Spectra S1 vs S2 Breast Pumps: Which is Best?

Last Updated on April 27, 2021

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Breastfeeding plays a huge role in bonding with babies during mother and baby’s first year or two together. Not only does it create an emotional connection right away with your child, but mothers can feel the biological and physiological benefits that breastfeeding bestows. 

Mothers may lose their baby fat more quickly while babies can bolster their immune systems and make incredible progress on their physical and mental growth and development.

As a mother, you likely won’t be able to breastfeed around the clock due to various life commitments or just plain exhaustion the first few months. Luckily, the advent of breast pumps still allows babies to receive their mother’s milk when they are apart. 

Technology advancements in the breast pump industry continue to make it easier and more comfortable to pump from anywhere at any time. Here, we will compare two of the most popular pumps: the Spectra S1 vs S2 breast pumps.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Breast Pump

Both the Mayo Clinic and Breastfeeding USA recommend breast pumps for working women and stay-at-home moms alike. Whether you are working or a stay-at-home mom wanting to store some extra milk supply, pumps provide the perfect mechanism to extract and store breast milk easily. 

Occasional vs. Regular Users

Before buying a breast pump, you should assess your lifestyle, schedule, and budget as key factors in deciding which pump is best for you. Working mothers or mothers who cannot breastfeed for most feedings should invest in high-quality, hospital-grade electric breast pumps.

Stay-at-home mothers who are occasional users may only need a manual breast pump, which takes more time but is much less expensive.

Customization and Accessories

When assessing a pump’s quality, some key factors to consider are the manufacturer’s warranty, customization features, included accessories, and motor power. Generally, the longer the warranty, the better the pump. The most crucial customization feature is adjustable sucking levels and modes. 

High-quality breast pumps should also offer accessories like bottles, nipples, shields, valves, tubes, and power adapters. It is also essential to check if the shields come in different sizes as nipple and breast size vary from mother to mother. 

The power of the breast pump’s motor also allows you to gauge how quickly you can extract milk, so be sure to compare stats on motor power.    

Price

There are breast pumps for every budget, including top-quality breast pumps for rent from your local hospital. If you find your dream breast pump’s price to exceed your budget, some insurance companies may cover some or all of the cost on specific pump models.

Comparing Spectra S1 vs S2 Breast Pumps

Here, we will provide a visual, compartmentalized comparison of features for the Spectra breast pumps.  Before we go into more detail on the difference between Spectra S1 and S2 in the subsequent sections, check out this table on Spectra S1 vs S2 pump features.

	Spectra S1 Breast Pump	Spectra S2 Breast Pump
Pump Capacity	Single and Double Breast Pump	Single and Double Breast Pump
Motor Power	270 mmHg	270 mmHg
Suction Modes	Massage or Expression	Massage or Expression
Accessories	2 different sized breast shields 2 Tubes 2 valves 2 backflow protectors 2 storage bottles with nipples, cop, disc, and lid 1 power adapter	2 different sized breast shields 2 Tubes 2 valves 2 backflow protectors 2 storage bottles with nipples, cop, disc, and lid 1 power adapter
Battery	Portable, rechargeable battery pack	Plug-in only
Weight	3 lbs.	3 lbs.
Screen	LCD screen	LCD screen
Night Light	Yes	Yes
Color	White and Blue	White and Pink
Warranty	2 years for the pump, 90 days for the accessories	2 years for the pump, 90 days for the accessories
Plastic	BPA Free	BPA Free
Price	More expensive (Check Price)	Less expensive (Check Price)

As you can see, these Spectra breast pumps are nearly identical in terms of features, but there is a noticeable difference between Spectra S1 vs S2 pumps. 

Presenting the Spectra S1 and S2 Breast Pumps

All Spectra Baby USA breast pumps are top-of-the-line electric pumps that we feel are well worth their price tag. We will give you a brief description of the Spectra S1 and Spectra S2 breast pumps, along with the pros and cons for each one.

As a side note, the most recent versions of the pumps have added “Plus” at the end of the model name. So this review will cover the features and functions of the Spectra S1 Plus and Spectra S2 Plus breast pumps.

There are few differences with the newer Plus models. The most noticeable difference is an increase from 1 to 2 suction nozzles to double pump, but the weight of the pump has also decreased slightly.

Spectra S1 Plus Breast Pump

The Spectra S1 breast pump is a portable, lightweight, double electric breast pump with a slew of excellent features to facilitate milk extraction. Weighing a mere 3 lbs. and containing a portable rechargeable battery back, this Spectra breast pump is ready when you need to pump at a moment’s notice. You can pump in a bathroom, an office, at home, and even outside. No need for outlets with this pump. 

The Spectra S1 has 12 suction strength levels plus different suction modes that effectively mimic your baby’s sucking patterns. A strong 270 mmHG powered motor accounts for the big range of suction strength levels, and manufacturers made the motor operate no louder than 45 decibels, which is undetectable for sleeping babies and co-workers in adjoining rooms. 

Another crucial feature the Spectra S1 has is backflow protection, which ensures that bacteria or other harmful outside material will not infiltrate your milk. There is a timer and automatic display that documents pumping time and efficiency to help you plan your pumping schedule.

The Spectra S1 breast pump is perfect for working women who need to express and store most of their breast milk to meet their child’s feeding necessities while they are away at work. The only downside to this pump is that it is pricey, but we believe that its advantageous features compensate for its high cost. 

WHAT WE LOVE

• 12 levels of suction power plus modes to simulate suckling
• Strong and quiet motor
• Backflow protection
• Rechargeable battery
• lightweight

WHAT COULD BE BETTER

• High price tag
• Only comes with 2 bottles for storage
• Warranty is not as long as other brands in the same price range

Spectra S2 Plus Breast Pump

The Spectra S2 breast pump is a high functioning electric breast pump with most of the same features as the Spectra S1. The Spectra S2 offers an equally powerful motor with adjustable suction levels and modes, an overall weight of approximately 4 lbs., and an ample accessory supply.

The Spectra S2 features a power adapter, charging and operating with an outlet connection. It offers a double pumping option for faster, more efficient express lactation with a timer and night light to accommodate and track pumping sessions. 

The Spectra S2 pump is less flexible in terms of where you can pump because you need an electrical outlet to plug into, but it is lightweight for easy transport. The Spectra is reasonably priced for a hefty 2-year warranty and even offers a 3-month warranty on accessories, including bottles, tubing, valves, and breast shield.

Mothers who use the pump in the same place every day, whether the home or the office, are more likely to benefit from the S2 as it suits a more fixed or well-planned pumping schedule. 

WHAT WE LOVE

• Moderately priced for the quality of its features
• Powerful and quiet motor
• Warranty corresponds with price
• 12 level pumping system with different modes
• Lightweight for easy portability

WHAT COULD BE BETTER

• Plug-in only
• Less flexibility for deviating pumping schedules
• May have to buy extra accessories if you pump more than you breastfeed

Similarities Between S1 and S2

As you can see from the previous descriptions, the Spectra S1 and S2 double electric breast pumps are essentially the same pump. They share many of the same crucial features that convey their top tier quality in the realm of pumps.

Customization

Both the S1 and S2 are electric pumps with two flanges (nipple shields), allowing for the option of double or single pumping. Not only do they allow for double pumping, but they also offer adjustable suction and modality that simulate a baby’s natural suckling patterns.

Suction Modes

There are two suction modes (Expression Mode and Massage Mode) on the Spectra pump to adjust the settings to mimic the nursing patterns your body responds to the best. 

Expression Mode has 5 different speeds and 12 vacuum strength levels which should be used after letdown starts and milk is flowing.

Massage Mode ensures any residual milk stuck in a certain region of the breast makes it out. This is ideal if you need a let-down at the beginning or middle of your pumping.

Closed System Breast Pumps

Both the Spectra S1 and S2 are closed system pumps, which means that breast milk does not enter the pump but instead goes directly through backflow protected tubing into a storage bottle. This protects breast milk from contaminants like bacteria and mold and prevents leakage into the pump.

BPA Free Accessories

In addition to protection from biological contaminants, the S1 and S2 use BPA-free plastic for all accessories, further protecting the milk supply against chemical contaminants. Accessories that come with both pumps as specified by the manufacturer include:

• 2 – 24mm Spectra Breast Flanges
• 2 – 28mm Spectra Breast Flanges
• 2 – Spectra Tubing
• 2 – Spectra Duckbill Valves
• 2 – Spectra Backflow Protectors. Includes silicone membrane, uppercase, and lowercase for each Backflow Protector
• 2 – Spectra Wide Neck Storage Bottles. Includes nipple, cap, disc, and lid for each bottle
• 1 – Spectra 12-Volt AC Power Adapter

Other convenient features both pumps showcase are LED display screens, night lights, automated shut-off, and a timer. They also both weigh under 4 lbs, making them easily portable pumps. 

Hospital Grade Breast Pump

A powerful yet quiet 270 mmHg motor in conjunction with the 12-speed, multi-modal adjustable sucking feature have earned both the Spectra S1 and S2 the coveted hospital-grade label. Hospital-grade Spectra breast pumps are the highest quality used in hospitals and lactation centers to efficiently extract the most milk from all mothers despite any difficulties or inhibiting factors.

Difference Between Spectra S1 and S2 Breast Pumps

There are three key differences between the Spectra S1 and S2: 

1. Color – select between pink or blue.
2. Battery – choose battery operated or plug-in
3. Cost – battery powered pumps are more expensive

Color

The Spectra S2 is pink and white, has a plug-in battery, and costs significantly less than the Spectra S1. 

The Spectra S1 is blue and white, has a rechargeable external battery pack, and is thus more expensive than the Spectra S2. Color may be a superficial and unimportant difference between the two pumps, but price and battery systems differences could be deal-breakers. 

Plug-in vs. Rechargeable Battery

A rechargeable battery means that the Spectra S1 allows for far more flexibility in terms of when and where you can pump, so you are free to use the Spectra breast pump no matter where you are. I know that many mothers like to have park play dates, so this allows them the ability to pump while they play. 

The Spectra S2 requires an electrical outlet to use the pump as it is powered by a plug-in connection. This limits your freedom to pump from any location, but considering that most public spaces, including some parks, have outlets, you still have a lot of flexibility with the Spectra S2.

Cost

Because the Spectra S1 has a rechargeable battery that permits greater flexibility and freedom for their pumping schedules, it has a higher price tag than the Spectra S2. The S2 is less expensive, and thus more accessible to mothers on a budget. 

Differences in cost do not detract from the hospital strength and quality that both Spectra pumps bestow to mothers, so whether you want a cheaper, plug-in functioning Spectra S2 or a more expensive cordless Spectra S1, we are sure that you will feel completely satisfied with your choice.

Conclusion

For the most part, the Spectra pumps are nearly identical. The main points of difference between the Spectra pumps are the color, price, and battery function. 

If you need to regularly pump while away from home, the Spectra S1 (check price) is slightly better since you are able to pump at any time with the battery operation. However, the lower cost Spectra S2 (check price) will be sufficient for mothers that expect to be near a power outlet at home, work, or elsewhere while pumping.

Ultimately when comparing the difference between Spectra S1 vs S2, they both allow mothers to nourish their babies with breast milk despite being separated from them during feeding times.