Press release

From dangerous child car seats to useless tech, Which? names and shames the ultimate 'Don't Buys' of 2026

6 min read

Which? has issued an urgent warning to shoppers after its rigorous independent laboratory tests uncovered serious safety risks and major duds across popular home, tech, and baby brands.

Thousands of products pass through the Which? test labs each year, but only a small proportion receive a Don't Buy recommendation or Test Fail rating. This year's list includes products that Which? believes are highly inefficient, ineffective, or outright dangerous. At a time when household budgets face intense pressure, buying a product that fails at its most basic function is a financial waste and in the worst cases, a severe physical risk.

Crucially, Which? experts have revealed that every product on this years Don't Buy and Test Fail list on this year's list can be replaced by a safer, higher-performing, and sometimes even cheaper alternative.

One of the most serious findings was the Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 and Mink FX 2 Isofix Base (£79), which received a 0 per cent score after the seat shell detached from the Isofix base during Which?'s crash tests, which go beyond legal requirements. Which? says the failure could pose a risk of injury in a collision. Although the product has not been recalled, Which? is advising consumers who own it to contact the retailer or manufacturer to discuss their options, including a replacement or refund (both of which Kinderkraft is offering to consumers). 

While more expensive, the Maxi-Cosi Pebble S and FamilyFix S Base (£260) earned an 83 per cent Best Buy rating for its excellent crash protection and simple, secure installation. 

In addition, Which? identified safety concerns with the Red Kite Push Me Explor Stroller (£95), which scored 43 per cent after one of its wheels detached during durability testing on uneven surfaces. The stroller also proved difficult to push over gravel and sand. Which? recommends the Joie MyDrift (£250), which costs more but scored 74 per cent, earned a Great Value endorsement and performed well across its safety and ease-of-use tests.

In health testing, the Braun ExactFit 5 Connect Blood Pressure Monitor (£80) received a Test Fail after failing to meet both the AAMI/ISO Universal Standard and the British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS) criteria for accuracy - false high or low readings could lead to unnecessary anxiety or potential misdiagnosis. Instead, it recommends the Boots Multi-User Blood Pressure Monitor (£35), which achieved a Test Pass by delivering accurate readings in under a minute. 

Similarly, the Konsung Pro Dry Biochemical Analyzer At-Home Cholesterol Monitor (£450) was branded a Which? 'Test Fail' because its data consistently failed to align with clinical reference measurements. For a fraction of the cost, the London Medical Laboratory Cholesterol Test (£39) is both a Which? 'Test Pass' and 'Best Buy' postal kit that provides highly reliable, complete lipid readings within 48 hours.

The Silentnight Airmax 800 Air Purifier (£69) scored 37 per cent after performing poorly in Which?'s air purification tests. While quiet to operate, it struggled to remove small particles from the air compared to other products in this category. The Blueair Mini Max (£59), which achieved a 65 per cent Great Value score, performed well in removing airborne particles such as dust, pollen and smoke while costing less than £6 a year to run.

Finally, when it came to speakers, the House of Marley Jammin Speaker (£30) scored 42 per cent after testers found its sound lacked clarity and depth compared with rival speakers at a similar price. Which? recommends the Tribit XSound Plus 2 (£53), which delivers stronger overall sound quality and almost 15 hours of battery life.

Harry Rose, Which? Magazine Editor, said:

"Shoppers shouldn't have to gamble on whether a product will perform as promised. Our 2026 Don't Buys show that a well-known brand or premium price tag is no guarantee of quality, safety or performance. Independent testing is more important than ever, helping people avoid wasting money on products that simply don't make the grade.

"With household budgets already stretched, people expect – and deserve – products that deliver on their promises. Whether it's a product that could put a child's safety at risk or one that simply doesn't do the job it was bought for, shoppers shouldn't be left out of pocket because a product falls short."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

High res images of the products mentioned are available on request.

List of product failures:

Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Mink FX 2 Isofix Base (£79) — Score: 0%

  • The Failure: Completely detached from its Isofix base and flew through the air during Which?'s crash tests (which go beyond the legal requirements) . The product passed the crash tests when installed using the vehicle seat belt.
  • Buy Instead: Maxi-Cosi Pebble S + FamilyFix S Base (£260 | 83% Best Buy)

Red Kite Push Me Explor Stroller (£295) — Score: 43%

  • The Failure: A wheel snapped off entirely during irregular surface trials on a bumpy treadmill.
  • Buy Instead: Joie MyDrift (£250 | 74% Great Value)

Braun ExactFit 5 Connect Blood Pressure Monitor (£80) — Test Fail

  • The Failure: Failed to accurately measure blood pressure against universal and BIHS medical criteria, risking misdiagnoses.
  • Buy Instead: Boots Multi-User Blood Pressure Monitor (£35 | Test Pass)

Konsung Pro Dry Biochemical Analyzer At-Home Cholesterol Monitor (£450) — Test Fail

  • The Failure: Costly device whose data consistently failed to align with clinical reference measurements.
  • Buy Instead: London Medical Laboratory Cholesterol Test (£39 | Test Pass/Best Buy)

Silentnight Airmax 800 Air Purifier (£69) — Score: 37%

  • The Failure: A major health/environmental fail; it completely failed to filter out common toxic gas pollutants from household paints and cleaners.
  • Buy Instead: Blueair Mini Max (£59 | 65% Great Value)

House of Marley Jammin Speaker (£30) — Score: 42%

  • The Failure: Produces a paper-thin, flat, and boring sound profile that testers assessed as being is actively worse than a standard phone speaker
  • Buy Instead: Tribit XSound Plus 2 (£53 | 62% Great Value)

Testing Note: 

Laboratory evaluation and data points were finalised for publication in the August 2026 issue of Which? Magazine. 

All product testing is carried out by independent laboratories using protocols that, where relevant, meet or exceed minimum UK and EU legal requirements to better reflect real-world performance and safety.

Right of Reply:

All brands facing severe safety, performance, or health accuracy failures were contacted and given the opportunity to respond prior to publication.

A Braun spokesperson said: We feel your analysis does not accurately represent the reality of the rigorous and independent testing we put our product through. Our clinical testing follows the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol to ensure its quality and accuracy. This product has been on the market for more than six years and undergoes simulation and static-pressure testing on the production line. We also regularly monitor consumer complaints to ensure that consumers are satisfied with the performance of their devices, with a complaint rate related to accuracy of less than 0.05%. 

A Kinderkraft spokesperson previously said: "We declare full compliance of the Mink Pro 2 and Mink FX 2 with the requirements of Regulation R129, which is confirmed by numerous verification tests conducted both before the product was launched at the beginning of 2025, as well as after its introduction.

"[We are] offering customers the opportunity to exchange the product or receive a full refund. Customer safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding customer expectations, even though our product fully complies with R129 standards.

'"To facilitate this process, customers can contact us via our dedicated email address safety@kinderkraft.com, which is handled with the highest priority.

"We would like to assure you that we take this matter very seriously, and the safety of children remains our top priority."

A Silentnight spokesperson said: “The Silentnight Airmax 800 Air Purifier is designed to remove airborne particles using a HEPA filter. It has never been marketed or claimed to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which require a dedicated activated carbon filter that this product does not contain. 

"Our packaging, instruction manual and product information accurately describe the product’s capabilities, and we are confident consumers are given clear information about what the product is designed to do. We have shared this information with Which? and hope they will review their assessment in light of the product’s intended specification.”

About Which?

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, empowering people to make confident choices and demand better. Through our research, investigations and product testing, we provide trusted insight and expert recommendations on the issues that matter most to consumers.

Fiercely independent, we put people over profit - shining a light on unfair practices, influencing policy and holding businesses to account to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone.

The information in this press release is for editorial use by journalists and media outlets only. Any business seeking to reproduce information in this release should contact the Which? Endorsement Scheme team at endorsementscheme@which.co.uk.