Which? launched its Great Value recommendations last year. Products dubbed Great Value not only deliver impressive performance, but also come at a budget-friendly price – at least 20% cheaper than the average cost of items in their respective categories tested by Which?

The best value Mayo

Lidl Batts Real Mayonnaise at 95p is one of the latest everyday products to earn the Great Value endorsement. Which? says it is “excellent value for money”, costing much less than branded options.

Others Great Value products include the Progress EK4549P air fryer which costs £80, the Tag Togs Sa-Be Wrap baby sling costing £34, and the Currys Essentials CMB21 microwave at £55.

Great value washing powder

For an affordable and efficient washing powder, Aldi Almat Bio Washing Powder (£3.95/40 washes) received a Great Value recommendation. Working out at 10p per wash, Which? said this product performs well against stains and also keeps white clothes bright. In comparison, Ariel Original Powder works out at 23p per wash.

Something for sleepers, sun worshippers and shavers

For campers, the Eurohike Snooze 200 Sleeping Bag is worth considering. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more advanced and expensive sleeping bags, but for those who crave simplicity and only plan on camping in the summer months, the Snooze 200 is a solid choice at a bargain price of £13.

Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion, SPF30, received a Great Value award for great sun protection and value for money. At £4, it comfortably met the standard needed for the consumer champion’s SPF test when filtering UVB rays – and when defending skin against penetrating UVA.

Which? highlighted the Braun Series 3 (£33) as an affordable electric shaver that will give you as close a shave as more expensive Braun Series 9 products.

Big ticket items

In terms of the big-ticket items, which can be expensive but unavoidable purchases, Which? awarded the Great Value badge to a £349 washing machine. It said the Hisense WFQY1014EVJM cleans well with an impressive rinse and is energy and water efficient.

The Hisense received a score of 69%, one percentage point higher than the Samsung WW90T854DBX/S1 which costs £779, more than double the price.

Anyone due a laptop upgrade should look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch (Gen 8). At £449, the laptop won a Great Value badge thanks to its good battery life and speedy processor, putting similarly priced laptops to shame with these features.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: “Whether you’re in the market for an air fryer, a new laptop for college or need to replace a washing machine on its last legs, shoppers could save significantly on more expensive purchases with our Great Value recommendations.

“Which? tests thousands of products and while Great Value winners may not always rank quite as highly as our Best Buy recommendations, they still perform strongly, making them fantastic choices for budget-conscious shoppers.”