Robot vacs and fitness trackers: 10 product trends that defined the decade

The past 10 years have been eventful, to say the least. And, in many ways, the products that have piqued the interest of millions of Which? readers reflect this.

Some of Which?’s product areas never go out of fashion and remain perennially popular – washing machines, TVs, cars and mattresses among them. But it’s the movers and shakers – the products that rose from nowhere to become must-haves – that helped define the decade.

We rewind to 2014 to look back at the products you've loved reading about each year, based on the number of people who visited our reviews. Plus, our experts give their take on what might be in store for 2025.

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2024: Year of the robot vacuum

Robot vacuums really cleaned up in 2024. Over the course of the year, visits to our advice on these automated home helpers rose by 92%.

Some we tested were even clever enough to climb over small ledges and successfully detect and avoid obstacles. There are also models with self-empty stations, which automatically suction debris from the vacuum’s dustbin into a larger bag or bin. Not only does this save you the task of emptying the vacuum yourself, it also means it can be left to its own devices for some time.

These nifty gadgets rolled their way into the homes and hearts of many, with the promise of making the chore of cleaning floors yourself a thing of the past. But we've found that not all robot vacuums live up to expectations – read more in our guide to the best robot vacuums.

Which? robot vacuum cleaners expert Sabrina Sahota says:

'Robot vacuums have been around for more than 20 years, but the models of the past are infamous for knocking into furniture or working off their own random schedules. Manufacturers claim the latest tech has vastly improved their intelligence, with many features controlled via your smartphone.

'All the robot vacs we tested pair with an app. With these you can set schedules, map, choose different cleaning modes and set no-go barriers around furniture.

'It’s worth reading our reviews before you buy to see if they’re the right cleaning tool for you. They’re pricey appliances, with some costing more than £1,000, and we found big differences in cleaning power, navigation and obstacle detection in the models we tested.'

 Prefer a more classic model? See our expert picks of the best vacuum cleaners, and discover the most reliable vacuum cleaner brands

2023: Year of the air fryer

The cost of living crisis brought one particular product to the fore as people tried to save money: namely the air fryer.

Thousands of people consulted our page on how to buy the best air fryer in 2023, which meant it finished the year as one of our most popular product pages.

Which? air fryers expert Fran Roberts-Thornton says:

'It would be easy to attribute the popularity of air fryers solely to their health and money-saving claims. Many people do buy them for these reasons – we know they can save you money if you opt for the right model – and they use much less oil than deep fat fryers, as we found when we compared air fryers vs deep fat fryers.

'However, I believe consumers stick with air fryers simply because they’re really handy kitchen appliances. They take barely any time to preheat, there’s no fuss with too many settings and they're usually quiet and fairly easy to clean – plus they can fry pretty much anything. What’s not to love?

'Over the next 12 months, we're likely to see more dual models with the two zones on top of each other, rather than side by side, making it easier to make the most of a gadget's internal space, while saving room on your worktop.'

If you're ready to jump on the air fryer trend, see our pick of the best air fryers before you buy

2022: Year of the solar panel

Energy prices were at the forefront of everyone’s mind as world events led to huge price increases for households.

As thousands of you turned to Which? for advice on how to pay your energy bills, there was also a heating up of interest in solar panels. Masses of Which? members wanted to know how much solar panels cost, and the pros and cons of battery storage.

Read more: How to get the best energy deal in 2025

Which? energy editor Emily Seymour says: 

'Your energy bills were almost certainly a big talking point in 2022. When prices soared to never-before-seen levels in October 2022, the government was forced to step in to introduce a subsidised Energy Price Guarantee, alongside a series of other financial support measures for energy customers.

'With energy prices still higher than at any time before 2021, one thing is clear – it’s forced us all to think more carefully about the way we buy and consume energy. For most people, that means paying close attention to the energy-guzzling appliances in our homes and adjusting our behaviour to cut costs.

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'But some households took more drastic steps. Installing solar panels on your roof means you can generate your own electricity independently. As the technology beds in, prices are dropping – these factors, combined with high grid-electricity costs, means the pay-back time might be quicker than you’d think. However, some homes are better suited to solar panels than others. Find out more in our buying advice.'

Read more: How much your appliances cost to run

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2021: Year of the face mask

During the pandemic years, there was one product most people were anxious to get their hands on – the face mask. We tested the best reusable masks and the page got thousands of views in 2021.

Another thing we came to rely on during the pandemic was the home test kit. But are home health test kits worth it? Read our article to find out

2020: Year of the laptop

Laptops are always a popular product for Which? readers, but the lockdown of 2020 made them an essential for staying in touch with family and working from home.

More than 1.1 million of you researched our laptop reviews that year and, with the advent of hybrid working, they remain one of our best-loved products.

Which? laptops expert Oliver Trebilcock says:

'Laptops were in high demand and short supply in 2020, meaning many people looked at refurbished laptops as a way of saving money on the perfect device, while also reducing the environmental impact of buying a computer.

'Moving forward, with bodies such as the EU looking closely at technology reparability, I'm hoping to see more big brands adopting designs that allow for easy – and affordable – repairs.'

If your computer has developed a fault, read our computer repair top tips. And if it's time for something new, we've found the best laptops to suit your needs

2019: Year of the tumble dryer recall

This year saw the culmination of four years of work by Which? to get manufacturer Whirlpool to name and recall around 800,000 fire-risk tumble dryers.

We had been calling for Whirlpool to name the products since 2015 and it took threats of legal action by Which? before Trading Standards advised Whirlpool to tell customers not to use the products.

While the tumble dryers were not exactly the most popular product of that year, the news about the recall saw thousands of people flock to our site to find out if their dryer was affected.

Looking for a reliable tumble dryer? Read our guide to the best tumble dryers for 2025

2018: Year of the fitness tracker

Tech to monitor fitness saw a boom with a huge interest in gadgets – such as those from Fitbit, which had launched its activity trackers and app a few years previously.

These gadgets allowed users to track their food, activities, weight and set exercise goals, as well as compete against other people.

Our reviews of the best fitness trackers were among our most-read pages that year, with readers keen to monitor their health and up their step count.

Browse brands, pricing, and features available with our guide to the best fitness trackers

2017: Year of the coffee machine

Coffee shops had seen an explosion on Britain’s high streets throughout the 90s and 2000s, and the ability to make barista-quality coffee in your own home became as irresistible to many as the aroma of roasting beans.

Brands such as Nespresso filled this gap, with pods that offered Italian-style coffee at home. 

Accordingly, our guide to the best coffee machines leapt into our top 50 product pages in 2017 and has stayed popular ever since.

Which coffee machine brand is the most reliable? We've investigated dozens of popular coffee machine brands, including DeLonghi, Melitta and Sage

2016: Year of the vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaner technology moved quickly during the decade, with battery-powered cordless vacs from the likes of Dyson, GTech and Shark making their way into many homes.

Longer battery life and easy manoeuvrability meant householders could wave goodbye to lugging heavy plug-in models up and down the stairs.

Accordingly, our best vacuum reviews swept away the competition, with more than one million of you wanting to know which brand to invest your money in.

Which? vacuum cleaners expert Andy Laughlin says:

'There was a time where most people automatically opted for a corded vac if they were after a high-quality cleaning helper.

'But over the past few years, cordless vacuum cleaners have proved they can be just as good at picking up dirt. They also have excellent allergen filters and come with batteries on some models that last around 30 minutes or longer, giving you flexibility and convenience. 

'With ergonomic and lightweight design, handy features and no power cord to wrestle with, it’s no wonder many brands have now gone completely cordless, such as Dyson. 

'However, we know from our testing there are big differences between models, so it’s still important to do your research before you buy.'

Make floors covered in pet hair a thing of the past with one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners. And find 9 products you can use for a fur-free home in our home cleaning guide

2015: Year of the SUV

Large SUVs and 4x4s are now quite commonplace on Britain’s roads but the interest really took off in 2015, with drivers attracted by their raised driving position and spacious interiors.

Our best large SUVs and 4x4s page was our second-most consulted guide that year, with more than 1.1 million of you reading up on the vehicles.

Which? cars expert Michael Passingham says:

'Few cars have changed the UK’s automotive landscape like the crossover SUV.

'Offering the desirability and perceived safety of a high driving position – while doing without most of the economy-sapping hardware real off-roaders are burdened with – they’ve struck a chord with buyers.

'Like them or loathe them, they’re not going anywhere any time soon. In fact, manufacturers are culling once popular hatchbacks and estate cars because SUVs are now the family car of choice.

'Expect plug-in hybrids to continue to fill the gap in larger models for drivers needing an economical combustion engine, as diesel continues to prove unpopular in the lead-up to full electrification.'

See the models our experts found the most practical, spacious and comfortable in our guide to the best SUVs and 4x4 cars

2014: Year of the tablet

The launch of the first iPad in 2010 changed the face of tablets.

With its light, slick and portable design and exceptional ease of use, Apple’s decade-defining innovation saw tablets become hugely in-demand among tech fans, with more than one million of you consulting our tablet reviews in 2014.

Which? tablets and TVs expert Amy Axworthy says:

'When Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPad, he wasn't trying to kill the laptop – he was aiming for netbooks. With smaller, lower-resolution screens and weaker processors, netbooks were portable but underpowered – and I use the past tense because you can't really buy them any more.

'The iPad revolutionised portable computing with a big screen that was better for ebooks, video and browsing the internet (this was before every webpage was designed to look better on a phone screen).

'Apple's sold millions since and while their point has been dulled by phones with bigger screens and lighter, more portable laptops, tablets are still popular, with dozens released every year from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung and, of course, Apple.'

Best iPads and best tablets – whether you're a loyal Apple fan, or want to try something different, our guides have you covered