Available 
Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in
from £699-£799.
£699-£799
Rated 4.8 / 5 from up to 3,034 reviews
Colours tracked: White, Black
Buying guide
Best electricals for energy saving
A cautious AO shortlist for energy-saving shoppers: the Haier fridge freezers are the strongest fit, while the Samsung and Apple phones are better treated as side-by-side comparisons than true efficiency picks.
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Last verified: 2026-08-24
Quick verdict
This is a compare-first shortlist rather than a single-winner guide. The five picks span Samsung, Apple and Haier, with prices from £549 to £799, so the most relevant energy-saving comparison is the Haier freestanding fridge freezers against the broader mix. Because the shortlist includes both Mobile Phones and Fridge Freezers, shoppers should compare like-for-like where possible and focus on the product that fits the job, space and budget most cleanly.
Top picks to compare
Start with Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in (£699-£799), Apple iPhone 16 128GB in (£699), Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB in (£799) because they give you a focused set of current retailer options to compare. The visible price range is £549-£799, so check whether the extra spend buys a useful specification difference rather than only a different brand or finish. The shortlist includes Samsung, Apple, Haier, which helps you compare familiar brands against specification, delivery and value.
Available 
Apple iPhone 16 128GB in
from £699.
£699
Rated 4.8 / 5 from up to 2,498 reviews
Colours tracked: Black, White
Available 
Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB in
from £799.
£799
Rated 4.8 / 5 from up to 2,498 reviews
Colours tracked: Black, White
Available 
Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer
from £549.
£549
Rated 4.9 / 5 from up to 2,548 reviews
Colours tracked: Silver
Available 
Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618EWMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer
from £549.
£549
Rated 4.9 / 5 from up to 2,548 reviews
Colours tracked: Stainless Steel
At-a-glance comparison
Use this table to scan the shortlist quickly before opening individual product pages. It covers Mobile Phones, Fridge Freezers, so compare like-for-like where possible before deciding which electrical best fits your home, space, budget and the features you will actually use. Key spec differences include Freestanding; Key spec differences can matter as much as headline price when you are matching a product to a specific need.
| Product | Type | Key spec | Colours | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | White, Black | £699 |
| Apple iPhone 16 128GB in | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | Black, White | £699 |
| Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB in | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | Black, White | £799 |
| Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer | Fridge Freezers | Freestanding | Silver | £549 |
| Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618EWMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer | Fridge Freezers | Freestanding | Stainless Steel | £549 |
What the research suggests
AO’s buying advice puts appliance energy labels at the centre of efficiency shopping, and on the current A-G scale, A is the most efficient rating. That matters most for the Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG and HTW5618EWMG freestanding fridge freezers at £549, because fridge freezers run continuously and running costs are a practical concern rather than a side note. AO’s guidance treats smart-connected cooling products as a convenience feature, not proof of lower bills, and it does not give the Samsung Galaxy S26+ at £699-£799 or the Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at £699 and £799 an equivalent energy-saving case beyond general charging habits and standby awareness.
Buyer trade-offs to weigh
For this shortlist, the main trade-off is not just price but whether the product type actually matches the saving goal. A Haier 3D 60 Series 5 freestanding fridge freezer at £549 is easier to assess on energy rating, dimensions and capacity than an Apple iPhone 16 at £699, because the fridge freezer is an always-on household appliance. Before buying, check the latest AO price, delivery terms, stock, colour or variant availability, and any fridge-freezer details such as capacity, split ratio, frost-free features and width or height fit.
Why these picks made the shortlist
The shortlist has 5 items from 3 brands across 2 product types, which makes it useful for broad comparison but limited as a pure energy-saving ranking. Samsung, Apple and Haier all have visible customer-review coverage, but the mix means the page works best when you compare specification, price and household fit before opening every product page. In practice, the Haier fridge freezers align best with the theme because energy rating and always-on running costs are relevant in a way they are not for the phones.
What the shortlist benchmark shows
Current shortlist prices run from £549 to £799, with the Haier fridge freezers sitting at £549 and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ listed at £699-£799. The Apple iPhone 16 is £699 and the iPhone 16 Plus is £799, so the phone side of the list sits in the same budget band as the Samsung but does not offer a direct household running-cost comparison. Visible ratings are strong across the shortlist at around 4.8 to 4.9, with review counts in the high thousands, which is useful for shopper confidence but not a measure of lower energy use.
How to choose between them
Start with the job the electrical needs to do, then compare only the products that genuinely fit that need. For energy saving, that usually means checking a fridge freezer’s energy rating, capacity, freestanding fit and dimensions before worrying about premium finishes; for phones, the more relevant checks are price, variant, battery-care habits and whether the model suits your everyday use. Because the shortlist mixes categories, it is sensible to compare the Haier fridge freezers against each other first, then treat the Samsung and Apple phones as separate value comparisons rather than direct energy-saving alternatives.
Where the value sits
Value here comes from fit, specification and confidence, not from the lowest sticker price alone. A £549 Haier freestanding fridge freezer can look stronger value than a pricier phone if your goal is a lower-running-cost household appliance, while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Apple iPhone 16 models make more sense when you want a phone at a known price point with strong review coverage. Check current retailer details, delivery and any variant availability before buying, because brand familiarity and visible ratings are helpful, but the final value depends on the exact spec and stock position.
Retailer details used
Last checked 2026-08-24. The source list below is included to help you check the details behind the comparison. Always confirm the latest price, delivery cost, stock status and product details with the retailer before buying.
- Fridge Buying Guide | Find the Right Fridge | ao.comEnergy label guidance; smart-connected fridge/freezer mention.
- American Fridge Freezer Buying Guide | ao.comEnergy rating guidance; efficiency framing.
- Fridge Freezer Buying Guide | Find the Right One | ao.comRevised A-G label explanation; running-cost relevance.
- Freezer Buying Guide | Find the Right Freezer | ao.com24/7 load and energy-efficiency importance.
- Fridge Freezers | ao.comCategory-page language linking efficiency to lower bills.
- Products that eat up the pennies | ao.comStandby/charging habits and fridge-freezer running-cost FAQ.
Helpful next reads
Keep comparing with related reviews and buying guides before checking the latest retailer prices.
Buying questions
Are these the cheapest electricals?
No. The shortlist spans £549 to £799, so it is better seen as a comparison list than a lowest-price round-up. The Haier fridge freezers are the lowest-priced items at £549, while the Apple iPhone 16 Plus sits at £799.
Why are the fridge freezers stronger energy-saving picks than the phones?
Fridge freezers are always on, so AO’s energy-label guidance and running-cost advice apply more directly. Phones can matter for charging habits and standby waste, but they are not comparable to fridge freezers as household energy-saving products.
Do smart features mean lower energy bills?
Not automatically. AO treats smart-connected fridge or freezer features mainly as a convenience benefit, so shoppers should not assume connectivity alone cuts running costs. It is better to verify the energy rating and product details on the retailer page.
How important are ratings and review counts?
They are useful confidence checks, especially when ratings are around 4.8 to 4.9 and review counts are in the high thousands, but they do not prove efficiency. Use them alongside energy rating, dimensions, capacity and current stock.
Should I compare products across different categories?
Only with care. The phones and fridge freezers in this shortlist are not equally suitable for an energy-saving comparison, so compare like-for-like where possible. For energy savings, the Haier fridge freezers are the clearest fit to evaluate first.