Head-to-head · Best Electric Fireplaces

Dimplex Revillusion 25" Log Set (RLG25) vs Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004) comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about homeowners who want a permanent, recessed wall fireplace with smart-home control and are willing to pay for a flush built-in finish — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Electric Fireplaces

Dimplex Revillusion 25" Log Set (RLG25)

4.6

$487.99as of Jun 7

If realism is the priority, the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 is the flame to beat. Instead of a flat screen behind the logs, Dimplex projects the fire from inside the resin-cast logs, producing larger, brighter, more random flames that owners say genuinely read as wood-burning. It slots into an existing firebox and adds a 5,118 BTU heater for up to 400 square feet. The price is steep and a few quirks (flames tied to the heater, some screen reflection) keep it from perfect, but nothing else here looks this convincing.

Strengths

— Revillusion technology projects flames from within the resin-cast logs for the most realistic fire in this roundup
— Drops into an existing masonry or gas firebox - slide in, plug in, done
— Glowing LED ember bed and ash mat add depth a flat flame screen cannot match

Watch-outs

— Among the most expensive options here at around $799
— Flames cannot run unless the heater is also on, per multiple owner reviews
— Some users see ambient-light reflection and the outline of the circular projection screen

$487.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Electric Fireplaces

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)

4.7

$549as of Jun 7

The Touchstone Sideline 50 is the wall-recessed electric fireplace most reviewers reach for first, and the reason is consistency: a clean flush-mount fit, a believable flame with adjustable speed and a fully independent ember bed, and smart-home control that actually works. It heats about 400 square feet, so treat it as supplemental warmth rather than a furnace. The trade-off for that polished built-in look is a price north of $600 and a relatively short menu of flame colors, but for a permanent install it is hard to beat.

Strengths

— Recessed or surface wall-mount installation fits standard 2x6 stud framing for a clean built-in look
— Three flame colors (orange, blue, blue-orange) with five brightness levels and a separate 10-color ember bed
— Heat and flame run independently, so you get ambiance year-round without warming the room

Watch-outs

— 1,500W / 5,000 BTU heater only covers about 400 sq ft, so it is a supplemental source, not a primary heater
— Only three flame colors where pricier units offer dozens of combinations
— No crackling sound effect to accompany the flames

$549 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Dimplex Revillusion 25" Log Set (RLG25)

The most realistic flame in this lineup and the only true firebox insert - it is meant to replace a gas log set, unlike the wall-mounted Touchstone Sideline 50, the 3-sided Touchstone Chesmont, or the budget Westinghouse 50; it also costs the most and, unlike the freestanding Duraflame 3D, needs an existing firebox to drop into.

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)

Costs more than the freestanding Duraflame 3D and the budget Westinghouse 50", but its recessed fit and independent ember bed make it a more permanent, built-in upgrade; it cannot match the gas-like log realism of the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 insert, and it covers a smaller footprint than the 3-sided Touchstone Chesmont.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Dimplex Revillusion 25" Log Set (RLG25)	Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)
Type	Plug-in log set insert	Recessed / wall-mount
Heating Power	1,500W (12.5A draw)	1,500W (2 settings)
Heat Output	5,118 BTU (fan-forced ceramic)	5,000 BTU
Coverage	Up to 400 sq ft	Up to 400 sq ft
Flame Tech	Revillusion projection from within logs	—
Flame Colors	Orange and blue effects	3 (orange, blue, blue-orange), 5 brightness levels
Includes	Resin log set + glowing ash mat + remote	—
Width	25 in	—
Ember Bed	—	10-color, runs independently
Smart Control	—	Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google Home, app + remote
Dimensions	—	50.4" W x 21.5" H x 5.5" D

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