Which? tests

At Which?, we test products in the lab to reflect how you use them in real life, not just how they perform under ideal conditions. To separate the gems from the duds, we review thousands of products every year.

Our ever-growing library of expert reviews covers everything from smartphones to mattresses, washing machines to pushchairs, coffee machines to car seats and much more.

Below, we explain how Which? experts uncover top products to suit your budget and how to avoid products that are underwhelming or outright dangerous.

How we test products

For more than 60 years, we've bashed, squashed, scratched and smashed our way through thousands of products. We have dozens of experts testing products in the lab for the way you use them in real life.

Learn more by watching our video below:

Here are some examples of the real-world tests we use to assess products:

• In our mattress durability tests, we roll heavy barrels across every mattress 30,000 times to simulate around 10 years of tossing and turning. 
• In our smartphone battery tests, we use a nifty robotic arm to mimic how people use their mobiles on a typical day, from making calls to watching videos and taking pictures.
• In our pushchair tests, we put models through their paces by rolling them along a 'rolling road' treadmill for 72,000 cycles, or 96,000 for pushchairs designed to carry older children.
• In our vacuum cleaner tests, we weigh out some dust and use a high-tech trolley to spread it evenly across a carpet. We then go over the carpet with a roller that embeds the dust, just as you would do at home by walking on it.

Which? helps you choose the right product

In a world awash with fake reviews and product misinformation, our tests find you the facts and our reviews tell the truth. This means you choose a product with confidence, and we don't want you wasting time and money on products that don't cut it.

We're 100% impartial

We buy almost every product we test, so our recommendations can’t be influenced by manufacturers or other third parties.

We also use the same consistent tests for every product category, ensuring fair comparisons. That’s why you can trust our product reviews. Every verdict is based on our independent test results, not on advertising or commercial relationships (see also: our statement of editorial independence).

We're proven test experts

We’ve been testing, reviewing and recommending products for decades, so you can be confident we know exactly what we’re doing.

In our lab, we use specialised equipment to replicate how products are used in real life.

When testing mattresses, we roll heavy barrels across each one 30,000 times to simulate around 10 years of tossing and turning. For irons, we strap them to a rig that can simulate 16 weeks of ironing in just 252 hours. And for washing-up liquid, our test rig moves sponges coated in the liquid back and forth over stainless-steel tiles with baked-on grease until they're scrubbed clean.

We make choosing easier

Our test results, recommendations, product filters and overall scores make it easy for you to see at a glance how a product performs, so you can readily separate the good products from the bad, and the bad from the downright dangerous.

For example, if you're shopping for a new laptop, our easy-to-use filters help you choose the ideal screen size and identify models that get at least four stars out of five for performance. Meanwhile, you can also use our washing machine filters to spot brands that scored well in our lab for overall cleaning, or select Eco Buy to find models with a proven lower environmental impact.

Parents browsing our pushchair reviews can easily spot our Don’t Buy recommendation on models we think are worth avoiding, so they can steer clear of products that may put their child at risk.

Our product recommendations

From our Best Buy products to our Recommended Provider endorsements for outstanding service, a Which? recommendation is a clear signal of quality and trust.

We also help consumers make more sustainable choices through our Eco Buy choices. Plus, when money is tight, our Great Value and reliability recommendations give extra confidence that you’re choosing wisely.

Before you buy, we always recommend reading the full review, so you can be sure the product or service is the right choice for you.

Products to avoid

Across our website, we use clear warnings and verdicts to help you spot products and brands that could put you at risk.

• Don't Buy products You should avoid any product that receives our Don’t Buy verdict, as our test results show it isn’t good enough to recommend. Even if a product performs well in some areas, it will automatically receive a Don’t Buy verdict if it fails our safety tests, because your safety comes first.
• Safety alert We act when we uncover unsafe products. Our experts explain exactly what the problem is and make warnings public, so you can avoid products that could put you at risk, such as a recalled pushchair or a fire alarm that fails to perform effectively.
• Brand alert Our brand alert warnings flag companies that fall short of expected standards, so you can make informed choices about which brands you trust with your money.
• Security notice Our testing highlights issues that could put your personal information or data at risk, helping you stay protected. For example, we flag mobile phones that are no longer supported by crucial security updates, as they may leave you vulnerable to hackers.

By calling out these issues, we help push manufacturers and retailers to raise standards across the market.

A Which? subscription unlocks access to all our product tests, reviews and recommendations online, plus a host of other perks. You can join Which? today.