Category
Honest reviews of mixer grinders, air fryers, water purifiers and more — tested on Indian cooking, not lab demos.
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 · 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 · 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.
Water Purifiers
The Boon Tap RO is the best under-sink water purifier we tested in India: 8-stage RO for up to 2,000 TDS, a 35 cm tap, an app with live TDS and a 2-year warranty.
Editor’s Choice
Water Purifiers
The Boon Homie Pro is the best hot water purifier we tested in India: a stainless-steel tank, hot water to 80 °C with a child lock, a 2-year comprehensive warranty and per-person tracking.
Editor’s Choice
Dishwashers
The Bosch SMS6ITI00I is a 13-place dishwasher that cleaned burnt dal, oily kadhai and haldi-stained containers best in our group, but it costs far more than the 12-place rivals.
Editor’s Choice
Mixer Grinders
The Preethi Zodiac MG 218 is a well-rounded 750 W, five-jar mixer grinder that handles batter, masalas and juicing smoothly, best for families who want one machine to do everything.
Premium Pick
Air Fryers
The Philips NA352/00 is a 9 L, 2300 W dual basket air fryer that cooks a full meal for four to six people in one go, at the cost of a large body and a dedicated 15 A socket.
Premium Pick
Kitchen Chimneys
The V-Guard BX 60 is a 60 cm BLDC chimney with 1500 m³/hr suction, gesture control and heat auto-clean that stays quiet and cheap to run, making it the best-value pick in our kitchen chimney group.
Best Value
Mixer Grinders
The Sujata Dynamix 900W is a loud but very strong 900 W mixer grinder that grinds daily idli and dosa batter quickly and with little strain, best for families who make batter several times a week.
Editor’s Choice
Refrigerators
The Samsung Bespoke RS76CB81A341HL is a 653 L Wi-Fi side-by-side with a 5-in-1 convertible zone and 20-year compressor warranty, the best-featured premium fridge we tested for large Indian households.
Premium Pick
Microwave Ovens
The Samsung MC32A7035CT is a 32 L SlimFry convection microwave with a ceramic cavity and curd mode, and it is the best-value large oven for families of four to six who bake and reheat daily.
Best Value
Kitchen Chimneys
The Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 is a strong 90 cm, 1350 m³/hr filterless chimney that clears heavy tadka and deep-fry smoke quickly, but it costs far more than 60 cm rivals and has only a one-year product warranty.
Premium Pick
Microwave Ovens
The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG is the convection microwave we would pick for a family of two to four who bake, grill and reheat daily, held back mainly by a 23-litre cavity that cannot take a large cake tin.
Editor’s Choice
Dishwashers
The LG DFB424FP QuadWash is a 14-place dishwasher with steam, Wi-Fi and a 44 dB motor that suits large families, though the high price and long Auto cycle hold it back.
Air Fryers
The Philips HD9252/90 is a 4.1 L, 1400 W touch-panel air fryer that cooks frozen snacks and tikkas more evenly than most rivals under ₹10,000, with the widest service reach in the segment.
Water Purifiers
The Havells Gracia Alkaline is a solid 10-stage hot, warm and ambient RO+UV purifier with a stainless-steel tank and 15 L/h output, but it has a 1-year warranty and no app.
Water Purifiers
The AO Smith Z2 Pro is a capable under-the-counter RO for borewell water with a wide service network, held back by a 1-year warranty and filter replacements that cost almost double Boon's.
Microwave Ovens
The IFB 30SC4 is a 30 L stainless steel convection microwave with 101 auto menus and steam clean, a solid pick for families who bake and grill regularly and want a long magnetron warranty.
Refrigerators
The Godrej RD EDGEPRO 205E 53 TAI is a 190 L 5-star inverter single-door fridge that costs very little to run and stays quiet, though its direct-cool freezer still needs manual defrosting.
Best ValueRefrigerators
The Samsung RT28C3733S8 is a compact 236 L frost-free Digital Inverter fridge with a convertible freezer and a 20-year compressor warranty, best for couples and small families with tight kitchen space.
Dishwashers
The Bosch SMV46KX01E is a fully integrated 13-place dishwasher that cleans quietly and uses about 9.5 L per cycle, but needs a planned modular kitchen and costs far more than freestanding rivals.
Microwave Ovens
The Samsung MG23A3515AK is a good-value grill microwave for small families who reheat daily and grill starters, but it cannot bake cakes because it has no convection mode.
Best Value
Microwave Ovens
The LG MJ2886BFUM is a 28 L charcoal convection microwave with a motorised rotisserie and 175 Indian auto menus, the best fit here for tandoori-style cooking but pricey for everyday reheating.
Premium Pick
Water Purifiers
The Aquaguard Select Designo UTC is a dependable under-counter RO+UV purifier with India's widest service reach, but it offers a 1-year warranty and no app.
Water Purifiers
The Aquaguard Aspire Blaze Insta WS is a well-built hot and ambient RO+UV purifier with two stainless-steel tanks and 80 °C water, but it has a 1-year warranty and no listed app.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Elica FL 600 Slim HAC MS Nero is a slim 60 cm filterless chimney with heat auto-clean that suits two-burner Indian kitchens, though its 1200 m³/hr suction is tight for heavy mustard-oil tadka.
Dishwashers
The IFB Neptune VX is a 12-place dishwasher that handles daily Indian loads reliably at about 9 L per cycle, with the widest service reach of the budget-to-mid models but weaker drying.
Refrigerators
The LG GL-B257HDS3 is a 650 L inverter side-by-side fridge with strong cooling and LG's wide service reach, suited to large families with a 36-inch-wide space, though it uses far more power than a double-door.
Mixer Grinders
The Philips HL7756 is a compact 750 W, three-jar mixer grinder that handles daily batter and masalas competently at a modest price, best for small to mid-sized families.
Air Fryers
The Agaro Imperial 34029 is a 2 x 4.5 L, 2400 W dual basket air fryer that lets a family of four to six cook two items together for less than the big-name dual-basket models.
Microwave Ovens
The IFB 30BRC2 is a roomy 30-litre convection microwave with 101 auto-cook menus and a rotisserie for families of five or more, though it is loud in grill and convection modes.
Microwave Ovens
The Samsung MC28A6036QK is a 28 L SlimFry convection microwave with an easy-clean ceramic cavity that suits families who bake and crisp snacks, but it costs more than similar 30 L rivals.
Dishwashers
The Voltas Beko DF14S2 is a 14-place dishwasher that cleans everyday Indian loads well at about 9.5 L a cycle and has a 10-year motor warranty, but it is louder than the LG and dries plastic poorly.
Best Value
Mixer Grinders
The Prestige Iris 750W is a four-jar mixer grinder with a juicer jar that grinds batter and masalas acceptably at a mid price, though it is louder and slower than the best 750 W machines.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Kaff Lyra DHC 60 is a 1250 m³/hr dry-heat auto-clean 60 cm chimney that clears tadka smoke well for mid-sized families, though stock and the price vary a lot between sellers.
Water Purifiers
The AO Smith Z9 is a capable 10 L hot and ambient RO purifier with 45 and 80 degree settings, held back by a plastic tank, a 1-year warranty and no app.
Refrigerators
The Haier HRB-2764PRG-E is a 256 L inverter fridge with the freezer at the bottom, which brings fresh food to eye level but leaves its price and service coverage a step behind LG and Samsung.
Water Purifiers
The Kent Excell Plus is a well-established under-counter RO+UV+UF purifier with a wide service network and a 7 L pressure tank, but it wastes plenty of water and has no app.
Refrigerators
The Whirlpool IF INV CNV 278 is a 265 L frost-free inverter fridge with a convertible freezer that suits families of three to four, though its shelves and finish feel basic and 3-star running costs are only average.
Mixer Grinders
The Bajaj Rex 500W is a low-cost three-jar mixer grinder that suits light daily chutney and masala work for one to three people, but it struggles with big batter batches.
Air Fryers
The Havells Prolife Digi is a 4 L, 1230 W digital air fryer that cooks evenly enough for a family of three and benefits from Havells' large service network, though it is slower than the Philips.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Sunflame Lamia 60 FL HAC is a plain push-button 60 cm filterless chimney with one-press heat auto-clean that is a sensible budget buy for small Indian kitchens with a two-burner hob.
Water Purifiers
The Havells Fab UTC Alkaline is a competent 25 L/h under-counter RO+UV purifier with a brass tap, held back by a 1-year warranty, no app and a smaller service network than rivals.
Air Fryers
The Agaro Regency 33684 is a 12 L, 1800 W oven-style air fryer with rotisserie that suits bigger batches, but it heats slowly, takes a lot of counter and is awkward to clean.
Microwave Ovens
The Godrej GME 530 CR1 SZ is a feature-rich 30-litre convection microwave that ferments curd and idli batter, but its menu-heavy controls and unclear warranty terms make it harder to live with.
Water Purifiers
The ZeroB Ignite HN2 is a hot and normal RO purifier with five temperature presets up to 99 °C and a child lock, but it has a 1,500 ppm limit, only 10 L/h output and no UV or UF stage.
Refrigerators
The LG GL-S292RPZY is a well-built 240 L convertible fridge with excellent service reach, but a 2-star rating and a street price above 3-star rivals make it poor value.
Dishwashers
The Faber FFSD 6PR 8S Ace is an 8-place countertop dishwasher that uses about 8 L per cycle and suits one or two people, but its small racks cannot take a pressure cooker and a kadhai together.
Air Fryers
The KENT Digital 4 L air fryer is a 1400 W digital unit that crisps snacks acceptably for two to three people, although its listed MRP is far above its real selling price.
Mixer Grinders
The Atomberg Zenova 550W is a quiet, efficient BLDC mixer grinder whose batter speed, jar locking and price make it a weak buy next to stronger, cheaper 750-900 W machines.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Glen 6063 BL AC is a handsome curved-glass 60 cm chimney with baffle filters and heat auto-clean, but its mixed owner feedback on service and finish keep it a middling pick for Indian tadka cooking.
Microwave Ovens
The Panasonic NN-CT64HBFDG is a 27 L convection microwave that bakes and reheats acceptably, but its price and thin feature list make it hard to prefer over cheaper 30 L rivals.
Microwave Ovens
The LG MS2043DB is a reliable, low-cost 20-litre solo microwave for students and couples who only reheat, defrost and cook simple dishes, with no grill or convection to expand on.
Air Fryers
The Inalsa Fry-Light is a 4.2 L, 1400 W timer-and-temperature air fryer that does the basics of crisping fries and tikka for two or three people at a low street price, with some shaking.
Best Budget
Water Purifiers
The Livpure Zinger Hot UV gives hot, warm and ambient water from a 6.5 L UV+UF+copper system, but with no RO stage it cannot reduce TDS, so it suits only low-TDS municipal supply.
Water Purifiers
The Livpure Stealth UTC is a low-priced under-sink RO+UV+copper purifier that cleans water acceptably, but it drains the most water here and owner reports on Livpure's service are poor.
Dishwashers
The Faber FFSD 6PR 12S Neo is a basic 12-place dishwasher that copes with plates and steel but left burnt dal and oily kadhai only half clean in our tests, so it is hard to recommend over the IFB.
Refrigerators
The Whirlpool 205 IMPWCOOL ROY 3S is a basic 190 L direct-cool fridge that suits a couple or bachelors, but it frosts up, cools slowly at 40 °C and gives little room for a month's groceries.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Bosch DWBA98H60I is a well-built 90 cm matt black chimney from a trusted brand, but its 730 m³/h rating and 67 dB noise make it weak value for heavy Indian tadka and frying.
Kitchen Chimneys
The Prestige Dura 600 is a basic 60 cm, 1000 m³/hr baffle-filter chimney that works for light cooking in small kitchens but needs regular filter washing and struggles with heavy mustard-oil tadka.
Air Fryers
The Pigeon Healthifry Digital is a 4.2 L, 1200 W air fryer that is cheap to buy but slow and uneven, so it only suits light reheating and occasional snacks for one or two people.