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 low running costs to compare
A cautious comparison shortlist of 5 AO electricals, showing where price, fit, features and current retailer details matter most before you buy.
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Last verified: 2026-08-19
Quick verdict
This is a comparison shortlist, not a single-winner list, because the current set mixes 5 electricals from 3 brands across 2 product types. Prices run from £549 for the Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG fridge freezer to £799 for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB and Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in, so the most useful choice is the one that fits your space, budget and everyday use. Check the latest price, stock and delivery details on AO.com before you decide, because those details can change.
Top picks to compare
Start with Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in (£699-£799), Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple (£699), Apple iPhone 16 128GB in (£699) 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 
Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple
from £699.
£699
Rated 4.8 / 5 from up to 3,034 reviews
Colours tracked: Purple
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: White, Black
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
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 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | Purple | £699 |
| Apple iPhone 16 128GB in | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | Black, White | £699 |
| Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB in | Mobile Phones | Check retailer | White, Black | £799 |
| Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer | Fridge Freezers | Freestanding | Silver | £549 |
What the research shows
The main lesson from the energy guidance is that low running cost should be judged by annual kWh, appliance size and usage pattern, not by the headline label alone. That matters most for the Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer, because larger appliances can use more energy if the capacity is bigger than your household needs. The phone entries, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple and the Apple iPhone 16 128GB, should be treated differently: they are better compared on usefulness, features and price, not appliance-style energy language. Live retailer visibility was limited on some pages, so verify the latest product details before buying.
Trade-offs to compare before buying
The shortlist is most helpful when you compare what each item gives you for the price, rather than treating £549 to £799 as a straight ranking. Samsung’s two Galaxy S26 options give you multiple variants and the widest visible price spread, while Apple’s iPhone 16 models sit at £699 and £799 with a more compact 128GB-only framing here; the Haier fridge freezer is the budget anchor at £549 and is the only freestanding refrigeration option in the set. Review scores are strong, with ratings around 4.8 to 4.9 and review counts reaching 3,034, but that should support your shortlist rather than replace a check of stock, delivery and exact retailer terms.
Why these picks made the shortlist
This narrow shortlist is useful because it quickly rules out mismatched products without pretending to cover the whole market. It contains 5 shortlisted items across 2 product types, Mobile Phones and Fridge Freezers, so shoppers can compare a small set of current AO options instead of scanning every listing individually. That mix is not like-for-like, which is exactly why the guide works best as a filter: it helps you separate phone value decisions from fridge freezer fit and energy questions, while making the limited category coverage clear.
What the shortlist shows
The current set gives you a practical benchmark of what is visible right now: Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in, Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple, Apple iPhone 16 128GB in, Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB in, and the Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG 185cm 60/40 Total No Frost Fridge Freezer. Ratings sit between 4.8 and 4.9, and review counts go up to 3,034, which suggests strong shopper interest even though it does not prove every user will have the same experience. The Haier is the only freestanding fridge freezer here, so it is the clearest product for checking dimensions, door fit and household capacity before you add it to basket.
How to choose between these electricals
Start by matching the product type to the job: phones should be judged by feature fit, storage, screen size, brand preference and price, while the fridge freezer should be checked for installation type, dimensions, split ratio and capacity. For the Haier 3D 60 Series 5 HTW5618ENMG, make sure a freestanding 60/40 Total No Frost format suits your kitchen and that the height and width leave enough clearance for doors and airflow. Energy guidance also says larger appliances can use more power, so avoid oversizing a fridge freezer just because a bigger model looks better on paper. If you are comparing the phones, focus on whether the extra money moves you from the Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB at £699 to the S26+ at £699-£799, or from the Apple iPhone 16 128GB at £699 to the iPhone 16 Plus 128GB at £799.
Value buying notes
Value here is about useful spec, everyday convenience and confidence, not just the lowest sticker price. The £549-£799 spread is narrow enough that a small price jump may be worth it if it gives you the right brand, the better fit or a more suitable variant, such as the Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone in versus the Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, Purple. For the Haier fridge freezer, compare capacity and fit first, then look at energy-rating information and annual kWh if the retailer page shows it. Always recheck delivery, warranty and stock status on AO.com before ordering.
Retailer details used
Last checked 2026-08-19. 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.
- Home appliances and energy efficiency ratings | Energy Saving Trustenergy buyer criteria
- Samsung DV90T6240LN heat pump dryer | Samsung UKmanufacturer specs and reviews
- Samsung Galaxy S26 review | Tom’s Guideexpert phone review
- AO guides and adviceguide pattern
- Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB Smartphone inAO shortlist product page
- Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB Smartphone in Cobalt Violet, PurpleAO shortlist product page
Helpful next reads
Keep comparing with related reviews and buying guides before checking the latest retailer prices.
Buying questions
How were these electricals chosen for the shortlist?
They were selected from the current AO.com comparison set using visible price, brand mix, product type, variant coverage, customer-review information and practical fit factors. The shortlist includes Samsung, Apple and Haier, with prices from £549 to £799.
Why is this page a comparison shortlist rather than a single best buy?
Because the evidence set is limited and the products are not fully like-for-like. Phones and a fridge freezer should not be judged by the same running-cost logic, so the page works best as a cautious shortlist that helps you compare fit, value and current retailer details.
How should I compare running costs on the fridge freezer option?
Focus on the fridge freezer’s capacity, dimensions, energy label and annual kWh if shown, then judge whether that size matches your household. Energy guidance says larger appliances can use more energy, so a bigger model is not automatically the lower-cost choice.
Why are phones included on a low-running-cost page?
They appear in the current AO comparison set, but they should be read differently from the fridge freezer. For phones like the Apple iPhone 16 128GB and Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB, value is better judged by features, storage, brand preference and price rather than appliance-style energy language.
How important are review counts and ratings here?
They are useful as a confidence check, especially when ratings sit between 4.8 and 4.9 and review counts reach 3,034, but they do not replace checking the latest stock, delivery terms and product details. Strong review volume suggests interest, not a guarantee that a product suits every home.