Model comparison
Lasko 5165 vs DREO 718: heat control, fan-only airflow and height
The Lasko 5165 and DREO Tower Heater 718 are both movable ceramic towers with a remote, oscillation and 1,500-watt maximum heat. Their controls and published movement differ more than their outline suggests. The 5165 is shorter and has a thermostat that cycles only on High; the 718 has more selectable heat levels, an ECO temperature range and three separate fan-only speeds. Neither exact manual documents a scheduled start from the off position.
Choose around heat control, not the brand label
Lasko's model 5165 offers High and Low heat. The linked manual names High as 1,500 watts; the current product page gives a 900-to-1,500-watt overall output range, but does not assign an exact wattage to Low. Its automatic temperature control only operates in High. When the room reaches about two degrees above the set target, the heat switches off; it resumes roughly one degree below the target. If you need automatic target cycling while the unit runs on its lower setting, the 5165 does not provide that documented combination.
DREO's exact DR-HSH008 manual lists five heat levels—700, 900, 1,100, 1,300 and 1,500 watts—and an ECO temperature range of 41°F to 95°F. That gives a buyer a clearer choice of heat steps and a published thermostat range. Neither specification predicts a particular room's warm-up time or energy cost. Insulation, drafts, room volume and the home's main heat matter, and these products have not been independently measured here.
Fan-only use and swing angle are different questions
The DREO 718 manual gives three fan-only speeds and selectable horizontal swing angles of 30°, 60°, 90° and 120°. If you want air movement without heating, or need a documented minimum swing angle, those are usable distinctions. The Lasko 5165 oscillates side to side, but the inspected page and manual do not state an angle. Its fan also runs briefly after thermostat cut-off, which is a cooling interval rather than a selectable Fan mode. A hard requirement for fan-only use or a measured swing threshold therefore favors the 718; an unknown arc should not pass a numeric swing limit.
Both timers shut off, but neither schedules a start
The 5165 timer is a 1–8-hour countdown that turns off a running heater. The 718 manual describes an automatic shutoff timer up to twelve hours. Neither manual says it will start a heater later after it has remained off. A planned warm-up before you arrive calls for another exact model whose instructions specify an on/off timer or scheduled start, such as the DREO Convection Heater 711; that is a fanless floor panel, not an equivalent tower.
Both include remotes, but that does not establish app access. The 5165 remote needs two AAA batteries that are not included. The 718 has documented child lock and tip-over/overheat protection; the Lasko page/manual does not establish a child lock or tip-over switch, so those features remain unknown for the 5165. Do not interpret a protection feature as permission to leave a heater unattended.
Check the body and open operating space
Lasko lists the 5165 at 22.75 inches tall, 8.13 by 8.13 inches, and six pounds. DREO lists the 718 at 29.7 by 7.9 by 7.9 inches and eight pounds. A 23-inch body-height cap fits the listed Lasko body but not the DREO tower; a compact footprint still is not the full space needed to operate either one.
The 5165 manual calls for three feet in front and one foot at the sides and rear from combustible material. The 718 manual also requires a stable indoor floor position, a clear front zone and unobstructed openings. Both manuals direct the user to a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip. Room clearances and outlet access should be decided before you compare the tower dimensions. The exact 5165 manual additionally says not to use it in bathrooms, laundry areas or wet or damp locations.
Which plan fits?
Choose the Lasko 5165 if a shorter body, two straightforward heat settings, optional oscillation and a simple auto-off countdown match your dry indoor room—and you are comfortable with thermostat cycling on High only. It is not the fit for a strict swing-angle requirement, fan-only airflow, scheduled start, phone app or bathroom use. Choose the DREO 718 if five specified heat levels, ECO range, a documented 120° swing or a three-speed Fan mode are the deciding features. It is taller, and its countdown is still auto-off rather than a later start.
These are document-based comparisons, not rankings or hands-on tests. Check the model number on the heater and follow its own instructions; the Lasko manual is Rev. C 5/13, and neither product's claims about coverage or quietness were independently measured in this assessment.
Read the Lasko 5165 assessment · Read the DREO 718 assessment · Lasko 5165 official product page · Lasko 5165 US manual