We’ve seen some big discounts on tech and electricals, plus kitchen and home appliances, in the May 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 May 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 – £699
- 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 £699.
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 expert review of the Apple iPhone 12 64GB or buy it now from Amazon, Appliances Direct or Laptops Direct.
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 OLED55BX6LB – £949
- We like: Impressive operating system
- We don’t like: Missing several catch-up apps
OLEDs don’t get much cheaper than this. It doesn’t have the same processor as pricier TVs from LG, though.
This LG OLED comes with a very easy to use Magic Remote, which we’re big fans of. Plus the electronic programme guide (EPG) is quick and clear.
We spotted this LG TV on offer last month, too, and a further £50 price drop means you can now get it for £949. This is a saving of £150 on the original price.
Read our independent LG OLED55BX6LB review or buy it now from ao.com.
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
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Platinum – £707
- We like: Good speakers, attractive design
- We didn’t like: Large, expensive
This Microsoft Surface Pro tablet has a 12.3-inch screen and weighs 7774g – think high-spec laptop, rather than compact tablet.
Our tests revealed excellent speakers. Good bass and stereo for listening to music, plus clear speech for watching your favourite TV series.
The current cheapest deal we’ve seen for this lowest specification Surface Pro 7 Platinum is for £707.
Read our expert review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 or buy it now from Amazon.
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 headphone deal
Apple AirPods Pro – £190
- 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 £190 deal is a good one.
Find out whether they’re the best headphones for you in our Apple AirPods Pro review or buy now from Amazon.
Discover top-rated headphones with our headphones reviews. Looking for more affordable deals, including the standard AirPods? See our best wireless headphones deals for 2021.
Best laptop deal
Apple MacBook Air 2020 (M1) – £937
- We like: Thin and light
- We didn’t like: Not many ports, expensive upgrades
This is Apple’s most portable laptop – it’s super thin (only 13mm at its thickest point) and weighs in at 1.281kg.
Although this is a decent deal, it’s still pricey, compared to rival laptops. So make sure it suits your needs.
See our expert MacBook Air 2020 review or buy the gold version for £937 at Currys PC World or John Lewis. Not your colour? You can get it in space grey for just £1 more at 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.)
Our laptop reviews uncover the best laptops for every budget. Alternatively, see our pick of the best laptop deals for 2021 for bargains on budget laptops, Ultrabooks and MacBooks.
Best washing machine deal
Bosch WAU28S80GB – £499
- We like: Easy to use, good capacity for a household of four
- We didn’t like: Our tests have revealed more energy efficient machines
This Bosch washing machine was originally £629, but prices have been falling over recent months. There’s been a further drop since we last reported on this washing machine and this deal is now the cheapest we’ve seen it.
It comes with an automatic dispensing system, so you can add in a whole bottle of detergent and softener and it only uses what it needs.
Read our expert Bosch WAU28S80GB washing machine review or buy it now for £499 at AO.com or Boots Kitchen Appliances.
We’ll help you pick the best machine for our budget – see our washing machine reviews. For more offers, see the best washing machine deals for 2021.
Best fridge freezer deal
LG GBB72PZEFN – £679
- We like: Versatile use of space, flame-retardant backing
- We didn’t like: Some ease of use niggles
Normally selling for around £730, this fridge freezer was already being discounted in April and has undergone a further price drop this month and can now be had for £679.
You can pick up cheaper models, but this one is packed with features. As well as being frost-free, so you’ll never have to defrost it, there’s a child lock and super cool and fast-freeze settings.
Read our expert LG GBB72PZEFN review to see if it made the grade as a Best Buy or buy it now from John Lewis.
Want to spend less? Use our fridge freezer reviews to find a great value model. For more offers, see the best fridge freezer deals for 2021.
May sales shopping tips
Check the Which? website
As well as finding you the best deals this May, 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.
