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, wireless speaker or washing machine, 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 – £679
- We like: great camera, easy to use
- We didn’t like: battery takes a while to charge
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 from AO.com or Boots.
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 vacuum cleaner deal
Dyson V11 Absolute – £500
- We like: impressive cleaning power on all floor surfaces
- We didn’t like: having to permanently press the on/off trigger could get tiring for some
Dyson is now selling its V11 vacuum cleaners at a slight discount – act sooner rather than later and you could save around £100.
The Dyson V11 Absolute has a smart digital display with real-time battery countdown, and an auto-cleaning mode that should take the hassle out of your weekly clean. Other nice extras include a larger dust container with a redesigned emptying system that should mean fewer dust clouds, and a handy clip to keep mini tools with you as you clean.
Note that the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and the Dyson V11 Animal have also been treated to a £100 discount.
Read our independent review of the Dyson V11 Absolute or buy it now from Dyson, Argos or John Lewis.
For more details on saving money on Dyson models, see our guide on how to get the best deal on a Dyson vacuum.
Best mattress deal
Emma The Original mattress – £449
- 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 takes the cost down from £699 to £449.
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 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.
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.
Originally published 9 July 2021. Updated 22 July.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/07/best-deals-in-the-july-sales-revealed-by-which/