13 invaluable secrets testing has taught us about tech and security

At Which? we've tested more than 600 tech products this year - everything from TVs to laptops and headphones to smartphones. 

To help you make smarter buying decisions we've awarded more than 150 Best Buy recommendations to standout products.

Over our years of testing, our experts have also gleaned invaluable nuggets of wisdom to help save faff, time, and money or just to get better use out of tech devices. 

Read on for some of our favourites.

1. How to get more laptop space for freeAlmost all Windows laptops have multiple third-party software packages installed, but less than a third of us use the pre-installed software. 

Microsoft Office and Skype are the most common 'bloatware' - followed by McAfee antivirus, Dropbox and Spotify.  

2. How to save money on antivirusOur best free antivirus programs perform just as well as paid-for software. Callum Pears, Which? antivirus software expert

'Free antivirus software gives protection from malware and phishing attempts. 

'Paid-for software, which typically costs up to £50 for the first year followed by an auto-renewal price of up to £90 a year thereafter, just adds some additional features. 

'These can include parental controls, a password manager and banking protections that invite you to use a safe browser if the software detects that you’re on a banking website.'

3. What not to do with your wi-fi routerWi-fi routers aren’t expensive to run, so there’s no point switching yours off in a bid to save energy.

Turning it off might affect your service, as it’s better to have software updates feed in through the night.

4. How to find the record players with the best soundTread carefully if a record player is claimed to be packed with features, such as built-in speakers, 78rpm record compatibility, Bluetooth and USB for digitising records. 

In our testing, simpler, low-frills turntables usually produce the best sound.

5. How to keep your headphones for longerHeadphones usually come with replacement silicone ear tips in different sizes. 

Some companies, including Apple, Sony and SoundCore by Anker offer to replace charging cases and earbuds. There’s usually a cost, but if it means you can keep your headphones for longer, it’s a win for your wallet and one less thing that ends up in landfill.

6. Why advanced TV HDR isn't always worth itMost TVs have HDR for more accurate colours and vivid pictures, but we’ve found that in some cases it can make the picture worse. 

TVs with basic HDR formats (such as HDR10 and HLG) can outperform those with advanced formats such as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

7. When to spend less on a soundbarYou don't need to spend more than £500 on a soundbar if you just want to make your TV sound better. Oliver Trebilcock, Which? sound bars expert 

'A good, simple 2.1 (stereo+bass) soundbar for around £400 will be more than enough. If you want more surround sound-like sound, you're looking at £500-£1000. 

'For full surround sound with rear speakers, you can expect to spend more than £1,000.'

8. Why you should be concerned about smartphone face recognition spoofingA shocking 38% of smartphones we tested between August 2022 and September 2023 had face recognition that can be spoofed with a 2D printed photo. 

This can allow criminals to easily access the phone, so it’s something we always highlight in our reviews.

9. How to maximise power bank efficiencyEnergy efficiency varies between power banks. If a power bank is hot to the touch, energy is being wasted as heat.

Higher efficiency means more charge for your devices and better returns on the electricity you pay for, so we highlight it in our reviews.

For example, if you take a 20,000mAh power bank at a poor 64% efficiency, the energy you lose is enough to fully charge a tablet once. 

10. Where to look for the best battery life from your fitness tracker or smartphoneMajor smartwatch and fitness tracker brands don't always perform the best for battery life. Amy Axworthy, Which? fitness tracker and smartwatches expert 

'Apple and Samsung smartwatches and fitness trackers are in the bottom 25% of brands we’ve tested for battery life. They last just four days on average, while others last eight days. If you dislike charging, consider brands such as Garmin and Xiaomi.'

11. What to watch out for with smoke alarmsEvery unbranded smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm we’ve bought from online marketplaces has failed to detect smoke or carbon monoxide in at least some of our tests.

Our advice is only to buy from recognisable brands and trusted online and high street retailers.

12. How to find a folding e-bike that's truly portableNot all folding e-bikes are easy to travel with. Sam Morris, Which? electric bikes expert

'Folding e-bikes are good for saving space. However, most are too heavy and cumbersome for commuting. 

13. How to better protect your smartphone from phishingOur testing has taught us that third-party mobile antivirus, even free third-party mobile antivirus, is better than your phone’s built-in software at protecting you from phishing.And our bonus nugget to save you worrying...Tech devices cost less to run than you might think, so don’t worry if you forget to turn them off. 

On average, leaving your TV on standby for 20 hours a day costs just 51p a year, charging your phone overnight every day for a year is £1.43 while leaving your laptop plugged in 24/7 is £6.22 a year.

source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/13-invaluable-secrets-testing-has-taught-us-about-tech-and-security-aPSI48e1pSG6