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When comparing two products from the same brand, it can be difficult, especially when those products resemble each other as much as the Spectra S1 and Spectra S2 Breast Pumps do. On the outside, the S1 and S2 appear to be almost the same product, but when you look a little closer, you can see a few small differences that together, might make choosing between them a little easier.
The important things to look at when choosing electric pumps are things like the battery life, suction strength adjusting (suction level), and the comfort of using it. Our Spectra s2 vs s1 looks at all of these factors and more, so read on!
Bottom Line Up Front: Go with the Spectra S1 Electric Breast Pump, unless you really don’t think you will ever need to use a battery on the go.
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Main Differences Between Spectra S1 vs S2
The main differences between Spectra S1 and S2 are:
- The Spectra S1 has a built-in battery, whereas the Spectra S2 does not have one.
- The Spectra S1 is more expensive, whereas the Spectra S2 is more affordable.
- The Spectra S1 weighs 1.1 kilograms, whereas the Spectra S2 weighs 900 grams.
- The Spectra S1 comes in blue, whereas the Spectra S2 in pink.
There is nothing better than a hospital grade pump, period. This one offers powerful milk extraction, massage and everything to keep a mom comfortable, and it's pretty affordable too.
Because Spectra is such a trusted brand when it comes to breast pumps, both of these particular Spectra breast pump options are excellent choices for any mother-to-be or a new mom looking for the right pump.
Both S1 and S2 make it easier to pump breast milk for your baby without any of the stress that comes with difficult-to-understand machines. But at the end of the day, they are each their breast pump with the good and bad qualities you can’t ignore, and there has to be the best choice between them.
If you must have a double electric breast pump rather than a single, that’s plenty important too. When it comes to the S1 vs S2 breast pumps, they can both be used as either double or single breast pumps, and they have similarly easy-to-use controls.
And, as to be expected, they are similar enough in price that using cost in the spectra s2 vs s1 decision as the deciding factor may not be the best idea.
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Spectra S1 Pump Review
The Spectra S1 Electric Breast Pump technically came before the S2, but that doesn’t mean it’s an out-of-date model. In fact, many parents still wear the ease of use and comfort that the S1 provides.
It weighs just three pounds and has a built-in rechargeable battery as well as a little carrying handle. This means that you can even walk around your house or get up and stretch while pumping without worrying about a plug pulling out from a socket in the wall.
The breast pump comes with two different sizes of breast flanges, two wide neck bottles for pumping into, locking rings and caps, valves, back milk flow protectors, tubing, and a power source and adapter in case you choose to get the power that way.
But going back a bit, the backflow protector is essential in any good breast pump to help prevent a build-up of breast milk that’s hard to clean out of tubing and can grow mold over time. The small area on the top with controls is easy to read and understand and even has a nightlight you can turn on to control it in the dark, which is especially useful for late-night pumping.
Spectra S1 Breast Pump Features
- Battery Life: The rechargeable battery typically lasts about three hours total, which will give you a couple of solid pumping sessions before you need to charge it again.
- Accessories: It comes with a power AC adapter, breast flanges in two sizes, a breast pump bag, two bottles for your dispensed milk storage, tubing, valves, and backflow protectors.
- Suction Levels: You can set the breast pump to remember your preferred pumping speeds and strength, but there are 12 different levels of suction strength.
- Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon here or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
Pros of the Spectra S1
- The rechargeable battery makes pumping on the go and away from home so much easier.
- It’s also very quiet compared to some other breast pumps, which makes pumping in public, at work, or near a sleeping baby a lot easier and discreet.
- There are two light modes for the built-in nightlight.
- It can also memorize and go back to your most-used settings each time, so you won’t have to put in your preferences each breast pump session if you don’t want to.
Cons of the Spectra S1
- It is a bit more expensive than the Spectra S2 and overall, may seem a little pricey for some parents.
- The initial charge when you first purchase the pump can take a long time and potentially last longer than overnight to get that first full charge.
- Buying replacement parts for the S1 can add up and get a little expensive.
There is nothing better than a hospital grade pump, period. This one offers powerful milk extraction, massage and everything to keep a mom comfortable, and it's pretty affordable too.
Spectra S1 User Reviews
“Wow. Just wow. Why did I not hear of this breast pump sooner? It’s Comfortable, lightweight, it has portability oh- and more than double the milk supply!! Seriously, it is almost a crime that an insurance company will just give out inferior breast pumps when this is available. I was concerned when returning to work with my second baby that I would not be able to produce enough milk… Now, those worries are gone.” – Candice Hansen on Amazon.
“Had a chance to loan the S2 from my midwife and was sold. I bought the Spectra S1 after returning the loaned pump and have no regrets. Decided on Spectra S1 as it has a rechargeable battery, so while it’s a bit more expensive up front, it was totally worth it. I didn’t have to worry about which room at work I was going to use each day to breast pump as I didn’t need to be near a power outlet. While I didn’t try using it in my car, I knew it was an option in a pinch.” – A. Mueller on Amazon.
“Never thought I’d leave my Medelas behind, but I’ve been converted. The price is excellent, and the ability of this pump is out of this world! I do exclusive pumping and have been for the last 7 months. I spend about 4 hours a day when all is said and done hooked up to this guy, and it’s not painful! Not only that but the spectra does a better job at fully emptying the breast as well. I wish I had started out with the spectra instead of the Medela Freestyle.” – Matthew Parkhill on Amazon.
As a new mom, I almost missed this one! Many health insurance companies offer FREE breast pumps, but did you know you can also PICK which ones you want? Aeroflow is my go-to source for finding the best pumps covered by insurance.
Spectra S2 Breast Pump Review
Just because the Spectra S2 Electric Breast Pump came after the S1, it doesn’t make it any less important or well-loved by moms everywhere.
In fact, this Spectra breast pump weighs just two and a half pounds, so less than the S1, and comes with a multi-volt power option adapter so that you can use it in any country, which makes it great for traveling. It’s also incredibly quiet and operates at just 45 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound (or lack thereof) of a library.
So you can easily pump in a library or at work or even right next to your sleeping partner in bed without the worry of disturbing anyone. Like the S1, it has a night light to see the display in the dark in the middle of the night and it also an auto timer to turn off automatically after 30 minutes of use. Since it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, this isn’t to preserve any battery life, but instead meant to make pumping easier on you.
It does come with backflow protection, but the tubes are also designed with a closed system pump. This keeps the tubing dry during and after pumping to help prevent mold or bacteria build-up and also prevent such things from getting into the pumped milk in the bottles provided.
Features of the Spectra S2
- Battery Life: Since this Spectra pump comes with a power cord and adapter (including a car adaptor), it does not have a built-in battery or the capacity for adding disposable aa batteries of your own.
- Accessories: The pump comes with two wide neck bottles, flanges, tubing, backflow protector, and power cord.
- Suction Levels: There are 12 different suction levels to choose from each session, but you can also set the pump to remember your preferred speeds.
- Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon here or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
Pros of the Spectra S2
- It’s less expensive than the Spectra S1, which could be the primary deciding factor for some families.
- The closed pump system helps keep your baby’s pumped milk as fresh and bacteria-free as possible.
- It also weighs less than the Spectra S1, so taking it out of your home or traveling with it can be a bit easier.
- There’s also a handy car adapter that can be used to pump in your car if you need to.
Cons of the Spectra S2
- Without a rechargeable battery or a way to insert batteries, the S2 must be plugged in while in use.
- After several months of use, the suction power may start to feel as though it’s becoming weak.
- In fact, when using the pump as a dual pump, which it’s designed for, the suction doesn’t feel as strong on both breasts.
Spectra S2 User Reviews
“I’m loving this pump. For the past 10 months, I’ve been using the Medela PISA and have always been able to produce enough. It’s loud and uncomfortable. On the recommendation of a friend, I decided to try out the spectra. Amazing. It’s so quiet. It’s so different. The pump feel is more of a quivering suck and more closely mimics the suck of my baby. In fact, I now get a second let down two out of three pumping sessions per day which means a lot more breast milk.” – Jessica Stevens on Amazon.
“So I’ve been using Medela breast pumps since coming home from the hospital. I heard from a friend about this pump, and she was right! This pump is quiet. So much more so than the Medela. This pump doesn’t pump, it suckles. I get a letdown reflex almost immediately and get milk steadily for about ten minutes. I get more milk in a shorter amount of time. This pump is gentle. It doesn’t quite feel like a baby, however, it is so much more comfortable than the Medela.” – Jennifer Flaherty on Amazon.
“Was very nervous about buying a pump because I didn’t know which one would be the best. After looking around for a while, I decided on this one, and I was not disappointed. This pump is incredibly comfortable, and I got much more breast milk from this pump then my Medela hand pump. It is very easy on the nipples whereas the pump was fairly aggressive. I do appreciate the fluttering that the pump creates, it is a very natural feeling as I both pump and breastfeed. The Spectra S2 is fairly quiet and does not disturb my baby which I greatly appreciate.” – Sarah Brewer on Amazon.
As a new mom, I almost missed this one! Many health insurance companies offer FREE breast pumps, but did you know you can also PICK which ones you want? Aeroflow is my go-to source for finding the best pumps covered by insurance.
The Verdict: Spectra S2 vs S1?
Obviously, the Spectra S1 vs Spectra S2 are nearly identical and plenty difficult to tell apart.
But when it really comes down to it, the Spectra S1 Electric Breast Pump is the stronger option here. Really, it’s mainly because it has a rechargeable battery, which the Spectra S2 sadly does not offer users. For the S2, you have to use the adapter.
Other than that, they are virtually the same product and offer the same ease of use and convenience with the double pumping possibility. Their costs are each close enough to the other that cost isn’t a huge issue here and they’re both reliable hospital grade pump options. You just can’t ignore the convenience of the Spectra S1 having a rechargeable battery pack. That in itself is a nearly priceless feature.
There is nothing better than a hospital grade pump, period. This one offers powerful milk extraction, massage and everything to keep a mom comfortable, and it's pretty affordable too.
Final Thoughts Spectra S1 and S2 Pump
If the whole battery thing isn’t a big issue for you and you don’t mind relying on an adapter for each pump, then it probably won’t matter to you which Spectra breast pump you purchase. But there’s something so convenient and reliable about a pump with a built-in rechargeable battery that just makes you feel at ease using it each time.
Yes, you have to be sure to keep it charged enough before you leave home for the day, but you won’t have to contend with any additional cords or plugs while you’re pumping. On the flip side, having an adapter means never having to worry about charging anything, but given a choice between the two, the Spectra S1 is just a step above the S2.
Bottom Line: Go with the Spectra S1 Electric Breast Pumps, unless you really don’t think you will ever need to use a battery on the go.
Further Reading on Breast Pumps Options:
- Best Spectra Breast Pumps
- Spectra S2 vs Medela Pump In Style
- Spectra S9 vs Motif Duo
- Medela Pump in Style Advanced Review
- Medela Freestyle vs Medela Pump in Style
- Medela Symphony Breast Bump Review
- Ameda Purely Yours vs Medela Pump in Style
- Best Double Electric Pump
- Spectra S1 vs Medela Freestyle
- Best Travel Pumps
- Best Manual Breast Pumps
- Aeroflow Breastpumps Review
- Willow Breast Pump Review
- How to Get a Breast Bump via Insurance
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