Review · soldering iron
Antex XS25
Last verified 2026-08-09
Price
~£25–30
Power
25W
Temp range
~370°C (fixed)
Brand
Antex
The XS25 is a 25W fixed-temperature pencil iron, made in the UK by Antex since the 1970s — the archetypal simple soldering iron most UK electronics hobbyists learn on.
Strengths
- +No menus, no setup — plug in and it heats to a fixed working temperature
- +UK-made with widely available replacement elements and tips
- +25W is enough for most light electronics and hobby soldering
Trade-offs
- –Fixed temperature — no adjustment for delicate components or heavier joints
- –No digital readout to confirm actual tip temperature
Verdict
A reliable, no-frills choice for light electronics work where you don't need adjustable temperature — it's been the default UK hobbyist iron for decades for a reason.
See how the Antex XS25 compares to the rest of the field in our full soldering iron comparison.