Wanted a kettle with adjustable temperature. Decided to go with Kitchen Aid as I thought it would be a reliable brand. It literally lasted 3 days before it stopped working. Luckily we hadn't tossed the packaging. Appliances Online were great and arranged a replacement within a few days. Two weeks in on version 2.0 and so far so good, but the lid release on this kettle is pretty flimsy. I'm predicting it will fail inside its 2 year warranty. I wouldn't buy it again. I expected more from a $200 kettle.

Others have commented on how this kettle is quieter; this is due to the fact that it switches the element on and off (perhaps in an effort not to overshoot the target temperature). The tradeoff is that it takes a little longer. The manual says the battery function allows for the current temperature of the water to be known when the kettle is away from the base (I'm not sure how this is useful). What the manual doesn't say is that the batteries allow for the desired temperature setting to be remembered between boils (including if the unit is switched off at the mains). In any case, I'm not sure how wise it is to have chemical, heat-sensitive, AA cells inside a kettle. The interior of the pot is beginning to corrode after a few weeks of use (another reviewer mistook this for mould). I'm not sure how long it will last.

This is by no means a budget item. It is top shelf stuff but dripping with features and quality as you would expect for the price. Appliances Online pricing in general couple with a loyalty discount received from them for other purchases made this a great buy for me. Everyone scoffed at me for buying it but they are all converted now.