bernette b35
Bernina-group entry machine
The entry bernette, present on five markets — under one reference across continental Europe and a separate British one.
Best for: A first machine from the Bernina group without Bernina money
≈ £240 / 300 €
Dial-operated machines · review
Pfaff Smarter 160S review
Pfaff's entry mechanical machine, and the brand's cheapest route in. Sold under one reference across continental Europe and the US, with a separate UK listing.
The bottom line Buy it for the badge on the front and the workshop behind it, not for a specification sheet that barely exists.
Hands-on testing pending. Everything below is either a manufacturer specification, cited as such, or something we verified ourselves.
What we verified. The reference B0CT92RS6K designates this machine on
amazon.de, .fr, .it, .es and .com, confirmed on EAN. The UK sells it under a
different reference, B00NWJQ2B2, listed as “Smarter by PFAFF 160s”.
What the manufacturer states. Very little. The listing gives the brand, a colour, dimensions of 22 × 30.5 × 27.33 cm, an internal reference S9133868 and a line of sales copy. Listed weight 3.0 kg.
We are not going to fill that gap. It would be easy to write “23 stitches, one-step buttonhole” here from a neighbouring Pfaff model and nobody would notice — and it would be wrong often enough to matter. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, this site says nothing. The empty fields above are the honest answer, and they will be filled when we have the machine or a documented source.
What we can say. Three kilos is the light, plastic-framed class, with the same consequences as any machine at that weight: fine for dressmaking fabric, wrong for denim hems. And the real argument for a Pfaff at the bottom of the range is not the machine, it is that Pfaff dealers exist and will service it — which is a genuine reason to pay more, and one we would not dismiss.
What we like, and what we don't
Strengths
- The cheapest way into the Pfaff dealer network, which matters over a decade
- One reference covers DE, FR, IT, ES and the US
Compromises
- Pfaff publishes almost nothing about this listing — no stitch count, no buttonhole type
- Three kilos places it in the light, plastic-framed class
- The UK is a separate listing
Specifications
| Type | Mechanical |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 22 × 30.5 × 27.3 cm (manufacturer) |
| Weight | 3.0 kg |
| Manufacturer reference | S9133868 |
Questions people actually ask
Why so little information about this machine?
Because the Amazon listing genuinely carries almost none — colour, dimensions, a reference number and a marketing line. We would rather say that than fill the gap with figures taken from a similar model, which is how wrong specifications spread.
Is a dealer network worth paying for?
On a machine you intend to keep for ten years, often yes. Timing drifts, belts perish and feed dogs wear, and a workshop that stocks parts for your brand is the difference between a service and a replacement. It is worth less if you expect to replace the machine in three years.
If you are looking at this, also read
Bernette b05 Crafter
Mechanical · portable · Bernina network
Bernette's portable mechanical machine, and one of only three products on this site available under a single reference on all six Amazon stores.
Best for: Dressmaking and everyday sewing where stitch quality matters more than power
≈ $350 / 400 €
Janome Sewist 725S
Mechanical · 25 stitches
Janome's mechanical mid-range machine — and the second Janome in our checks that is absent from the French, Italian and Spanish Amazon catalogues.
Best for: US and UK readers who want a Janome mechanical at mid-range money
≈ $400 / £390
