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With over a decade of experience at Which?, Tom covers everything from tech advice to money-saving tips, and highlights the best deals during major sales events.
If you're shopping for new tech, AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini can recommend a smartphone, laptop or TV in seconds. But a quick response doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the best value for money.
To find out how useful AI really is for bargain hunters, we asked ChatGPT to recommend affordable tech products across six popular categories. We then compared its suggestions with results from our independent lab tests.
Some of the recommendations looked promising, but others raised questions about what AI considers a good buy. Below, we reveal what ChatGPT suggested and find out whether our Which? experts would spend their own money on its picks.
We kept our questions simple, using prompts such as 'What is the best cheap smartphone?' and 'What is the best cheap TV?' We wanted to see what AI would recommend without giving it a specific budget or detailed requirements.
AI recommendations can draw on online reviews, product descriptions and information supplied by retailers and manufacturers, but these sources don't always tell you how well a product performs. At Which?, our recommendations are based on independent lab tests and expert analysis. And we don't accept free products or gifts from manufacturers.
ChatGPT's idea of a cheap smartphone is rather flexible, with its recommendations ranging from less than £200 to almost £500.
At the top of its list was the Motorola Moto G77, which costs around £200. The chatbot praised its screen quality, battery life and everyday features, describing it as an impressive all-rounder that won't have you digging too deep into your pockets.
For shoppers on a tighter budget, it suggested the Samsung Galaxy A17, highlighting its large AMOLED display, 5G connectivity and six years of software support from launch. Then there's the Google Pixel 9a – ChatGPT recommended it for its camera, smooth Android software and compact design, although it acknowledged that at almost £500, it's hardly a bargain buy.
'ChatGPT managed to pick out a few popular phones from an incredibly crowded market, although our rigorous tests suggest there are better options worth considering.
'There are also some important drawbacks worth knowing about before you part with your money. Our tests found that one of the bot's recommendations takes grainy photos and has a face-unlock feature that can be fooled. Another model on its list struggles with low-light photography.
'Personally, I'd spend my money elsewhere. We've lab-tested a phone with a fantastic screen, speedy performance and years of security support ahead of it. It's not as cheap as the Moto G77, but I think it's worth paying a little extra for.'
Jamie Darlow, Which? smartphones expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, discover what our tests uncovered and see which affordable smartphone we'd recommend instead.
ChatGPT's top recommendation for a cheap TV was the TCL P7K, a 43-inch 4K QLED model that it praised for its vibrant colours, brightness and wide selection of streaming apps. However, it also acknowledged 'some picture-processing shortcomings' and noted that the TV lacks built-in Freely and Freeview Play support.
The chatbot also suggested the Hisense 43E78QTUK, highlighting its Dolby Vision support and ability to stream live TV through Freely without an aerial. ChatGPT described it as 'worth considering if you want a straightforward smart TV for everyday viewing'.
Its third pick was the TCL C6KS, which ChatGPT recommended for its Mini LED technology, which it said could deliver improved contrast and brightness compared with more basic budget TVs.
As none of ChatGPT's initial three recommendations were exact matches for models we've tested, we asked it to suggest more affordable TVs. Its expanded list included the Hisense 32A4QTUK and TCL 55T6C-UK, both of which have been through our independent lab tests.
'It doesn't surprise me that ChatGPT gives very little detail about how these TVs actually perform. It's essentially lifting features from retailer and manufacturer websites, with no real indication of whether those features are well implemented or how good the TVs look and sound.
'These overviews tell you what features a TV has, but give you little indication of its quality. Some of the models ChatGPT recommended have advanced features you wouldn't typically expect at this price, but that doesn't necessarily make them good TVs.
'Our tests uncovered some disappointing results among ChatGPT's recommendations. Fortunately, we've also found better-performing TVs that offer far more for your money.'
Martin Pratt, Which? TVs expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, discover what our tests uncovered and see which affordable TV we'd recommend instead.
ChatGPT's top recommendation for a cheap laptop was the Asus Vivobook Go 15, which it described as 'a sensible choice for everyday computing'.
The AI chatbot highlighted its 15.6-inch Full HD screen, suggesting it would be suitable for browsing the web, checking emails, streaming and office work. In other words, ChatGPT reckoned it could handle the everyday essentials without costing a fortune.
Two other models made the shortlist: the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, which ChatGPT described as a good-value alternative, and the HP 15-fd0058na, which it recommended for its Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB Ram and 256GB storage. On paper, all three sound like sensible budget buys, but there's more to a good laptop than a promising specs sheet.
'ChatGPT's top pick might sound promising, but it didn't tell us exactly which version of the laptop to buy. That's a problem because laptops with the same name can have very different specifications.
'The Asus Vivobook Go 15 comes in different configurations, some of which have underpowered processors and very limited storage. Without more specific guidance, you could end up spending hundreds of pounds on a laptop that struggles with everyday tasks.
'Our independent tests have uncovered a better-performing alternative that lasted more than 13 hours on a single charge and impressed us with its processing power.'
Oliver Trebilcock, Which? laptops expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, discover what our independent tests uncovered and see which affordable laptop we'd recommend instead.
We asked ChatGPT to recommend the best cheap headphones and it suggested three models from Sony, Soundcore and JBL.
Its top pick was the Sony WH-CH520, a pair of wireless on-ear headphones costing around £30. ChatGPT praised their lightweight design and long claimed battery life, suggesting they'd be a good choice for everyday listening.
The bot also suggested the Soundcore Q20i headphones, calling them 'good value if you want to block out background noise without spending much'. Finally, it recommended the JBL Tune 720BT headphones for 'travelling or long working days'.
'ChatGPT made some sensible suggestions, but I'm not convinced its top recommendation offers the best value for money.
'While the bot highlighted some appealing features of the Sony headphones, there are important drawbacks that need to be taken into account. It also overlooked in-ear headphones entirely in its list of recommended models.
'Our independent testing has revealed affordable alternatives that deserve a closer look, including a pair I'd recommend over ChatGPT's top pick. They've earned both our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, despite costing less than £30.'
Humairaa Habib, Which? headphones expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, compare the test results and discover which affordable headphones we'd recommend instead.
ChatGPT's top recommendation for a cheap printer was the Brother HL-L2400DW, a black-and-white laser printer costing around £120. It's a fairly straightforward machine, built for paperwork rather than printing off your favourite holiday snaps. You won't find a scanner or copier here, either.
The AI chatbot praised its wireless connectivity, automatic double-sided printing and use of toner rather than liquid ink, so you won't have to worry about ink drying out if your printer spends weeks gathering dust between jobs.
It also suggested two colour inkjet printers: the £50 Canon Pixma TS3750i and the HP Envy Inspire 7220e. ChatGPT highlighted their ability to print, scan and copy, making them sound like handy all-rounders for everything from school homework to household paperwork.
'ChatGPT made some reasonable suggestions, but it overlooked something crucial when recommending cheap printers: how much they cost to run.
'Its top pick has some useful features, although our tests uncovered disappointing print quality when printing certain types of documents.
'One printer that ChatGPT recommended for less than £50 could actually cost you more than £100 a year in ink. Fortunately, we've found a better alternative that costs very little to print with, potentially saving you a significant amount of money over time.'
Oliver Trebilcock, Which? printers expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, discover the true running costs of ChatGPT's picks and see which printer we'd recommend instead.
A cheap tablet doesn't need to be powerful enough to replace your laptop, but it should at least make watching Netflix, browsing the web and catching up on emails an enjoyable experience.
ChatGPT's first suggestion was the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2, which costs around £280. The chatbot highlighted its 11-inch 2.5K display, four speakers and large battery, suggesting it would be a 'particularly good choice for entertainment'. It also warned that charging is slow and the cameras are fairly basic.
For those on a tighter budget, ChatGPT picked the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 (£129). It praised the tablet's compact 8.7-inch screen and promised software support, describing it as a good option for reading, browsing and travelling. The bot also mentioned the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+, costing around £200. ChatGPT reckoned its larger 11-inch screen and familiar Samsung software made it a sensible all-rounder for streaming, video calls and everyday tasks.
'ChatGPT has made a couple of reasonable suggestions, but I can't get behind all of its picks.
'The most important aspect of an entry-level tablet is the screen. If it's dull or fuzzy, you're not going to enjoy watching Netflix or shopping for Black Friday bargains. And while one of ChatGPT's recommendations has a solid display, another has a small, fuzzy screen and tinny speakers. It's a poor choice in my book.
'Fortunately, one brand not mentioned by ChatGPT has nailed it with an affordable tablet that does almost everything well. It has a sharp screen, enough power for everyday tasks and superb battery life. It's the one I'd spend my money on.'
Jamie Darlow, Which? tablets expert
You can log in or join Which? to read our expert's full verdict, see how ChatGPT's recommendations performed in our tests and which tablet we'd recommend instead.
'I use AI regularly, which might seem a little strange coming from someone who's previously written an article on how to remove it from your life. But I think it has its uses, particularly when you're researching products and don't know where to start.
'Our experiment shows that ChatGPT can quickly identify popular, affordable tech products, but its recommendations aren't always as helpful as they first appear. It suggested a laptop without specifying which version to buy, overlooked better-performing headphones available for a similar price and recommended a printer with surprisingly high running costs.
'And it's not just product recommendations where AI can fall short. In a separate Which? investigation, we asked ChatGPT to find the lowest prices for 25 popular products. It correctly identified the cheapest retailer and price for just eight of them, sometimes suggesting prices that were inaccurate or linked to the wrong product.'
'I'd consider using AI to help narrow down my options, but I wouldn't rely on it to make the final decision. Which? independent tests can help you look beyond the headline price, avoid disappointing products and find something that genuinely offers good value.'
Tom Morgan, senior consumer writer
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