This steamer has an on/off switch, which really isn't an improvement to me since I always unplug my small appliances anyway. It is smaller, but heavier. The former model had a "lip" around the bottom which kept the cord from falling off when wrapped around it, and the cord plug was made so you could attach it to the cord to store. The "cushion" handle on this one is just a hard piece of plastic, compared to the actual softer, larger insert on the former handle.