Giantex 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert Review: Cheap, warm, and looks real enough

I’ve been using this Giantex 28.5" electric fireplace insert as a replacement for a dead wood-burning fireplace, and I’ll be honest: I went into it with pretty low expectations. Electric fireplaces usually look cheesy, sound loud, and heat like a weak space heater. This one is not perfect, but it’s a lot better than I expected for the price. If you just want something that looks like a fire, gives off decent heat, and doesn’t require a contractor, it basically gets the job done.

In my case, I dropped it into an old fireplace opening and also tried it freestanding for a couple of days before building trim around it. Both setups worked fine. You literally slide it out of the box, put it where you want it, and plug it in. No venting, no gas line, no tools beyond maybe a screwdriver if you’re recessing or adding brackets. Compared to the headache of a real gas or wood setup, this is almost too simple.

Over a few weeks of use, I’ve mostly used it in the evenings in a medium-sized living room. I’ve run it on both heat levels, played with all the flame colors and brightness settings, and used the timer and thermostat. I’ve also paid attention to noise and power behavior, because some electric heaters hum like a small vacuum cleaner and trip breakers for fun. This one sits somewhere in the middle: you do hear it, but it’s not obnoxious, and it hasn’t tripped anything on a normal living room circuit for me.

If you’re expecting it to perfectly mimic a real wood fire, you’ll probably think the flame is decent but not mind-blowing. But if your expectations are “fake fire that looks good from the couch, keeps the room warmer, and doesn’t stink or throw ashes everywhere,” then this unit is pretty solid. It’s more about simple comfort and ambience than realism nerd-level perfection.

For what you pay, this Giantex insert offers a pretty solid mix of heat, looks, and ease of use. You’re getting a 1500W heater with a realistic-enough flame effect, multiple colors, brightness levels, thermostat, and timer. If you compare that to some higher-priced brands that charge a lot more for similar wattage and only slightly better flame tech, this one holds its own. I wouldn’t call it premium, but in terms of basic function per dollar, it’s hard to complain too much.

Where the cost savings show is mostly in the details: the remote feels cheap, there’s no fancy display on the remote to show settings, and the flame realism is good but not top-tier. You also don’t get extras like Wi-Fi, app control, or super-detailed log sets. If those things matter a lot to you and you’re picky about realism, you’ll probably want to spend more on a higher-end brand. But if you just need something that fills a dead fireplace or adds a heater under a TV stand, this is a decent budget-friendly option.

From a running-cost perspective, 1500W is basically like any other electric space heater. It’s not magically cheaper to run just because it looks like a fireplace. It will raise your electric bill if you run it for hours every day, especially on high. Where it can save you some money is letting you keep the central thermostat a bit lower and just heating the room you’re actually in. In shoulder seasons (spring and fall), this is where it makes the most sense financially.

Overall, I’d rate the value as good: not mind-blowing, but fair for what you get. It’s especially appealing if you already have a dead fireplace opening or a TV console that can accept an insert this size. If you were thinking of buying a basic space heater anyway and also want some ambience, this gives you both in one unit without costing a fortune. Just go in knowing you’re paying for practicality and basic comfort, not luxury finishes.

Design-wise, it’s a plain black, rectangular unit with a tempered glass front. No shiny chrome, no weird curves, just a flat-front panel that blends pretty easily with most décor. Personally, I like that it doesn’t try too hard. It’s neutral enough that you can build a classic-looking mantel around it or leave it as a modern wall insert. The 28.5" width is on the smaller side compared to some bigger inserts, but it works well for standard TV stands or older fireplaces that aren’t huge.

The flame effect is where the design either works for you or feels a bit off. Up close, you can tell it’s an electric flame, obviously. The logs look like molded plastic with light shining through; nothing shocking there. From across the room, especially in the evening with the main lights dimmed, it looks pretty convincing for the price. I’d call it “good enough” realism. Some people will prefer the classic orange-red flame, others might like the blue for a more gas-fire look. The mixed mode is the one I leave it on most of the time because it hides the fake-ness a bit better.

One thing I did notice: on the brightest settings, the flames start to look more fake because you see more of the light source and the reflections in the glass. On lower brightness, it actually looks more natural. So if you’re chasing realism, I’d stick to mid or low flame brightness. The 5 brightness levels do help you tune it depending on the room lighting; in a bright room, you’ll probably crank it up, in a dark room you can keep it low and it looks nicer.

In terms of physical design, the depth is about 6 inches, so it doesn’t stick out like a massive box if you recess it. The vents are built into the front so it’s vent-free and doesn’t need any chimney or ducting. That’s convenient, but it also means hot air blows straight out the front; you don’t want anything soft or heat-sensitive too close to that area. Overall, the design is simple, functional, and a bit generic, but that makes it easier to fit in different rooms without clashing.

The materials are pretty much what you’d expect at this price: metal housing, tempered glass front, plastic trim and remote. The unit weighs around 25–26 pounds, so it has some heft to it. It doesn’t feel like hollow tin, which is good. When I picked it up and slid it in and out of the fireplace opening a few times, there was no flexing or rattling beyond the fan components inside. The glass front feels solid and doesn’t wobble or bow when you wipe it down.

The faux logs inside are clearly plastic, but they’re not the worst I’ve seen. They’re more in the “okay from a distance” range. You’re not buying a hyper-detailed log set here; you’re buying a light-and-reflection trick that looks decent when you sit on the couch. The housing paint/finish is simple black, not some fancy textured coating. It doesn’t scratch super easily with normal use, but I wouldn’t drag it across brick or anything rough without padding.

Where the materials feel cheaper is mostly the remote. It’s a small, light plastic remote that feels a bit like a generic TV remote from a bargain store. It works, but it doesn’t feel like something that will last forever. One Amazon reviewer mentioned their remote started falling apart after about five years and the manufacturer didn’t offer spare parts. That tracks with how it feels in the hand: functional, but not exactly built like a tank. The good news is you can still control everything from the buttons on the unit itself if the remote dies.

Overall, I’d say the materials are in line with the price: no premium metal trim, no heavy-duty knobs, but the core unit feels sturdy enough to move around seasonally and run regularly without babying it. If you’re expecting ultra-high-end finishes, you’ll be underwhelmed. If you just want something that doesn’t feel like it’ll fall apart when you pick it up, this is fine. It’s clearly built to a budget, but not in a way that screams “cheap junk” at first touch.

I haven’t had this unit for five years like some reviewers, but there are a few things you can pick up on from the build and from other people’s long-term feedback. The core heating element and fan seem to hold up well over time. There are several reports from people using it for years, pulling it out seasonally, and it still working fine. That lines up with how the internals sound: steady fan, no rattling, no weird flicker or clicking from the heater when it cycles on and off.

The tempered glass front should be fine long-term as long as you don’t smack it with anything. It’s easy to clean with a basic glass cleaner and a soft cloth. I haven’t seen any fogging or discoloration. The metal housing doesn’t feel like it’s going to warp from normal use, and the paint seems to handle the heat without bubbling or peeling. It’s not super thick steel, but it’s good enough for a fixed insert that you’re not constantly moving around.

The weak link, based on both feel and reviews, is the remote and possibly the buttons over many years. The remote is clearly built to a cost, and one user mentioned theirs started falling apart after about five years and that Giantex didn’t have spare remotes available. That’s annoying, because the rest of the unit still worked. The good part is all the key functions are on the unit itself, so a dead remote doesn’t turn this into a brick, but it does make operation a bit less convenient if your fireplace is recessed or mounted low.

If you treat it like a normal space heater and not a piece of furniture to be dragged and kicked, I don’t see any major durability red flags. The fan will probably be the first thing to get noisier over many years, as with any heater, and the remote is the first likely casualty. For the price, I’d say the long-term outlook is decent but not bulletproof. It’s not something I’d expect to hand down to the next generation, but I also don’t get the feeling it’s going to die after one winter if used reasonably.

Living with this thing day-to-day, the two main points are noise and ease of use. With just the flames on and no heat, it’s basically silent. You just hear a very faint mechanical sound if you stand close, but from the couch you don’t notice it. Once you turn the heater on, there’s a fan hum. It’s there, but it’s not crazy loud. I’d compare it to a normal small space heater on low to medium. If you’ve got a TV on or some music playing, it fades into the background. If you like a completely silent room, you’ll notice it.

The airflow is front-facing, so you get a direct stream of warm air straight out from the bottom front area. That’s nice for actually feeling the heat, but you do need to be smart about what you put right in front of it. I wouldn’t park a fabric ottoman or plastic bin a few inches away from the vent. The built-in overheat protection is reassuring, but I still treat it like any space heater: don’t cover it, don’t shove stuff against it, and don’t leave it on high heat unattended for long stretches.

The remote works fine once you realize there’s a little plastic tab you have to pull out to activate the battery. That tripped up at least one reviewer, and I almost thought mine was dead too until I noticed it. One minor annoyance: the remote doesn’t give you a clear readout of the current heat level or settings; you mostly go by feel and by the small display on the unit itself. Not a deal-breaker, but it could be clearer. The response time is quick enough; you don’t have to mash buttons repeatedly.

Overall performance is quite consistent. It heats when you ask it to, the flames come on every time, and the timer shuts it off as expected. I didn’t notice any weird smells after the first 10–15 minutes of initial burn-off, which is good if you’re sensitive or have people with asthma around. For a simple corded-electric heater with some cosmetic flames, it behaves reliably. No tripped breakers for me on a normal 15A circuit, as long as I wasn’t running another big heater on the same line.

Out of the box, the Giantex 28.5" insert is basically one main unit, a simple remote, and a basic manual. No extra decorative trim, no fake stone, nothing fancy. It’s just the black rectangular fireplace with tempered glass on the front and the faux log set inside. For me, that was fine because I wanted to build my own surround, but if you’re expecting a full furniture piece, this is not it. It’s an insert/heater, not a full mantel.

The first setup I did was the lazy version: I put it on the floor in front of my old fireplace opening and plugged it into a standard outlet. That let me test everything without committing to cutting anything or building framing. The controls on the unit itself are hidden along the top edge behind the glass, and you can also use the remote. There’s a bit of a learning curve with the icons, but after one evening you basically remember where everything is: flame color, brightness, heat level, timer, and thermostat adjustment.

Function-wise, it’s pretty straightforward. You get:

• 3 flame colors: orange-red, blue, and a mixed orange/blue/red combo.
• 5 brightness levels for the flame.
• 2 heat modes: 750W and 1500W.
• Adjustable thermostat from about 62°F to 82°F.
• Timer from 0 to 8 hours.

In day-to-day use, the overall presentation is more “practical home appliance” than “luxury centerpiece,” but it does what it promises. It fills a blank fireplace opening, gives you a visible fire effect, and throws out enough heat to matter in a normal room. You’re not getting any fancy smart-home features or app control here, just a basic remote and onboard buttons. For the price bracket, that feels fair to me, but you should know what you’re buying: a simple, plug-in heater with a decent fake fire, not some high-end built-in system.

On the heating side, this thing is pretty solid for what it is. You get two heat levels: 750W and 1500W. The 1500W mode is the one that really matters if you’re trying to warm up a room. In my roughly 250–300 sq ft living room with average insulation, running it on high for 20–30 minutes takes the edge off on a cold evening. It doesn’t replace a full furnace, but it definitely makes the area around the couch noticeably warmer. On low (750W), it’s more of a gentle boost than real heating, good for those in-between seasons when it’s just a bit chilly.

The thermostat function is decent. You can set a target temperature between about 62°F and 82°F, and it will cycle the heat on and off to hover around that. It’s not as precise as a real wall thermostat, but it keeps things from getting too hot or running nonstop. The 0–8 hour timer is actually handy if you’re the type to fall asleep with it on or just don’t want to think about turning it off. Set it for a couple of hours, and it shuts itself down.

Flame realism is where opinions will vary. Compared to older electric fireplaces I’ve seen, this one looks better. The movement and glow are more convincing, and a few people have honestly thought it was a gas insert at first glance, especially at night. But if you compare it to higher-end units with more advanced flame tech, you can tell this one is more basic. The three flame colors are fun, but the blue-only mode looks a bit more fake to me. The mixed color mode hides the mechanical feel better and looks closer to a real fire.

In practice, I usually set the flame to mixed color, mid brightness, and let it run with or without heat. From across the room, especially with the TV off and a lamp on, it creates a cozy vibe and does what I wanted: something to stare at that isn’t just a black hole in the wall. Is it perfect? No. Does it look believable enough that you stop thinking about it after a few minutes? Yes, at least for me. For the price, the combo of usable heat and decent flame effect is actually one of the main strengths of this unit.