We’ve seen some big discounts on tech, electricals and home appliances in the January sales, so if you’re after a new laptop, television or vacuum cleaner, now could be a good chance to buy.
All the deals featured in our round-up are on products that have been through rigorous testing in our Which? test labs. They aren’t necessarily the best we’ve tested, but all are decent and available for a substantial discount.
And because our experts track prices throughout the year, not just when the sales are on, we’re able to cut through the retailers’ spin and bring you only the deals we consider to be genuinely good value.
With coronavirus restrictions forcing many shoppers to go online this year and locked-down shops unable to clear their Christmas stock over the festive season, it’s likely retailers will cut prices on below-average products, too. So even if you find an item you’re after at a great price, it’s always a good idea to check if it’s the right one for you by reading our independent reviews. That way, you can be sure you won’t be left with a dud.
See more tips for shopping online in the Boxing Day and January Sales
Mobile phone deals
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G – was £349, now £249 (29% off according to Laptops Direct)
We like: Striking display, powerful processor, records crisp videos
We don’t like: Poor front camera
The Mi Mix 3 5G has an excellent rear camera, so it’s great for recording crystal-clear videos and taking vibrant photos. The front camera isn’t so good, which means it’s not the best choice if most of your photos are selfies!
Read our full Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G review, or buy it now from Laptops Direct.
- For more offers, see our best mobile phone deals
TV deals
LG OLED55CX5LB – was £1,599, now £1,299 (19% off according to Currys PC World)
Same price at: Amazon, AO.com, Boots, John Lewis and Laptops Direct
We like: Incredible picture quality, superb HDR, good sound
We don’t like: Missing several UK catch-up apps
Televisions don’t get much better than this. In a time when trips to the cinema have become a distant memory, this telly can bring cinematic picture and sound to your living room.
Read our full LG OLED55CX5LB review, or buy it now from Currys PC World.
(Note: A recent Which? investigation into Currys PC World suggests the firm has an issue with how it handles complaints about faulty products. So do consider this before making a purchase from Currys.)
- For more offers, see our best TV deals for 2021
Our televisions expert says:
‘The cost of OLEDs decreases each year and LG makes some of the best around.
‘But with the OLED55CX5LB still costing more than £1,000, it needs to be excellent in every way to keep people from choosing a Panasonic or Sony OLED instead.’
Headphone deals
Apple AirPods Pro – was £249, now £199 (20% off according to Very)
Same price at: BT, John Lewis and Laptops Direct
We like: Excellent sound quality, brilliant noise cancellation, wireless charging
We don’t like: Limited functionality on Android devices, no equaliser to adjust sound preferences
Awarded Which? Product of the Year in 2020, the AirPods Pro improve on the standard AirPods in every way imaginable. Their exceptional sound, coupled with flawless noise cancelling, is proof that good things come in small packages.
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro review, or buy them now from Very.
- For more offers, see our best wireless headphones deals for 2021
Laptop deals
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5-inch – was £999, now £849 (15% off according to Microsoft)
Same price at: Currys PC World
We like: Great screen, good speakers, superb design
We don’t like: Lacks some basic ports, short battery life
Microsoft is offering good savings across its Surface Laptop 3 range, but it’s this deal which caught our eye. Equipped with Intel’s 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB of storage, this laptop is more than capable of meeting most day-to-day needs.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5-inch review, or buy it now from Microsoft.
- For more offers, see our best laptop deals for 2021
Vacuum cleaner deals
Samsung Jet 75 Pet VS20T7532T1 – was £499, now £399 (20% off according to AO.com)
We like: Great cleaning in all areas, excellent battery life, superb at sucking up pet hair
We don’t like: Replacement batteries can be expensive
This cordless vacuum cleaner is a real all-rounder, with long-lasting battery life to boot. It’s particularly good for animal lovers, with a mini turbo tool designed to give you the upper hand in the battle against pet hair.
Read our full Samsung Jet 75 Pet VS20T7532T1 review, or buy it now from AO.com.
- For more offers, see our best vacuum cleaner deals for 2021
Broadband deals
Vodafone Superfast 2 Home Broadband – now £23 per month
We like: Excellent value
We don’t like: Middle-of-the-road quality and service
If cost is your main concern when it comes to choosing a broadband provider, this could be an excellent deal for you. Vodafone is offering its Superfast 2 Home Broadband (63 Mbps average download speed) for the price of Superfast 1 (35 Mbps average download speed). You can also receive a £25 Amazon gift card if you encourage a friend or family member to sign up too.
Read our review of the best and worst broadband suppliers or head straight to the deal.
- For more offers, see our best cheap fibre and broadband deals
Washing machine deals
Miele WSD123 – was £729, now £629 (14% off according to Amazon)
Same price at: AO.com
We like: Great cleaning, easy to use, can add clothes after the wash has started
We don’t like: Poor rinsing, uses quite a lot of energy
This washing machine has its faults, but its cleaning ability is hard to beat. It has a 24-hour delayed start feature, which means you can set the machine to wash overnight, and a countdown timer so you won’t waste a moment wondering how long is left until a program ends.
Read our full Miele WSD123 review, or buy it now from Amazon.
- For more offers, see our best washing machine deals for 2021
January sales shopping tips
Like most things over the festive period, the January sales are quite different this year. Instead of trawling the high streets and shopping centres for the best deals, most of us will be bargain hunting from the comfort of our sofas.
While this may be more convenient (and a whole lot warmer) than usual, online shopping has its own risks. Check out these tips to save money and stay safe this January.
Check the Which? website
As well as finding you the best deals this January, we’ve also put together a list of tips for shopping online in the Boxing Day and January sales, and advice on the best and worst shops when it comes to product quality, range and service.
Watch out for sneaky tricks
Some retailers use underhand tactics to pressure you into making a purchase.
These include anchor pricing (when products are on sale more often than they aren’t), pressure selling (’30 people are viewing this right now!’) and dubious claims about the ‘before’ price of a product.
If you’re unsure how good a deal is, use a tool such as PriceRunner to compare prices across retailers.
There’s more information about the sneaky tricks to watch out for in our Boxing Day and January sales guide
Take a look at customer reviews
It’s always a good idea to read reviews before you buy a product, but not all reviews are trustworthy.
Some sellers incentivise people to post fake positive reviews to drown out genuine negative ones. If you’re in any doubt, check out our guide to how to spot a fake review.
Returning goods in the January sales
Whether you bought a product in-store or online, you still have rights under the Consumer Contract Regulations.
The regulations give you a 14-day window to return a non-faulty product, which begins on the day you receive your goods. Many retailers will give you longer than this, but it is always best to check before you buy.
We’ve put together advice on the additional rights you have when shopping online in our online returns guide.
Prices correct as of 5 January 2021.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/01/best-deals-in-the-january-sales-revealed-by-which/