Shoppers rush to buy ‘better than Dyson' cooling fan amid heatwave as it's slashed to £68
Whilst we may have all been looking forward to the warmer weather, one thing we're less thrilled about is how warm our homes get. As British homes are typically designed to retain heat, the hot summer months and mini heatwaves can often leave them feeling stuffy and too hot to relax in.
A fan is of course the best way to help keep the air cool and circulating around the house, and Amazon shoppers think they've found the best one to shop that's affordable, works well and is, according to them, 'better than Dyson.' The Dreo 28dB Silent Tower Fan is usually priced at £79.99, but it's currently on sale with 15% off, slashing the price to £67.99.
The Dreo Silent Tower Fan comes in both black and white colourways, with the black available at the reduced price whilst the white one is still full price at £79.99. One of the biggest draws of the fan is that it's almost silent, operating at just 28 decibels, which means you can have it running without interrupting your sleep or drowning out the TV.
It also has an automatic switch off as well as an eight hour timer that's ideal for using overnight, and when used in sleep mode it automatically mutes to prevent disrupted sleep. The LED display also automatically switches off, keeping your room cool and dark – ideal for sleeping during the heat.
You can choose from four different modes – normal, natural, sleep, and auto – and there are also four speed settings to pick from which range from a gentle breeze to a strong blow. The Dreo Silent Tower Fan also comes with a remote control so you can operate it from wherever you are in the room.
To make sure all of your room remains cool, the Dreo Silent Tower Fan has a 90° oscillation to cover more areas, and cools the air at a rate of up to 25 feet per second. It measures 36 inches high, so the cool air will fill the room and reach you even whilst sitting or lying in bed.
Amazon shoppers have been thrilled with their purchase, with one writing: 'I purchased 2 of these, my son has the gas boiler in his room and gets very hot, he did have a Dyson but this works much better, I have one due to menopause, I love the remote because I can turn it off and on depending how hot I feel.'
Another agreed: 'Great fan. Very cold air and very easy to use. Best fan ever, so much better than the Dysons!'
Some found it was not as quiet as they'd hoped, with one saying: 'I've only given 3 stars for now, only just taken it out of box to try it, working but definitely not quiet so why say it is? I've a slight headache already!'
Others however disagreed, with another reviewer writing: 'Bought this fan last year and honestly one of the best thing I've ever purchased. It's so easy to use and it actually blows cold air out rather than just circulating the hot air. The different modes are really helpful ( sleep mode is so silent and perfect for me, I wake up to any noise). My whole family have bought one, would 10/10 recommend!'
Another said: 'It's wonderful, practical, looks like a small juke box, classy and had no issues with its functionality. Much more economical than the premium brands like Dyson but does the same job if not better.'
If you do want to add a Dyson fan to your home, however, now is the perfect time as the Dyson Cool Am07 Tower Fan in White And Silver is currently on sale. Usually priced at £349.99, it's now been reduced to £269.99, saving you £80 and giving you the most budget-friendly way to get your hands on a Dyson fan.
Alternatively for those on a budget who just want a quick fix, the 32" White Tower Fan from Dunelm is just £30 and offers a quick solution to stuffy rooms. With three speed settings, an oscillating feature and a space-saving design its ideal for cooling down smaller spaces quickly.
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NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
6 things you should buy, and 4 you definitely shouldn't, during Prime Day this year
Finding a worthwhile deal on Prime Day can be a 'you know it when you see it' situation. But as someone who's covered Amazon's mega sale for six years, I guarantee that there's a method to the madness more often than not. Certain categories historically offer stronger discounts than others, and identifying what they are before you start shopping can help you maximize your budget. 'This is the kind of shopping moment that rewards strategy and precision, not impulse buying,' says Stephanie Carls, a shopping expert at RetailMeNot. 'It's about knowing what's worth it and intentionally buying when the savings are the strongest and the deals are stacked in your favor.' Using my expertise about Amazon's biggest sale of the year (both as a reporter and Prime member), I put together this guide to help you plan your shopping for the four-day event that starts on Jul. 8. Experts also weighed in about what to buy and skip, and shared tips for saving money. You can apply their advice to early Prime Day deals, too, which are live right now. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. If you're narrowing your shopping list, focus on the categories below to save the most money. There are various reasons why Amazon hosts Prime Day, but experts say a big one is to sell products from its brands, including Echo, Ring, Blink, Kindle and Amazon Basics. Expect to see many of these brands' products marked down to their lowest price ever and bundles that let you buy and save on a few that work together. While electronics from Amazon-owned brands are typically discounted the most on Prime Day, plenty of other tech brands slash prices on their gadgets, including Apple, FitBit, Samsung and Sony, says Carls. Focus on items like headphones, Bluetooth speakers, portable chargers, laptops, tablets and e-readers, and smart home devices like indoor and outdoor security cameras, doorbells, garage openers, lights and plugs. Prime Day is not ideal for buying a refrigerator or washing machine. Instead, prioritize small home and kitchen appliances like air purifiers, vacuums and fans, as well as air fryers, blenders and toaster ovens. 'Top brands like Instant Pot, Ninja, Keurig and Vitamix are deeply discounted and they rarely go on sale outside of major events,' says Carls. Apparel deals often fly under the radar during Prime Day, but they're plentiful, says Carls. Amazon's in-house brands tend to be discounted the most, like The Drop, Amazon Essentials, Goodthreads and Core 10, and you'll see promotions at Shopbop and Zappos since the retailer owns both companies. That said, many other clothes, shoe and accessory brands offer great deals, so keep an eye out, especially if you're looking for basics like white T-shirts, activewear like leggings, sports bras and running shoes, and summer items like sunglasses, bathing suits and shorts. Prime Day is an opportunity to get a head start on back-to-school shopping, which more people have been taking advantage of recently. This year, 24% of parents with grade-school children and 20% of parents with college students plan to shop for school supplies during Amazon's mega sale, according to a survey from RetailMeNot. Vipin Porwal, the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty, recommends looking for savings on items like backpacks and lunchboxes, as well as dorm essentials and school-related tech. You can store everything you need for school, work or travel inside this backpack, which has numerous interior and exterior pockets, as well as a dedicated compartment for your laptop. The backpack's padded shoulder straps make the bag comfortable to wear, and it has reflective elements so people can always see you in low light. Before Prime Day starts, walk around your home and take inventory — are you running low on any essentials? Name-brand laundry detergent, dog food, pantry staples, toilet paper, garbage bags, paper towels and more are all on sale during the event, and since you'll need them eventually, you may as well buy them at a discounted price. There are 28 AA alkaline batteries in this pack, which is resealable. If they're unused, you can store the batteries for up to 12 years and they won't decline in performance, according to the brand. While you'll see TVs and gaming-related products on sale during Prime Day, don't buy them just yet, says Carls. There are better discounts and bundles closer to the holidays, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Porwal also recommends waiting until Labor Day to purchase furniture, as well as large home and kitchen devices. Three-day holiday weekends are known for their discounts on these types of items, so hold off until Labor Day deals start in mid-August. Amazon isn't the only one hosting a mega sale in the next few days. Savings events are happening at retailers like Target, Walmart and Nordstrom, too. Some attempt to beat Prime Day pricing on select items, while others compete by offering discounts on different types of products. Additionally, many brands are extending their Fourth of July offers online in hopes of Prime Day shoppers spilling onto their sites. Here are a few Prime Day-adjacent sales to know about. Target Circle Week is from Jul. 6 to 12 and is only open to Target Circle members. You can join the loyalty program for free. Target tends to offer strong deals on home, fashion and personal care products, especially if they're from brands it owns, says Carls. The retailer has a same-day pickup option at most stores if you need something quickly, or you can get items shipped. is from Jul. 6 to 12 and is only open to Target Circle members. You can join the loyalty program for free. Target tends to offer strong deals on home, fashion and personal care products, especially if they're from brands it owns, says Carls. The retailer has a same-day pickup option at most stores if you need something quickly, or you can get items shipped. The Walmart Deals event is from Jul. 8 to 13. It's open to all shoppers, but Walmart+ members get early access on Jul. 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The retailer often discounts products to at or near Prime Day prices, so it's worth comparing them, says Carls. event is from Jul. 8 to 13. It's open to all shoppers, but Walmart+ members get early access on Jul. 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The retailer often discounts products to at or near Prime Day prices, so it's worth comparing them, says Carls. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is from Jul. 8 to Aug. 3. At first, it's only open to loyalty members, but everyone can shop starting Jul. 12. During the sale, Nordstrom marks down new fall merchandise, while Prime Day mainly marks down overstock items. is from Jul. 8 to Aug. 3. At first, it's only open to loyalty members, but everyone can shop starting Jul. 12. During the sale, Nordstrom marks down new fall merchandise, while Prime Day mainly marks down overstock items. Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale is from Jul. 7 to 13, and it's open to everyone. The retailers' tech deals are usually on par with Amazon's during Prime Day, but it sometimes throws in bundles or gift card bonuses that add up to more savings. is from Jul. 7 to 13, and it's open to everyone. The retailers' tech deals are usually on par with Amazon's during Prime Day, but it sometimes throws in bundles or gift card bonuses that add up to more savings. Home Depot and Lowe's often have sales around Prime Day, allowing shoppers to save on patio furniture, home improvement supplies and tools. These are items Amazon doesn't have an extensive inventory of. Go in with a plan: Do your homework, says Carls — set a budget and list everything you want to buy ahead of time. 'The best approach is to shop with a plan,' she says. 'It's easy to get caught up in big sale moments, but the real value comes when you buy things you already need, at the right time, with the right offer attached.' Download the Amazon app and turn on notifications: If you add items to your watchlist before Prime Day, the app notifies you when prices drop so you can jump on them. Shop Lightning Deals: Lightning Deals only run for a few hours, and there's limited inventory available — once the product sells out or the deal expires, it's gone for good. Lightning Deals are some of the most lucrative discounts brands offer during Prime Day, so pay close attention to them. New offers drop as often as every 10 minutes. Checkout ASAP: Many items discounted on Prime Day are overstock merchandise that brands want to clear out while they have a massive audience, says Porwal. They list items at historically low prices to move inventory quickly, so if you like something, act quickly. Also, the stronger the discount, the more likely it is to be time-sensitive, and popular products from brands like Apple, Dyson and Sony commonly sell out. Pay extra attention to featured sales: Deals advertised front-and-center on Amazon's website and in its app are typically some of the strongest. 'These sellers pay a premium to Amazon to feature their best products, which will likely be available in shorter time frames and at some of their lowest prices ever,' says Porwal. Browse for new deals daily: This year's longer Prime Day timeline gives brands more room to roll out deals in phases. Expect to see new deals drop every day, as well as potential restocks, says Carls. Be wary about unverified sellers: If you're unfamiliar with a brand or seller, and the product isn't something you really need, sometimes the savings aren't worth the risk, says Porwal. Use price trackers: Those like CamelCamelCamel help you evaluate an item's price history, which lets you determine if it's really a good deal or just temporarily marked down from an inflated baseline, says Carls. Compare prices: An item's Prime Day price is almost always the lowest across retailers, especially because your purchase ships free. But it's always a good idea to compare prices before you check out just in case, says Porwal. Familiarize yourself with return policies: Amazon doesn't have a special return policy for Prime Day purchases, but you know how long you have to return an item if needed. In response to the 10% tariff on all countries that's been in effect since April, some brands have already raised prices on their products. Experts say this trend will continue, especially because the 90-day pause on higher reciprocal tariffs ends in a few days. But that doesn't mean Prime Day deals will be weaker this year, experts say. Some brands are increasingly leaning into deals to drive sales before higher costs force price adjustments later. 'For shoppers, this might be the right moment to buy higher-priced items that could become more expensive in the fall,' she says. While deals won't necessarily be weaker during Prime Day 2025, how brands present them might look a little different, says Carls. Expect blanket markdowns, like 30% off every single product a company sells on Amazon, and more curated promotions, meaning a few deeply discounted items. Some brands will also opt for time-sensitive deals rather than keeping products on sale for all four days of the event. At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Vipin Porwal is the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty. is the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty. Stephanie Carls is a shopping expert at RetailMeNot. I'm a reporter at NBC Select who's covered sales and deals for five years, including topics like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To write this article, I interviewed two experts about what you should buy and skip during Amazon Prime Day, and rounded up a handful of tips about how to save money while shopping. Catch up on NBC Select's in-depth coverage of tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date. Zoe Malin
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising
THE PRICE IS…WRONG Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHETHER it's early Christmas shopping or just a treat, buying new phones, TVs, and gadgets off Amazon can end up being a costly nightmare. There are loads of simple mistakes that could be costing you thousands, from getting sucked in by flashy TV specs you don't need, ignoring a little-known iPhone menu that reveals if you're being scammed, and falling for a costly Amazon "price trick". 16 The iPhone 16 is the latest model – but you don't necessarily need it Credit: Apple 16 Refurbished schemes are an easy way to bag huge discounts on top tech – without the downsides of bagging a used phone from a mate or stranger Credit: Apple / The Sun Here are some of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you're snapping up new gadgets. PHONE SHOPPING MISTAKES Mistake 1 – Ignoring official 'refurbished' schemes It's easy to forget that buying phones isn't just a choice between a new mobile from the shop or a used one via eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There's a third (and easily missed) option: certified refurbished schemes. Many gadget makers and retailers have dedicated services where they restore used or unboxed phones so that they're basically as good as new, but with big discounts. Apple is a good example. Go to the website and look for the Certified Refurbished section here. There you'll find top iPhone models that have been fully tested, include a one-year warranty, a brand new box with all accessories and cables, and a fresh battery too. And they're all heavily discounted because they're "refurbished". Right now, you can get £310 savings on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models (but we've seen discounts as high as £460 before). Samsung has a similar scheme called Certified Re-Newed here. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit And again, you'll get gadgets in a brand new box with a cable, SIM ejector, plus a year-long warranty. Then there are third-party marketplaces like Back Market that also refurbish mobiles. So don't pay full price for a phone without checking the refurbished version too. Just remember: you might struggle to find refurbished units for the absolute-newest phone models. Mistake 2 – Buying a used phone with fake parts When you're buying a used phone from a person directly, you'll often be nabbing it at a saving. 16 Apple has set up the iPhone to show when it's packing fake parts Credit: Apple But that person might have secretly repaired the mobile with fake parts – and not told you. Now you've got an iPhone that might break down, not work properly, and require expensive repairs. Not only that, but it'll affect the resale value of your mobile too. You'll want to get into Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History. This will show parts of your iPhone, and whether they're legit or not. "If a part is labelled Genuine Apple Part, the part has been replaced with a genuine Apple part using genuine Apple parts and processes," Apple explained. "If a part is labelled Unknown Part, this means that the installation is incomplete. "Or the part was replaced with a non-genuine part, was previously used or installed in another iPhone, or isn't functioning as expected." If you're not seeing the menu, it means your iPhone hasn't had any parts swapped. 16 If an iPhone has been repaired, you can see in Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History Credit: Apple You should check this page before you accept the smartphone from whoever you're buying it from. "Genuine Apple parts are designed to fit precisely within the device and provide optimal performance, safety, and reliability," Apple explained. "Repairs performed by Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers are covered by Apple's warranty. "Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine parts might affect the functionality, safety, security, and privacy of the device." Apple adds: "Using non-genuine batteries might also result in unexpected behaviour after installation, device software updates, or while charging. "Using non-genuine batteries might also lead to safety issues." Mistake 3 – Not looking at the phone's 'software' version All phones run on an operating system, with settings, menus, and design. 16 Google's latest phone software is called Android 16 – but not all mobiles can run it Credit: Google Apple's iPhone runs on iOS and most other mobiles run on Google's Android. These operating systems are updated fairly regularly – usually receiving a major upgrade once a year. These updates are important for two reasons. The first is that they deliver new features, keeping your old mobile feeling fresh with the latest tricks. And the second is that software updates are how tech giants deliver security fixes to your phone. These fixes will close dangerous security loopholes that hackers can use to break into your device, accounts, and potentially even your finances. If your phone is too old to receive these updates, it's seriously exposed to cybercrime – not to mention missing out on new features too. So before you buy a used phone, make absolutely sure that it can still receive software updates. 16 Apple is rolling out iOS 26 to iPhones later this year, but millions of older devices will miss out Credit: Apple A quick Google search will reveal the latest iOS or Android software version, and whether your mobile can get it. For instance, only the following iPhones can get the iOS 26 update coming out in September: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) So if you buy an older iPhone than that, you're leaving yourself exposed. DON'T RISK AN ANCIENT MOBILE Here's some phone advice from The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... Buying a phone from last year or the year before is a savvy move to save money. But if you're snapping up a mobile that's five years old, you might be in serious danger. Make absolutely sure that it is still getting updates – and isn't cut off, or about to be. If you're left with a gadget that can't get security updates, you're an open goal for cybercriminals. They can waltz right in through unpatched security holes that are well-known in hacker communities. Free security updates are one of your best defences against hackers. So don't leave it to chance and don't leave the front door to your digital life unlocked. Picture Credit: Sean Keach It's better to buy a newer model that will still get updates for several years, to avoid having to upgrade (and paying hundreds to do so). Sure, it might be tempted to get a very old phone on the cheap – but going too far back is simply not worth the risk. TV SHOPPING MISTAKES TVs can vary wildly in price – so if you bungle your purchase, the cost of the mistake can be huge. It's not like picking the wrong pastry at Greggs, you could be throwing away hundreds of pounds. Mistake 1 – 8K? Not OK First off, watch out for telly jargon – and 8K is at the top of the list. It sounds better than 4K, right? But splashing out on 8K TV is one of the easiest ways to end up spending way more than you need to. These terms relate to the resolution of your TV's screen – that's the number of pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that light up with colour to make up the picture that you see. If you have more of those tiny dots, your telly can show more detail. 16 Netflix has plenty of 4K telly – but you won't find any 8K movies in its library Credit: Netflix So a 720p HD TV would have a resolution of 1,280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically. That totals to 921,600 pixels across the entire screen. Here's how common resolutions compare: 720p HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) – 921,600 pixels total 1080p Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) – 2,073,600 pixels total 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) – 8,294,400 pixels total 8K Super HD (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) – 33,177,600 pixels total More pixels mean more potential detail on your TV screen – but that's not always particularly useful. For a start, your eyes will struggle to tell the difference between 4K and 8K. You'd need to have an absolutely enormous TV, bigger than would fit in most living rooms, to see a noticeable change. Or you'd need to be sitting so close to your telly that you're basically on top of it. But that's not even the biggest problem. 16 A 4K TV is a nice happy medium when it comes to quality and pricing – very few people need an 8K telly today Credit: Samsung To enjoy a 4K picture on a 4K TV, you also need a piece of 4K content – and the same is true for 8K. There's almost no 8K content out there. In fact, loads of telly still isn't even shown in 4K, never mind 8K. It's trickier to capture and produce 8K content, and streaming it would put a much bigger strain on home internet. So no one really bothers. And even though your 8K telly will promise to "upscale" lower quality footage, this is just computer trickery – and not comparable to the real thing. So I wouldn't bother with 8K just yet. At the same time, I'd recommend picking a 4K telly over a cheaper Full HD TV. You can get 4K TVs for very cheap now, and most streaming apps (like Netflix and Amazon Video) serve up 4K content. And if you buy a Full HD telly, you'll probably want to upgrade far sooner than if you get a more future-proofed 4K – so it's worth the slightly higher upfront cost. Mistake 2 – Plug-in power Just because your TV is slow does not mean you need a new one. You'll find that loads of cheap televisions run awfully slow, taking an age to navigate through menus. You click your remote and it feels like that signal is travelling through mud. That's because one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a cheap telly is by fitting it with a budget computer processor. 16 An Apple TV 4K is a great plug-in option for your telly – and will instantly speed it up Credit: Apple If you're happy with the picture, then the far cheaper option is to buy a plug-in streamer. My personal pick is the Apple TV 4K, which costs £149 and goes into the back of your telly. It's lightning quick to navigate with, and has all the top apps you'd want (BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, Prime Video, Now TV and so on). But you could also bag yourself a 4K Amazon Fire Stick (£60) or a 4K Roku box (£39) and use that as your main TV interface instead. That way, you get to enjoy your TV's picture – but it's the streaming stick that's powering what you see. And it means you don't need to pay hundreds (or even thousands) for a brand new telly that runs faster. Mistake 3 – Getting the wrong kind of TV What you absolutely don't want to do is get the wrong telly for your needs. 16 Make sure you pick a telly with plenty of ports – or you might find it lacking down the line Credit: Samsung Then you'll get it, use it for a few months, and realise you've made a big mistake. There are a few common bungles to watch out for. The first is the number of HDMI ports – you need to make sure that you have enough. If you're connecting a Fire Stick, an Xbox, and a Sky TV box, that's three HDMI ports gone straight away. And if the TV only has three ports, what do you do if you bag yourself the new Nintendo Switch 2? Whoops. Two HDMI ports will be a real struggle, so try to get a telly that has at least four. Secondly, if you're planning to do some serious gaming on the telly, pay attention to the refresh rate. Video is just a series of still images shown very quickly – and the refresh rate tells you how many times a second your TV is updating those images. For gamers, a screen with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate gives you a smoother motion when you're playing games at a high frame rate. 16 Some TV brands offer 144Hz televisions that are better for gaming Credit: Samsung And that's important especially in fast-paced games. AMAZON SHOPPING MISTAKES Amazon is a treasure trove for gadget fans – it's packed with tech, often sold with heavy discounts. Mistake #1 – Falling for fake deals But one of the pitfalls for Amazon shoppers is finding a fake deal. This is when a price seems to be discounted, but the truth is that the "full price" isn't totally honest. Sometimes, sellers will only list a product at its full price for very short periods of time. This allows them to display a product as heavily discounted – even though that's the real price. Fortunately, there's a brilliant tool called CamelCamelCamel (here)that lets you plug in any Amazon product link to see its full price history. 16 You can easily check the price history for Amazon products by using CamelCamelCamel Credit: CamelCamelCamel / The Sun You'll be able to see a graph that charts its price movements, plus its highest, lowest, and average mark-ups. That way, you can tell if you're actually buying a great deal – or you're being massively ripped off. Mistake #2 – Not using price alerts The problem with buying products online is that it always feels like there's a sale on – until the moment you actually want to buy a product. 16 Make sure you're using your Amazon Wish List for discount alerts Credit: Amazon Then suddenly it's full price everywhere and you're paying hundreds more than you'd hoped to. The best way to tackle that with Amazon gadgets is to set up price alerts. This is perfect if you don't need something right away and want to get the best value for money. For a start, you can add items to your Amazon Wish List, and then switch on notifications in your Amazon account settings. That way, you'll be notified when prices drop for any of the items on your wish list. You can also go into the Amazon app, head into the Notifications > Recommendations settings and toggle it on. This will give you personalised deal alerts based on your shopping activity – like for items that you've recently searched. This is handy, as it'll capture gadgets that you forgot to add to your wish list but might still be interested in. 16 Try toggling on recommendation notifications for personalised deal alerts Credit: Amazon It could save you from massively overspending. Mistake #3 – Ignoring Amazon's hidden discounts There are a few easy-to-miss discount schemes on Amazon worth noting. Firstly, there's the Amazon Renewed store here. This is Amazon's Certified Refurbished store, where it professionally inspects, tests, and resells gadgets – with a one-year guarantee included. 16 Loads of discounted gadgets can be found in the Amazon Renewed store Credit: Amazon / The Sun You'll find significant discounts on products, including phones, headphones, and laptops. So it's worth checking on that store before you pay full price on regular Amazon. If you're a Prime member, you can also take advantage of the Buy More & Save store – you can find that here. This knocks 15% off your total bill if you buy at least four qualifying items. 16 If you're a Prime member, you can instantly cut your shopping bill Credit: Amazon / The Sun There's plenty in there, including food, clothes, and home essentials – but also some electronics too. So it's an easy way to trim your Amazon bills if you need the items on offer.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising
WHETHER it's early Christmas shopping or just a treat, buying new phones, TVs, and gadgets off Amazon can end up being a costly nightmare. There are loads of simple mistakes that could be costing you thousands, from getting sucked in by flashy TV specs you don't need, ignoring a little-known iPhone menu that reveals if you're being scammed, and falling for a costly Amazon"price trick". Here are some of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you're snapping up new gadgets. PHONE SHOPPING MISTAKES Mistake 1 – Ignoring official 'refurbished' schemes It's easy to forget that buying phones isn't just a choice between a new mobile from the shop or a used one via eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There's a third (and easily missed) option: certified refurbished schemes. Many gadget makers and retailers have dedicated services where they restore used or unboxed phones so that they're basically as good as new, but with big discounts. Apple is a good example. Go to the website and look for the Certified Refurbished section here. There you'll find top iPhone models that have been fully tested, include a one-year warranty, a brand new box with all accessories and cables, and a fresh battery too. And they're all heavily discounted because they're "refurbished". Right now, you can get £310 savings on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models (but we've seen discounts as high as £460 before). Samsung has a similar scheme called Certified Re-Newed here. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit And again, you'll get gadgets in a brand new box with a cable, SIM ejector, plus a year-long warranty. Then there are third-party marketplaces like Back Market that also refurbish mobiles. So don't pay full price for a phone without checking the refurbished version too. Just remember: you might struggle to find refurbished units for the absolute-newest phone models. Mistake 2 – Buying a used phone with fake parts When you're buying a used phone from a person directly, you'll often be nabbing it at a saving. But that person might have secretly repaired the mobile with fake parts – and not told you. Now you've got an iPhone that might break down, not work properly, and require expensive repairs. Not only that, but it'll affect the resale value of your mobile too. You'll want to get into Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History. This will show parts of your iPhone, and whether they're legit or not. "If a part is labelled Genuine Apple Part, the part has been replaced with a genuine Apple part using genuine Apple parts and processes," Apple explained. "If a part is labelled Unknown Part, this means that the installation is incomplete. "Or the part was replaced with a non-genuine part, was previously used or installed in another iPhone, or isn't functioning as expected." If you're not seeing the menu, it means your iPhone hasn't had any parts swapped. 16 You should check this page before you accept the smartphone from whoever you're buying it from. "Genuine Apple parts are designed to fit precisely within the device and provide optimal performance, safety, and reliability," Apple explained. "Repairs performed by Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers are covered by Apple's warranty. "Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine parts might affect the functionality, safety, security, and privacy of the device." Apple adds: "Using non-genuine batteries might also result in unexpected behaviour after installation, device software updates, or while charging. "Using non-genuine batteries might also lead to safety issues." Mistake 3 – Not looking at the phone's 'software' version All phones run on an operating system, with settings, menus, and design. Apple's iPhone runs on iOS and most other mobiles run on Google 's Android. These operating systems are updated fairly regularly – usually receiving a major upgrade once a year. These updates are important for two reasons. The first is that they deliver new features, keeping your old mobile feeling fresh with the latest tricks. And the second is that software updates are how tech giants deliver security fixes to your phone. These fixes will close dangerous security loopholes that hackers can use to break into your device, accounts, and potentially even your finances. If your phone is too old to receive these updates, it's seriously exposed to cybercrime – not to mention missing out on new features too. So before you buy a used phone, make absolutely sure that it can still receive software updates. A quick Google search will reveal the latest iOS or Android software version, and whether your mobile can get it. For instance, only the following iPhones can get the iOS 26 update coming out in September: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) So if you buy an older iPhone than that, you're leaving yourself exposed. Here's some phone advice from The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... Buying a phone from last year or the year before is a savvy move to save money. But if you're snapping up a mobile that's five years old, you might be in serious danger. Make absolutely sure that it is still getting updates – and isn't cut off, or about to be. If you're left with a gadget that can't get security updates, you're an open goal for cybercriminals. They can waltz right in through unpatched security holes that are well-known in hacker communities. Free security updates are one of your best defences against hackers. So don't leave it to chance and don't leave the front door to your digital life unlocked. Picture Credit: Sean Keach It's better to buy a newer model that will still get updates for several years, to avoid having to upgrade (and paying hundreds to do so). Sure, it might be tempted to get a very old phone on the cheap – but going too far back is simply not worth the risk. TV SHOPPING MISTAKES TVs can vary wildly in price – so if you bungle your purchase, the cost of the mistake can be huge. It's not like picking the wrong pastry at Greggs, you could be throwing away hundreds of pounds. Mistake 1 – 8K? Not OK First off, watch out for telly jargon – and 8K is at the top of the list. It sounds better than 4K, right? But splashing out on 8K TV is one of the easiest ways to end up spending way more than you need to. These terms relate to the resolution of your TV's screen – that's the number of pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that light up with colour to make up the picture that you see. If you have more of those tiny dots, your telly can show more detail. 16 So a 720p HD TV would have a resolution of 1,280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically. That totals to 921,600 pixels across the entire screen. Here's how common resolutions compare: 720p HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) – 921,600 pixels total 1080p Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) – 2,073,600 pixels total 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) – 8,294,400 pixels total 8K Super HD (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) – 33,177,600 pixels total More pixels mean more potential detail on your TV screen – but that's not always particularly useful. For a start, your eyes will struggle to tell the difference between 4K and 8K. You'd need to have an absolutely enormous TV, bigger than would fit in most living rooms, to see a noticeable change. Or you'd need to be sitting so close to your telly that you're basically on top of it. But that's not even the biggest problem. To enjoy a 4K picture on a 4K TV, you also need a piece of 4K content – and the same is true for 8K. There's almost no 8K content out there. In fact, loads of telly still isn't even shown in 4K, never mind 8K. It's trickier to capture and produce 8K content, and streaming it would put a much bigger strain on home internet. So no one really bothers. And even though your 8K telly will promise to "upscale" lower quality footage, this is just computer trickery – and not comparable to the real thing. So I wouldn't bother with 8K just yet. At the same time, I'd recommend picking a 4K telly over a cheaper Full HD TV. You can get 4K TVs for very cheap now, and most streaming apps (like Netflix and Amazon Video) serve up 4K content. And if you buy a Full HD telly, you'll probably want to upgrade far sooner than if you get a more future-proofed 4K – so it's worth the slightly higher upfront cost. Mistake 2 – Plug-in power Just because your TV is slow does not mean you need a new one. You'll find that loads of cheap televisions run awfully slow, taking an age to navigate through menus. You click your remote and it feels like that signal is travelling through mud. That's because one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a cheap telly is by fitting it with a budget computer processor. If you're happy with the picture, then the far cheaper option is to buy a plug-in streamer. My personal pick is the Apple TV 4K, which costs £149 and goes into the back of your telly. It's lightning quick to navigate with, and has all the top apps you'd want (BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, Prime Video, Now TV and so on). But you could also bag yourself a 4K Amazon Fire Stick (£60) or a 4K Roku box (£39) and use that as your main TV interface instead. That way, you get to enjoy your TV's picture – but it's the streaming stick that's powering what you see. And it means you don't need to pay hundreds (or even thousands) for a brand new telly that runs faster. Mistake 3 – Getting the wrong kind of TV What you absolutely don't want to do is get the wrong telly for your needs. Then you'll get it, use it for a few months, and realise you've made a big mistake. There are a few common bungles to watch out for. The first is the number of HDMI ports – you need to make sure that you have enough. If you're connecting a Fire Stick, an Xbox, and a Sky TV box, that's three HDMI ports gone straight away. And if the TV only has three ports, what do you do if you bag yourself the new Nintendo Switch 2? Whoops. Two HDMI ports will be a real struggle, so try to get a telly that has at least four. Secondly, if you're planning to do some serious gaming on the telly, pay attention to the refresh rate. Video is just a series of still images shown very quickly – and the refresh rate tells you how many times a second your TV is updating those images. For gamers, a screen with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate gives you a smoother motion when you're playing games at a high frame rate. 16 And that's important especially in fast-paced games. AMAZON SHOPPING MISTAKES Amazon is a treasure trove for gadget fans – it's packed with tech, often sold with heavy discounts. Mistake #1 – Falling for fake deals But one of the pitfalls for Amazon shoppers is finding a fake deal. This is when a price seems to be discounted, but the truth is that the "full price" isn't totally honest. Sometimes, sellers will only list a product at its full price for very short periods of time. This allows them to display a product as heavily discounted – even though that's the real price. Fortunately, there's a brilliant tool called CamelCamelCamel (here)that lets you plug in any Amazon product link to see its full price history. You'll be able to see a graph that charts its price movements, plus its highest, lowest, and average mark-ups. That way, you can tell if you're actually buying a great deal – or you're being massively ripped off. Mistake #2 – Not using price alerts The problem with buying products online is that it always feels like there's a sale on – until the moment you actually want to buy a product. 16 Then suddenly it's full price everywhere and you're paying hundreds more than you'd hoped to. The best way to tackle that with Amazon gadgets is to set up price alerts. This is perfect if you don't need something right away and want to get the best value for money. For a start, you can add items to your Amazon Wish List, and then switch on notifications in your Amazon account settings. That way, you'll be notified when prices drop for any of the items on your wish list. You can also go into the Amazon app, head into the Notifications > Recommendations settings and toggle it on. This will give you personalised deal alerts based on your shopping activity – like for items that you've recently searched. This is handy, as it'll capture gadgets that you forgot to add to your wish list but might still be interested in. It could save you from massively overspending. Mistake #3 – Ignoring Amazon's hidden discounts There are a few easy-to-miss discount schemes on Amazon worth noting. Firstly, there's the Amazon Renewed store here. This is Amazon's Certified Refurbished store, where it professionally inspects, tests, and resells gadgets – with a one-year guarantee included. 16 You'll find significant discounts on products, including phones, headphones, and laptops. So it's worth checking on that store before you pay full price on regular Amazon. If you're a Prime member, you can also take advantage of the Buy More & Save store – you can find that here. This knocks 15% off your total bill if you buy at least four qualifying items. There's plenty in there, including food, clothes, and home essentials – but also some electronics too. So it's an easy way to trim your Amazon bills if you need the items on offer.
