Spectra
S1 Double Electric, Portable Breast Pump
7.2/10 overall£159.95
A hospital-grade closed-system double electric pump with a rechargeable battery, popular for exclusive pumping.
The verdict
The Spectra S1 Plus is a closed-system double electric breast pump with a rechargeable battery, priced at £159.95, popular with parents pumping frequently or exclusively. It's not hands-free like the Elvie, but it offers stronger, more consistent suction at a lower price — the clear choice if expressing efficiency and reliability matter more to you than portability.
The S1 Plus is a closed-system double electric pump built around a rechargeable battery and a wide range of suction and cycle settings, and it has a strong reputation among parents who pump frequently or exclusively, partly because of that adjustability and partly because closed systems keep milk from ever reaching the motor, which matters for hygiene over months of daily use.
Against the Elvie in this category, the S1 Plus is not wearable or hands-free — it's a traditional plug-in-style pump (albeit with a battery) that sits on a surface with tubes running to the flanges, which means less freedom of movement during a session. What it offers in return is typically stronger, more consistent suction and a lower price than the Elvie, which matters a great deal if you're pumping several times a day rather than occasionally.
For parents whose priority is expressing efficiency and reliability over portability and discretion — particularly anyone exclusively pumping rather than mostly breastfeeding directly — the Spectra's traditional design and strong suction make it a genuinely popular first choice among UK lactation consultants.
Is the S1 Double Electric, Portable Breast Pump worth it?
- Strong, consistent suction well suited to frequent or exclusive pumping
- Closed system keeps milk away from the motor for hygiene
- Noticeably cheaper than wearable pumps like the Elvie
What are the downsides of the S1 Double Electric, Portable Breast Pump?
- Not hands-free or wearable without an additional pumping bra
- Bulkier to carry around than wearable pumps
- Tubes and flanges need more assembly and cleaning parts
Specs
- Type
- Double electric, closed system
- Power
- Rechargeable battery or mains
- Settings
- Adjustable suction and cycle speed, massage and expression modes
- Hands-free
- No, requires a pumping bra for hands-free use
- Noise level
- Quieter than most traditional pumps
How we scored it
Expressing Efficiency
Suction strength and how quickly and fully it empties the breast.
Strong, adjustable suction well suited to frequent or exclusive pumping.
Comfort & Fit
How comfortable the shield/flange feels over a full session, including fit adjustability.
Comfortable with the right flange size, but requires more setup.
Portability & Discretion
Freedom of movement while pumping and how discreet the pump is to use outside the home.
Not wearable; needs a surface and a pumping bra for hands-free use.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the S1 Double Electric, Portable Breast Pump ourselves yet. This review is built from Spectra's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £159.95 | Around £14 | £159.99 | £379.00 (pair) |
| Overall score | 7.2/10 | 6.7/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Type | Double electric, closed system | Manual, suction-only silicone pump | — | Wearable, in-bra, cordless |
| Power | Rechargeable battery or mains | None required | — | — |
| Noise level | Quieter than most traditional pumps | — | — | Whisper-quiet |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Spectra S1 Plus worth it for exclusive pumping?+
Yes — it has strong, consistent suction well suited to frequent or exclusive pumping, and its closed system keeps milk away from the motor for hygiene over months of daily use. It's a popular first choice among UK lactation consultants for exactly this reason.
How does the Spectra S1 Plus compare to the Elvie?+
Unlike the wearable Elvie, the S1 Plus isn't hands-free — it's a traditional plug-in-style pump (with a battery option) that sits on a surface with tubes running to the flanges, limiting movement during a session. In exchange, it typically has stronger, more consistent suction and costs noticeably less than the Elvie.
Is the Spectra S1 Plus hands-free?+
No — it requires a pumping bra for hands-free use, and it's bulkier to carry around than wearable pumps like the Elvie.
Is the Spectra S1 Plus easy to clean?+
It has more assembly and cleaning parts than a wearable pump, since it uses tubes and flanges, but the closed system design does keep milk away from the motor for hygiene.
Guides that mention this
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.