The flame effect is decorative — the heater inside is not · review
Dimplex XHD26 review
A built-in insert — not freestanding — designed to fit into a custom surround, media wall cut-out, or existing chimney breast. Dimplex's Optiflame LED technology drives the flame effect, with an optional 1400 W heater that switches on separately; the flame alone draws just 7 W, letting it run continuously without the heater.
The bottom line Dimplex sells the XHD26 explicitly as a built-in insert, not a room heater with a stated coverage area — the 1400 W element is described as a switchable extra, and the flame effect's 7 W standalone draw is the feature the listing leads with. It is the only one of these four fireplaces sold directly by Amazon rather than solely through third-party sellers on every market checked, at a mid-range price for the narrowest, most flush-fitting cabinet of the group.
An insert, not a stove
The XHD26 is built for one installation method: recessed into a surround, a media wall cut-out, or an existing chimney breast opening. Dimplex does not offer stand feet or wall-mount brackets for this model — unlike the Kaminio Marlon Pro reviewed alongside it, this is a single-purpose insert, and the surround or recess needs to exist, or be built, around its dimensions before it can go in.
Optiflame and the 7 W flame-only figure
Dimplex’s Optiflame technology is the company’s own flame-effect system, and the listing’s most specific claim is the power draw with the heater off: 7 W. That is materially lower than treating a fireplace’s flame effect as part of the same power budget as its heater, and it means the flame can run through summer evenings for a cost close to a nightlight’s. Flame speed and the colour tone of the flame base are separately adjustable via touch controls on the unit or the included remote.
Heater output — the lowest of this comparison
At 1400 W, the XHD26’s heater is the lowest-output element among the four fireplaces reviewed here (Kaminio and Balderia both go to 1800–2000 W, Juskys to 1800 W). Dimplex does not publish a room-coverage figure for it, in square metres or otherwise. Read together with the insert-only fitting, the listing reads as prioritising the flame effect and cabinet fit over heating capacity — worth weighing for anyone expecting this to noticeably warm a room rather than accent one.
Dimensions for planning a cut-out
At roughly 66 × 47.9 × 19 cm, the XHD26 is both the narrowest in depth (19 cm) and the lightest (11 kg) of the four units compared, consistent with an insert meant to sit flush rather than project into the room. That shallow depth is useful for media-wall installations where the cavity behind a TV mount is limited, but it also means there is little internal volume for the heater — plausibly part of why the wattage sits lower than the freestanding and console units in this comparison.
Market availability
Checked directly against Keepa on 24 August 2026, ASIN B08C2Z6GD2 is sold by Amazon itself — not only third-party sellers — on Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, and Amazon.es, all four with active offers. It appears in Amazon’s catalogue on GB and US as well, but with no live offers found on either at the time of checking, so it is not currently purchasable there.
Verdict
Dimplex frames the XHD26 around fitting and the flame effect — a 7 W flame-only mode and an insert built to disappear into a surround — rather than around heater output, and the 1400 W element is the lowest of the four compared here with no stated coverage figure. It is the only fireplace in this set sold directly by Amazon on every confirmed market, which is a meaningful signal of stock reliability even though it says nothing about heating capacity.
Where this one sits in its aisle
At 290 €, it is the 4 cheapest of the 4 models in this category published here.
Cheapest in the aisle140 €
Median270 €
Dearest in the aisle290 €
What we like, and what we don't
Strengths
Sold directly by Amazon on every confirmed market (not just third-party), which the other three fireplaces in this comparison are not
7 W flame-only mode is unusually low and explicitly stated, cheap enough to run year-round without the heater
Established fireplace-specific brand (Dimplex/Glen Dimplex) rather than a general houseware importer
Slim 19 cm depth suits a shallower cut-out than the wider consoles in this comparison
Compromises
Insert only — there is no freestanding or wall-surface-mount option; a surround or recess has to exist or be built for it
1400 W is the lowest heater output of the four fireplaces compared here, and Dimplex does not publish a square-metre coverage figure
Not currently sold on GB or US despite appearing in Amazon's catalogue on both, and no listed offer found on either at the time of checking
Specifications
Heater output
1400 W, switchable independently of the flame
Flame-only draw
7 W — flame can run continuously without heat
Flame technology
Optiflame LED, adjustable speed and colour tone
Fitting
Built-in insert only — surround, media wall, or chimney breast cut-out
Control
Touch controls on the unit plus remote
Dimensions / weight
≈ 66 × 47.9 × 19 cm (W×H×D), 11 kg
Amazon reference
B08C2Z6GD2 (identical on DE, FR, IT, ES)
Questions people actually ask
Can this be used freestanding, without a surround?
No — Dimplex sells the XHD26 as an insert for building into a surround, media wall cut-out, or chimney breast, not as a standalone stove. It needs housing built or bought separately.
Does the flame effect need the heater switched on?
No. Dimplex states the flame effect alone draws about 7 W, independent of the 1400 W heater, so it can run for ambience without the heating cost.
Is 1400 W enough to heat a room on its own?
Dimplex does not publish a room-coverage claim for this heater, and 1400 W is on the lower end of the fireplaces compared here — the listing does not present it as a primary heat source, and there is no manufacturer figure to check a specific room against.
Our score
8.1/ 10
Dimplex sells the XHD26 explicitly as a built-in insert, not a room heater with a stated coverage area — the 1400 W element is described as a switchable extra, and the flame effect's 7 W standalone draw is the feature the listing leads with. It is the only one of these four fireplaces sold directly by Amazon rather than solely through third-party sellers on every market checked, at a mid-range price for the narrowest, most flush-fitting cabinet of the group.
Who this one is for
A media-wall or chimney-breast renovation where a flush, brand-name insert matters more than heat output, and the surround is being built to size around the unit.
Compared with its closest rivals
Same category, nearest prices. Only the specifications every one of them states are shown — a half-empty column compares nothing.
2000 W · stepless thermostat · floor-standing cabinet
A floor-standing console fireplace in a dark oak-effect cabinet, built as furniture rather than an insert. BALDERIA states a stepless heater up to 2 kW with an integrated thermostat, a 3D LED flame effect with three flame patterns and 13 colours, and no-drill assembly the listing puts at around 30 minutes.
Best for: A living room with floor space for a dedicated fireplace cabinet, where fine thermostat control and no-drill setup matter more than wall-mounting flexibility.
A freestanding electric stove with a cast-iron-style black cabinet, LED flame effect, and a two-stage 900/1800 W heater controllable by app, WiFi, or infrared remote. The flame runs independently of the heater, with a 12/24 h timer and an adjustable target temperature.
Best for: A first electric stove for a living room corner where the flame effect matters as much as the heat, and app control is a genuine plus rather than a gimmick.
900/1800 W · up to 30 m² · stand, built-in or wall
A 3-in-1 electric fireplace KAMINIO rates to heat rooms up to 30 m², fitted as a freestanding stove, built into a wall recess, or wall-mounted, with mounting hardware included for all three. A 3D LED flame effect with 12 colours and 5 brightness levels runs independently of the 900/1800 W heater, controlled by remote with a thermostat set between 16 and 28 °C.
Best for: A living-room feature wall where the fireplace needs to work equally well recessed into cabinetry now and free-standing later if the room is rearranged.
