We’ve seen some big discounts on tech and electricals, plus kitchen and home appliances, in the July sales. So if you’re after a new laptop, television or fridge freezer, now could be a good time to buy.
Our experts track prices throughout the year (not just when the sales are on), this means we’re able to cut through the retailers’ spin and only bring you the deals we consider to be genuinely good value.
All of the deals we’ve included in our July round-up cover products that have made the journey to the Which? test lab. As our lab tests are objective and reflect how you would use these products in real life, you can trust our reviews are accurate.
Even though all of the deals listed here show products that scored well in our tests, the best way to see if a product is right for you is to check in with our expert reviews before you buy.
Best mobile phone deal
Apple iPhone 12 64GB – £649
- We like: great camera, easy to use
- We didn’t like: battery takes a while to charge
We’ve spotted that the current cheapest deal for a SIM-free version of the iPhone 12 with 64GB of storage is £649.
It’s rare to find a discount on an Apple iPhone, especially a recent model such as this.
For your money, you get 5G capability and an improved screen over the iPhone 11. It’s also waterproof up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes – worth knowing if you’ve ever killed off a phone by dropping it in water.
Read our full review of the Apple iPhone 12 64GB or buy it now from John Lewis
Browse all of our mobile phone reviews or, for more offers, see our round-up of the best mobile phone deals.
Best TV deal
LG OLED65CX6LA – £1,599
- We like: great remote control, simple to use
- We didn’t like: some useful apps missing at time of testing
This 65-inch 4K model is from LG’s CX OLED range. OLEDs don’t use backlights because each pixel produces its own light, giving extra control over which parts of the screen are lit and affording superior contrast over LCD TVs.
Normally selling for around £1,650, this LG TV is currently discounted to £1,599 in a select few stores.
Read our independent review of the LG OLED65CX6LA or buy it now at AO.com, Boots Kitchen Appliances or John Lewis
See our TV reviews to find out which models have performed the best in our tough lab tests. If you’re looking for a bargain, our product experts have even more TV deals for 2021 for you.
Best tablet deal
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (2020) – £664
- We like: fast, lovely design
- We didn’t like: no headphone jack, expensive accessories
The iPad Pro is Apple’s top-end tablet range powered by the Apple A12z processor and paired with 6GB of Ram.
We’ve spotted significant price drops on the 11-inch 256GB version this month – it is currently available for just £664.
Read our full iPad Pro 11 review to see if it’s the tablet for you or buy it now from Currys PC World
(A 2020 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.)
Check our tablet reviews to see which models we recommend. For more offers on Android and iOS tablets, see the best tablet deals for 2021.
Best mattress deal
Emma The Original mattress – £420
- We like: can be used on most bed bases, not too warm to lie on, 200-night trial, doesn’t need to be turned
- We didn’t like: only available online
Emma The Original is one of the most popular mattresses on our website. The deal we’ve spotted for July is 40% off, bringing the cost down from £699 to £420.
You’ll need to use code ORIGINAL40 to get the lower price, though.
Read our full review of the Emma Original mattress or buy it now at Emma
Check our mattress reviews to see which models we recommend. For more offers on other models see the best mattress deals for 2021.
Best headphone deal
Apple AirPods Pro – £179
- We like: water resistant, offers wireless charging
- We didn’t like: limited functionality on Android devices, no equaliser to adjust sound preferences
Compared to the standard Apple AirPods, these Apple AirProd Pro buds are larger and the stem that pokes out of your ears is shorter. This makes them look more discreet.
Truly wireless, they also have active noise cancelling. Plus they’re water resistant.
Normally selling for around £215 in the main high-street retailers, this £179 deal is a very good one.
Find out whether they’re the best headphones for you in our Apple AirPods Pro review or buy now from Laptops Direct or Appliances Direct
Discover top-rated headphones with our headphones reviews. Looking for more deals? See our best wireless headphones deals for 2021.
Best laptop deal
Apple MacBook Air 2020 (M1) – £893
- We like: fast, thin and light
- We didn’t like: not many ports, expensive upgrades
The latest MacBook Air is currently discounted at John Lewis. So if you’ve been holding off on buying a MacBook Air, now could be the time.
However, it’s still pricey, compared to rival laptops, so make sure it suits your needs.
Read our full MacBook Air 2020 review or buy it now for £893 at John Lewis.
Our laptop reviews uncover the best laptops for every budget. Alternatively, see our guide on the best laptop deals for 2021 for bargains on budget laptops, Ultrabooks and MacBooks.
Best wireless speaker deal
Kitsound Diggit 55 – £24
- We like: detachable stake for use in garden
- We didn’t like: need to switch to outdoors mode for higher maximum volume
If you want your Bluetooth speaker for use indoors or outdoors, this water resistant and dustproof model could be for you. A £16 discount this month represents a significant saving.
For the crucial details check out our full Kitsound Diggit 55 review or buy it now from Amazon
Discover top-rated speakers with our wireless speaker reviews. Looking for more deals? See our best wireless speaker deals for 2021.
Best washing machine deal
Hotpoint NSWM863CW – £277
- We like: good rinsing
- We didn’t like: not energy efficient in our tests
This 8kg washing machine has an interesting programme setting that ends the wash with a blast of steam, which Hotpoint claims reduces up to 99.99% of bacteria.
This Hotpoint washing machine is typically around £309, but can currently be had for £277.
Read our full review of the Hotpoint NSWM863CW or buy it now for £277 at Appliances Direct
Find out which are the top-rated models in our washing machines reviews. For more offers, see the best washing machine deals for 2021.
Best fridge freezer deal
Samsung RB34T602ESA – £439
- We like: quiet, energy efficient
- We didn’t like: could be easier to clean
This tall, frost-free fridge freezer from Samsung uses the brand’s SpaceMax technology to make its walls thinner, leaving more room inside – we estimate it will hold around 12 supermarket carrier bags of food.
This fridge freezer is being discounted at the moment and can be found for £439.
Read our full review of the Samsung RB34T602ESA or buy it now for £439 from Currys PC World
(A 2020 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.)
Find all the best models in our fridge freezer reviews. For more price reductions, see the best fridge freezer deals for 2021.
July sales shopping tips
Check the Which? website
As well as finding you the best deals this July, we’ve also put together a list of the best and worst shops.
We’ve quizzed thousands of Which? members on their experiences of shopping in some of the country’s best-known stores and websites, as well as with lesser-known brands.
After crunching the numbers, we can reveal which retailers score highly for product quality, range and value for money. To see which retailers impressed in our latest shopping survey, head over to our extensive guide on the best and worst shops.
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.
Research 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 expert guide on how to spot a fake review.
Returning goods
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.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/07/best-deals-in-the-july-sales-revealed-by-which/