website and select either a clean filter for moderately hard water or a softener filter for even harder water. There’s also an alkaline option, which doesn’t tackle limescale like the others, but removes the same common contaminants, maintains the water’s calcium levels and adds magnesium.
I tested both the softener filter, designed for my hard, London water, and the alkaline filter. While I found setting up the filter a little fiddly at first, I soon got used to the refill process, and I liked knowing more about the materials used (including coconut shell activated carbon and ion exchange beads). It all adds to its eco-friendly appeal.
Once in use, the water filtered through the jug quickly. I could fill up the jug and leave it for 30 seconds, returning to find all the water had passed through and was ready to use.
Water quality and taste
Score: 9/10
Ordinarily, my tap water has a metallic, salty taste. To find the best water filter jug, I tested nine different versions, and I loved the taste from Phox’s softener filter and its smoother finish (it uses activated carbon to get rid of heavy metals, chlorine and copper). I also used the filtered water numerous times in my kettle, which helped to reduce any limescale build-up. This filter had a TDS reading of 184, which is about what you’d expect for filtered water.
The alkaline filter made my water taste sweeter and cleaner owing to its higher levels of calcium and magnesium,. Consequently, it also had a higher TDS reading of 280. The filter is still designed to remove lead, copper and chlorine from the water.
Ease of use
Score: 9/10
Setting this jug up only took me around 10 minutes. As is the case with most water filters, you must run water through the cartridge a few times before you can drink it, but then you shouldn’t need to revisit the filter for 200 litres of use, which Phox states is about 45 days’ worth. The 2.8-litre capacity is suitable for someone living alone or with a partner, but you may need a bigger jug to accommodate a whole family – I found the reservoir housed a few glasses when full.
The teardrop opening is easy to fill, but if you don’t wait for the water to filter through from the reservoir, it could leak. As for the spout, it is a little larger than other water filter jugs, but poured into glasses and water bottles without making a mess. The square handle also had a sturdiness that was helpful when filling larger bottles.
Quality and value
Score: 10/10
The plastic jug is made in the UK and is free from BPA and phthalates, the chemicals sometimes found in plastic. This means the plastic components won’t seep into the water. It is incredibly light and surprisingly sturdy. The handle is also made from a strong plastic and had the best grip of all the water filter jugs I tried; even when the jug was full, it didn’t weigh my hand down.
You can wash the jug with soap and water or put it in the dishwasher. I did this regularly, as water marks started to appear within a couple of weeks of use. The jug comes with two filter cartridges, adding to its overall value for money. Replacements cost about £15 for two.
Technical specifications
I compared the Phox Wave Water Filter Jug against one from leading brand Brita, the Brita Style Fridge Water Filter Jug. While the latter is slightly cheaper, it has less capacity. However, both are dishwasher safe and alert you when you need to change the filter.
Should you buy the Phox Wave Water filter jug?
The Phox water jug fits nicely in the fridge and isn’t too heavy, even when completely refilled. Its blue accents give the design an edge but the biggest highlight is the choice of refillable filters to suit the hardness of your water. The water tastes clean and smooth, with TDS levels below 300. It filters water quickly and it fitted effortlessly into my kitchen.
Yes, if:
- You have hard water in your area
- You want to be more sustainable
- You live on your own or with a partner
No, if:
- You want a more simple set-up process
- You have a big household and need more water
You can place the Phox water filter in a plastic recycling bin.
Instructions are provided on how to refill the cartridge. As for the jug, simply open the teardrop lid and fill water to the top
Around 45 days – you can use its app to figure out when you should change the cartridge.
Yes, the Clean and Softener cartridges are designed to reduce limescale build up. But the Alkaline filter is not.