Where better to write a review on possibly the loudest pumps I now own than in a library in the quiet section. I’m going to have a healthy mix of pros and cons, just because a pump is loud doesn’t make it a bad choice, but you should also know what you’re in for before you hit the “purchase” button.
Let’s start with some of the features that I find to be decent, because nothing about this pump will have me recommending it as a solid pump for anyone. This pump is a classic case of the cons out weighing the pros, unfortunately. I want to make this super clear, I had high hopes when I had learned this pump was coming to the US market. I cannot tell you how often I am asked for a close recommendation to the Spectra S1 or S2, when choosing a mobile pump. I’ll tell you exactly where I was when I first saw this pump in person. It was April 27, 2025 at the South Jersey Baby Expo, I had taken a stroll over to the Spectra booth because these mobiles sitting on top of their display caught my eye. When I had made my way to this table I introduced myself to the Spectra representative and expressed how I was looking forward to trying the new mobiles. It was then I asked her, “do they vibrate”, I cannot for sure say if she had answered yes or no, but I do recall holding them in my hands - thinking I felt vibration and complimenting how great this was. As it would turn out, boy was I wrong. It’s important for me to get all the details and feelings out before I go buck wild in this review, it’s known I’m not a huge fan of Spectra and I never want to be accused of playing favorites. As I say, I can like and recommend a pump without having relations with a company, and boy was I ready to recommend the Premier Mobile… until I purchased it for myself.
So let’s start on a positive note. This is tough, um, okay, the suction strength as a whole isn’t terrible. I will say, because the truth is the truth, I am able to express milk with these pumps. No doubt about it, they pull milk and trigger let downs. What I’m not a fan of are the two modes and suction patterns offered. I can only tolerate one mode and pattern for my entire session. This detail isn’t a deal breaker for me personally but it might be for you if you require toggling between let-down and expression. Within the let-down mode you’re offered five suction strengths. The real kicker is when you move over to expression mode and you’re trying to figure out which combination of suction strength and cycle pattern works best for you. I’m not lying when I say, I am unsure how to explain the “cycle” options. because it really doesn’t increase cycle speeds (or CPM) it changes the pattern, but in a really odd way. When I had first tried and shared these pumps on social media I had compared it to the kids game "Red Light, Green Light" because there’s some super stark pauses as you increase the drop button option up to the three dots shown.
Drop 1- Consistent pull pattern.
Drop 2- Poor attempt at mixed mode. “Fast tug” followed by slower tug.
Drop 3- This is the "red light, green light", stark pauses while increasing pull on the nipple. It’s not only weird, it’s also very uncomfortable. You’ll feel three tug, tug, tugggggggs; and then a poof as the suction releases. I’m not sure what the actual intention was when programming this option. I can honestly say I hate it.
Which mode/level do I find the most comfortable? Expression mode, level 3 suction and drop option 1. I find this to be a pretty typical experience of what to expect when comparing other pumps, as well.
Getting to the dirt, what about this pump really grinds my gears? As I shared earlier, where the hell is the vibration? Spectra, you’re known and praised for the vibration in your S1, S2 and Synergy Gold - why would you do this to us? Stay on brand, and continue to provide superior product. I feel very bamboozled and taken advantage of, considering this is $250 I’ll never get back. All you need to know about this portion of this review is the fact that these pumps do not have that purring, signature vibration technology that you may have grown to love with the other Spectra pumps.
One thing they did stay on brand with is offering plastic flanges. Not much to write about here, if you’re plastic flange user, then you’ve got this detail on your side. Before I go rouge on these collection cups, know that they only hold four ounces.
Okay let’s kick this up a notch for something really extra. The design and assembly of this pump is a true kick in the pants. Sure, it doesn’t vibrate, doesn’t stay on brand with their pumps but I can still express milk- so at the end of the day, it’s not the ultimate deal breaker...
But this is.
What the hell. Who designed this pump and thought, "Wow I really knocked it out of the park with this design, I deserve a raise!"??? The frustration that mounts in my body as I type this... Where do I start? Let me say, if the suction pattern complaint was the only one I had about this pump, I’d likely recommend when applicable. But the construction of this pump is so bad and unreliable that I don’t care if it was the best suction I’ve ever experienced, I’d still not recommend it to anyone.
I kid you not, the VERY FIRST time I used this pump, it came apart in my bra. I was actually recording an Instagram story when I had taken it out of my bra, you can watch it here because I turned it into a reel.
Then days following, Spectra put out a ‘how to remove mobiles out of your bra’ reel... Coincidence? I think not. Let me be extra real over here, 1) I want a pump that I can snatch out of my bra with one hand, because Lord knows my other hand is busy doing something else AND, AND!! 2) Any pump that comes apart that easily in my bra... Well, I don’t want it. No matter how great other features might be.
I want to also add that while using the Premier pumps another time, walking around my kitchen, not overflowing my cups- they still managed to leak. I’ve definitely gotten some similar feedback from moms in the bemybreastfriend community sharing similar experiences.
This session resulted in a wet bra, I did not realize it was leaking until after I took the pumps out of my Amelia Cami by Davin and Adley
So you might be thinking, damn Kristen you’re crazy. Yea, I kind of am. But when you’re providing pumps that can detach from itself so easily, risking losing the precious breast milk we work so hard at maintaining - yea I might get extra vocal. Why do these cups detach so easily? Because they’re not screwed into the flange/adapter! You’ll probably hear me complain about a 1/4 turn here and there, but Spectra said forget that, "let’s save money on the tooling costs and just have them push together, no one will notice". But oh no, we did. This design is straight trash.
Spectra Premier on the left, Lacevo on the right
Not only is this pump ugly, but enormous and has a lot of wasted space with that weird window attachment - which is another loose piece we don’t want to deal with. But it is loud. It is so loud. You all know I’ve expressed my opinion on the Lacevo, it a great pump but it’s loud. I’m not here to sugar coat anything, and as I sit in the library typing this up, I brought my Lacevo with to test volume... and the Spectra Premier is louder. I don’t lie, I am literally sitting here drawing attention to myself by testing volume levels… in a library!! I go the distance people.
Zoning out trying to hear the difference, believe me, it didn't take much
Ugh. Guys. I’m ready for a nap. This review is done. Honestly, I feel I can keep going but you get the point. Between the unreliable assembly, noisy volume, and mediocre suction options, it’s a hard pass from me. That design though, it really takes the cake for worst construction possibly ever.
Spectra Premier, four ounce collection, lots of wasted space from motor to cup
