INKBIRD ISV-300W Sous Vide Cooker Review

The INKBIRD ISV-300W is the fourth sous vide cooker in INKBIRD's product line - a leading Chinese company known for its temperature controllers and cooking thermometers. This review examines whether the new model brings innovation or meaningful upgrades compared to its predecessors- the 100W, 101W, and 200W.

Where to Buy

Amazon US plug (110V): https://amzn.to/3FVIj2E

AliExpress US plug (110V): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oDk9Esi

Amazon DE (220V): https://amzn.to/43HOXTj

AliExpress EU plug (220V): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_olLvRsm

Tech Specs

ISV-300W - What’s New and How It Compares to Previous Models

• IPX7 Waterproof Rating – The ISV-300W’s standout upgrade is its IPX7 water resistance rating, which was previously missing from all previous models. Earlier devices were susceptible to steam and water damage, especially during high-temperature cooking. This rating ensures safe operation during extended cooking processes, such as pulled meat, garlic confit, or cheesecake, without the risk of sudden shutdowns. This is a big win for serious sous vide users.

• Improved Temperature Accuracy – The new model maintains a precision of ±0.1°C, similar to the 101W and a notable upgrade from the ±0.5°C range found in the 100W/200W models.

• New “Booking” Feature – This allows you to schedule future cook start times, with alerts when the target temperature is reached and when cooking ends—both on the device and in the app. These features were first introduced in the 101W and are now included in the 300W. From testing, it’s essentially a timer delay that starts the cook immediately once the countdown completes, and the delay time is added to the cooking time.

• Back to the Classic Interface – The 101W featured a full-color TFT screen and physical dial, but the ISV-300W returns to a blue-and-white LCD screen and touch buttons, just like the 100W/200W models. While this interface is less modern or intuitive than the 101W’s, it likely enabled the waterproofing— a small tradeoff for enhanced durability.

• No More Fragile Silicone Base – The fragile silicone bottom that used to protect the propeller in the 100W/200W was removed in the 101W, and this improvement continues in the 300W.

Comparison Table

First Impressions

The ISV-300W resembles the 100W and 200W models in design, featuring a sturdy plastic and stainless steel body, and a blue-and-white LCD screen on top. The device continues the trend of becoming more compact, with smaller height and weight than previous models, yet still feels solid, heavy, and trustworthy.

The back features a strong clip mount to attach securely to pots or containers of varying sizes. Again, while the 101W had a modern screen and dial, the 300W reverts to a simpler LCD and touch buttons, likely due to the water resistance requirements.

The fragile silicone base, previously present in earlier models, is no longer included (starting with the 101W).

In the box: user manual and one-year warranty.

App Connectivity

Connecting the ISV-300W to the app is very straightforward. Once the app is launched, the device shows up as a new unit. After connecting it to your 2.4GHz home Wi-Fi network, it appears in the list of INKBIRD smart devices. From that point on, the remote control became available.

The device then went through a whole month of intensive daily use to assess whether it’s worth the investment - and most importantly, whether it’s accurate and reliable.

Impressions after 1 Month of Use

After many cooks, including some that lasted over 24 hours and up to 85°C, it’s clear that the ISV-300W delivers reliable performance—it kept steady, accurate temperatures throughout.

Thanks to its IPX7 certification, it had no issues running long, high-temperature cooks, even with visible condensation around the heating unit - it ran flawlessly.

The officially rated capacity is 15 liters (as with other INKBIRD models), but in home tests, it performed well even with up to 20 liters (with the lid), although the heat-up time did increase.

This kind of capacity is especially valuable for large cuts like lamb shoulder, brisket, or asado.

Using well-insulated containers and lids can further increase maximum practical capacity.

Heating speed is unchanged. It appears the motor hasn’t been upgraded, so heat-up times remain identical to the 101W.

Heating 10L from 25°C to 55°C: 21 minutes

Heating 10L from 25°C to 82°C: 53 minutes

Tip: Add boiling water to shorten the heating process.

Major Drawback – One of the most significant issues with this device is that cooking stops automatically when the timer ends. More on this below.

The 300W continues the tradition of ultra-low noise operation (<20dB), matching the quiet performance of the 100W/200W series. Compared to louder devices like Anova, this is a real advantage.

App & Remote Control (UI, multilingual Support, Recipes)

One of the strongest features of the ISV-300W is its remote control via the INKBIRD app. It connects to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and syncs with the dedicated Inkbird app (iOS & Android). The setup is simple: download the app, register a basic account, and plug in the device—the app will detect it automatically (ensure your phone is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network). Once linked, you can control the device from anywhere.

App Interface

The UI is intuitive and provides complete transparency. The main screen displays the current water temperature, target temperature, and countdown timer (if active). You can adjust the temperature in 0.1°C increments. Additional settings include device calibration and full multiple language support in the app, among many others. App control is full-featured and user-friendly, making sous vide easier and smarter than ever.

Recipes

The app includes built-in recipes categorized by food type (beef, fish, lamb, pork, seafood, eggs, and vegetables), and lets you add custom recipes.

That said, the recipes are pretty basic—mostly just temp and time, with no guidance on thickness, expected texture, or step-by-step handling instructions.

But no worries—that’s what this blog is for. Here, you’ll find detailed, accessible recipes that guide you every step of the way to perfection.

Notifications

Both the app and device offer helpful alerts for reaching the target temperature, completion of cooking (note: this stops the device), and warnings such as low water levels. Thanks to Wi-Fi, you can monitor cooking progress even when away from home. This is a significant win for INKBIRD, especially since competitors like Anova are now limiting or charging for these features for new users.

Manual Control

Aside from smartphone control, the ISV-300W has a manual control panel on top. It consists of an LCD screen and four touch-sensitive buttons (timer, temp, start/pause, settings/recipes). At first, the interface may feel confusing, as navigating between settings requires short or long presses. But after skimming the manual and some practice, it becomes easy to use.

There’s no dial like the 101W—value changes are made by tapping +/- buttons, and it might take a few taps to get to your desired value.

The screen is bright and sharp, but displays only basic information: target temperature, current temperature, cooking time, and small icons for heating, standby, or water error. This hands-on UI is simple - you can operate everything without a phone. However, if you’re coming from the 101W, you’ll miss the color screen and physical dial—it’s been traded for a more minimalist, waterproof interface in the 300W.

Food Safety

In every review, I check whether the device stops cooking when the timer ends. That’s a food safety concern for users planning to leave food in the bath post-cooking.

Like the 101W and 200W, the 300W does stop once the timer ends. Perhaps INKBIRD engineers thought this prevents overcooking, but in sous vide, that’s not how it works. I always say, “You cannot overcook it”—the temp stays constant, and the food gets more tender over time.

This has profound food safety implications: if you’re not near the device when it stops, and the food stays in slowly cooling water, it could enter a danger zone (roughly 41°F–130°F or 5°C–54.4°C), increasing the risk of dangerous bacteria—especially anaerobic ones in vacuum-sealed bags.

What to do? Always plan your cook so you’re nearby near the end. Better yet, set a slightly longer timer so the unit can keep holding its temperature safely rather than shutting off too soon.

You can set the timer for 10, 20, or even 30 hours and manually turn the device off later.

Bottom Line

The INKBIRD ISV-300W is a quality sous vide device that offers an impressive blend of features and performance at a competitive price. It’s ideal for home cooks who want to get into sous vide without spending big on premium brands—yet still get restaurant-level results.

Advanced users will also appreciate it as a backup unit or a more durable replacement for steam-sensitive cookers.

Thanks to the IPX7 rating, it supports long, high-temperature cooks without compromising reliability, on par with far more expensive models.

The ISV-300W earns my strong recommendation: it’s accurate, quiet, and easy to use, at an accessible price point.

For beginners, it’s a fantastic starting point. For existing INKBIRD users, this isn’t a dramatic leap in tech. Still, it presents a clear decision: the 100W is better suited for those who want uninterrupted cooking after the timer ends, while the 300W is ideal for long, high-heat cooks with superior water and steam resistance.

Disclosure – The device was sent to me by INKBIRD for review purposes. This did not influence the outcome, and the review was written objectively and professionally.