Quick Answer: Dimplex wins on flame realism — its layered flame effect with a genuine ember bed doesn’t loop up close, and it has the stronger insert (retrofit) lineup. Touchstone wins on value, typically costing 30–50% less than a comparable Dimplex IgniteXL while offering more flame-color options and a 3-sided model Dimplex doesn’t match. Pick Dimplex if the fireplace is a focal point people stand in front of; pick Touchstone if budget or color flexibility matters more than the last bit of realism.
Dimplex and Touchstone are the two brands most electric-fireplace shoppers end up choosing between. Dimplex is the premium name with the most realistic flame; Touchstone is the value leader with more color options at a lower price. Both are legitimately good — the “right” one depends on how much flame realism is worth to you. Here’s how they actually compare in 2026.
Head to head at a glance
| Dimplex | Touchstone | |
|---|---|---|
| Flame realism | Best in class (layered, no loop) | Very good from a distance |
| Flame colors | Fewer, focused on realism | Multiple colors + brightness |
| Price (comparable width) | Premium ($3,049.99+) | Value (Sideline 50: ~$549–$829; Sideline Elite: ~$999–$1,499) |
| Install | Recessed/wall + strong insert line | Recessed/wall, incl. 3-sided |
| Build & glass | Excellent | Excellent for the price |
| Best for | Realism as a focal point | Value, color, everyday rooms |
Flame realism
This is the clearest difference. Dimplex owns flame realism. Its layered flame effect with a genuine ember bed and randomized flicker doesn’t loop the way LED units do, and it’s the only one that reliably holds up when you’re standing right in front of it. Touchstone looks great too — from a normal viewing distance across a living room, most people can’t tell — but its flame follows a more repeating pattern that a picky eye will catch up close. If the fireplace is a centerpiece people gather around, Dimplex’s flame is worth the premium.
Colors, features, and control
Here Touchstone pushes back. Its Sideline line offers multiple flame colors, an ember-bed color choice on some models, and fine brightness control — fun, flexible ambiance that Dimplex’s realism-first approach doesn’t chase. If you like changing the mood (cool blue one night, orange fire the next), Touchstone gives you more to play with.
Touchstone Sideline Elite Electric Fireplace
- Frameless "infinity" glass, multiple flame colors, brightness control.
- Recessed or wall-mount; 1500W heat to ~400 sq ft.
- Strong build and support for the price.
Either way you’ll be moving a heavy, bulky unit — a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial gets it delivered in two days so you can plan the install around a free weekend.
Price and value
Touchstone is the value brand, across two tiers. The base Sideline 50 runs ~$549–$829, per Touchstone’s own current listing, while the step-up Sideline Elite adds WiFi/smart-home control and a wider color range for ~$999–$1,499 — both still land well under a comparable-width Dimplex IgniteXL. Despite the price gap, the two brands’ core heating spec is nearly identical: the Sideline Elite is rated 1,500W/5,118 BTU per Touchstone’s spec sheet, versus the IgniteXL’s 1,500W/~4,400–5,000 BTU on standard 120V power per Dimplex’s spec sheet — so you’re not paying Dimplex’s premium for more heat, only for flame realism and build. Dimplex is premium and charges for its flame technology and reputation. If your budget is the deciding factor, Touchstone gives you 90% of the everyday experience for meaningfully less.
Dimplex IgniteXL Linear Electric Fireplace
- Patented layered flame with real ember bed — the realism benchmark.
- Recessed or wall-mount; sizes up to 100" wide.
- 1500W heater runs independently of the flame.
Install options and inserts
Both brands do recessed and wall-mount linear units, so for a standard feature wall it’s a wash. Two differences matter: Touchstone offers a 3-sided (peninsula/room-divider) model — which also configures down to a true two-sided install, see our best two-sided electric fireplace guide — that Dimplex doesn’t emphasize, while Dimplex has a much stronger insert line (the Revillusion) for retrofitting an existing masonry firebox, plus lower-priced Sierra and Multi-Fire Slim lines the IgniteXL doesn’t represent — see our best Dimplex electric fireplace guide for the full lineup. If you’re converting an old wood fireplace rather than building a new wall feature, Dimplex is the safer bet — see our best electric fireplace insert guide. Neither brand’s indoor lineup belongs on a porch, though — Touchstone’s weatherproof Sideline Outdoor models are the ones to look at; see our best outdoor electric fireplace guide.
The bottom line
Choose Dimplex if flame realism is your priority — it’s the most convincing fire in the category and the better choice for a focal-point fireplace or a firebox retrofit. Choose Touchstone if you want the best value, more flame-color options, or a 3-sided install — you’ll spend a lot less and, from across the room, most people won’t know the difference. Weighing a third option? Napoleon slots between the two on price and adds WiFi/app smart control neither brand’s mainstream models match — see our best Napoleon electric fireplace guide. Both Dimplex and Touchstone are excellent; you’re really deciding how much that last bit of realism is worth. For the full field, see our best electric fireplace rankings, or our best Touchstone electric fireplace guide for how the whole Sideline lineup compares on its own. Prices on both brands move seasonally — our Black Friday deals guide breaks down which one typically discounts deeper.
Last updated September 2026: re-verified the Dimplex IgniteXL’s price directly against Dimplex’s own store, correcting a stale ~$2,825–$3,050 range to the current $3,049.99 (list $3,964.99). Touchstone pricing unchanged.