Steam Generator Irons

Is this different from a steam iron? I bought my phillips steam iron from a local supermarket and paid about £15 for it. No complaints at all after five years use.

Mine, which must be at least ten years old now, is a Bosch. The handset is very lightweight. It does an amazing job.

I like the idea of lightweight but think too expensive as l iron as little as possible.

I think the OP means a steam generator iron, not just a steam iron? I had a Polti here - bought it years ago, but after 10 years, the tank suddenly sprang a leak - it was an older model and the tank couldn’t be topped up until the pressure went down - like an old pressure cooker. I think that’s been changed now. I found it well worth the price at the time.
Now I don’t have DH’s shirts, etc I’ve settled for an ordinary dry/steam Russell Hobbs iron.

I've had two steam generators over the years and possibly I've been unlucky, but they both died shortly after the guarantee expired, and were too expensive to repair. I then bought a Breville Diamond X Press steam iron - a rose gold and white design - on recommendation, and it is outstandingly good. It was £45.00, the steam output is high, evidently the crucial factor, and it works almost as well as a steam generator. I don't want to put you off a generator as my son has one and it works well and has lasted several years, but this might be a helpful post if you are still not quite certain.

I had a Polti for many years but it eventually wore out and I couldn’t find a replacement.

John Lewis were doing a promotion on the Laurastar Lift and that’s what I now have.

I did prefer the Polti but either of them are so much better than a standard steam iron.