5 pricey products that could save you money long-term

Thinking of cutting costs on your next purchase? Whether it's a new kitchen appliance or the latest tech, a budget option may seem like the sensible choice – but cheaper isn't always better.

In some cases, splashing the cash on a premium product could help you save money further down the line.

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Thanks to our rigorous lab tests, our experts can reveal expensive products that could help reduce spending in the long run, from printers with low ink costs to secure mobiles and EVs.

Keep scrolling to discover Which?-tested products that are worth the investment, plus links to our most popular reviews from the past year. To see if they truly deliver, you'll need to log in or join Which? to read our full, independent reviews.

Remember, we don't accept freebies from manufacturers or retailers – we buy everything we test, where possible, from the shops just like you would, so you can be sure our reviews are trustworthy.

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1. Heat pump tumble dryers

While heat pump tumble dryers can be at least a couple of hundred pounds more expensive than vented or condenser models, they are by far the most energy-efficient of all the tumble dryers we test. So, despite the initial high price, buying one could save you money on your bills over time.

The vented dryers we've tested will add around £127 to your yearly bills - more than twice as much as the £46 for the heat pump dryers we've tested.

When determining which models deserve Which? Best Buy status, we assess them on several factors. In addition to ease of use, drying performance and noise levels, we also measure the energy consumption of each tumble dryer, to help you find the most cost-effective options to run.

The star rating we award for energy use looks at the amount used by two drying programs: cottons cupboard dry (70% load) and synthetics/easy-care cupboard dry (program capacity).

Here are some of the most popular heat pump tumble dryers on the Which? website:

• AEG TR818P4B – this tumble dryer is sensor controlled and has 10 drying programs, including one for bed linen.
• AEG TR959M6BC – this machine allows you to monitor the progress of your load using your smartphone.
• LG FDV309WN – has a self-cleaning condenser that aims to make the appliance a breeze to maintain.

Our expert says:

'Heat pump tumble dryers work by heating air efficiently and reusing this warm air as it leaves the drum, meaning they can operate at cooler temperatures than other types of tumble dryer.

'Although this does mean a trade-off of longer drying times, the energy-saving results are more than worth the wait – especially during the chillier months when you might find yourself using it more often than not. They're generally much better at drying clothes evenly, too, which isn't to be sniffed at.'

Rebecca Jakeman, Which? heat pump tumble dryers expert

To see which models can be real energy savers, explore our guide to the best heat pump tumble dryers.

2. Coffee machines

Paying a premium price for a so-called 'high-end' coffee machine doesn't always score you a flawless cup of your morning brew. To help you shop savvy, our coffee machine reviews highlight several budget-friendly Best Buys and Great Value options that deliver exceptional quality.

But one thing to remember when buying a coffee machine is the ongoing cost of crafting your daily fix. Even though the upfront cost of capsule machines is often lower than other types, the ongoing cost of pods is higher per cup than using ground coffee or beans. This can make them a more expensive option in the long run.

Some of our Best Buy bean-to-cup and espresso machines cost hundreds of pounds but can make delicious coffee for a fraction of the price of pods. And given the soaring price of branded instant coffee, it’s worth considering these ongoing savings if you love a proper brew. 

Here are some of the most popular coffee machines on the Which? website:

• DeLonghi Magnifica Plus ECAM320.60.B – a bean-to-cup coffee machine that grinds the beans fresh before brewing. There are seven grind settings to choose from.
• Melitta Purista F230-102 – has three coffee-strength settings and a dial that lets you adjust the size of your drink from 25ml to 220ml.
• DeLonghi Magnifica Start ECAM220.60.B – an entry-level machine that comes with a 250g bean container and a case for pre-ground coffee.

Our reviews and buying advice will help you find the best coffee machines based on our independent testing.

3. Tank printers

Cartridge inkjet printers are the most common type on the market but their running costs can be eye-wateringly expensive. For some models, you’d spend more on replacement ink in just three months than you’d spend buying the printer itself.

Last year, our testing found a cartridge printer that costs around £130 to buy – but over 12 months (based on average use) you’d have needed to shell out an astonishing £756.48 for replacement ink. And with the average printer lasting around 13 years, those costs can really add up with regular use. 

Read more on what our experts would advise in I’m the Which? expert on printers: this is the printer and ink I’d buy. We also suggest three ways to avoid the great printer ink rip-off.

If you print regularly at home, buying a tank printer can save you money in the long run. While the initial outlay is often more expensive, the ink costs are far lower — a typical tank printer costs barely £2 in ink a year to run.

Consult our printer reviews before parting with your money. For every printer that reaches our test lab, we run a unique test over several weeks – it captures the cost of any ink used for automatic cleaning, so you’ll know which printers will be cheapest to print with at home.

Here are some of the most popular tank printers on the Which? website:

• Canon Maxify GX3050 – a colour all-in-one inkjet printer with integrated scanning and copying functions.
• Epson Ecotank ET-8500 – has built-in ink reservoirs that you fill with bottled ink. You can view the tanks through a window, so you can see roughly how much ink you have left.
• HP Smart Tank 7605 – comes with integrated wi-fi, a small monochrome touchscreen and an automatic document feeder for high-volume scanning and copying.

Our expert says:

'Our rigorous lab testing doesn’t just identify printers that deliver exceptional print quality – it also reveals the true cost of ownership and can save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.

'Three quarters of Which? members still use cartridge inkjet printers, but there are now more ways than ever to avoid expensive ink cartridges. The best way is to choose one of the best full-featured tank printers,  starting at around £350, which cost next to nothing to run. In fact, you might not need to buy any extra ink at all for the first three years of ownership, with a tank printer's vast ink reservoirs.'

Oliver Trebilcock, Which? printers expert

Explore our in-depth guide on the best home printers to see which models have soared through our tests.

4. A smartphone with security support

It might be tempting to keep using an older phone or buy a cheaper model, particularly if you’re not concerned about the latest features or high-end cameras. However, you should always check whether a cheaper phone will continue to receive security updates.

If your smartphone is no longer supported, you become a much easier target for criminals looking to steal your personal information.

Our research has found that some of the more expensive phones receive support for longer, meaning you can continue to use them for several years, confident that your data will be protected by regular security updates. 

In our test lab, we've uncovered a range of smartphones with varying security update durations, including the following:

• Apple iPhone 13 – offers six years of support from launch. We estimate the security update expiration date as September 2027.
• Google Pixel 7a – offers five years of support from launch. We estimate the security update expiration date as May 2028.
• Samsung Galaxy A25 – We estimate the security update expiration date as December 2028.
• Google Pixel 8 – offers seven years of support from launch. We estimate the security update expiration date as October 2030.

Our expert says:

‘Apple used to support its iPhones with security updates for the longest of all manufacturers, but some Android brands are now challenging its supremacy. Google and Samsung both announced seven years of support for their 2024 flagship phones from launch. We normally see six years from Apple.

'It's true that the most expensive phones usually get the longest support guaranteed, but Samsung offers at least five years of security updates on all its recent releases, including on phones under £300 - so it pays to do check our reviews.’

Amy Axworthy, Which? mobile phones expert

Check our smartphone reviews to see our see if your phone is still supported – or for how long you can expect support. Plus, read our guide on mobile phone security.

5. Electric cars

Electric cars (EVs) tend to be more expensive to buy than petrol and diesel cars. In fact, our latest car pricing data shows the average new EV costs just over £46,000 – nearly £10,000 more than petrol and diesel (including mild hybrid cars).

But if you make that initial investment, will it save you money in the long term? That depends. The decision to switch to an electric car is becoming less about overall driving range and more about whether you can charge it at home – a factor known as the ‘driveway divide’. If not, you'll rely on the still patchy – though growing – public charging network. This is not only significantly more expensive than charging at home, but it can also be inconveniently located and busy during peak times.

However, if you're fortunate enough to have somewhere to charge your vehicle, electric cars can be very cheap to run, especially if you have an off-peak tariff that allows you to charge your car when electricity demand is low (such as at night).

Our expert says:

'While it can cost as little as 7p/kWh to charge at home, public chargers can be more than 10 times as expensive – with 79p/kWh being a typical price for an ultra-rapid public charger.

'The efficiency of an EV can directly impact running costs, and we include this information in all our reviews. You can also sort all our car reviews based on running costs.

'Keep in mind that the used EV market is growing and - as we reported a few months ago - there are often significant discounts on nearly new EVs.'

Dino Buratti, Which? cars expert

For more details on EV charging costs and to decide whether an EV is right for your lifestyle, see our guide: How much does it cost to charge an electric car?