I'm the Which? Tech Editor: here are 6 products I'd never buy

Big brands are always trying to get us to buy stuff to boost their profits – but not every tech gadget or service is worth your money.

Below, I've rounded up a selection of products and services that you should probably steer clear of. All of my picks are backed by extensive Which? research guaranteed to save you money.

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Our expert says:

'One of the perks of my job is having access to our independent research. Because we're always on the lookout for the products and services that offer the best value, I get a heads-up when our experts have uncovered something interesting.

If you're already a subscriber, you might know some of these six already. For everyone else – I hope this helps.'    

Lisa Barber, Which? Tech Magazine editor

Not yet a Which? subscriber? Find out how you can benefit if you join Which?

Video: Tech products I'd never buy

1. Antivirus software

At a glance: Our reviews have uncovered high-scoring software that doesn't cost a penny.

Hear me out. I'm not saying you shouldn't install antivirus software – you definitely should. Instead, what I'm saying is that you don't necessarily need to pay for it.

As part of our rigorous antivirus software tests, we check to see which options effectively protect against viruses, ransomware and phishing attacks designed to compromise and steal your data.

Interestingly, the top-scoring antivirus uncovered by our testing is completely free and offers a level of malware protection we'd expect to see in paid-for software. It also has minimal ads, something that can be annoying with free software.

Considering that some antivirus software packages cost close to £100, you can see why we feel so strongly that you should stick to our free top-scoring software.

Our guide to the best antivirus reveals which programs will keep your data secure.

2. An 8K TV

At a glance: There simply isn't enough 8K content in the world (yet) to justify buying an 8K TV.

Don't fall for the marketing hype surrounding 8K TVs. For now, there's hardly any 8K content out there that you can enjoy – no streaming services or channels are dedicated to the format, and networks are desperately trying to play catch-up with the technology. (See also: What is 8K TV?)

Netflix took three years to start supporting 4K content – but even that requires at least 25Mbps to get a reliable stream, and 8K streams could potentially demand double that.

If you're shopping for a new TV with dazzling picture quality, your best bet is a 4K OLED model. Our extensive tests have uncovered more than 40 Best Buy OLEDs, the cheapest of which will cost you around £800. For less expensive options (there are plenty), check our TV reviews.

Our pick of the best TVs reveals models that have aced our picture and sound quality tests.

3. The latest iPad or MacBook

At a glance: Previous-generation models are cheaper – consult our round-up of the best iPads and the best MacBooks to see which will best suit your needs and bank balance.

Apple products have a reputation for quality, which is why it’s a big deal in the tech world when a new version is launched.

However, what the canny buyer knows is that this means the previous generation is about to drop in price. For most of us, that previous-generation model is more than good enough for what we need it to do. Often, it’s only professionals who need the immense power of the very latest iPad or MacBook.

iPad

Take the iPad Air 13-inch 6th generation, for example.

At the time of writing, you can expect to pay around £800, but opting for an older model will save you a tidy sum. Assuming you're set on the iPad Air, you could consider the iPad Air 2022, which is up for grabs at less than £500:

MacBook

The latest MacBook model to pass through our lab is the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3, 2024), available for around £1,170. It has plenty of power, but you don't need to spend that much if you don't want to.

The slightly smaller, slightly older Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2022, M2) is less than £850 at various retailers:

If you want to save even more money, look for a refurbished model from a reputable retailer. We suggest checking our guides on how to buy a second-hand laptop and where to buy a refurbished iPad.

On all our product reviews, you can see up-to-date information on the cheapest reputable retailers – see our tablet reviews and laptop reviews.

4. Adobe Photoshop

At a glance: We've uncovered a feature-packed alternative that's free to download.

Unless you’re a professional, you probably don’t need Photoshop. There are several paid-for plans available, but none of them are particularly cheap – the cheapest is £9.98 for the first three months, then £21.98 for another nine months. Consider saving your money and trying Paint.net instead.

Windows users will feel right at home, as Paint.net is based on the old Paint tool that Microsoft bundled with its operating system. It has a powerful set of tools, including a clone brush, support for layers and you can undo mistakes as many times as you like.

The version on the Microsoft store is currently £8.39. To download the free version, simply head to GetPaint.net and click Download at the top of the page. If an ad appears, close it. On the Download page, scroll down and select Download Now. Under Free Download Now, click the Paint.net link.

If you know your image-editing stuff, GNU Image Replacement Program (known as GIMP) is a more complex, open-source editor that has a much steeper learning curve. The manuals and tutorials on the GIMP website are first-rate, though.

Love photo editing? You need a decent screen – we reveal the best computer monitors

5. Unbranded electronics, healthcare or baby and child products on online marketplaces

At a glance: Which? expert reviews continue to uncover dangerous goods available online.

We’ve been exposing dangerous products on online marketplaces for years, and while some platforms have improved in keeping these goods off sale, it’s not nearly enough.

Our expert research leads us to one simple conclusion: avoid any potentially dangerous items if they’re unbranded. That includes electronics, healthcare and products for babies or children.

Everything from dangerous baby sleeping bags and teeth whiteners to electric heaters has failed our tests. Do your research, check Which? reviews and stick to brands you know, even if it costs you a bit more money.

Find out how to shop safely online and avoid dangerous products.

6. Printer manufacturer ink

At a glance: Our research shows you can cut ink costs significantly by using third-party ink.

If your printer accepts third-party cartridges, you shouldn’t be buying own-brand ink. Based on our research, you can cut your ink costs by as much as 62%, depending on your printer.

The average printer lasts about 13 years, according to our survey, and a typical user buys two sets of cartridges a year. Taking the average cost of £62.74 for cartridge sets for two popular printers from Canon and Epson, this means you’d pay £1,631.24 on ink over 13 years. But after taking the average cost of compatible cartridge sets from well-known third-party ink suppliers, we saw that you could have paid just £613.34 – a £1,017.90 saving.

We know that many people are put off third-party ink as they’re worried it might damage their printer or they’re worried about the quality. That’s why we survey thousands of printer owners to find out about the ink they recommend, and then conduct our own lab tests on top.

Discover the best cheap printer ink cartridges, and where to buy them

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