From brilliant budget mattresses to a $699 fridge worth its weight in gold: Experts reveal the five cheap household products that outperform expensive brands
- New consumer research compared items like fridges, vacuums and mattresses
- One Miele oven costing $7,399 rated lower than Fisher & Paykel’s $1,049 version
- Testers also found a Dyson vacuum did not clean as well as a cheaper alternative
- A $499 Wonderest mattress also went down better than a $2,499 industry leader
Five cheap household products outperform more expensive alternatives, new testing has found.
A study by Choice tested some of the world’s most well-reputed brands like Miele and Dyson against lesser-known makes with surprising results.
Expert testers reported better performance in washing machines, vacuums and ovens with prices as much as 85 per cent cheaper than industry leaders.
Five cheap household products outperform their more expensive alternatives, new testing has found (pictured a $1,199 LG top-loader, which rated better than a $2,495 version)
Washing machines
LG is one of the biggest names in household appliances, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appeal to the cheaper end of the market.
Their $1,199 LG WTG1032WF top-loader was given a spin efficiency score of 78 per cent and a dirt removal score of 75 per cent.
A $2,495 Speed Queen AWNA62 with the same function, meanwhile, came in with a water efficiency score of just 16 per cent.
Its dirt removal score was a more respectable 54 per cent, but even that came in lower than LG’s ranking of 75 per cent.
Mattresses
One of the largest gap in prices in the consumer advocacy group’s latest survey came in the bedroom category – with a $499 Wonderest Mattress costing $2,000 less than a SleepMaker Miracoil product.
One of the largest gap in prices in the consumer advocacy group’s latest survey came in the bedroom category – with a $499 Wonderest Mattress (pictured) costing $2000 less than a SleepMaker Miracoil product
But while the latter promises superior spinal support and energy-absorbing properties, it fell foul of the survey’s participants.
Testers gave the new product a comfort score of just 39 per cent, while male and female participants gave the Wonderest version scores of 95 and 98 per cent.
Vacuum cleaners
Dyson’s vacuum cleaners are renowned for being at the cutting edge of new technology, but one didn’t fare well in the latest survey.
Lower-end manufacturer Vax’s Ultra Pro Powerhead VX59 costs just $269 but registered a cleaning performance score of 76 per cent.
Dyson’s vacuum cleaners are renowned for being at the cutting edge of new technology, but one (pictured left Dyson’s $999 Cinetic Big Ball Animalpro) didn’t fare well in the latest survey (pictured right a cheaper Vax Ultra Pro Powerhead VX59 for $269)
By comparison, Dyson’s $999 Cinetic Big Ball Animalpro was given a meagre 50 per cent in the same category.
CHOICE’s vacuum expert Chris Barnes said while Dyson was better for barrel and upright vacuum cleaners their superiority didn’t apply across all categories.
Ovens
The Miele H 6290 B is labelled by the brand as being a leader in energy-efficient and easy-to-clean ovens.
But despite its lofty $7,399 price tag it did not perform well with testers, who gave the product a grilling score of 55 per cent and 61 per cent for ease of use.
Fisher & Paykel’s much cheaper $1,049 alternative will set you back a fraction of the price and received a performance score of 96 per cent and full marks for baking.
Fisher & Paykel’s $1049 oven (pictured) will set you back a fraction of the price of a $7,399 Miele H 6290 B. The cheaper oven received a performance score of 96 per cent and full marks for baking
A $2699 Miele KFN 12823 offers attractive qualities like easy cleaning – but testers deemed it inferior to a version by Chinese make Changhong (pictured)
Fridges
As with its oven, a $2,699 Miele KFN 12823 offers attractive qualities like easy cleaning – but testers deemed it inferior to a $699 version by Chinese make Changhong.
The latter’s product description promises crisper, fresher food and it did not disappoint in the new ratings.
For its ability to keep food fresh for longer it was given a score of 75 per cent, while Miele’s pricier fridge came in with 52 per cent.
Testers also didn’t like the Miele alternative’s default setting – which they said was too warm for food that was fresh – giving it a temperature stability score of 40 per cent.