By Kate Harvey
Writer | Kaituhi
This article appeared in the spring 2026 issue of Consumer magazine.
We often say it – buying the best doesn’t mean having to pay the most. These 10 products are proof of it. They’re all punching way above their price tag.
On this page
- 1. A super-cheap slow cooker
- 2. A dryer that won’t drain your bank account
- 3. An easy-to-use high chair
- 4. A space-saving hand mixer
- 5. A saucepan that’s a steal
- 6. Great earbuds for under $100
- 7. A water blaster that wowed us
- 8. A cool cooktop at a hot price
- 9. Style and substance in one toaster
- 10. A bargain barbecue we love
1. A super-cheap slow cooker
This little cutie earned third spot in our slow cookers test. It produced excellent chilli beef and did a good job of cooking corned beef. Its small size means it’s easy to wash in the sink.
2. A dryer that won’t drain your bank account
This basic vented dryer is great value. It’s very basic – there’s no delay start function – but if you just need a dryer that dries, this’ll do it.
3. An easy-to-use high chair
This high chair is simple, but it’s safe and easy to move around, because the tray and legs detach.
4. A space-saving hand mixer
Before you buy a big benchtop mixer, think about whether you could get by with this great hand mixer instead. It scored 100 out of 100 in our test for performance, which some mixers from popular brands couldn’t.
5. A saucepan that’s a steal
With a score of 99 out of 100 for performance, this bargain pot is our favourite.
6. Great earbuds for under $100
No need to fork out big bucks for Apple AirPods – we recommend these cheap earbuds.
7. A water blaster that wowed us
The cheapest water blaster in our test was also our favourite. The lance, handle and hose are all quite short, but at this price point you’ll probably be able to look past that.
8. A cool cooktop at a hot price
We recommend this little number if you need an extra cooking surface. It’s a great performer and very easy to use.
9. Style and substance in one toaster
This toaster is quick and did a good job in our toasting tests. The same store also sells a couple of two-slice toasters that are great.
10. A bargain barbecue we love
This cool little barbie gets our tick of approval. We found it both easy to use and easy to clean up.
Expensive products that are worth every cent
We often say you don't always get what you pay for – but these products are the exception. They all back up their steep price tags with genuinely great performance.
