Ninja makes some of the best coffee makers we've tested here at TechRadar, and just a couple of months ago, it added another espresso machine to its collection. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is the brand's first fully automatic espresso machine, meaning it takes care of the whole brewing process for you. Our reviewer awarded it a near-perfect four and a half stars out of five, but is it the right coffee maker for you?

• Shop all Prime Day deals in the US
• Shop all Prime Day deals in the UK

It's a tough choice, especially since one of the brand's other top coffee makers — the Ninja Luxe Café Pro — has received a big price cut for Amazon Prime Day. Here I'll weight up the differences between all three so you can make the best decision.

Personally, I'd opt for the Ninja Luxe Café Pro right now. Not only is it significantly cheaper for Prime Day, it also encourages you to experiment with brew settings to get your coffee tasting just the way you like it. Your priorities might differ though, so read on for the full low-down on these two premium coffee makers.

Price

• The Ninja Luxe Café Pro is the cheaper option
• It costs even less for Amazon Prime Day
• The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is still full price

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro has a list price of $749.99 / £699.99, but is currently discounted for Amazon Prime Day. In the US, you can pick it up for $599, while in the UK you can find it for £599. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro isn't included in any Prime Day deals. and is still retailing at its full list price of $949.99 / £899.99.

The Luxe Café Pro is therefore by far the cheaper of the two, costing around $300 / £300 less right now.

Features

• Both coffee makers are beginner-friendly
• Ninja AutoBarista Pro handles the whole brewing process
• Ninja Luxe Café Pro is more hands-on and encourages tinkering

Both these coffee makers are beginner-friendly, but the AutoBarista Pro takes care of the entire brewing process for you, while the Luxe Cafe Pro requires you to get a little bit hands-on, and makes it easier to tweak settings.

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro grinds your coffee into a portafilter basket, which you then tamp down using the lever on the side of the machine, and move under the brewing group (the part of the machine that dispenses hot, pressurized water) to begin pulling your shot of espresso. The machine will suggest appropriate brew settings, but if you're not satisfied with the taste, you can use the row of buttons on the front to change the temperature and strength, and use a dial inside the bean hopper to tweak the grind size.

With the AutoBarista Pro, the entire brewing process happens inside the machine, so you only have to tap the screen and wait for your drink to be dispensed. You can customize your drink if you like, but the AutoBarista doesn't encourage you to tinker as much as the Luxe Café Pro.

Both machines can brew espresso and drip coffee, as well as cold-brewed coffee. Both can also produce creamy foamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos, with different texture settings. Alternatively, you can raise the steam wand of either machine a few degrees and steam milk manually.

Neither coffee maker will dispense milk into your cup though. This is normal for a semi-automatic coffee maker, but not so common for a fully-automatic one. Whether you use the auto foaming function or use the steam wand manually, you'll need to pour it in yourself. Consider it an opportunity to practice your latte art!

Maintenance

Normally I have reservations about fully automatic coffee makers because brewing coffee inside a confined space can make an ideal breeding ground for mold. Heat and moisture, combined with a scattering of organic matter in the form of stray coffee grounds, mean things can get pretty nasty unless you dedicate time to properly cleaning it at the end of the day with allowing it to thoroughly dry out.

Ninja's designers have come up with a clever solution for the AutoBarista Pro — installing a fan in the coffee maker's case that cools and ventilates the interior, just like a PC case fan. All its removable parts are dishwasher-safe as well.

The Ninja Luxe Café is also easy to keep clean; just wash the portafilter and basket, clean the drip tray, purge and wipe down the steam wand, and flush the group set with hot water to keep it fresh.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

For two years, I was TechRadar's chief vacuum tester. That wasn't my actual job title (more's the pity) but that is mostly what I was doing. My main takeaway from those very housework-heavy times is that most people should ignore the flashy cordless stick vacuums and just buy a corded upright. And that's especially true for anyone with pets, lots of carpet, or a home with many people living in it.

I'll get into exactly why I've turned into such a corded upright evangelist below, but I'd like to flag up first that if you were going to convert, now would be a great time to do so. We're just nearing the end of the Amazon Prime Day sales and there are a ton of discounts on corded upright vacuums from Shark — if you're quick. (Want to see? Skip my waffle and jump straight to the deals.)

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Why buy a corded upright?

Why are corded upright vacuums the superior type of vacuum? Three big reasons:

#1. The suction is better

The main reason to choose a corded upright is because, as a general rule of thumb, the suction is almost always better than on a cordless model. If you have carpet, hairy pets, or a high-traffic household, it's just going to be much more effective at keeping it clean.

#2. They last longer

Speaking generally, corded uprights are typically more robust and longer-lasting than cordless options — possibly because often, on a cordless vacuum, the first thing to expire will be the battery. A decent lifespan on a cordless stick vac might be 2-5 years, whereas many upright models can run and run... my mum has a corded upright that used to belong to my grandmother, and has been in use for maybe two decades. It's still going strong.

#3. You can clean, uninterrupted, for longer

With a corded vacuum, you're never going to run out of juice mid-clean. Perhaps even more significant is that the dust cups are much bigger — the cup on a cordless stick vacuum generally be 0.8L at the most (many are smaller), whereas it's common to see 2L cups on uprights. If you're dealing with pet hair in particular, it's such a blessing not to have to traipse to the bin every 10 minutes.

Shark cordless upright deals

Okay then, let's get into the deals. We're nearing the end of Amazon Prime Day, but there are still some bargains to be had, if you're speedy. These Shark corded uprights all have decent discounts that are well worth checking out.

Which should I buy?

How do I tell the difference between these vacuums, I hear you ask? Well, some of them are slightly older models, but that might not be immediately obvious. Most are designed around the same 'lift away' system, where you can remove and hold the canister while you use the floorhead on the wand attached to the flexible nozzle.

A key differentiator to pay attention to is the attachments included. Most will come with your standard narrow nozzle and 'multi-tool' but some might also have a mini motorized head that's designed for use on furniture, and is especially useful at getting hair off upholstery.

The fanciest models will also have some advanced 'detection' features — for instance, they might be able to sense carpet or room edges and increase suction in response. The PowerDetect Upright has a nifty trick where it will suck up (rather than showploughing) debris when it's being pulled backwards. That feature makes a surprisingly big difference to how fast you can clean.

Cordless alternatives

Not convinced? There are some situations where a cordless vacuum is still a better choice. For instance, if you have mostly hard flooring (so don't need a ton of suction power for effective cleaning), or your home has lots of stairs (which would require some awkward traversing with a bulky, heavy upright), or you're trying to navigate many nooks and crannies (in which case the cord and chunky form factor is going to get annoying).

Here are the Prime Day deals I'd recommend on Shark cordless stick vacuums:

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Fans: from £20
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

I think it's safe to say that a large majority of the British public have been struggling to get through their daily lives in this extreme summer weather, but if you're a freak for the heat, well, props to you.

Since it's Amazon Prime Day, everyone has been racing to try and get their hands on the best fans before the online retailer is completely ransacked, but we've just spotted this fan and air conditioner hybrid (it's more of an air cooler) for less than £100, and it's quite a steal if you ask me.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day

One of the few remaining air coolers on Amazon is the Midea 5L 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner, an evaporative air cooler that's now at £89.99 from £93.49. While we haven't had the chance to test it out yet, there's no denying that this is an affordable price point for most people who are searching for the key to cooling their home. But in spite of its undoubtedly handy features, there's something you should know before you add it to your basket.

Today's best Midea 5L Air Cooler deal

Price aside, the Midea 3-in-1 fan does come with some functional perks, the main ones being its fan, humidifier, and cooling settings, giving you a variety of options depending on your need.

Its large 5-litre tank is a plentiful, and when it's filled to the top, you can make the most of its air-cooling properties for up to 12 hours each day before refilling, so that way, you're not constantly patrolling back and forth to fill it up. You can also choose from three speeds and two operation modes, normal and natural, to adjust the air flow to your comfort.

Sounds great for its price point right? And it is, but the only caveat is that it adds moisture to your air which, when it gets quite humid in the summer months, can make the air feel even hotter. Therefore, the more moisture added to the air in your home, the more moisture in the air the heat has to work with.

In short, evaporative air coolers like this one will solve your issues in dry heat, but as for humid heat (which it currently is in the UK), the results may not be the same. If this has swayed you in the opposite direction, here's an alternative dehumidifier we've selected below.

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

I did something out of character this year on Amazon Prime Day. On day one of the sales, I checked out my basket full of goodies; mostly household essentials that needed a top-up like my favorite shampoo, but also an impulse buy on a Breville Iced Coffee Maker so I can curb my spending on Starbucks iced coffee.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Usually, I wait a little longer, so the buyer's remorse hit fast, but it was all worth it in the end; I've used my new iced coffee maker twice now, saving me about £12 already on iced caramel lattes from Starbucks (give or take a little when you factor in home-ground coffee beans, milk and caramel syrup).

Considering it's at an almost record-low price of £21.99 (was £46.99), this single-serve gadget has almost paid for itself already, and it's going to be my top recommendation for those who have limited counter space but prefer caffeine of the cool variety. It comes with its own tumbler (of course, you can use any cup, but the giant one provided is great for slow sipping), a reusable coffee filter, and easy-to-follow instructions.

Today's best Breville Iced deals

More iced coffee maker deals

Really, the Breville Iced is basically a filter coffee machine that's optimised for iced coffees; the max water line and recommended coffee ground volume are set with a view to the brewed coffee being poured over ice in a tumbler below.

In theory, then, you can also use it as a cheap filter coffee machine; I've not tried it myself yet to see if the heat of the coffee or the distance between the tap and a standard mug or coffee pot would be prohibitive, but I imagine it'd do just fine. For £20, a small countertop footprint and a sizeable tumbler I can also use when I'm out and about, I'll take it.

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

While scouting for deals this Amazon Prime Day, I've spotted what may be my finest soon-to-be impulse purchase yet; a totally necessary Japanese BBQ grill.

I've already fallen victim to a £20 iced coffee-maker this year, but now I've seen this shichirin, I'm once again reaching for my credit card. Right now, the small size is 23% off, knocking the price down to £307 (was £399); a noteworthy £92 saving on what looks to be a well-made portable grill. That's perfect for me and my upcoming camping trip, but you can also score an even bigger 34% discount on the medium-sized model, now £327.27 (was £499).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Made by Kasai Grills in partnership with British Michelin Star chef Tommy Banks, this kind of indoor-outdoor grill can draw rich, deep flavours from meat, cooking them just inches away from the charcoal. It's built with tiles that reflect heat into the grill to keep temperatures steady, and Kasai claims it can withstand up to a whopping 1200°C. That's as hot as a pottery kiln.

Today's best Kasai grill deals

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Did you struggle to sleep in the heat last night? What you need is a super-quiet fan, and you're in the right place to find one in the Amazon Prime Day sales. We test dozens of fans here at TechRadar, and I've put together this collection based on brands and models we know are dependable and effective.

• Check out all Amazon's Prime Day fan deals

When choosing a quiet fan for your bedroom, take a minute to think about the space. Will you be keeping the fan on your bedside table? If so, a fan with a rechargeable battery might be the best option, letting you run it all night while leaving plug sockets free for phone chargers. If you want to blow a blanket of air over your bed, consider an adjustable-height fan that you can direct at your duvet.

Some of the best fans have been selling out extremely quickly in the Prime Day sale, for obvious reasons, but all these deals are still in stock at the time of writing so grab one before they blow away on their own.

Amazon Prime Day quiet fan deals

Be prepared

The current heatwave might have broken by the time your new fan arrives, but it's still a good idea to grab one during the Prime Day sales. As we've seen, the weather forecast can change within the space of a week, so it's never a bad idea to have one handy and ready to go next time the mercury rises.

Buying a fan now also means you won't be in such a rush. If you're in a hurry, it can be tempting to grab anything that has a good review, but not all fans are suitable for all rooms, so it pays to take some time now and make sure you're making the right choice.

The latest fans can move a large volume of air much more easily than older models, and are more energy efficient as well, which will keep you cooler and reduce your energy bills in the long term. That's not necessarily something you have time to think about if you're rushing to pick up a fan — any fan — in a sweat-soaked panic.

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Ninja is one of the biggest names in kitchen appliances, and for good reason. Its products are thoughtfully designed, packed with genuinely useful features, and usually very reasonably priced as well. Devices like the Ninja Creami ice cream maker, Crispi glass air fryer, and Slushi ice cream maker are often copied, but so far we've not seen anything that works as well as the original.

If you're planning to upgrade your kitchen this summer, I've put together a list of five of the best Ninja appliances we've tested over the last couple of years, so you can pick something that will really work for you. All of these devices have been put through an extensive battery of hands-on tests in our reviewers' own kitchens, so you can be confident that they'll deliver great results in yours as well.

You'll also find today's best deals on every appliance right here, so you don't need to spend time hunting around for a good deal if you spot something you like. Ninja appliances often get some great price cuts for Amazon Prime Day, so this is an excellent time to pick one up.

1. Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

I test over a dozen coffee makers a year, and this is one of my all-time favorites. The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (known as the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System in the US) is a one-stop shop for all your coffee-making needs. On the right you have an espresso machine with an adjustable-height drip tray, which uses Nespresso Original style capsules to brew drinks in the size of your choice. I tested it with pods from a local coffee roaster, and they tasted amazing.

On the left, you have a fully-featured drip coffee maker, complete with a very effective drip-stop mechanism, smart hotplate to keep your brew warm without scalding it, a timer, and even a fold-out drip tray so you can place a travel cup underneath instead of the carafe (perfect for taking to work).

There's even a milk-frothing arm on the back, which you can fold out to make lattes and cappuccinos, though you'll need to heat the milk in the microwave first because it's not a steam wand. That's a minor quibble considering how much this machine has to offer.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review

2. Ninja Crispi Pro

The original Ninja Crispi was great — a portable air fryer that cooks your food inside re-sealable glass containers — but the Crispi Pro is even better. This model is designed to use in your kitchen, with dishwasher-safe glass dishes that slide inside, six cooking modes, and the ability to prepare up to 10 servings at once.

You can adjust the height of the base unit to suit the dish you're using, and the handles of the dishes stay cool so there's no need to fuss around with potholders or trivets. Whether you want to quickly cook some fries or roast an entire chicken, the Crispi Pro can handle it. It produced consistently great results during our tests, handling Mexican corn, tofu, homemade bagels, brussels sprouts, and dried apple with ease.

For us, the only downside is the size of the base unit, which is on the larger side, but that's not unreasonable considering how many hungry people this fryer can feed.

Read our full Ninja Crispi Pro review

3. Ninja Slushi

4. Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

Want an authentic BBQ taste, without the mess and hassle? The Ninja Woodfire is an electric grill that uses chips of real wood to infuse your food with delicious smoky flavors as it cooks. Different woods produce different results, and the Woodfire comes with a pack of various types so you can experiment and find your favorite.

Our reviewer Helen McCue gave the Ninja Woodfire a full five stars, saying "This electric outdoor grill offers the convenience and control of cooking on gas, combined with the smoky flavors of charcoal or wood barbecues."

It produces excellent results with traditional BBQ foods, including burgers, veggie skewers, corn and chicken, but offers a few surprises too. Like Ninja's air fryers, it has a bake mode that you can use to make tasty flatbreads, a loaf, or even brownies. It's not big enough to cater for a big party, but it's a great option if you don't have the space or the inclination to use a gas or charcoal grill.

Read our full Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review

5. Ninja Swirl by Creami

No roundup of the best Ninja kitchen appliances would be complete without the Ninja Swirl by Creami. This clever machine produces delicious scoopable ice cream, just like the regular Creami, but as the name suggests it will also dispense creamy soft-serve right into the cone, tub, or bowl of your choice. There are 15 different settings to help you get exactly the right consistency, and you can have fun experimenting with different recipes (the r/ninjacreami subreddit is a great source of inspiration). Frozen yogurt and custard, sorbet, gelato, and even milkshakes are all on the menu.

As our reviewer Karen Freeman noted, you need to freeze your ingredients for 24 hours before you can begin processing them, so it's a good idea to keep some tubs prepared in the freezer so they're ready to go when you get an ice cream craving. When you get started, it only takes about 4-6 minutes to produce a tub of tasty dessert (to which you can add candy, cookies, or fruit if you like). Alternatively, you can process it again to turn it into soft serve. It's incredibly quick and easy.

Read our full Ninja Swirl by Creami review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Prime Day isn't just about Amazon anymore. The same great discounts can be found at other retailers, and crucially, you don't have to be an Amazon Prime member to unlock these savings.

I've taken a look at some of the best deals for vacuums and coffee machines at Amazon, and found a bunch of the same savings at Argos. In fact, two are actually better priced than Amazon's own discounts.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

You can get the Delonghi ECAM220.22.GB automatic coffee machine at Argos for £270 (was £320) and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim cordless vacuum for £429.99 (was £549.99). That's a larger 15% and 20% saving, respectively, compared to Amazon.

I've included both of these deals in the list below, alongside a few other great vacuum and coffee machine deals at Argos that match the same discounts at Amazon. Have you found better deals at Argos? Let me know in the comments below.

Today's best coffee machine deals at Argos

Today's best vacuum deals at Argos

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Before I tried my first IPL machine, I was suspicious. A handheld device that flashes at your skin and it somehow zaps away your body hair? It all sounded rather unlikely. Except then I got one, and it did just that, and it's been my summertime savior for the past five years.

I paraphrased before, so let me back up a bit. IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light: multiple wavelengths of light that look a little like a photo flash. (They're different to a laser, which uses one concentrated beam.) You remove the hair from the bit of skin you want to be fuzz-free, and then run your device over that patch. The light targets the follicle that sits under the surface of your skin, damaging or destroying it so it doesn't grow back.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The results, for me, are incredible. It's by far the most effective, long-lasting and side-effect-free method of hair removal I've tried (and I have tried them all). However, there are a few things to know before buying one — scroll down for the key things I tell anyone who asks me if I'd recommend an IPL.

I was particularly inspired to share my tips now, because there are several heavily discounted IPL machines (including my own Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 — five years old and still going strong) included in the Amazon Prime Day sales. So if you read my tips and decide to buy, now's a great time to do so.

Top deals — quick links

• US: Philips Lumea now $299.95 at Amazon (was $449.99)
• US: Braun Silk.Expert Pro 5 now $284.99 at Amazon (was $399.99)
• UK: Lumea 7000 now £219.98 at Amazon (was £349.99)
• UK: Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 now £299 at Amazon (was £610)

3 top tips

1. They won't work for all hair types in all places

Because of the zapping mechanism, IPL machines work best on dark hair on pale skin — the bigger the contrast, the better. That means they won't work for everyone — people with fair, fine body hair likely won't see much of a difference, and ditto those with darker skin tones.

Further to that, they might not work equally well everywhere on your body. For instance, my IPL doesn't really do much for my leg hair, whereas it's much more effective on my underarms.

2. They're pain-free and the results last

That light looks like it's going to hurt, right? Wrong. The IPL process is pretty much pain-free, save for it occasionally feeling a bit hot. I also don't have an issue with itchy or awkward regrowth in the way I do with shaving.

If you struggle with a bad reaction to other hair removal methods, note that you will need to remove all your hair in your target area before you go over it with the IPL machine. Shaving it is recommended, so you will need to deal with that nasty regrowth at least once.

However, I've found that after that first use, the amount of hair that comes back is significantly reduced, and then after the second or third cycle, basically nothing grows back. It's really incredible.

3. They won't get rid of hair permanently

The instructions with my machine state you should use your IPL weekly for a few weeks (I do four), and then monthly going forward after that. After around three weeks, there's no hair there, but if I don't continue with top-up sessions, after a few weeks the hair will start to return, and eventually it'll be right back to pre-IPL state. So you will need to keep up with your maintenance zapping; this isn't a permanent solution.

Got more questions? Ping me in the comments section, I am happy to help. Or if I've convinced you that an IPL is right for you, let's take a closer look at the best deals available now.

US: IPL deals

UK IPL deals

• Aldi has announced a new range of mini cooling fans
• There's a tripod fan, a multi-directional globe fan, and an evaporative cooler
• They'll be available in the middle aisle from July 2, starting at £6.99

Aldi, famed for its bargain home gadgets, has just announced a new set of budget-friendly cooling fans to help you stay cool without burning a hole in your wallet. The set of three fans will be available in the middle aisle of Aldi stores from July 2, so although they won't be able to stop you sweating during the current heatwave, you can make sure you're prepared the next time the temperature soars.

For me, the most interesting fan in the collection is the £6.99 Fan with Flexible Tripod. Not only is this the cheapest option, it's also the most flexible — literally. Its Joby GorillaPod-style legs bend and grip, so you can position it just right on your desk, wrap it around the handlebar of a pushchair, or attach it to a treadmill at the gym.

Another intriguing option is the Portable Air Cooler with LED (£14.99), which lowers the temperature in your room using water and ice evaporative technology. Water absorbs quite a lot of heat when it evaporates, which has a significant cooling effect, which makes this kind of device (also charmingly known as a 'swamp cooler') an effective way to keep your cool without raising your electricity bill.

Finally, we have the Globe Fan with Multi Direction (£39.99), which looks more like a typical desk fan, but has an unusual "360-degree auto-rotating" head that pans all the way around your room. It comes with a remote control, and has three modes: Natural Wind, Drying (for laundry), and Sleep.

If you can't wait until next week and are willing to splash some more cash for quicker relief, we've rounding up all the best Amazon Prime Day deals on heatwave essentials including fans, portable air conditioners, and ice cream makers.

Nespresso machines make brewing consistently tasty coffee easy, without any of the mess of using fresh coffee grounds — and they're going cheap for Amazon Prime Day. As TechRadar's resident coffee expert and trained barista, I've rounded up a collection of my five favorite Nespresso machines — all of which happen to be on sale for Prime Day in both the US and the UK.

• Prime Day coffee deals in the US
• Prime Day coffee deals in the UK

There's something here for every coffee-lover, whether you want a super-simple machine that makes consistently tasty coffee and will fit into the tiniest kitchen, or a premium coffee maker that can whip up a latte at the press of a button. All of these Nespresso machines have been tested and recommended by our team of reviewers, so you can be confident they'll all deliver great results.

1. Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

Can't decide between espresso and drip coffee in the morning? The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (also known as the Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System) does both. This all-in-one caffeine station makes delicious espresso using Nespresso Original-style capsules (I tested it with some I bought from a local coffee roaster), which you can brew in three different sizes, with a height-adjustable drip tray so you can use your favorite cups with no splashing. Want to turn your shot into a cappuccino or latte? Use the milk frother on the back of the machine.

On the left-hand side of the DualBrew System you have a feature-packed drip coffee maker, with features including a timer (so you can prepare everything before bed and wake to freshly-brewed coffee in the morning), a drip-stop valve, and a smart hotplate that keeps your coffee hot without scalding it. It's one of the best drip coffee makers I've tested — and it even makes cold-brew.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review

2. Nespresso Lattissima One

Most Nespresso machines just make espresso, but the Lattissima One (made by De'Longhi) also includes an automatic milk frother for lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos at the tap of a button. It's ideal if you're the only coffee-lover in your household and want a personal machine for preparing single servings.

Like the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System above, it takes Nespresso Original capsules, which means you have a huge choice of drinks from big brands and indie roasters alike. After testing your tap water with the litmus strip provided and setting the hardness on the machine, just drop in a pod and use the three buttons to choose your preferred size and type of drink.

Our reviewer Emily Peck was surprised by how quietly the Lattissima One went about its work, and found the resulting coffee delicious. She had to consult the manual to check what each button does (they perform multiple functions) but once she had that down, she was making great coffees with ease.

Read our full Nespresso Lattissima One review

3. Wacaco Nanopresso

The Nanopresso is an ingenious little coffee maker that relies on elbow grease rather than an electric pump to extract your espresso. The standard version works with ground coffee only, but it's even more convenient if you opt for the version with an adapter for Nespresso Original capsules. After all, who wants to carry loose coffee grounds around when they're exploring the great outdoors?

Our tester noted that it feels durable and rugged (ideal for throwing in a backpack), and although you'll need to familiarize yourself with the various unusual-looking components before taking it out for the first time, you'll soon be able to assemble it and start brewing in moments.

"All you need is access to hot water and some kind of stable surface to set everything up," said our tester, who was seriously impressed by the resulting espresso. "The Nanopresso actually had us asking why coffee had become so complicated, when all you really need for a wake-up call is a small and mighty piece of kit like this," she concluded. Why indeed?

Read our full Wacaco Nanopresso review

4. Nespresso Vertuo Pop

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is made by Breville (Sage in the UK), so you can be confident that it's well-made and durable, despite its budget price tag. This mini Nespresso machine is always an affordable option, and it's even cheaper in this week's Amazon Prime Day sale. It takes dome-shaped Nespresso Vertuo capsules, which include a wide variety of regular and flavored coffees, including special editions like Coconut and Vanilla (designed to be made over ice) and Pistachio Vanilla.

Our tester Jennifer Oksien called it "a fabulous entry-level coffee maker", and owning one myself, I'm inclined to agree. It heats up in about a minute (just power it on and wait until the light on top stops blinking), after which you can simply slide in the pod, press down the lid, and hit the brew button. There are no options to choose between different drink sizes because Vertuo pods do that for you — the machine detects which one you're using and uses the appropriate amount of water without you doing a thing.

Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Pop review

5. Nespresso Vertuo Next

The Nespresso Vertuo Next is a step up from the Pop, and is noticeably taller, with a larger water tank, more space for your cup, and a bigger bin for used capsules. It's a piece of cake to use as well, and our tester Sophie Bird deemed it the simplest coffee maker she'd ever used — and considering how many coffee machines we test here at TechRadar, that's saying something. She timed the whole brewing process from start to sip, and found it took just 100 seconds, making this an excellent option if you're pressed for time in the morning.

She found the Vertuo Next virtually mess-free as well, noting that there was no splashing when the machine was dispensing coffee — largely thanks to the height-adjustable drip tray. The Vertuo Next is taller than the Pop above, so you can comfortably use larger cups (such as your favorite takeaway cup), and has a bigger water tank for larger brews.

Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Next review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Amazon Prime Day is one of the best events for deals on home cooking appliances, including air fryers, which I turn to every time I lack the time or patience to use the oven.

If you love your air fryer just as much as I love mine, but think you could be getting more out of it, some of our highest-rated air fryers from our favorite brands are some of the star appliances in Amazon's monster sale — with the king of dual basket air fryers, Ninja, being one of them.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

One of our five-star appliances, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone air fryer, has dropped to £164.99 from £239.99 in the UK — an advanced air fryer for less than £170 is a rather nice sight to see. On the other hand, the equally good Ninja Crispi portable air fryer is now $152.99 down from $179.99 in the US, so there's something for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic.

If Ninja isn't the brand for you, fear not, there's a plethora of other trusted brands with discounted appliances — most notably the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer which you can grab for just $69.99 (was $149.99). I've been using this model for the past two years, and there's a reason why I've stuck with it.

Today's best dual basket air fryer deals in the US

Today's best dual basket air fryer deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

We're in the midst of (a very hot) summer, and I'm sure many of you out there are raring to go on your travels this season. But if you're about to jet off on your vacation, then it's best to be as prepared as possible. And you know what you need to make your travels as seamless and enjoyable as possible? Some top-tier tech.

I'm a Senior Reviews Writer here at TechRadar, and have tested hundreds of gadgets over the years, from premium noise-cancelling headphones through to power banks and misting fans. So, I've got the lowdown on all the travel tech essentials you need to make this summer one to remember — for all the right reasons, of course.

I've included seven must-haves, with a small speaker, travel chargers, and even a compact clothes steamer on the list. Everything here has either been tested by me, or someone on the TechRadar team, so I'm confident that each item will serve you well on your adventures this summer and beyond. So, without further ado, let's dive right into my top picks!

1. Noise cancelling headphones: Sony WH-1000XM6

Ah, Sony WH-1000XM6, my beloved. These are, in my view — and the view of many at TechRadar — the best headphones you can buy right now.

The XM6 have it all. Class-leading active noise cancellation works great, even on flights with jet rumbles and screaming children. They sound incredible, with brilliant balance across the frequency range, as well as plenty of low-end punch and excitement to make energetic tunes sound their best. And they're foldable too, making them incredibly compact when you're on the move.

These come with a handy magnetic carry case, 30 hours of battery life, and excellent touch controls. Sony's Sound Connect app also makes it easy to tailor sound to your liking and make any subtle changes you need. They're simply the best, but I'll let you find that out for yourself.

2. Small speaker: JBL Go 5

The JBL Go 5 launched recently, and when I reviewed it, the speaker genuinely took my breath away.

It's exactly how to do an upgrade right, offering better sound, a more flashy design, and even better durability than its already impressive predecessor, the JBL Go 4. I love its edge lighting, its well-balanced sound with clean bass and rich mids, and also its broad feature set, which includes EQ options and multi-speaker pairing.

Despite improving on what its predecessor had to offer, the Go 5 is available at a very similar price, typically coming in at around the $55 / £40 mark, and if you need excellent sound, solid battery life, and high level (IP68) waterproofing on a budget, then it's the best small Bluetooth speaker to buy right now.

3. Power bank: Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W

I genuinely bring this Anker power bank with me everywhere. It's the definitive portable battery for travel for a few key reasons.

The first is its size. This model is absolutely tiny and can easily slip into a pocket or small bag, no problem. Second, it's incredibly practical. There's an integrated USB-C cable, making charging on the go totally seamless. And finally, it's a fantastic performer. That 45W max wattage means fast-charging is easily accessible on even some of the best phones.

A 10,000mAh capacity should also mean it can charge a pair of wireless headphones as well as your handset, so if you want an ultra-practical, lightweight power bank to bring on the go, the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W is my number one recommendation.

4. Travel charger: Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable

If you need a travel charger for your phone, tablets, and wireless earbuds, then look no further than the Anker Nano Charger 45W, which comes with a USB-C cable in the box — a nice touch!

I've used this one a lot myself, and it's great for travel. Why? Well, it's incredibly compact and packs in quite a bit of power, meaning you can make use of fast charging without lugging a massive brick around. If you're using a travel adapter, the model's low weight also means it won't awkwardly get weighed down or stick out, which is a huge plus.

This charger is well-built, foldable — helping it to slide into your pocket — and highly affordable. It really has it all, so if you're still using a slow charger, then take things up a notch with this awesome Anker alternative.

5. Portable fan: Shark ChillPill

In the UK, it's absolutely scorching right now. It feels like I'm fighting for my life here with the combination of high humidity and near record-breaking temperature. And when you're on your summer travels, I'd wager that it will be similarly blazing in a number of countries. What you need, then, is a portable fan.

We're big... fans... of the Shark ChillPill here at TechRadar, and awarded it a 4.5 star review recently. It has good battery life, is filled with a range of cooling options, and even has a mister for when you need a healthy blast of cold.

The build and design quality is strong here too, and the straightforward controls make it a joy to use. Yes, it's a little expensive, but we've seen it pop up on sale from time to time, so if you want to stay chilled on the move, then I'd strongly suggest picking this lil' gadget up.

6. Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige

OK, so not everyone will need this, but if, like me, your facial hair seems to grow back in the blink of an eye, the Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige will be a great addition to your travel tech arsenal.

With multiple speed settings to suit your desired sensitivity, wet and dry shaving versatility, interchangeable heads (including a beard trimmer), and spectacular handling, the S9000 Prestige is a true all-rounder.

This model also has solid battery life and I rarely need to juice it up. But it comes with a wireless charging pad for when you're running low on power. There's also a cleaning device thrown in the box, and a carry case for whenever you're on the move.

I've found that the S9000 Prestige is kind on my skin, which is pretty prone to razor burn, and its flexible foil shaver is great at getting into those hard to reach areas around the nose, for instance. It launched at a fairly high price, but you can regularly swipe it up on sale now, so why not give it a go?

7. Clothes steamer: various options

OK, in all honesty, I've not actually got a travel clothes steamer, but when some colleagues of mine heard that I was writing this piece, they were clear that it's a must have.

After all, how many times have you been on holiday or out on a business trip and realized that our garments look a little creased? For me, it's a few times too many. With a compact clothes steamer, you can wave goodbye to pesky creases and wrinkles in a flash.

So, I have a few recommendations from the team that I'm here to share with you. For our US readers, Managing Editor of News & Deals, Jacob Krol, suggests the Conair Handheld Garment Steamer. This affordable model boasts "turbo steam power," comes with a 3-in-1 attachment, and has a water tank that's good for 20 minutes of steaming. Not bad, eh?

Over the pond, our Managing Editor of Social & Engagement, Josephine Watson, had a couple of recommendations. The first, the Tefal Pure Pop Slim Handheld, is cheap, comes in a range of funky colors, and heats up in just 15 seconds for super speedy action. Josephine told me that her bridesmaid friend bought this model in order to save a wedding dress disaster — and luckily, it worked. Talk about coming in clutch.

Josephine also recommended the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie 2in1 Handheld, even claiming she would trade her firstborn for it. Pretty high praise. This model has a 150ml water tank, can heat up nice and swiftly, and claims to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria within 60 seconds.

This spring, as many are wont to do, I decided to use the power of shakes to get myself a bunch of nutrients that I'm assured will change my life. I settled on a concoction of oat milk, protein powder, cacao, chia seeds, and banana, and got myself a Ninja BlendBoss.

• Ninja BlendBoss US deal: was $129 now $109 at Amazon US
• Ninja BlendBoss UK deal: was £129 now £93 at Amazon UK

I wanted something without too big a footprint on the surface. I liked the 'tumbler blender' design, meaning you can take your drink away with you instantly after blending without decanting into something else. Plus, our Ninja BlendBoss review was glowing, so it seemed like an ideal fit.

And for a while now, it's done a perfect job for my morning routine. I get a nice smooth drink, with the chia seeds smashed into smaller bits so they don't get stuck in my teeth and make me look a fool all day, and everything is fully mixed just using the 'Blend IQ' preset mode.

More recently, though, I've been living through a heatwave, and I've finally had reason to explore its ability to crush ice… and I'm so glad I happened to already have the BlendBoss at home, because the ability to summon a super-cold slushie-style drink in under two minutes feels like having a superpower right now.

It's not quite the smoothness of a true slushie, of course — otherwise, what would anyone need the Ninja Slushi for? — but it can really pulp that ice to provide something with the 'blended cocktail' consistency.

Yes, obviously, I could (and regularly do) put regular ice in my drink, but that just provides a gentle cold spot near where the ice is. The BlendBoss gives me a way of delivering a tasty blizzard right to my insides. I've never had such easy access to ice cream headaches, and I'm over the moon about it.

It's also convenient that you can easily buy a second tumbler to use with it, so that if I'm enjoying my quick slushie straight from the container, my partner doesn't have to wait — she can have an ice schedule entirely of her own making.

Now that I've tested how well it works for ice crushing, I'll probably end up using it for frozen margaritas during a lot more of the year. Maybe I'll learn what's in a daiquiri. For now, I'm avoiding alcohol during the heatwave — I'm just happy with it being my ultimate cold drink buddy.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

We all know that kitchen appliances can cost a pretty penny, which is why using big deals events like Amazon Prime Day to save on spending can cause such frenzy among eager shoppers.

Whether you're looking for the best coffee makers, air fryers, or blenders, there's plenty to choose from, and I've hand-picked the best options to help you whittle down the pages upon pages of Amazon's discounted devices.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Here in the UK, in case you haven't noticed, we're in the throes of a massive heatwave, so some of the best deals I've seen are on devices that can help you make cooling treats like ice cream and iced coffee. I've actually already bought Breville's Iced Coffee Maker, which is over half price at £21.99 (was £46.99).

My trusty Ninja Creami is in absolute overdrive this week as I make gallons upon gallons of delicious, custom-recipe ice cream, and it's one of my top picks to help combat the UK's extreme weather warnings. Right now, it's on sale for £199 (was £249) at Amazon. It's not quite a record low for Ninja's once-viral sweet treat machine (that was £149), but I won't sniff at a £50 savings.

Amazon Prime Day coffee machine deals

Amazon Prime Day Air Fryer deals

Amazon Prime Day blender deals

Amazon Prime Day ice cream maker deals

Amazon Prime Day beverage maker deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Here in the UK, it's been absolutely sweltering for the past couple of days. It's even got to the point where schools and other institutions are shutting down, with red weather warnings popping up around the country. I have to say, even working from home in this heat can be quite the challenge — but there's something you can do to make your life a lot easier: snap up a shiny new misting fan.

That's right, I recently got my hands on the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S, and it's been an absolute lifesaver. This affordable device has kept me cool, even at the hottest times of day. It's mess-free, has a number of different speed settings, can oscillate, and there's even a turbo mode if you need to get a real blast of cold.

I'll include more details about the fan below, as well as a few alternatives to keep you nice and cool, whether you're in the UK or beyond.

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — US best price

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — UK best price

In my recently published Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review, I raved about the model's excellent misting effect, which never creates excess water build-up, as well as its wide variety of control options — including app and voice assistant compatibility — and its generally quiet performance in use.

Does it have massive coverage or the most striking airflow you'll experience? No — it's a desktop fan first and foremost. But given its relatively compact size, it performs very well indeed, and its generous 1.3L water tank means you won't have to refill it too often. As a result, it gets my full recommendation.

Still, a lot of misting fans are selling out pretty quickly in the UK, and more generally, you may fancy checking out a few other options. As a result, I've found a few alternatives that you can check out. Just scroll down to see a few more options for fending off excessive heat this summer.

More fans to check out — US

More fans to check out — UK

The UK heatwave is hitting its peak, and let's be honest; we're all scrambling for ways to keep cool in these record-breaking temperatures. If you've not already snagged a fan — or worse, your old faithful has broken in the thick of the heat — you might want to act fast, because not only are stocks low, but some are on sale for Amazon Prime Day.

We owe the current heat conditions to a heat dome — a trapped area of high pressure — that formed over the Sahara Desert and settled over Europe. In Spain and France, they've had it particularly bad, but even here in the UK, the Met Office has issued a rare red warning for heat, culminating in the hottest-ever June day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Just this morning, I've seen pedestal fans previously sold out come back in stock — including some models on offer, so I've updated all of the prices below to reflect the latest best deals I can find.

I must note, if you're in an area where internal temperatures are climbing higher than 35C, expert advice is that even the best fans aren't really going to help. That's not the only way to keep cool, though, so I've found the best Prime Day fans, air conditioning units, and iced treat-making kitchen appliances to keep the heat at bay.

I write this as I enjoy the fruits of my first Prime Day impulse purchase: Breville's Iced Coffee Maker. Cheap and cheerful at £21.99 (was £46.99), this single-serve gadget is perfect for my itsy-bitsy kitchen where countertop space is at a premium. It costs less than my weekly spend at Starbucks, too, so the long-term savings stand to be pretty significant!

Check out all the best deals I've found below.

Amazon Prime Day fan deals

Prime Day officially began on Tuesday, 23 June, and deals on some of our favorite fans are now pretty scarce. We saw some discounts as the clock struck twelve, midnight, on day one, but unfortunately, many brands had wised up and returned products to RRP by morning.

Beyond that, we've also included our top picks that aren't currently on sale, because you may decide that it's worth paying full price to get some relief from the heat — and right now, we'd agree.

Also consider...

These fans aren't on offer, but with stock being so low and deals so scarce, they're well worth checking out. Many of the models listed below rank among our top recommendations, so give them a whirl!

Prime Day deals — air conditioners

If a fan just isn't cutting it, an air conditioning unit is a reliable way to actually lower temperatures in your home. Unfortunately, AC units are all but sold out now. Below, you'll find the ones still in stock (for now), plus a couple of permanent options, if you fancy getting serious and splashing a bit more cash. We'll update this section with more options if we find any.

A quick PSA on how to choose: for portable units, the spec to focus on is BTU — this stands for British thermal units, and the higher the BTU, the larger the room the unit can cool. Ideally, we'd recommend looking at models with 10,000BTU or above, unless you're only cooling a very tiny room.

Prime Day deals — Kitchen appliances

Fans aren't the only way to cool down, of course — you can also whip up something frosty in the kitchen. Whether that's a cool iced coffee or an ice cream is a matter of taste, but be sure to keep hydrated alongside your sweet treats!

Below, you'll find a selection of TechRadar-recommended appliances to make cooling drinks or snacks, and some of them are on sale for Amazon Prime Day.

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Price & release date

• List price: $1,299.99 / £999.99
• Released March 2026

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal comes in at $1,299.99 / £999.99 — while it’s far from cheap, it’s pretty good value for what it offers. That being said, there are other robot vacuum cleaners with equally impressive features and better software at a similar price point.

Plus, you’ll need to maintain some parts of the vacuum; in particular, refills for the multi-floor cleaner ($13.99 / £14.99) and the odor-neutralizing puck ($9.99 – $14.99 / £7.99 – £15.99), as well as the usual replacement for things like side brushes and mop pads. Over time, these can add up, but you’ll scarcely find a robovac that doesn’t come with added costs at similar prices these days.

• Value: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Design

Out of the box, you’ll find the vacuum, base, power chord, an anti-odor puck, one refill bottle of Shark’s multi-floor cleaner, two side brushes, plus the usual array of instructions and warranty documents.

The base stands at 17 x 18 x 14 inches / 43.2 x 45.7 x 35.6 cm, and comes in either black or white — mine was the latter, and I think it looks a lot more premium than the tackier black colorway. Enclosed in the lid of the base are the 2.74-litre / 96.65oz clean and 1.18-litre / 41.62oz waste water tanks, which lift out easily thanks to the retractable handles, as well as the bagless dirt compartment — I really appreciate that Shark opted for this so there’s one less thing to routinely replace.

You can remove the container with the press of a button situated on the side of the dock, and it’s also HEPA-filtered. There’s also a set of two filters you’ll need to clean every 1-2 months, depending on how often you use your robot vacuum, and a slot for one of Shark’s anti-odor pucks should dusty smells be an issue for you.

The vacuum itself is a fairly standard, rounded 2-in-1 robot vacuum, but a little tall and hefty at 5.35 inches / 13.6cm tall. The top houses its raised puck for LiDAR sensing, which works in tandem with the front of the device, where the cameras and other sensors, including a camera as well as LED and UV lights, to navigate your home and spot messes ripe for cleaning.

If you’d rather not use the app, you can use the four touch-sensitive buttons to activate mop and vacuum modes, send the vacuum home and connect to the Wi-Fi. A soft bumper surrounds the edges of the vacuum to prevent damage from any collisions, which are remarkably rare thanks to its top-tier obstacle avoidance, and you can remove its dust bin and mop plate from the rear of the device.

On the underside, you’ll find the wheels, brush bar, side brush, and a singular, flat mop pad. These aren’t my favorite type — a rondel will typically offer a deeper clean, better post-clean drying and less water waste. However, Shark has designed the robot vacuum to wiggle this mop pad to agitate dirt, which goes some of the ways to make up the difference.

Of note is that the vacuum seems to be a total dust magnet. I have mine placed beneath a desk, where I wouldn’t expect excessive levels of dust — however it’s constantly lined with a thick layer of the stuff.

• Design: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Performance

Setup for the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is pretty simple; using the app, you’ll connect the vacuum to your Wi-Fi, give it a name (I loved some of the suggestions like Clean Latifah), and after that, the robot vacuum will run its first mapping pass. Broadly, mine was accurate; my apartment has a slightly tricky layout for robot vacuums, including a half-tiled, half-carpeted kitchen-living room, and lots of doors to dodge.

After this first pass, the app will offer you a second mapping run, this time to detect flooring types. If you plan to regularly mop hard floors and have carpets or rugs to avoid, make sure to get this out of the way during setup; I couldn’t find any way to update this map after the fact.

Cleaning tests

I performed my standard pickup tests using oats, cornflour and brown rice to compare performance to other robot vacuums I’ve tested, and the results were a mixed bag. When setting the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal off for a standard, vacuum-only clean, I was immediately impressed as it zig-zagged across my floors, leaving them visibly refreshed — plus, it’s pretty quiet in action.

On hard floors, it excels thanks to a combination of its side brush, solid suction and the jet of air it blasts at hard-to-reach debris, ensuring floors are spick and span post-clean. On carpet, it’s slightly less impressive, especially in the edge cleaning department, but it still does a decent enough job. Its pickup of larger debris was very impressive on carpet, leaving little to nothing behind, but there was a small amount of powdery debris left behind on my medium-pile rugs — hair, however, is no problem, be it human or pet.

Next up, I tried a regular combination clean with vacuum and mopping, and that’s where my experience with the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal became a bit more mixed. The robot vacuum first fills its water tank at the base, proceeding to concurrently vacuum and mop your floors rather than splitting out the tasks. This helps to save time and battery; however, it does increase the risk of soggy carpets.

To avoid this, the robovac will lift its hind to keep the mop pad from drenching carpets — this reduces its effectiveness on carpets, though, as it crushes the side brush, and sometimes, while navigating, it will spin round and spit water across the floor, too. However, once it reaches hard floors, the results are pretty impressive; the mop pad agitates spills and stains with a back-and-forth scrubbing motion, and will reach into corners to make sure every spot is well-cleaned.

It does use a lot of water, though, and especially if you’re cleaning up larger spills, that means the PowerDetect UV Reveal can leave a streaky mess in its wake. I noticed this even more so when there was lots of debris to vacuum up during the clean; the PowerDetect UV Reveal left a clump of soggy oats behind like an owl pellet as well as white streaky marks across the floor, but I wouldn’t typically recommend regularly using your robot vacuum to collect large volume spills anyway. I have especially reflective kitchen tiles, so I noticed this a lot; on my less shiny bathroom tiles, it wasn’t as much of a problem.

Powering up to a higher suction or mopping setting does result in a more thorough cleaning job, especially on carpets, but it’s worth noting that this seems to make the excess water usage more noticeable.

Object detection and navigation

When the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal works, it really works, but I encountered a fair few bugs and limitations that do impact its overall effectiveness — for example, when doing a combination clean, it sometimes skips cleaning certain areas and rooms, or neglects to clean areas I’ve specifically asked it to.

Its LiDAR scanner makes accurate room maps, though they’ll be a bit odd-looking if you have lots of furniture at floor level. That’s unavoidable, to a degree, but I wish it had investigated those areas more closely to find the real edges of the walls; that way if furniture moves around your home, you wouldn’t need to remap.

Its object detection is incredible — perhaps too good, as the robot vacuum avoided my low-hanging (but not floor-length) curtains like the plague, giving wide berth to even the most inconsequential of obstacles. Generally, it’s not too much of a problem, but improved smarts would mean there’s slightly less preparation required pre-clean to ensure your entire floor gets cleaned properly. I was also massively impressed by the ease with which it lifted itself over and cleared thresholds, chair legs, and the like, leading to quicker cleans.

UV detection

After its standard cleaning cycles, the robovac will return to its base, but the cleaning isn’t over quite yet. It’ll issue an ominous warning once it’s refreshed itself: "I detected stains. I'm heading back out to aggressively attack them."

Here’s where the magic of the PowerDetect UV Reveal is really on show; as it cleans, it flares a blue UV light, with which you can see for yourself the stubborn and sometimes invisible stains on your floor, which it will then return to after a standard cleaning run. It was pretty cringe-inducing to watch it navigate areas I hadn’t cleaned recently and see just how much grime was there.

Dock

After the job’s complete, it’ll return for a final time to the base and begin the mop pad maintenance process quietly in the background with just a low humming noise, washing it with hot water before drying it to reduce contamination. In my testing, the robovac lived up to its estimated 3-hour battery life; a 45-minute clean on standard settings dropped the battery by 25%. A full recharge takes roughly 4 hours, and the vacuum won’t perform new tasks when at less than 20%.

• Performance: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Software and app

The app is quite restrictive when it comes to home and schedule customization; you can only have one map, so multi-floor cleaning isn’t possible, no-go zones are always rectangular and you can only create two schedules per day.

I also noticed that the robot vacuum would often get confused when it initiated a clean, forging straight to the corner of my living room and spinning there for a good few minutes before figuring out its path to the hallway. On closer inspection, this happened most frequently when I sent it to clean somewhere other than its home room; for some reason, it wanted to head straight through my wall instead of around and through the doorway.

I couldn’t find a quiet mode, either, meaning if you ever wanted to use the vacuum at night or when little ones are sleeping, they might awaken to an ominous threat from your robovac.

These issues, among other software quirks, make for the primary complaint I have surrounding the Shark PowerDetect UV reveal; its app and on-board smarts hold back an otherwise high-performance robot vacuum.

• Software: 2.5/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Specs

Should I buy Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal?

Buy it if…

You value well sanitized floors
With its UV detection, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal offers peace of mind and broadly great results, especially in the mopping department… if you can handle slow-drying floors.

You have pets
Again, the UV detection comes in clutch here for invisible pet messes, but it’s also a deft hand at hair collection.

You have a large home
With its great battery life and efficiency, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is unlikely to run out of juice before finishing the job even in larger homes.

Don’t buy it if…

You have lots of wooden floors or shiny tiles

While it’ll clean these floor types within an inch of their life, the residual water and cleaning solution could warp or damage wooden floors and leave streaky marks on particularly reflective ones.

You have lots of carpet
Don’t get me wrong, this is an accomplished vacuum for carpets, but if you want to do combination cleans, you might end up with a few soggy spots left in its wake.

You want to vacuum multiple floors — or other smart features

I liken the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal to a power washer in the hands of a caveman; it’s only as good as the software allows it to be, and with frustrations like single-floor mapping, ignored instructions and

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Also consider

How I tested the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal

I tested the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal for two weeks in my home, completing my standardised pickup, edge cleaning and mopping tests in addition to simulating tests for features like UV detection. I used the app, making a map of my home and testing various features like scheduling and room-by-room cleaning tasks, closely observing the vacuum when in use to note any navigation or performance issues during testing.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed June 2026

At least for us here in the UK, this year's Amazon Prime Day sale is coinciding with one of the hottest heatwaves on record, meaning an ice cream maker goes from a nice-to-have to an essential snack distribution system.

Thankfully, in my household, my trusty Ninja Creami is here to rescue me from overheating, and it's a mainstay on my countertop even outside of extreme weather warnings.

Right now, the Ninja Creami is on sale for $169 (was $219) at Amazon US, while over in the UK it's £199 (was £249) at Amazon. Neither deal is a record low for Ninja's once-viral ice cream machine (those are $129 and £149, respectively) but nonetheless represent decent $/£50 savings.

What I'm more interested in this year, however, are some of the alternatives that are more attractively designed and cheaper, to boot.

US Prime Day deals — ice cream makers

UK Prime Day deals — ice cream makers

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I'm feeling fresh and just a little bit smug today, because I spent last night sound asleep under a cool blanket of air provided by the Dimplex FlexBlade Tower Fan, which is now £123 (was £199.99) at Amazon. You can use it vertically to blow a column of air in your direction while you're working or cooking, but it really comes into its own turned horizontally, when it's just the right height to blow a breeze right across your duvet and help you beat the heat.

• See all Prime Day deals at Amazon

The FlexBlade looks a lot like the Shark TurboBlade, which is perhaps a bit cheeky of Dimplex, but it's half the price for Amazon Prime Day and very effective. If you struggle to get a proper night's rest in hot weather, I recommend giving it a try — and it's not too heavy to carry between rooms during the day. Oh, and it oscillates horizontally as well.

It's not the quietest fan I've ever used (that would be the MeacoFan Sefte Pro Air Circulator, which is almost silent), but the Dimplex FlexBlade has a night mode that noticeably reduces noise while still producing a very effective sheet of air to beat the heat.

Looking for a different way to keep cool? Check out all Amazon's Prime Day deals on fans here, or scroll down for my pick of the best.

More cooling fan deals

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

If, like me, you're having to use public transport this week, a personal fan will make your life a lot more comfortable — and I've found just the Amazon Prime Day deal for you. Right now, the Shark ChillPill Travel Bundle is just £119.99 (was £149.99) at Amazon. That includes not just the fan and its three cooling attachments, but a travel case to keep everything safe, and a cross-body strap so you can wear it and stay comfortable hands-free.

• See all Prime Day deals at Amazon

After testing this little fan myself, I loved it so much that I bought my own, and I've not regretted it for a second. My personal favourite is the misting attachment, which sprays you with a fine cloud of vapour when you fill it from your water bottle, but the regular fan and icy cooling plate are a joy as well. Whether you're on a bus or a train, your fellow commuters will be green (and sweaty) with envy.

Considering how high the temperatures are going to soar later this week, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this deal sells out, so I'd strongly advise grabbing it now if you're tempted. This deal only applies to the silver version, but personally I think that's one of the nicest colours anyway.

If you happen to be viewing this article from the US (hello!) then there's good news for you as well if you're feeling the heat — you can grab the Shark ChillPill for $99.99 (was $129.99) at Amazon for Prime Day. This deal doesn't include the carry case and strap, but it's excellent nonetheless, knocking $30 off the list price.

I'm not expecting the ChillPill's main rival, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan, to receive any Prime Day discounts, so this is likely to be the best offer we see on a personal cooling system this week.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I test over a dozen coffee makers every year here at TechRadar, and Breville's espresso and drip coffee machines are consistently some of the best around. That quality doesn't come cheap, but during Amazon Prime Day I'm hoping to find one of my favorites at a deep discount.

All of these machines are totally beginner-friendly, and will help you achieve consistently delicious results even if you've never tried making coffee at home before.

First, a word on names: these coffee makers are sold under the name 'Breville' in the US and Australia, but 'Sage' in the UK. They are the exact same coffee makers, but the name 'Breville' was already taken by a different company in the UK. Now, on with my wish list.

1. Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction

If you're looking for an espresso machine this Prime Day, the Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction is a great pick. It's normally pretty pricey, but with the right discount it'll be easy to recommend, helping you achieve perfectly balanced espresso every time even if you've never touched a portafilter before.

The Impress Puck System is my favorite feature, letting you pull down a lever to tamp your freshly ground coffee without having to remove the portafilter handle from beneath the grinder. You never have to move a filter basket full of loose coffee and risk spilling it, and the tactile feeling of the lever is very satisfying.

Cold brewing involves allowing the bed of ground coffee to infuse in cold water (a process known as blooming) before it’s extracted at high pressure. The result is a smooth-tasting drink that’s a good alternative to traditionally-made cold brew, in a fraction of the time. Delicious.

Read our full Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction review

2. Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal

The Luxe Brewer Thermal is the best drip coffee maker I've tested to date, and I've got my eyes peeled for a good Prime Day discount so I can take the plunge and pick one up for myself.

Brewing a batch of drip coffee is, fundamentally, a very straightforward process – you just pour hot water onto ground coffee and let it drip into a carafe – and the Luxe Brewer Thermal keeps things simple while providing a handful of genuinely useful customization options. In my tests, the default settings worked well, but if you don't get just the right flavor from your beans you can tweak the bloom time (how long the coffee is pre-infused with hot water), bloom temperature, brew time, and brew temperature to fine-tune the extraction.

It can also prepare a batch of cold-brewed coffee. Add ground beans and water, and your coffee will be steeped cold for 24 hours. The machine will beep to alert you when it's ready, so all you need to do is add ice and enjoy. Perfect for hot summer days.

Read our full Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal review

3. Breville Barista Express

The Barista Express is a mid-range semi-automatic espresso machine that's a nice step up if you're currently using a capsule coffee maker and want to start getting more hands-on with your morning brew. The Express can dose and grind the beans for you, but you'll tamp the coffee yourself, use the razor tool to get it to the perfect level, and steam your own milk. It's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.

There are some nice touches too, like the cool-touch handle on the steam wand, aforementioned levelling tool, and a temperature gauge on the milk pitcher to make sure you don't scald your foam (nobody wants that).

This is one of Breville's older semi-automatics, so if we're lucky we could see some very generous deals this Prime Day, potentially knocking several hundred off the regular price.

Read our full Breville Barista Express review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Amazon Prime Day is imminent, but Argos has beaten Amazon to the punch with its catchily named 'Seize the sale' event, which includes offers on home tech, toys, garden essentials for the summer weather, and more. You can view the full Argos sale here.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

I have to say that Argos' sale is pretty light on tech deals, and sadly isn't even heavy on cooling options. However, there are a few nice deals in there, including the LG C5 55-inch OLED TV for a record-low £989 (down from £1,099) with free delivery, and the five-star Philips Baristina bean-to-cup coffee machine for a bargain £255 (down from £299), plus a Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan for £289 (down from £399).

Argos 'Seize the sale' Quick Links

• See all Appliance deals
• See all Garden & DIY deals
• See all Health & Beauty deals
• See all Tech deals
• See all Toys & Games deals

My top 12 Argos 'Seize the sale' deals

More of the best Amazon Prime Day deals

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £27.59
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Coffee machines are always a solid shout when Amazon Prime Day comes around, and more often than not you can score a fairly reasonable deal, especially for entry-level models like the Nespresso Vertuo Pop.

I've been out of the Nespresso game for a few years — my machine totally gave up on me and now it's resting in peace — but if I were to reboot my relationship with the best Nespresso machines, the Vertuo Pop would be the first place I'd start.

• Browse all the early Prime Day deals

In Amazon's early Prime Day sale, one of the most affordable coffee makers just got cheaper in both the US and UK. The Vertuo Pop+ has dropped to $98.98 from $159 in the US, while UK shoppers can pick up the standard Vertuo Pop for £59.99 (was £86.16). But be warned, the UK deal is only available for a few more hours, so take Amazon's big scary red countdown very seriously.

Best Nespresso Vertuo Pop deals

Though there are deals on both sides of the pond, there are slight differences between the Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Pop+. The main one is the latter model has a larger water tank, meaning less trips back and forth to the sink for refills.

The Pop+ also has automatic lid closure and can accommodate larger mugs. But aside from their minor differences, both are solid options for beginners, or for those who were once in the Nespresso game, and now want to make a comeback.

We gave the Vertuo Pop a respectable 4 stars in our review for a number of reasons, but it was convenience and speed that impressed us the most. It's built on a one-touch system, which produces a tasty cup of coffee in four ways (Mug/Coffee, Gran Lungo, Double Espresso, and Espresso) in less than 30 seconds, a quick and easy way to get your morning caffeine fix.

The only downside to owning any Nespresso machine is the pods, meaning you have to keep restocking. Fortunately, the Vertuo Pop comes with a 12-capsule variety pack to get you started.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Early Amazon Prime Day deals are floating around ahead of the retail giant's big event which kicks off in less than 24 hours, but sometimes an early Prime Day offer goes a long way — especially with everyone's favorite kitchen gadget, the air fryer.

We've tested some of the best air fryers out there, and mine has been going strong for the past two years, but I'm at the point where I need a little more oomph. Dual basket air fryers are the answer, but they can be quite pricey (I'm looking at you, Ninja) — although right now, you can score the Philips 3000 Series air fryer for less than £100.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

This dual basket model is one of the latest stand-outs in Amazon's early Prime Day sale, and you can grab it for 53% less right now — I know, I can barely believe it either. That means that you can get your hands on one for £85.49 down from £179.99.

Though we're yet to give the Philips 3000 Series a proper hands-on review, our editor Max Langridge managed to try it a few months back, and his first impressions were highly positive.

Today's best Philips Series 3000 air fryer deal

As mentioned, we haven't reviewed the Philips 3000 series in its entirety just yet, however our experiences with the Philips 1000 Series and Philips 5000 Series went down swimmingly, so our trust in Philips' performance and delivery is very much there.

I've been using the smaller Instant Vortex Plus air fryer for the past two years, and while it's one of my favorite healthy cooking appliances for speedy and tasty results, I've found myself wanting to cook more for meal prepping. That in mind, cooking in batches just adds extra time on to how long you spend in the kitchen. The Philips 3000 Series takes away that pain point.

Size-wise, the Philips 3000 Series has two separate baskets, one at 3L and the other at 6L, totalling a spacious 9L. Admittedly, it's not one for smaller countertops, but it provides ample cooking space for you to speed through meal prepping, or for feeding multiple mouths at the table if you have a larger family. Additionally, you can cook separate dishes to finish at the same time, taking the guess work out of cooking.

With my Instant Vortex Plus, it has four solid cooking presets — six with its larger sibling — and though this may suffice for some users, it's always helpful to have more options in case you decide to experiment with new recipes, for instance.

With its generous eight presets on its touchscreen, the Philips 3000 Series sets the times and temperature for you based on whatever storm you fancy whipping up. You can also make the most of the HomeID app — which features more than 500 recipes — instead of scrolling through TikTok endlessly to find your next dinner party centrepiece (which I'm guilty of doing all the time).

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Things have well and truly hotted up in the UK, and if you haven't yet sorted out a fan for your home, what are you doing? At the start of the week, we were unexpectedly blessed with a whole load of fan discounts, courtesy of Prime Day and rival sales events from other retailers. Now, many of those offers have sold out, but there are still a handful available to buy... if you're quick. Below, I've rounded up the best options from Amazon and beyond, focusing on trusted brands and well-reviewed products, and including pedestal, tower and desktop fans.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Pedestal fans are probably what you think of when you think of a fan — a circular fan head on a skinny stand. They're easy to move from room to room, and some models can be adjusted in height for directed cooling where you need it. A tower fan looks a little smarter (and indeed, is more likely to have smart features), and is designed to live in a permanent spot in the corner of a room. A desktop fan sits on a tabletop for more localised cooling; for example to blast at your face while you're working from home.

Fans don't lower the temperature in a room, but they will make you feel cooler by helping the sweat evaporate from your skin faster. You'll find more information and advice in our in-depth best fans guide. Alternatively, if you're just in the mood for a bargain, head to TechRadar's Prime Day deals guide for the best discounts on all kinds of tech.

Fan deals — best bargains

• Philips Smart Pedestal fan: now £69.99 at Amazon (was £89.99)
• Philips 2000 Series table fan: now £44 at Currys (was £54.99)
• Beldray 3-in-1 cordless fan: now £34.99 at Currys (was £54.99)

Fantastic fan deals — still in stock

Deals expired or out of stock

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Trying to sleep during a heatwave can be difficult, and even if you leave all your windows open (and risk letting insects inside), it's likely that you'll have a restless, sweaty night that leaves you feeling irritable and sluggish in the morning. To solve the problem, you need a fan — and not just any old model. Here I've picked out a selection of three of the best fans that are not only effective at keeping you cool overnight, but are whisper-quiet as well, so they won't disturb your slumber with humming or whirring.

All of these fans have received our seal of approval, and are particularly well suited to night-time use. Not only do they have dedicated bedtime modes that are near-silent, all come with a remote control so you can adjust their settings without having to get out of bed, and are very effective even on low power settings.

This is a particularly good time to shop for a fan, too, with great discounts available for Amazon Prime Day. You'll find the best prices for each of these fans below, along with links to our full reviews, so read on to find out which one is best for your bedroom.

Meacofan Sefte 8in Air Circulator

The eight-inch version of this super quiet fan has a rechargeable battery so you can place it anywhere in your bedroom at night, and its barely-audible hum won't disturb your slumber. Our reviewer Cesci Angell was particularly impressed by its Eco mode, which helps prolong battery life, while Sleep mode dims the display and silences the fan's beeps.

Another great feature is the remote control, which lets you operate the fan from the comfort of your bed rather than getting up to switch to Sleep mode when you're ready to settle down. The remote clips onto the fan's body magnetically when not in use, so you don't lose it in the sheets.

Despite its compact size, we found that the MeacoFan Sefte has a real impact on the temperature of a room It's reasonably priced too, considering how much you're getting for your money. A great option if you're struggling and sweating at night.

Read our full Meacofan Sefte 8in Portable Air Circulator review

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan

We called this fan "ridiculously good" when we tested it last summer, and we stand by that — especially considering its bargain price. It has two heights, so you can place it on your nightstand or in the corner of your bedroom, and offers automatic horizontal and vertical oscillation to keep the whole space feeling cool and breezy.

Our tester reported that it was super quiet despite its strong airflow and found it easy to fine-tune the angle using its remote control, or the touch controls on the fan's stem.

"I measured a volume of just 29dB from around 2ft away on fan speed one, 37dB at speed five, and 51dB at speed 12," she said. "This means it can operate with whisper-quiet volume at its lowest speed, and only gets as loud as moderate rainfall."

If you're looking for a fan to keep you cool at night that's both versatile and affordable, this is the one for you.

Read our full Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool

What price would you put on a good night's sleep? The Dyson Find+Follow is the money-no-object option, but it's a top quality fan that will keep you cool and comfortable for many summers to come. As the name suggests, it will also help ease seasonal allergies thanks to HEPA H13-grade and K-Carbon filters, which capture pollen, dust, and pet dander so you don't wake in the morning with a stuffy nose and red eyes.

During the day, its key selling point is its ability to track motion and follow you around the room, rotating up to 350 degrees. If you leave the room briefly, the Find+Follow Purifier Cool will wait patiently in a ‘dormant’ state for your return. The fan will continue, but movement will only resume when you re-enter the room and it picks you up again.

Night mode keeps the fan quiet, and lets you switch it off after a certain duration so you can save electricity once the temperature has dropped sufficiently. "Once on, Dyson’s clever bladeless design delivers smooth air flow that feels like a natural breeze moving through your home, rather than the harsh buffeting you get from some other propeller and tower fans," said our reviewer John McCann, who noted it was super quiet even on its highest setting. Intense heatwaves are only likely to get more frequent in future, so investing in a premium fan now could be a very wise decision.

Read our full Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

This unusual-looking fan will prove its worth all year round thanks to its ability to both heat and cool your home, and doing so quietly. We found its cooling particularly effective, and its horizontal arms mean it can blow a refreshing blanket of air over your bed at night. With the provided remote control, you don't even need to get up to do that.

In 'BreezeBoost' mode, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat's airflow can be felt as far as 30 feet / nine meters away, but is much more noticeable at 20 feet / six meters. I didn't really need to adjust the fan speed higher than a five most of the time. Even alevel three was sufficient to keep us cool, though we appreciated having the option to increase the airflow right up to 10, or use the BreezeBoost mode on really hot days.

"Sleep Mode provided some in-room circulation that I enjoyed at nigh," said our reviewer Alex Temblador. "Best yet, it wasn't any louder than my ceiling fan."

Read our full Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Amazon Prime Day is a great time to snap up a new coffee maker, with huge discounts on top-rated machines from big brands. Personally I'm a big fan of De'Longhi's espresso machines, and they usually receive deep discounts for Amazon Prime Day that make them even easier to recommend.

Here I've rounded up three De'Longhi coffee makers that I think are likely to get big price cuts this Prime Day. All of these machines have received a full five stars from our expert reviewers, and would be an excellent pick for your kitchen.

There are two semi-automatic coffee makers here, with different levels of guidance to help you brew the ideal espresso, and a fully automatic machine that handles the entire process for you; so whether you're looking for your first coffee maker or just want to upgrade, there's something for you here.

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch

The La Specialista Touch is one of the best semi-automatic coffee makers I've used, and its surprisingly compact size makes it a great option for small kitchens.

Whether you're looking for your first espresso machine, or planning to shift from a capsule coffee maker to fresh beans, it will guide you through the process of preparing a perfectly extracted shot of espresso and help you understand how different factors (such as dosage, grind size, and tamping) affect the flavor of your drink.

It comes with a smart dosing tool and a calibrated tamper that help you with the more technical parts of the process, and its Bean Adapt system suggests specific brew settings for the beans you're using, but you're also encouraged to tinker until you're satisfied with the way the coffee tastes. Once you are, you can save your custom settings for future use.

The La Specialista Touch maintains steady temperature and pressure so your results are consistent each time, and it has an excellent steam wand as well, with automatic and manual foaming options. A great all-rounder.

Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo

Another great semi-automatic espresso machine from De'Longhi, the La Specialista Arte Evo is similar to the Touch, but doesn't give you quite as much of a helping hand along the way. It's still easy to use, with an excellent burr grinder and highly customizable settings, but it offers a set of physical control dials rather than a touchscreen, and lets you take the reins earlier on in the process.

New home baristas shouldn't be deterred though; the Arte Evo is a joy to use, and makes mastering essential skills fun. Our reviewer Cesci Angell soon got grips with it (partly thanks to De'Longhi's handy YouTube videos) and reported that "thanks to the helpful tips in the quick guide it was easy to determine the perfect grind coarseness, dosage, and techniques to create tasty cups of coffee."

This coffee maker is great value at full price, and often gets a very generous discount that makes it even easier to recommend.

Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo review

De'Longhi Rivelia

The De'Longhi Rivelia is a fully automatic espresso machine,. meaning it handles the entire coffee-making process for you. Just add your beans, water and milk, press a button, and you'll have a perfect espresso, macchiato, or cappuccino ready to enjoy in a couple of minutes. Our reviewer Josephine Watson called it "easily one of the best bean-to-cup machines available right now" and awarded it a full five stars.

The Rivelia also has one of my favorite features: a swappable bean hopper, so you can switch between two different types of coffee on the fly. I drink regular coffee in the morning and decaf during the afternoon, so this makes my life a whole lot easier. The Bean Adapt technology adapts the brew settings to suit whichever coffee you're using, so you don't have to worry about tweaking factors like dosage, temperature, and pre-infusion time yourself.

There's a huge menu of drinks (all of which are customizable to suit your tastes) and the color display makes it simple to find the one you want to prepare. The Rivelia is surprisingly compact as well, and won't dominate your kitchen like some automatic coffee makers. If you want to enjoy delicious coffee with the minimum of fuss, it's one to watch on Prime Day.

Read our full De'Longhi Rivelia review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: two-minute review

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro makes crafting coffee and espresso drinks easy. The espresso is the real deal, a true 9-bar espresso brew with crema. It also brews regular drip coffee and a kind of rapid cold brew for iced drinks. From there you can froth your milk of choice, dairy or non-dairy, hot or cold, to create the beverage you get out of bed for.

A dozen pre-sets give you one-touch simplicity. Grind iQ chooses the grind size and dose based your beans. But if you prefer to tweak your settings to your personal taste (strength, grind, temperature, size, froth type,) you can save up to two separate user profiles. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro comes with two bean hoppers so you can easily swap out two different kinds of beans in seconds. Plus there is a chute just for pre-ground coffee, so you always have that option.

I tested out all 12 of the espresso and coffee drinks on the pre-set menu: Espresso, Lungo, Americano, Latte, Cortado, Cappuccino, Flat White, Drip Coffee, Over Ice (coffee), Iced Latte, Cold-Brew (coffee) and Cold-Pressed (espresso). They all came out great, though I noticed that the hot coffee drinks aren't super hot. I'd say they are immediate drinking temperature, not blow-on-it-and-sip temperature.

There is some simple cleaning and maintenance involved, but the machine does perform automatic rinses and has an interior fan to keep things as clean as possible before you have to do anything.

Wake up and have an incredible barista-style coffee drink with just the touch of a button or two. I don't know about you, but this is all I can manage before having coffee in the morning!

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: price and availability

• Available at Ninja's website and Best Buy
• Retails for $949.99 (£718 / AU$1,354)
• Will come in several color options

As of this writing, you can buy the Ninja AutoBarista Pro on Ninja's own website and third-party stores for $949.99/ £899.99. That works out at about AU$1,350, but at the time of writing it's not yet available in Australia. The color shown in my photos, stainless steel, is the only color currently available, but three other colors are coming: Midnight Blue, Oat Milk, and Bronze.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: specs

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: design

• Professional barista look
• All-inclusive machine
• Touch screen

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro looks like what its name would suggest: an automatic professional barista. Which is pretty much exactly what it is. It's designed to be simple to use and the most efficient way to get the coffee or espresso drink you crave.

The coffee hopper clicks into place on top of the machine. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro comes with two hoppers, so you can keep two different kinds of coffee on hand and easily swap out the hoppers as needed. Each time you put new beans in the hopper, you can run a "Grind iQ" cycle, which allows the machine to automatically dial in the perfect grind size for your beans. There is also a pre-ground coffee chute.

From the top, you can access the water reservoir if you prefer to add water that way as opposed to removing the whole tank and bringing it to your water source.

A large 80-ounce water reservoir sits on the right side of the machine. Inside the reservoir is a water filtration tablet, which should be changed out every two months. The tablet holder has a dial you can set, visible from the outside of the tank, as a reminder of when to change out the filtration tablet.

The left side of the machine has a removable door; inside the door is the brew unit. About once a month, you'll need to pull out the brew unit and give that a thorough rinse and the machine interior a wipe-down.

On the front of the machine is a large touch screen where you make your selections. Underneath that are the dual dispensing spouts, adjustable coffee cup platform, milk wand, and milk jug. The machine does rinse itself regularly, and the milk wand purges itself after use, but you'll need to empty out the drip tray once every few brews. Of course you need to clean the milk jug, steam wand, puck bin, and bean hoppers as needed. Periodically, you'll also need to run a cleaning cycle and descale cycle.

Before using the machine for the first time, you'll need to test your water's hardness with the included test strip. You'll have the opportunity to enter your water's hardness level during setup.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: performance

• Create just about any hot or cold coffee or espresso drink
• Froth your hot or cold dairy or non-dairy milk
• Very easy to create custom beverages

When I wake up in the morning, what gets me out of bed is the thought of that first cup of coffee. The last thing I want to do is have to go through a multi-step process to get that caffeine kick. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro makes it so easy to get an excellent cup of joe quickly. There are 12 preset coffee and espresso drinks, but each one can be customized to your preferred bean strength, brewing temperature, and drink size. I tried all 12 of the drinks at least once and they were all very good. I used a dark roast coffee for my testing and started with the default settings on everything.

The temperature on the hot drinks was not what I'd call super hot. I found it immediately drinkable, but if you like your coffee to come out hotter than that, you might be disappointed.

I started with just a standard espresso using the default settings, which is a 2.5:1 water to grounds ratio. This was very strong, as expected. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro does produce a crema on its espresso drinks. I made a cold-pressed espresso, which you brew over ice. It brews at a lower temperature and does take longer than brewing a standard espresso, which makes it taste a bit smoother and less bitter. It's still a very strong espresso drink. I tried a lungo, which is a longer pull than the standard espresso, but still a very strong drink with the default settings. I made an americano, which is an espresso with extra water added. This was still strong but good.

When you make milky drinks, you pour your milk of choice into the jug, choose dairy or non-dairy, and the Ninja AutoBarista Pro properly steams and/or froths your milk for your selected beverage. Then it's up to you to actually pour the milk into your espresso.

I made a cortado, which is espresso plus enough steamed milk to cut the bitterness. It does indeed do that, it's very good even with the almond milk I used. I made a flat white, which is an espresso plus steamed milk, more milk than a cortado but less than a latte. I also made this with almond milk and it was good. Then I made a latte, which has a bit more steamed milk plus a bit of froth. I used skim dairy milk this time with great results.

The cappuccino, which is espresso plus equal parts steamed milk and froth, was foamy and amazing. I used the default settings and skim dairy milk. This might have been my favorite hot beverage. I also made an iced latte, which is cold-pressed espresso plus lightly frothed milk. This turned out slightly foamier than I expected for an iced drink, but it was delicious.

In addition to the espresso-based drinks above, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro also makes drip coffee. The standard size cup is eight ounces, but you can make it larger or smaller as you like.

The default drip coffee setting was a little weak to my tastes, but that was easily adjusted and I made a stronger brew the next time.

The Ninja's AutoBarista Pro's cold-brew setting isn't a true cold brew. That would take hours. It does, however, brew at a lower temperature for a smoother, sweeter taste and a still-warm-but-cooler brew. The first time I tried this, I thought I selected 4 ounces but it seems to have been 40 ounces. I just stopped it before my mug overflowed. The taste was very nice and smooth. I did it again and brewed six ounces, which came out great.

I made an Over Ice coffee and it wasn't bad, but kind of weak compared to the Cold-Brew.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Ninja AutoBarista Pro?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Ninja AutoBarista Pro: also consider

How I tested the Ninja AutoBarista Pro

I spent a couple of weeks in a very caffeinated state. I brewed and drank every beverage on the touch-screen menu at least once: espresso, lungo, americano, latte, cortado, cappuccino, flat white, drip coffee, cver ice (coffee), iced latte, cold-brew (coffee) and cold-pressed (espresso). I performed standard maintenance on the machine, such as emptying the drip tray every few brews, cleaning the milk wand and frothing jug after every use, and removing and rinsing the brew unit.

First reviewed June 2026

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone: two-minute review

The Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone arrives in an increasingly crowded robot vacuum market, yet it still manages to stand out thanks to a handful of genuinely innovative features. Chief among these is the OmniCyclone docking station, a bagless dust collection system that uses Dyson-style cyclonic technology to capture detritus without relying on pricy disposable dust bags. As a result, it's a great system for anyone with molting dogs or cats, as long as the bin is emptied on a fairly frequent basis.

The X12's floor sweeping credentials aren’t exactly anything to write home about, mind, especially its performance on hard floor.And while its navigation is mostly precise and systematic, I have seen evidence of it occasionally missing some areas.

However, it's the mopping system that really sets this machine apart. Rather than dragging two damp spinning pads around the floor and potentially smearing dirt all over the floor, the X12 employs an extendable roller mop that is continuously supplied with clean water, while simultaneously collecting dirty water into a separate tank. The result is a far more hygienic clean, particularly on hard floors where conventional robot mops can often leave a thin film of grime in their wake. This model also has a unique FocusJet system that squirts water on deep stains before mopping them up, but I simply couldn’t get it to function as it should.

No question, the X12 OmniCyclone is extremely well engineered and packed with clever technology, but me thinks it might be worth a trip back to the drawing board to fix some of its frustrating anomalies.

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone: price & availability

• List price £1,249 / €1,399 / $1,499.99
• Launch date April 2026
• Availability Worldwide

In the UK, the Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone’s retail price is £1,249 but you can purchase it right now direct from Ecovacs or Amazon for a knockdown £949. At this price, the odd glitch in its performance makes it a lot more justifiable. However, if you mainly want a robot vacuum to collect dry debris from hard floors, the X12 still remains difficult to fully recommend, even at this lower price point.

As of writing, US buyers don’t get the same rosy deal as those in the UK – it sells direct from Ecovacs or Amazon for the full price of $1,499.99 – though you can be sure that big discounts will be applied in the not-too-distant future. The same applies to most of Europe, too, where the X12 OmniCyclone is retailing at a quite considerable €1,399.

If the Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone feels too specialized for your needs. or you’ve been put off by some of my reported performance issues, there are several strong alternatives on the market. For instance, the Roborock Saros 20 (£1,249) offers a much more balanced blend of hard-floor vacuuming, carpet performance and premium mopping. Likewise, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete is also an excellent all-rounder with particularly strong obstacle avoidance and cleaning coverage. Finally, don’t discount this model’s predecessor, the Deebot X11 OmniCyclone, which delivers much of the X12’s roller-mop appeal and bagless convenience for a lot less money (£699 to be precise).

• Value score: 3/5

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclon:: specs

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone: design

• Excellent dock with cyclone emptying
• Impressive roller mop system
• Pre-spray system isn’t reliable

I’ll admit that, in this day and age with so many robot vac brands and models on the market, it’s difficult to get too excited about yet another robot vac-and-mop unless it’s bringing a smorgasbord of new tech to the table. Thankfully this one introduces at least three tantalising features that I personally haven’t seen in a robot vac before, and you can read about these below.

As with all robot vacs, setup was very easy because there are only three items in the box: the dock, the robot and the clip-in ramp for the dock. Everything was self-evident, although I will add that there was a surfeit of protective cellophane wrapping on almost every inch of the dock and robot, and I guarantee you will find a piece of cellophane still lurking somewhere that you completely missed on unboxing a few weeks earlier.

Once it was plugged in and ready to go, I launched the Ecovacs Home app and added the robot to my account and Wi-Fi network. I then sent it out on its first mapping run so it could acquaint itself with its new home, and it took a spritely 10 minutes to map my entire floor space of four rooms. The resulting map on the app looked clean and precise and intuitively layout out, though I did have to merge and split some rooms, which is very common and easy to do.

Robot design

The Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone may, at first glance, resemble the vast majority of hybrid robot vacuum leaners, but its engineering sets it apart from much of the competition.

The first thing I should address is that, at 3.85 inches (9.8cm) in height, the X12 won’t be able to scoot under low-slung furniture like the squat Roborock Saros range. However, as is the case with the Saros 10R, this model uses solid-state direct Time-of-Flight LiDAR to navigate so it doesn’t come with an ugly LiDAR turret, and that keeps its height to an acceptable level for most low furnishings.

Aside from its dToF-based navigation system, the X12 also utilises Ecovacs’ AIVI 3D 4.0 which combines an RGB camera and depth sensors with AI processing to detect, identify and manoeuvre around most household obstacles. The camera can also be used to send a live stream to the app and it’s the sharpest image I’ve seen from any robot vac, not that you’ll use it much.

And then there’s something called TruEdge 3D Edge Sensor 2.0, which combines vertical and horizontal lasers to allegedly detect irregular edges, skirting boards, and recessed areas for improved edge cleaning.

Most robot vacs have a pair of manual controls on top of the robot so you can perform a full clean at the touch of a button or, more importantly, tell it to end its cleaning without having to reach for the app. Sadly, this model only has a single on/off button that you press to continue cleaning after a hiccup in its navigation, and press and hold for three seconds for it to return to dock. I personally prefer having two buttons: one to turn it on and off, or pause it mid clean, and another to end the task and return to dock. Had I not checked the manual, I’d never have know its on/off button served two functions.

Heading to the undercarriage, the X12’s single tapered six-inch brush roller makes a very fair fist of dealing with hair tangles by coaxing it towards the tapered end where it’s sucked into the vacuum path. The roller itself is comprised of four soft rubber paddles for carpet beating and two bristled paddles for hard floors.

I’ve been watching suction-power stats of robot vacs for some time, and over the past five years they have has exploded from an average of 2,000–2,500 Pascals to between 20,000 and 36,000Pa for today's flagship models. Mind, suction stats are largely a marketing ploy because real-world cleaning relies much more heavily on brush design and airflow. This model boasts 22,000Pa which is about average for its price range.

One of this model’s most distinctive design elements is the extendable roller mop, which automatically extends one inch beyond the robot's chassis to clean along skirting boards and into 90-degree corners that are often left untouched by standard robot mops. I much prefer a roller system like this over twin spinning mop pads because the roller is continually washed during operation, with contaminated water extracted and transferred to a dedicated dirty-water tank while fresh water is supplied to the roller. This ensures that muck is removed rather than redistributed over other sections of flooring.

The X12’s carpet protection is equally innovative because a protective sleeve rotates beneath the roller, effectively isolating the damp roller and preventing unwanted moisture from transferring to carpet. The mopping system is theoretically further enhanced by Ecovacs’ unique FocusJet Stain Pre-Dissolving technology, which allegedly targets dried-on spills before mopping. This system is said to improve cleaning performance on stubborn messes, but I’ve found it to be very hit-and-miss, which even Ecovacs admits to in a warning written just below the app’s FocusJet setting.

I don’t have any tall thresholds in my home but if you do, you’ll be pleased to learn that the X12 comes with something called TruePass Adaptive four-wheel-drive Climbing System that will, according to Ecovacs, help the robot to scale single thresholds of up to one inch (2.4cm) in height and "navigate continuous double steps of up to 1.57 inches (4cm) with ease".

I wouldn’t say that this model’s battery capacity is especially noteworthy, at least when used extensively. However, Ecovacs says the battery can be restored by 13% in just three minutes to help elongate its operation time if the robot is being pushed to the limits, so that’s a very good thing.

Like quite a few high-end hybrid robotic cleaners, the X12 also uses an AI Agent to "autonomously map your home, identify floor types via intelligent scene recognition, and then schedule and execute a weekly cleaning plan". I personally always turn AI off because I’m human and have a brain capable of setting my own schedules, thank you very much.

Score ref: 3.5/5

Dock design

The Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone’s charging dock combines an impressive range of automation features with styling that looks more like a miniature Art Deco skyscraper from Batman’s Gotham City or Fritz Lang’s Metropolis than a household appliance.

Rather than relying on disposable dust bags, which may need replacing on a two-week basis if shedding pets are in the home, the X12’s dock uses cyclone technology to suck dust and debris from the robot’s small bin into a large 1.69-quart (1.6-litre) collection chamber. To empty, simply unclip it, take it to the kitchen bin and slide down the blue lever. Voila, the debris falls out of the bottom just like a Dyson vac.

As a dog- and cat-owner, I’m a big fan of this type of system because it not only reduces ongoing costs — and environmental waste — but it also helps maintain strong suction performance between the robot and the dock while vastly reducing any issues of clogging that can sometimes occur if the robot has collected too much pet hair.

The dock also houses two large clean and dirty water reservoirs (3.7 quarts/3.5L and 2.85 quarts/2.7L apiece) for the roller mop system which minimises the need for frequent refilling or emptying. It also incorporates two cleaning-solution tanks, including a dedicated one that’s used by the X12’s FocusJet system to tackle dried-on spills and stubborn marks before mopping.

As with most premium hybrid robots, the dock’s maintenance is almost entirely automated so the station washes the roller mop using heated, pressurised water, extracts dirty water into a separate tank and then dries the mop with hot air to reduce rancid odours and bacterial growth. Ecovacs has also equipped this dock with some self-cleaning functions, including automatic cleaning of the washing tray and dirty-water system.

Score ref: 4.5/5

• Design score: 4/5

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone: performance

• Top-notch dock performance
• Very good roller mopping to the edge
• Disappointing hard floor performance

Navigation performance

After a very successful initial mapping run, the X12’s navigation seemed a bit wayward for the first few excursions but improved as the robot seemingly learned the quickest route from room to room.

However, I have been perplexed by some of its behavior in our furniture-cluttered lounge which is a mixture of hard wooden floor and thin rugs. It doesn’t help that the app has so many customizable floor-cleaning options that you’re forced to experiment and the surfeit of carpet settings alone is enough to drive you round the twist as you fiddle and mess about with options like ‘clean carpet first’, ‘avoid fringed carpets’, ‘carpet recognition’, the list goes on.

Possibly as a result of some setting I may have incorrectly adjusted, the X12 has never performed a complete clean of the lounge, at least according to the image of its trail on the app. At first I had ‘AI Agent' turned on, and I never trust AI when it comes to automation because you never know what it’s going to do next. Besides, I prefer to be in control of my gadgets. Anyway, after 15 minutes of online research I noticed a tiny grayed-out ‘exit’ word just below the AI Agent option that had been there all the time. So I turned AI Agent off and breathed a sign of relief. Did it make a difference to its lounge-cleaning navigation? Not much, as far as I can tell.

I’m not really sure what it doesn’t like about my lounge, but for some strange reason it usually misses cleaning the 15 inches of wooden floor gap between two thin rugs and it doesn’t completely vacuum under my sofa, even when I’ve lifted the valence. Instead, it performs one pass under the front edge of the sofa and then leaves.

And another thing… When it started my most recent lounge-cleaning attempt there was a dog bed on the floor, which it deftly skirted around. But when I removed the bed while it was cleaning nearby, I expected it to notice the sudden lack of bed and proceed to clean that area too. But no, it simply went home.

The X12 also has a habit of stalling at the edge of every rug before moving forward. It heads towards the rug at full speed and as soon as a wheel detects a slight incline – we’re talking millimeters here – it stops dead while it assesses the situation before proceeding to cross the rug. No great shakes but it was something I noticed that rarely bothers other bots. Thankfully and despite these slightly confounding anomalies, the X12 has behaved perfectly well in every other room with full clean-ups as one would reasonably expect.

Score ref: 2.5/5

Obstacle avoidance

If the X12’s overall navigation has room for improvement, there’s no such issue with its obstacle avoidance. For this test I set its AIVI 3D obstacle avoidance to ‘high sensitivity’ and used a number of dog toys but also placed two cigarette lighters and a small remote. I was very impressed by how quickly it negotiated a path between them with no collisions to report. At other times the X12’s obstacle avoidance has been set to ‘standard’ and even in this setting it has never ridden slipshod over anything, so I call that a result.

Score ref: 4/5

Vacuuming

I set up two vacuuming tests, one on hard floor, the other on carpet rug using a mix of rice, oats, icing sugar and granola. Test one was on my kitchen hard floor and unfortunately it was a bit of a failure. While this test was extreme, it was no different to every other robot vacuum test I perform on hard floor. Firstly, the act of creating a zone using the Scenario option was far too complicated, but I got there in the end. I went for the full vacuum power, deep clean and two-passes option to give it a better chance.

When it arrived at the zone, it first drove straight over the detritus with its motor off, which was a strange thing to do. It then proceeded to start its cleaning run and collected some of the debris, but left far more behind than it should have done. It also seemed to work haphazardly and made just one pass along the skirting board without cleaning up any of the ingredients. When it finally left the scene, the floor looked in quite a state so I reached for the Dyson Gen5detect, which cleaned up everything in one pass.

I couldn’t tell if this disappointing result was due to sub-par suction power – at 22,000Pa it should pick up debris much better – or if the brush bar is badly designed, but the results for this hard floor test were unacceptable. However, I should add that, during its day-to-day sweeping, I’ve never had too much cause for concern because it has always vacuumed the kitchen and most other hard floor areas efficiently enough. Perhaps I pushed it too far for this test.

Thankfully the rug test was more successful, though I wouldn’t say it was exceptional by any means, especially considering that I had maxed out all the settings. The first horizontal pass clearly showed that it had collected most of the crumbly debris, but it took a return pass and another two vertical passes to leave it fairly clean. I say fairly because most robots leave behind some detritus in a test like this, which is why you should never get rid of your cordless stick vac or any other form of manual vacuum cleaner. While robots are great for keeping on top of things, homo sapiens is thankfully still way more advanced than any robot when it comes to household duties.

Score ref: 2.5/5

Mopping performance

Despite having the X12’s FocusJet activated since installing the product, I have never actually seen it in operation, which has really confused me because I thought that the moment the robot spots a large stain area it jet washes it first to break up the stain and then mops it. But maybe that’s not the case — answers on a postcard please.

For my kitchen mopping test I squirted some tomato ketchup on the floor and adjusted the cleaning settings to Vac and Mop (for some bizarre reason there is no mop-only feature), standard water dispensing, Deep Cleaning, and two passes. As I anticipated given all the mopping tech on this bot, the X12 performed well in this test; indeed better than most spinning mop systems I’ve tested. Yes, it was a bit erratic in its chosen path, but it eventually cleaned the mess up and left far fewer smears than I have normally experienced.

Did it use the FocusJet on this unmissable ketchup stain? No, it simply approached the stain and duly mopped it without once using the squirty jet thing. And yet it did squirt water at least twice on an area with no stains whatsoever.

I personally don’t see a need for this water-spraying function because the task of cleaning a specific stain is a lot quicker if you just grab some kitchen towelling or a proper mop and bucket and do it yourself. The mere fact you need to reach for the app and make an educated guess where the stain is on the map and then wait five minutes while the robot gets ready to trundle over to what you hope is the correct spot, is way too long a process in my opinion. And even when it gets there, there’s no guarantee that it will actually use the water spraying system in the correct place, or even use it at all.

Score ref: 3.5/5

Dock performance

The X12 OmniCyclone's charging dock is among the most capable and innovative docking stations I’ve come across. Its bagless OmniCyclone dust collection system has performed particularly well, emptying the robot's onboard dustbin with no clogging to report, though I will admit that I have set it to empty the bot’s bin several times during its daily routines. Yes, I have had to take the bin to the kitchen bin twice in a month for emptying but even this has been a breeze. In fact, it has a better emptying mechanism than a lot of cordless stick vacs I’ve reviewed.

The dock also automatically washes the roller mop using heated water, removes the dirty water into a dedicated reservoir and then dries the roller with hot air to help prevent unpleasant smells and mould growth. And like most premium models, the dock’s self-cleaning functions also do a grand job of helping to keep the removable washing tray free from accumulated muck.

Score ref: 4/5

Battery performance

The X12’s 4,000mAh battery has a charging time of around two and a half hours. My lounge is roughly 12m² and, according to the app, the double-pass vacuum test in my lounge took 28 minutes to complete, while missing the space between two rugs that I have already mentioned above. After this run the battery showed 54% remaining, which seemed a bit low to me. Anyway, I then set it off to do two vacuum passes at full suction in the kitchen (around 17m²), after which the battery showed just 15%. As a result it headed back to the dock for a top-up before heading out again 20 minutes later to complete the task.

I’ve also noticed it heading back for a near-full top-up midway through an entire house clean and this suggests that the X12 might not be the best model for larger homes. Granted, one is rarely bothered by how long it takes a robot to clean a whole home, but there will be times when you need a quick cleanup in an emergency only to discover that the X12 is too busy charging itself from an earlier task.

Score ref: 3.5/5

• Performance score: 3/5

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone: app functionality

• Relatively easy to navigate
• Far too many custom options
• Some annoying programming traits

At first I thought the Ecovacs Home app was one of the most intuitive and well laid-out robot app I’d come across – ‘very easy to navigate’, I said in my notes. However, in hindsight I think it’s too complex and confusing for its own good. Don’t get me wrong, I love an app that provides loads of customisation but this app tips it into anorak territory with so many custom options available that it’s difficult to know where to start.

This is especially noticeable when you select ‘Robot Advanced Functions’ because advanced they most certainly are. Yes, some are self explanatory but when you tap ‘Carpet Settings’ you’re met with two pages of settings relating to every carpet-cleaning scenario imaginable. As a result you can find yourself in a rabbit hole of experimentations that take ages to carry out because it’s a robot and robots always do things at their own pace – very slowly.

On the plus side, the app does cleverly divide all settings into Robot and Dock, and provides instant access to one’s pre-programmed routines, or Scenarios as Ecovacs calls them. However, it might take you a while to find the area where you create them, and when you finally get there and create your series of personalised routines and name them accordingly – like ‘Lounge Vac’, ‘Kitchen Mop’, etc – don’t just click on ‘done’ because there’s also a faint ‘save’ button on top and if you don’t click that, you may be back to square one. Also, as mentioned above, I had issues trying to turn off Agent Mode which I simply don’t trust, especially given the amount of engineered wood flooring in my home.

This is far from the worst robot app I’ve ever used. In fact it’s quite similar to my favourite Roborock app for functionality and personalisation. But as I said above, I think the IT department went a bit over the top when they designed this app and ended up providing too many options.

• App functionality score: 3/5

Should you buy the Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone

I tested the Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone across a typical mixed UK home environment, combining hard flooring, rugs and high-traffic kitchen areas. The focus was on real-world performance rather than lab conditions, including everyday debris such as crumbs, dust, huge amounts of pet hair and sticky spills. I ran multiple cleaning cycles using the highest levels of vacuum and full mopping modes, observing how well it handled edge cleaning, room transitions and obstacle avoidance. Particular attention was paid to its roller-mop system, water delivery and the behaviour of the Focus Jet and OmniCyclone dock during emptying and refilling.

I also assessed its noise levels, maintenance demands and app control usability over repeated use. The aim was to determine whether its headline mopping innovations genuinely translate into better everyday cleaning performance. It mostly did in this regard but there’s definitely room for improvement regarding its overall navigation and hard floor sweeping.

First reviewed June 2026.

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review

The Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is a device that came to me when I needed it most. It was a sweltering day in the UK — a nation with little in the way of air conditioning, but lots of humidity. But as I sat there at my desk sweating profusely, my editor handed Dreo’s new misting fan to me, and I have to say, it’s been a lifesaver.

But what exactly is the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S? Well, it’s a device designed to deliver “mess-free cooling,” and is best-suited for desks and tables. I’ve spent the last three weeks with Dreo’s fan, and have used it at my desk, at the kitchen table, and even in a controlled testing space at Future Labs. And for the most part, it’s proved to be quite an impressive performer — though it’s not totally without its flaws. So, here’s how I’d rate my experience overall.

First of all, let’s talk about who this fan is for. In my view, this is best suited for someone who’s sat at their desk and wants a personal fan, but one they can also set on a bedside table on hotter evenings too. I’d not necessarily recommend it to keep the whole family cool on the sofa, though — it’s still pretty compact, and the fan head is relatively small, meaning you don’t get the huge amount of coverage that some of the best fans can provide.

So, how does the 516S fare when used at a desk? In my case, it was great. I found the mist setting to work exceptionally well, and it added a nice degree of coolness without making any mess or feeling too intense. There were 12 speeds to select, and it was easy to switch between the three mist levels depending on how hot I felt. What’s more, it can oscillate 150 degrees horizontally, up to 20 degrees up, and 10 degrees down, making it easy to tailor coverage to your specific space. Dreo states that the 516S can cool a room by 3C / 5.4F at a max speed of 8m/s.

Setting up misting is pretty straightforward too. Simply fill up the detachable 1.3L water tank, slot it into the fan, and you’re good to go. You have to flip the tank upside down before inserting it, and this can lead to a bit of minor leakage, but I never found this to be a big issue. The tank is also large enough to keep misting for hours on end — 12 hours, according to Dreo — and I never felt that I had to refill it too regularly. And if you’re not in a misty mood, then fear not — it’s easy to switch over to a fan only mode, which works nicely too.

Even when using the mist mode, I found the fan to run pretty quietly, which was especially useful when trying it out at night. I didn’t find it difficult to drift off to sleep with the fan at a middling speed, and it certainly couldn’t cut past my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones when trying it during the workday. One caveat, however, is that the Turbo mode — for those who want maximum power — can get fairly noisy. This could frustrate some when trying to watch TV or listen to music, but the mode did still work well when I needed a thorough blast of cold.

There are a number of other ways to customize your experience, though, such as a timer, a humidity preference setting, and a child lock system. Such options can be accessed through a number of control methods: touch controls, a remote, voice commands, or a companion app. This level of versatility is always welcome, and the inclusion of Alexa and Google voice assistants is pretty neat, especially given the 516S’s modest price — more on that later.

I will say, however, that the physical touch controls are… a little temperamental. Sometimes I found myself pressing a button over and over again trying to get it to function properly. That’s pretty frustrating, and often pushed me to reach for the remote instead. It’s no dealbreaker, especially with the various alternative control methods, but it’s worth noting all the same.

Before we sum up, let’s talk about design. This fan is decent-looking, with an easy-to-clean plastic exterior, attractive lighting on the control panel, and a transparent water tank, so you always know when it’s time for a refill. There’s also a practical carry handle, and you can easily dismantle the fan if you need to make a fix. The power cable is integrated, and you won’t be able to use this fan wirelessly, but for the cost, that’s understandable.

Speaking of cost, the 516S will typically set you back $99.99 / £99.99 (about AU$140), which in my view, is a very fair price. Sure, there are cheaper options available in this size-class, but you get mess-free and effective misting, a wide range of speeds, and a wide number of control methods, all without having to break the bank. So if you’re looking for a fan to use at your desk, or a personal cooling solution while watching TV for instance, I think the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is well-worth considering.

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review: price & release date

• List price of $99.99 / £99.99 (about AU$140)
• Released in April 2026

The Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S has a fairly modest price tag for all of the tech it crams in. It’s typically available for $99.99 / £99.99 (about AU$140), although I have seen it discounted with some online retailers. The fan released in April 2026 as part of Dreo’s 2026 summer lineup.

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review: specs

Should I buy the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review: also consider

How I tested the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S

• Tested across a three-week period
• Made use of all settings and features
• Used at home and in a controlled testing space at Future Labs

I spent three weeks testing the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S, using it at home on my desk and the kitchen table, and even trying it in a controlled environment at Future Labs.

During this time, I tested out all of the various features, sifted through the multiple connectivity and control options, and made sure to try the fan both with and without misting activated. During the majority of the testing period, I was using the fan on high temperature days with high humidity, making for a natural and authentic testing process.

More generally, I’ve tested tons of gadgets here at TechRadar across the course of multiple years. I’ve covered home and lifestyle products, audio gear, video games, and more as part of our dedicated reviews team.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: June 2026

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 is the latest tower fan from the British brand, and it offers up not only excellent cooling with owl-like oscillation, but also air purification.

That makes the Find+Follow Purifier Cool particularly helpful for those with asthma or allergies when they don't want dust, pollen and other particulars floating round their home.

But the party trick here is in the ‘Find+Follow’ name, and it’s what sets it apart from its predecessor, the Purifier Cool PC1, while also kicking the Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 to the curb.

This particular cooling and air purifying fan features a small camera that can identify people in its field of view, and then follow them round a room, ensuring the breeze is always directed where it’s needed.

It’s a good looking fan, but all this comes at a steep cost — $849.99 / £549.99 to be exact. With many of the best fans coming in at a lower price point, Dyson has its work cut out to justify the premium cost of its latest offering.

Things get off to a positive start with the fan arriving in suitably protective packaging that’s almost all cardboard — the main piece of plastic is a large bag over the fan itself. It’s easy to unpack, and setup via the free My Dyson app is straightforward.

You’ll need both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on your phone, allowing you to get the fan connected to your device, as well as your home network. I liked the ‘Getting started’ video in the How To section of the app: it’s just under two minutes long and walks you through the core functions of the fan.

Controls in the app are nicely laid out, with easy access to on/off, fan speed, and oscillation. There’s also auto and night modes, a timer setting to turn off the fan after a set duration, and the ability to switch from fan to diffuser mode, if you want to purify the air in your home without the main fan being active.

Shifting focus back to the fan itself, it stands tall with its large, oval bladeless design sitting atop a gold pedestal that hides the air purifying tech and HEPA H13-grade and K-Carbon filters. Dyson claims the filter “captures 99.95% of particles such as viruses and bacteria, as well as pollen, pet dander and mould spores”.

It not only cleans the air, but the K-carbon filter can remove smells and gases, handy if you’ve been over-enthusiastic in the kitchen and want to get rid of that burning smell. I found it did a pretty good job of getting rid of the burnt toast smell in the morning quicker than leaving it to dissipate on its own.

There’s a power button just above the circular display on the base of the fan, but Dyson doesn’t provide any further controls on the device itself. Instead you need to use the remote, which magnetically clings to the top of the fan for simple storage, or the app to adjust settings.

You can also link the PC3 to your smart home, allowing you to use Google’s Gemini or Amazon’s Alexa voice assistants to control the fan. Linking it to my smart home setup also allowed me to control the Find+Follow Purifier Cool from the Google Home app as well as the My Dyson app.

The display on the fan is subtle, and from a distance it can be difficult to read due to its small size, but you can get all the info displayed here in the My Dyson app.

You can adjust the information the display shows by clicking the ‘i’ button on the remote, allowing you to cycle through visuals for various data including; indoor air quality, indoor humidity, indoor temperature, and remaining filter life. It’s useful stuff, but it’s better viewed in the app.

I was particularly impressed with the range of oscillation on offer, with the ability to rotate 45, 90, 180, and 350 degrees. Pop the Find+Follow Purifier Cool in the middle of a room and it’ll reach almost every area.

This was particularly useful when it came to placing the fan in a bigger room, as the huge angle of coverage provides far more flexibility. In my large, open-plan living space I could position it towards the center and have it reach most areas — although there was one small shortcoming: the length of the power cord.

At 1.8m it’s similar to many other rival fans, but as there are 350 degrees of movement, this is a fan you might be more inclined to position further away from a wall outlet to get maximum benefit. I was able to plug it into my kitchen island, allowing it to stand well away from a wall, without the cord or an extension cable draped across the floor — but your home’s setup will be different, so it’s worth considering where you’ll be plugging it in.

Once on, Dyson’s clever bladeless design delivers smooth air flow that feels like a natural breeze moving through your home, rather than the harsh buffeting you get from some other propeller and tower fans.

Coupled with its quiet operation — especially at lower fan speeds — you might find yourself forgetting it’s even on. My partner questioned whether I’d left the back door open as she felt a breeze, but it was simply the Dyson’s caress of the air is so gentle that it didn't feel artificially generated.

In our open-plan living space, I needed a fan speed between eight and 10 to really feel the effect during the warm weather, when sitting around four to five meters from the fan. In my small office (16m²), a fan speed of three was enough to keep me feeling cooler, with the Find+Follow Purifier Cool positioned a couple of meters away.

At its highest speed setting of 10, the Find+Follow Purifier Cool was still relatively quiet at 40-60dB, allowing you to comfortably have a conversation without the need to shout over the noise. Halving the speed sees the sound generated dropped to 20dB (similar to a mosquito), while at its lowest speed I got a reading of around 15dB, just slightly louder than normal breathing (10dB). If you’re looking for a quiet fan, the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool is a strong contender, but the Duux Whisper Flex 2 has it beat, just.

The quiet operation meant I was able to keep the fan on overnight in our bedroom, with the low level hum not loud enough to disturb my sleep. My partner is a lighter sleeper, and after an initial adjustment, they were able to sleep with it on as well.

And then there’s the Dyson's Find+Follow party-trick. Enable this mode by pressing the button on the remote or in the app, and the fan will scan the room looking for people. Once it’s detected a person, it’ll direct air flow towards them. Get up and move around the room, and the purifying fan will oscillate to maintain air flow in your direction. It doesn’t rotate particularly quickly, but it’ll keep moving until it picks you up again.

If you leave the room briefly, the Find+Follow Purifier Cool will wait patiently in a ‘dormant’ state for your return. The fan will continue, but movement will only resume when you re-enter the room and it picks you back up.

When there’s clear sightlines in an uncluttered room, the Find+Follow AI does a reasonably good job of tracking movement, delicately rotating as you move about. However, I found if I passed too closely and too quickly, it wouldn’t always continue tracking me, even though I was still within its range of movement. This feature works best in large, open-plan spaces where you don’t need to pass too closely to the fan itself. In smaller rooms, the AI tracking can struggle a little more.

In cases where you leave the room for more than an hour, the system will switch to Auto mode, where the fan’s sensors will adjust the settings to reach the target air quality for the room.

For those concerned about the privacy implications of this technology, Dyson says the: “AI vision system never identifies anyone and only detects presence. Images are processed instantly within the machine, deleted and never leave the device.” And you can turn off the follow mode at any point using the remote, app, or smart home voice assistant.

When it comes to maintenance, Dyson’s bladeless design makes things super simple, with the wipe of a damp, lint-free cloth all that’s required. You do need to keep an eye on the air intake holes on the base though, as I found pet hair from my two cats would build up over the course of a few days. Dyson suggests using a soft brush to remove this debris.

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool is a highly accomplished purifying fan with useful modes, impressive features, and a fun — if slightly creepy — follow mode that a subset of users will find beneficial. Though I wouldn’t say the addition of this tracking camera does enough to fully justify Dyson’s asking price.

I’ve no problem saying that if you have the money, and are looking for a true flagship purifying fan, the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool absolutely delivers. It’s supremely easy to set up and use, while the performance matches other high-end multi-purpose rivals. But if you’re bulking at the list price, there are plenty of reasonably priced fans — and Dyson purifying fans without Find+Follow — that provide similar levels of performance for less.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review: Price & release date

• Premium price tag of $849.99 / £549.99
• Costs considerably more than its closest rivals
• Available in the UK and US from June 2026; not on sale in Australia

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool has been on sale since May 2026 in the UK, and went on sale in early June 2026 in the US but it's unfortunately not currently available in Australia. You can buy it via Dyson directly and a number of major third-party retailers.

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool costs $849.99 / £549.99, making it one of the more expensive fan and purifier combos on the market. It’s not Dyson’s most premium purifier (that’s the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde), but it is the firm’s most expensive fan, nudging out the $499.99 / £399.99 Hot + Cool HF1.

While the Find+Follow comes with its eponymous following camera tech, that has added $300 / £100 to the retail price of the Purifier Cool PC1 it replaces. The PC1 is still available though and is generally discounted too, if you want similar cooling and purifying results without the person-tracking tech.

If you’re not fussed about the heating or air purifying features, Dyson’s cheapest comparable fan is the Cool AM07 tower at $399.99 / £349.99, although this older model is sometimes discounted.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review: Specs

Should I buy the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review: Also consider

How I tested the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool

• Used the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool for a week
• Used it in the bedroom, office and main living space
• Tested various modes, including Find+Follow and Sleep

I used the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool at home in the UK during a week of very warm May weather (28-31C / 82-88F). I set it up in my open-plan living space, master bedroom, and small home office, to experience how effective it was in different locations.

I tested the range of modes the fan has to offer, including auto, sleep, and Find+Follow. I operated it with the remote, via the My Dyson and Google Home apps, and I even asked Gemini via the smart speakers in my home to adjust fan speed and turn the unit on and off.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: June 2026

Update: As predicted, a bunch of these have now sold out (and especially those over 10,000 BTU) — I've updated the list below to show those still available to buy.

Brace yourselves: we're heading for another heatwave. If you're wondering if it's time to invest in some portable air conditioning, I'd suggest getting on it sooner rather than later. Units start selling out every time the temperatures begin to rise, and stocks have barely had time to replenish after the last heatwave a few weeks ago. Below, I've rounded up the models that are currently available to buy. I've stuck to trusted appliance brands — there are more options available at Amazon from brands I haven't heard of, and if you want to risk it with those, that's on you.

A few housekeeping notes before we dive in. I've split these picks into 10,000 BTU and above, and less than 10,000 BTU. This stands for British Thermal Units, and is how we measure air con capacity. The higher the number, the larger the room the unit can cool. We suggest opting for a minimum of 10,000 BTU — and if you have a large room to cool, you'll want to go higher.

Your air con unit needs somewhere to live, and it needs to be near a plug socket and a window.. Said window is where the duct will hang out, expelling the warm air, and you'll need to block off that window when the unit is in place; most models come with some kind of kit to help you do this. Also remember that air conditioner units can get very heavy, so have a plan for navigating any stairs — some retailers offer an unpacking service. Further to that, don't expect to be regularly moving your AC from room to room once you've set it up.

Still in stock

Now out of stock

The following have now sold out, but in many cases you can sign up for alerts when the product comes back in stock.

The temperature is set to soar over the next week, reaching over 30C in parts of the UK, so if you don't already have a fan handy, this is the time to grab one. Thankfully you don't have to pay a lot for something powerful enough to keep you cool, and here I've rounded up a collection of 11 great options ranging from £39.99 to £99.99.

Yes, you can find cheaper fans on Amazon, but I've been careful to only pick models from brands that I trust, or that I've tested myself. For example, the cheapest model here, the Dimplex Desk Fan, is currently sitting right beside me while I work. It might look simple, but its four power modes pack a real punch, it's rechargeable so you can carry it anywhere, and it folds down flat when not in use.

I'm also a big fan of the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, which I gave a full five stars in my review, and my colleague Cesci Angell loves the Meacofan Sefte Table Air Circulator, which she said "blasts out impressively strong airflow at a pleasingly low volume". Read on for more great cooling options, and be prepared for the warm weather ahead.

Budget-friendly fans

Coway Airmega 100: one-minute review

The Coway Airmega 100 is a small, cylindrical air purifier. It's designed for rooms up to around 63 square meters, packing an impressive Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 244 cubic meters per hour and a three-stage filtration system (pre-filter, True HEPA and deodorization filter).

Design-wise, it's a compact white cylinder that's light enough to carry one-handed and small enough to sit on a desk or tuck into a corner. The touch controls on top are simple and intuitive, with an air-quality indicator ring that shifts color based on what it detects.

Performance is where this purifier really shines, though. It's remarkably quiet even for one of the best air purifiers, especially in sleep mode where it drops to just 20 dB, and the auto mode does a good job of ramping up when it detects something in the air. There was also a noticeable reduction in surface dust after a few days of running it, and cooking smells triggered the sensor quickly. While it won’t eradicate stronger smells completely as a purifier with pellet-based carbon filters would, it still performs brilliantly when it comes to everyday dust, pollen and pet dander.

As you’d expect, there are some downsides, though, such as a lack of any Wi-Fi connectivity or app control. A quick look at the Amazon reviews will highlight a number of reports of replacement filters being hard to source in the UK, and while build quality is perfectly fine, it does feel a bit budget in places. Nevertheless, at around £110 / $84 on sale, it represents exceptional bang for your buck.

Coway Airmega 100 review: Specs

Coway Airmega 100 review: Price and release date

• Available now
• List price: £109.99 / $83.99 / AU$199

The Coway Airmega 100 is available to buy now in the UK, US and Australia. It sits at the affordable end of the air purifier market, and even at its full UK RRP of £149.99 / $129.99 / AU$199, it undercuts most comparable models from Philips, Blueair and Levoit, and it's a fraction of what you'd pay for anything from Dyson. At the time of writing, the unit can be picked up direct from Coway for a sale price of $83.99 / £109.99.

Replacement filters cost a very reasonable £27.99 / $39.99 / AU$59, especially compared to the £69.99 you'll pay for the larger Airmega 350's filters. Coway says they should last around 12 months, though in dustier environments you may need to swap them more often.

One thing to flag: a few buyers have reported difficulty finding genuine replacement filters on Coway's UK site, with stock appearing to come and go. Filters are available on Amazon, but some buyers have reported sketchy availability from Coway’s official web store, so it's worth keeping an eye on this if you're planning to keep this long-term.

Running costs are minimal too. With a 25W motor, you're looking at pennies per day even if you leave it running around the clock.

• Value score: 4.5 / 5

Coway Airmega 100 review: Design

• Compact and minimal, fits anywhere
• Touch controls are simple and intuitive
• Feels a little cheap, and there are no carry handles

The Airmega 100 is essentially a small, white cylinder measuring just 8.66 inches / 220mm across and about 15.75 inches / 400mm tall. This compact size means it can easily sit on a bedside table, a desk, or the floor in a corner and, at 6.61 pounds / 3kg, it's light enough to pick up and move around to put wherever you need it with ease. The minimal white finish might leave a bit to be desired, but it’s nice enough and will blend in with pretty much any room without drawing attention to itself.

As for the touch panel on top, this is a straightforward design that makes it super easy to navigate, sporting haptic buttons for fan speed, sleep mode, timer, light on/off and a control panel lock. Wrapping around the 360-degree fan grille is an air quality indicator ring that changes color from blue (clean) through green and yellow to red (polluted), giving you a quick visual check on air quality status without needing to press anything. I found the whole thing easy to get to grips with, no manual needed.

If I had to pull out a negative, I’d say build quality is where the Airmega 100 lets itself down a bit. It looks nice enough from a distance, but up close the plastic feels a bit on the cheap side. It's not flimsy or poorly made; it just doesn't have that reassuring heft you get from pricier models. There are also no carry handles, which is a minor gripe given how light it is, but still feels like something Coway could have added without much effort.

Air is drawn in through inlets at the bottom and expelled upwards through the top grilles, so, like its bigger sibling the Airmega 350, don't expect it to double up as a fan. This device is for cleaning air, not cooling you down.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Coway Airmega 100 review: Features and performance

• Impressively quiet, especially in sleep mode
• Auto mode reacts quickly to changes in air quality
• Carbon filter won't tackle strong cooking smells

For such a compact air purifier at such a low price, the Airmega 100 performs surprisingly well. The three-stage filter (pre-filter, True HEPA and deodorization) does a top job of capturing dust, pollen and pet dander, and I noticed a genuine drop in surface dust after just a few days of running it in my open-plan living and dining room.

The auto mode is the standout feature here, though. With a built-in PM2.5 sensor, it’s able to monitor air quality in real time and adjust fan speed accordingly. Start cooking, spray some deodorant or disturb some dust, and the ring will shift color before the fan kicks in. Then, once the air clears, it’ll settle back down. It's properly hands-off, and works really well.

Noise levels are also excellent. In sleep mode, the Airmega 100 drops to a claimed 20 dB, and I can confirm it's near-silent. I ran it overnight in the same room and totally forgot it was there. Even on its highest speed, it's not what I'd call loud, topping out at around 52 dB — that's roughly dishwasher territory, so for a bedroom or home office it's ideal.

The one area where the filtration falls a bit short is when it comes to strong odors. The deodorization filter uses a carbon-coated fiber rather than the pellet-based activated carbon you'll find in pricier models. While it handles light smells and general stuffiness fine, don't expect it to neutralize strong cooking smells or smoke from a burnt pan. For everyday dust, allergens and general air quality improvement, though, it's perfectly capable.

As with its older brother, the Coway Airmega 350, there's no Wi-Fi connectivity, app nor smart-home integration on the Airmega 100. This means you can't check air quality stats remotely or control it from your phone. That's not ideal, although — unlike on the pricier models — it doesn’t feel as much of a missing feature here. Still, it still feels like something Coway should be thinking about, as a basic app showing air quality trends and filter life isn’t exactly a cutting edge feature these days.

Nevertheless, the purifier’s timer options (you can choose between one, two, four or eight hours) and the control panel lock are both pretty useful additions. And there's a mood-light feature that provides a soft glow for bedroom use, which is a nice touch.

• Features & performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Coway Airmega 100?

Don't buy it if…

Coway Airmega 100 review: Also consider

How I tested the Coway Airmega 100

I used the Coway Airmega 100 for several weeks across different spaces in my home, from my home office to open plan living room and dining area. I tested all fan speeds and modes, monitored the sensor's reaction to cooking, dust and general household air, and assessed the build quality, noise levels, filter access and overall usability throughout.

• First reviewed: May 2026
• Read more about how we test

I think it's finally about time I get a good coffee maker for my home. Years of getting by with a drip filter machine and disappointment after buying a cheap milk frother mean my eye has been drawn to a proper espresso machine. And now, with Prime Day almost here, I've spotted this deal on the Breville/Sage Barista Express that has me tempted to upgrade.

• Browse all early Prime Day deals at Amazon

Why has this one caught my eye in particular? Well, it's a record-low price for the top-rated Breville/Sage Barista Express. Plus, it's one that our experts have picked as one of the best espresso machines we've tested.

With its ability to make all sorts of drinks with ease, a bevy of adjustable settings, a handy integrated grinder, and a powerful steam wand for milk texturing, it has everything I need to help me skip the coffee shop and whip up a brew at home. It'll be an investment now, but with the amount of on-the-go coffee I've been buying lately, it'll pay for itself in no time, I'm sure.

Today's best espresso machine deals

What's helping convince me even more that this could be the right coffee machine for me is our very positive Breville/Sage the Barista Express review, in which we awarded the appliance an impressive 4.5 stars out of five.

We highlighted how simple it was to use, the many adjustable settings to get your drink exactly right, and the "tasty espresso" our reviewer enjoyed. Given that I'm a bit of a coffee newbie too, I appreciate that it isn't too complex, but I'm willing to experiment with all the different options to get drinks how I want them. That should be a fun learning experience.

The full price is definitely a pain point, but the sting is taken out a little with this cut to the cheapest it's ever been in both the US and the UK. Can't ask for more than that right now, so I will be pondering on it a bit more before considering hitting the buy button.

More early Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
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• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
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• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More early Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
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• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

• The process makes espresso-strength coffee in under three minutes
• It brews at room temperature via ultrasonic waves
• The process reduces energy use by up to 75%

Scientists have come up with a way of making coffee at room temperature, and it's much faster than any cold brew: where that takes 12 to 24 hours, this new method makes espresso in less than three minutes. The secret? Ultrasound.

As Francisco Trujillo, senior lecturer at the School of Chemical Engineering in Sydney, explains, "As someone from Colombia, I like to think coffee is in my blood — and I'm proud to come from a country known for producing some of the best coffee beans in the world. So perhaps that's why I have spent a lot of time in my laboratory with my team asking a simple question: does espresso really need hot water?"

The answer, it seems, might be no. According to Trujillo, the ultrasonic espresso has "the same richness, the same boldness," and a quarter of the energy usage. In taste tests 100 coffee drinkers couldn't tell the difference between traditional and ultrasonic espresso, and in some cases they preferred the latter.

How does an ultrasonic coffee machine work?

Instead of heat, Trujillo's coffee machine uses ultrasound: sound waves at a frequency much higher than our ears can hear. By placing a transducer against the side of a traditional espresso basket and vibrating it at high frequency, the vibrations create a phenomenon called acoustic cavitation where little bubbles form and collapse in the water.

As Trujillo explains, "When these bubbles collapse near coffee particles, they produce microscopic jets and forces that act a little like scrubbing brushes. They pit and fracture the surface of the coffee grounds, helping flavor compounds, oils and caffeine move into the water much faster than they normally would at room temperature."

It's not quite a simple as giving your coffee a good shake. The team found that the brewing ratio was crucial, with too much water making too weak an espresso and too little making espresso extraction difficult. The size of the coffee grind also made a difference.

For now this is just an experiment, but Trujillo can see multiple applications for the technology: in coffee machines at home and in small coffee shops to save energy, but also in ready to drink coffee priducts. "A concentrated room-temperature coffee could be used directly in bottled drinks, milk-based beverages or cold coffee products. It can also be shipped as a concentrate and diluted later."

I don't think the best bean-to-cup coffee makers have anything to worry about just yet, and in all honesty I'd rather stick with my thermoblock coffee machine because three minutes to make a coffee is about two minutes too long for me first thing in the morning. But it's fascinating and could mean a whole new generation of to-go drinks in the not too distant future.

If you're not a wash-and-go type of person, you need a travel hair dryer — and if you pick the right one, you might never go back to your full-size one. I recently switched my mini travel styler for the light and breezy T3 Afar, and I was so impressed, I've realised it's all I need — and you might too.

My first travel hairdryer (a little Remington model) was very simple — it had one speed and one temperature, but it folded down small enough to stick in a bag with relative ease, and it was a big improvement on the offerings in most hotels.

Hotel dryers usually fall into two categories: either they blast you with a jet of desert air, or they’re so underpowered that they only wheeze warmly in your general direction. You’ll usually find the holiday hairdryer in a drawer, nestled in a drawstring bag, but if you’re unlucky, then the dryer might be tethered to the wall using a coiled cable like an old phone handset. Want to style your hair over by the window, in the natural light? Not a chance.

Even a basic travel dryer will make your life easier and your hair happier, and today's portables are a far cry from my fold-away Remington. Now you can expect adjustable heat and speed to protect your scalp, and ionic technology for smoother results (the only thing flying away should be you).

Opting for a travel dryer doesn’t mean simplifying your styling, either. The T3 Afar is available with an optional diffuser for drying curls, and the Dyson Supersonic Travel (which launched just a few weeks ago) is compatible with all regular Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachments, including the wide-toothed comb and concentrator nozzles.

The best travel dryers also offer universal voltage, so the appliance automatically adapts wherever you go. You might need to pop a small plug converter into the dryer's carry case, but that’s all.

All of this comes in an appliance that’s small, lightweight, and tough enough to survive being thrown around in a suitcase. They’re so good, in fact, that after trying the T3 Afar, I realized that I simply didn't need anything else.

A travel hair dryer has advantages at home, too — particularly if you live in a small apartment where storage is scarce. Having only a travel dryer means I can stash it in my nightstand rather than leaving it out, and the Afar has a handy cable tidy to keep everything neat, too. No more tangled cables for a hungry robot vacuum to try to swallow.

Finally, if you're still not convinced, travel dryers are usually less expensive than their full-size counterparts, too. The Dyson Supersonic Travel is $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$449, while the standard Dyson Supersonic Origin is $419.99 / £279.99 / AU$599. The T3 Afar is $199.99 / £159.99 (about AU$280), while the bigger T3 Airluxe is $224.99 / £199.99 (about AU$320).

Next time you're looking to replace your hairdryer, you should seriously consider making it a portable one. Your hair and wallet will be happier for it.

KitchenAid KF4: two-minute review

The KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4 is a new addition to the company’s lineup, and though it looks very similar to earlier models like the KF3 and KF6, it’s considerably smaller and a great choice for compact kitchens. It also offers particularly good noise shielding, and during my tests it proved quieter than its siblings when grinding and brewing.

It has the same Intelligrind system as KitchenAid’s larger machines, making it easy to achieve the correct dosage for your chosen coffee. With just a few manual tweaks of the grinder (which can be adjusted via a dial), you’ll soon be enjoying consistently delicious, well-extracted espresso.

The KF4’s automatic milk system lets you use that espresso in delicious lattes and cappuccinos, and while it’s optimized for dairy, it worked perfectly well with barista-style oat milk as well, producing foam that was almost as thick and creamy, and just the right temperature.

It’s a shame, then, that the KF4’s ‘iced’ espresso and coffee options didn’t deliver the results I’d hoped. Many espresso machines offer cold extraction, which takes longer to brew but delivers a drink with a mellow flavor that’s easily turned into an iced latte or enjoyed on its own. The KF4 brews its ‘iced’ drinks at a lower temperature than usual, but the resulting coffee is still hot enough to melt ice within a minute or two, leaving you with a drink that’s diluted and lukewarm.

Otherwise, this is an excellent mid-range automatic espresso machine that’s solidly made, easy to use, and simple to keep clean. Its components aren’t dishwasher-safe, but its excellent set of maintenance programs means keeping everything hygienic (including the milk system) is a piece of cake.

KitchenAid KF4: specifications

KitchenAid KF4: price and availability

• Launched April 2026
• Available in US and UK
• List price $1,299.99 / £899 (about AU$1,850)

The KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4 launched in April 2026 with a list price of $1,299.99 / £899, putting it in the middle of KitchenAid’s range of automatic coffee makers. That’s about AU$1,850, but the KF4 isn’t yet available in Australia.

If you like the look of the KF4 but your budget won’t quite stretch that far, take a look at the KitchenAid KF3. It's very similar to the KF4 but has a slightly smaller range of drinks and no milk carafe. Instead, you place the end of the milk tube in a glass or cup, which is a less elegant solution, but one that cuts the price to $999.99 / £749 (about AU$1,420).

For comparison, KitchenAid’s top-end fully automatic espresso machine, the KF8, is priced at $1,999.99 / £1,899 / AU$2,599, while the lower-specced KF2 is $799.99 / £699 (about AU$1,140).

• Value score: 4/5

KitchenAid KF4: design

• Smaller than previous KitchenAid automatic espresso machines
• Milk system is easy to use and clean
• No components are dishwasher-safe

The KF4 looks very much like KitchenAid’s previous automatic coffee makers, but with one significant difference: it’s much more compact. The KF6 measures 10.2 x 14.3 x 18.6 inches / 260 x 363 x 473mm, while the new KF4 is 7.68 x 6.3 x 18.7 inches / 195 x 160 x 475mm (H x W x D). This allows it to slide into a much narrower space, making it a great option for bijou kitchens.

Otherwise, the KF4 follows the same design language as other KitchenAid machines with its boxy shape and rounded corners, and a choice of porcelain white or matt black finishes. However, the company has made a few thoughtful tweaks here. The brushed stainless steel at the top of earlier models has been replaced with plastic, for example, and the metal around the edge of the drip tray has a satin finish. The overall look is sleeker and more modern, and the area surrounding the display is no longer susceptible to gathering unsightly fingerprints.

The 3.5 inch / 8.8cm color touchscreen is supplemented by six buttons: four that provide quick access to the menu, profiles, rinsing cycles, and machine settings; one that initiates brewing; and one that cancels the current drink. The screen has a noticeably lower resolution than other espresso machines I’ve tested recently, such as the Philips Café Aromis, but it’s clear and responsive.

The bean hopper is generously sized, and unlike many other brands, KitchenAid’s designers have opted for an opaque lid with a silicone seal. This means you can’t check how many beans are left at a glance, but ensures that your coffee isn’t exposed to unnecessary light and air, thereby keeping it fresh longer. The lid is fully removable rather than hinged, which makes the hopper easier to access if you keep your coffee maker underneath a wall cabinet, and it has a chute for a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you want to mix things up. A suitably-sized scoop is provided with the machine.

The drip tray is deep, helping prevent spills, and has a large spout at the back for easy emptying. Used coffee grounds drop into a removable bin in the center, and during testing I was pleased to see that this was a very tidy process. Some espresso machines manage to spread wet grounds all over the drip tray and the interior of the case, but not the KF4.

The water tank is large too, and feels very sturdy. It has a hinged lid and a recessed handle, making it easy to remove, carry, and slide back into place without spilling. The KF4 is also supplied with a water-testing strip and water filter. The tank is quite narrow, so reaching inside to fit the filter can be tricky, but this doesn’t need to be done too often.

The KF4’s milk system is the same as that of the KF8, with a lidded carafe that connects to the machine via a silicone tube. Lift a small cover on the side of the KF4’s coffee dispenser to reveal a socket, push one end of the hose into place, then attach the other to the carafe. It’s not as neat as the Philips LatteGo system, where the milk carafes are made from three simple pieces of hard plastic, but the KF4’s rinsing and cleaning programs help keep everything hygienic. The milk carafe can be stored in the fridge between uses, but none of the removable parts — including the milk system, drip tray, and grounds container — are dishwasher-safe.

The height of the dispenser can be adjusted to accommodate different-sized cups, with a good range of movement that suits everything from an espresso cup to a 350ml coffee mug. The movement isn’t as smooth as with the latest machines from Philips and De’Longhi, which is a shame, but that's a minor quibble.

• Design score: 4.5/5

KitchenAid KF4: performance

• Consistently well-extracted espresso
• Good milk foaming, despite lack of dedicated plant milk mode
• Four user profiles, which can store four custom drinks each
• ‘Iced’ drinks are brewed at a lower temperature, but are still hot

Most importantly, the KitchenAid KF4 brews an excellent espresso. Its Intelligrind system selects the best dose for your coffee beans, and it’s easy to tweak the grind size for the optimum extraction. It produced very consistent results during my tests, and once I’d dialled in the best grind size for each type of coffee, I could be confident that it would always taste great.

Milk-foaming is great as well. Although there’s no option specifically for foaming plant milk, as there is with the KF8, I found it performed perfectly well using barista-style oat milk. I got the thickest, silkiest foam when using full-fat dairy milk, but plant and semi-skimmed milk were both fine as alternatives. However, it’s worth knowing that, unlike some other coffee makers I’ve tested recently (including the De’Longhi Primadonna Aromatic and Philips Café Aromis), the KitchenAid KF4 can only produce hot milk foam, so iced lattes and cappuccinos are off the menu.

There are four user profiles, which will be plenty for most households. The downside is that each profile can only store four custom drinks. I found that the default volumes of espresso and milk were quite small, so I would have preferred to be able to create a lot more bespoke presets for quick access.

I was disappointed with the KF4’s two iced drink options (iced coffee and iced espresso). Many modern coffee makers — from the budget-friendly De’Longhi Dedica Duo through to the prosumer Jura J10 — offer cold-extracted espresso. This uses ambient temperature water direct from the tank and produces a drink with a more mellow flavor than hot espresso, which is ideal for iced drinks with or without milk.

The KF4, on the other hand, takes the same approach as the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series by asking you to add a handful of ice to your cup and then pouring a shot of hot espresso over the top. KitchenAid says that the ‘iced’ espresso and coffee are brewed at a lower temperature than usual, but during my tests they were still hot enough to quickly melt the ice in my cup, leaving me with a diluted, lukewarm drink. I’ve come to expect better results from KitchenAid’s machines, and it was disappointing.

These two ‘iced’ options occupy two spots in the KF4’s menu that could be used for other drinks. The KF4 doesn’t have a preset for brewing a cortado, for example, which is a shame since it’s a favorite of mine.

There’s better news when it comes to noise shielding. KitchenAid’s fully automatic coffee makers are some of the quietest on the market, and the KF4 is no exception. In fact, it’s one of the quietest machines I’ve ever used, averaging 72dB while grinding and 60dB while brewing.

Maintenance is refreshingly simple and thorough as well, with a choice of quick and deep cleaning options. The machine rinses itself upon startup and shutdown, prompts you to empty the drip tray and grounds container regularly, and asks you to rinse the milk system after each use. When it’s time for a more intensive clean, open the settings menu, and you’ll find options for washing the milk system and brewing unit with special cleaners. The KF4 is supplied with cleaning tablets for the brew unit, though you’ll need to buy descaler and milk system cleaner separately. There’s also an option for evaporating all the water in the machine, which is a brilliant feature I wish all automatic coffee machines had. It makes it easy to keep everything hygienically dry, and is particularly helpful if you’re going to be storing or shipping it.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the KitchenAid KF4?