Technology Simplified

One-minute review Air purifiers certainly come in many shapes and sizes, but the Molekule Air Mini is definitely one of the more stylish ones. This miniature cylinder is great for small spaces such as a kid’s bedroom or a home office. Its bigger siblings will be great for larger spaces, so if you’re looking for a bedside air purifier, then the Molekule Air Mini is a good starting point. The white design will either blend in or stand out from your environment, but no matter where you set it up, you can leave the Molekule Air Mini alone to do its thing. That’s precisely what you want in an air purifier, and the fact that the Air Mini’s filter runs through a whole six months before you ever need to look at it again is another huge bonus. The downside of the Molekule Air Mini is that this particular model lacks smart integration or a companion app, which are features only found in the Molekule Air Mini+ (among other improvements). If you want to see any kind of feedback on just how goo...

One-minute review Cordless vacuum cleaners are a dime a dozen, ranging from the super-affordable to the tech-heavy offerings such as those from Dyson . The Easine G80 is a budget-friendly option that is easy to maneuver and has some interesting features that are useful to have on a cordless vacuum.   Its downfall however, is with its inability to perform the very task it was designed for – cleaning. The suction power on the G80 isn’t quite enough to leave your floors spotless, even when used on its max setting. This means that you’ll be going over areas a few times to pick up all the dirt, and even when you think you’ve got it all – especially on carpets – you’ll find some things have been missed. The Easine G80 is not a recommendation for your daily cleaning needs. If you wanted something that is only good for cleaning hardwood floors, then this just might be something to look at. But for serious suction power to clean carpets, sofa crevices, or even you car, there’s far more...

Instant is known for its kitchen appliances that offer several methods of cooking in one device, such as the Instant Pot range, and its latest addition is the Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer (it's called the Vortex Plus 6 Quart in the US). It looks slightly more stylish than Instant Pot’s current air fryer, with a brushed stainless steel rather than a black plastic exterior, but it’s not only its design that’s been upgraded.  As well as air-fry, roast, bake and reheat, it can also grill and dehydrate, making it even more versatile than its smaller sibling, the Instant Vortex . The Vortex Plus has a 6-quart / 5.7-liter capacity, which Instant claims is large enough to hold a 4lb / 1.8kg chicken, or 2.2lb / 1kg of fries.  JUMP TO Price and availability Design Performance Should I buy? The best air fryers circulate hot air around the food in the frying basket so it cooks quicker than traditional methods, but is crisp too and the Vortex Plus is no exception. Air fryers u...

The T21 air fryer is the first kitchen appliance from Chinese brand Proscenic, whose focus until now has been cordless vacuum cleaners. Sporting a squared-off design, favored by rival air fryer, Instant Vortex , its sleek black exterior looks smart. As well as air-frying, the Proscenic T21 can bake, grill and roast, too. It can even keep any dish cooked in the air fryer warm for up to two hours once cooking is complete.  The air fryer uses hot air to cook everything from fries to chicken wings, with the concentrated heat resulting in cooking times that are far shorter than those of a conventional oven. You’ll need to add a little oil when cooking items in the T21, but according to Proscenic, it’s around 80% less than that used when deep-frying, which makes it a much healthier option. Its 5.8 quart / 5.5 liter capacity makes it suitable for larger families.  JUMP TO Price and availability Design Performance Should I buy? Cooking time and temperature can be manually ...

One-minute review The Deebot U2 is the latest entry-level robot vacuum from Ecovacs, and it’s available at a remarkably affordable price point, particularly for a droid that both vacuums and mops. But don’t be fooled by its low cost – the Deebot U2 has great suction power, handling dust, dirt and debris quite well, even on its lowest power setting. That combination of cost and performance makes it a great option for anyone looking to get their first robot vacuum cleaner. Jump to Price and availability Design Setup and app control Cleaning performance Should I buy it? Battery life is decent too, though our testing found it falls slightly short of Ecovacs’ advertised run-time of 110 minutes. Our testing found the U2 lasted around 90 minutes, so we’d argue it’s better suited for smaller homes. Where the robovac really runs into trouble is with its lack of smart navigation. Without smart mapping onboard, the Deebot U2 can struggle to identify what parts of your house it’s al...

One-minute review (Image credit: Roborock) If you're in the market for one of the best robot vacuums in the business, then the Roborock S7 definitely deserves a place on your shortlist: it's powerful, it's smart, and it'll do a very decent job of keeping your home clean and tidy. Perhaps the biggest selling point here is the combination of both vacuum and mop, and the ability of the device to switch between the two on the fly. During our testing the S7 detected carpet and non-carpet flawlessly, so if you have a mix of surfaces in your home then you don't need to worry about your carpets getting soaked once the vacuum cleaner has worked its way out of the kitchen. Operating the S7 really is as simple as tapping a button on the app, and it's clever enough to find its way across rooms, between chair legs, and around obstacles. The volume never gets above the level of a hairdryer, we never saw the S7 get stuck, and the quality of the cleaning and the mop...

One-minute review Accent lighting is a great addition to any space, and the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is definitely something to consider. These LED strips are easy to set up, and while Hue lights previously required a Hue Bridge to work, you can still control the Hue Lightstrip Plus via Bluetooth or Zigbee. Of course, pairing them with a Hue Bridge unlocks their full potential, but for everyday control and settings, Bluetooth mode will work just fine. They’re also incredibly bright, and are easy to shape around most areas such as under countertops, skirting, or bend down stairs. You’ve also got the option of choosing just white lighting or a gamut of colors instead, making it easy to set the mood in any space.   Need to adjust their size? Simply tack on additional lights to easily extend the Hue Lightstrip Plus, or even cut them down to whatever size you prefer. There’s a good amount of flexibility on offer, and their durability is second to none. A lengthy power cord also e...

A relative newcomer to the floorcare market, Lupe Technology was founded by two former Dyson engineers, and is now squaring up to that company, and other premium brands such as Miele, with its first cordless vacuum, which it claims gives those rivals’ machines a run for their money when it comes to suction power.  The Pure Cordless Vacuum Cleaner has a 400W motor, and according to the British brand offers better suction than its rivals thanks to its “patented suction intensifier”. The vacuum also has a 3-in-1 design, so it can be used either as an upright cordless vacuum, or in hose mode, with a one-meter extension hose for cleaning hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, or in handheld mode, with the main body detaching from the main tube and floor head assembly to offer a lighter and more easily portable device for cleaning stairs or up-high.  JUMP TO Lupe Pure Cordless Vacuum cleaner price and availability Design Performance Battery life Should I buy? There’s no floo...