Our buying guides: the products we would buy ourselves, ranked.
Buying guide · Air Conditioners
The LG AS-Q19AWZE is the best 1.5 ton AC for most Indian homes: it cooled fastest, stayed quiet and has the widest service network. The Carrier CAI18EE5R36W0 is the value alternative, with more features and slightly lower running cost for less money, if Carrier service reaches your city.
Buying guide · Air Fryers
The Philips NA352/00 is the best air fryer we tested for families of four to six: its two drawers cooked 1 kg of fries in about 17 minutes and a full meal in one go. For two or three people, the Philips HD9252/90 is the main alternative, a 4.1 L single basket that crisped 500 g of fries in about 18 minutes with one shake.
Buying guide · Air Purifiers
The Boon Airvana is the best air purifier we tested for Indian winters: it cleared a smoggy bedroom fastest and reads eight air-quality parameters. The Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 is the main alternative, nearly as fast with a good app and sold at large retailers, though louder at top speed.
Buying guide · BP Monitors
The Omron HEM-7121 is the best BP monitor we tested for most homes: the steadiest readings in our group and simple enough for an elderly parent to use alone. The Omron HEM-7156T is the main alternative if you want readings on a phone app or need a cuff for arms above 32 cm.
Buying guide · Ceiling Fans
The Atomberg Renesa Enzel 1200mm is the best ceiling fan we tested: it drew 29 W at top speed, was the quietest at about 47 dB and ran about 21 hours on a 900 VA inverter. The Superfan Super X1 is the main alternative, a cheaper 36 W BLDC fan with a 5-year warranty listed, though its service network is smaller.
Buying guide · Dishwashers
The Bosch SMS6ITI00I is the best dishwasher we tested for Indian kitchens: it cleaned burnt dal and oily kadhai best in one cycle and its built-in softener handled 450 ppm tap water. The IFB Neptune VX is the main alternative, a cheaper 12-place machine with wide service reach that washes everyday loads well but needed a second run for burnt dal.
Buying guide · Kitchen Chimneys
The V-Guard BX 60 is the best kitchen chimney we tested: a 60 cm BLDC hood that cleared mustard-oil tadka smoke fastest of the 60 cm models, stayed quietest and drew the least power. The Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 is the main alternative for four-burner hobs and daily deep frying, a wide 90 cm filterless hood with a wider service network.
Buying guide · Microwave Ovens
The Samsung MC32A7035CT is the best microwave oven for most Indian families: a 32 L convection model with an easy-clean ceramic cavity, SlimFry and a curd mode. For two to four people or a smaller counter, the 23 L Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG bakes and grills well and carries a 5-year magnetron warranty.
Buying guide · Mixer Grinders
The Preethi Zodiac MG 218 is the best mixer grinder we tested for Indian kitchens: quick, smooth idli batter, fine masalas, the coolest motor and five jars including a juicer. The Sujata Dynamix 900W is the main alternative, a plainer three-jar machine that grinds batter almost as fast for less money, though it is louder.
Buying guide · Refrigerators
The Samsung Bespoke RS76CB81A341HL is the best refrigerator we tested for large families, with strong cooling, a 5-in-1 convertible zone and the smallest temperature rise in our power-cut test. For couples and small families, the Godrej RD EDGEPRO 205E 53 TAI is the pick: a 190 L 5-star inverter single door that used the least electricity of any fridge we tested.
Buying guide · Smart TVs
The Samsung S85H 55-inch OLED is the best smart TV we tested, with perfect blacks, smooth 120 Hz motion, about 9 ms input lag and Samsung's wide service network. The Hisense 55E8S Mini-LED is the main alternative: brighter, much louder and far cheaper, though Hisense service is slower and VIDAA has fewer apps.
Buying guide · Soundbars
The LG S40T is the best soundbar for most Indian homes, with the clearest dialogue in our tests on Hindi films and news, a wireless subwoofer and LG's wide service reach. If you want real surround and can run cables to rear speakers, the Sony HT-S20R 5.1 is the main alternative.
Buying guide · Trimmers
The Xiaomi Mi Beard Trimmer 2C is the best beard trimmer we tested for most people: 40 length settings, about 88 minutes of runtime and USB-C charging at a low price. The Philips BT3231/15 is the main alternative if you want a brand with service centres in most towns, though it takes about 8 hours to charge.
Buying guide · Vacuum Cleaners
The Dreame X60 Ultra Complete is the most capable vacuum cleaner we tested for Indian homes, a robot that avoids clutter and heat-washes its mops, but it costs far more than rivals; the Mova E40 Ultra gets close on daily cleaning for far less money. If you would rather clean by hand, the Dyson V8 Absolute is the strongest cordless stick we tested.
Buying guide · Washing Machines
The LG FHP1208Z5M is the best washing machine for most Indian families: an 8 kg front loader that had the shortest cotton cycle and the quietest spin of the front loaders we tested. If you prefer a top loader, buy the LG T70SPSF2Z, the quietest top loader we tested, with an inverter motor and a 10-year motor warranty.
Buying guide · Geysers & Water Heaters
The AO Smith HSE-SHS-015 is the best geyser we tested for Indian homes: a 15 L, 5-star, 8 bar tank that lost only about 6 °C overnight and resisted scale better than most rivals on hard water. The Crompton Amica Pro 15L is the main alternative, a 5-star, 8 bar geyser that heats as fast for far less money but scales more.
Buying guide · Water Purifiers
The Boon Tap RO is the best water purifier we tested for borewell and tanker water: it handles up to 2,000 ppm TDS, wasted the least water of the RO units and has a 2-year warranty. The Aquaguard Select Designo UTC is the main alternative if a technician who reaches small towns matters more than a long warranty or an app.