www.thecai.ie DECEMBER 2019DECEMBER /JANUARY 2020

L et C onsume r C hoic e guide y ou to the be st value in the y ear ahe ad….

MONEY LIFESTYLE PRODUCT TESTS

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The December 2019 / January 2020 Consumers' Association of Dear Member, Ireland We close 2019 with the promise from a newly and significantlly If this year has taught us little else it has been that the costs of The Council is the empowered UK Prime Minister that he will ensure an urgent building are unrealistic; the considerations around housing, policy-making body exit from the European Union. This ensures changes in many energy and transportation are, in too many ways, unworkable of CAI. Members are ways for the consumers of the UK and Ireland who engage, in – mostly through poor planning and blindingly unrealistic elected from within every way possible, throughout their lives in terms of family considerations and expectations! the CAI's membership and friends, food and drink, travel and holidays, rights and at the Annual General entitlements, in person and online. Many have been considered Here at the CAI we have sown the seeds, again, through Meeting. in abstract terms with all of the potential positive and/or negative which we hope to engage with Government to secure some aspects that this could bring. In a very few weeks and months funding consideration that delivers in 2020. We have already, Council the certainty of all conjecture will crystalise and the realisation through BEUC and ANEC, taken a stronger and active role and Members of the cost, and loss, of engagement with our nearest friends and engagement with projects including Non Performing Loans, neighbours, as a third country, will commence. Energy Efficiency Rating, Consumer Rights Training and Chairperson Standardisation. We plan to do more. Michael Kilcoyne Here at home, we will certainly find ourselves at our own polling Vice-Chairperson stations with some very significant choices to make. Our So, with a focus on what can positively be achieved, on behalf Raymond O'Rourke housing, health and homeless crises are precisely that; our cost of the Council, staff, contributors and volunteers here at the Hon Secretary of living has already risen this year to a level which, when the CAI, I wish you and your families a happy, relaxing and special Elaine Bolger effects of Brexit take full effect, will bring a significant change Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year. Hon Treasurer Richard Donohue of lifestyle and budgeting demands that will be a challenge for Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Athbhlian faoi mhaise daoibh! Slán Council Members many and a personal concern for many more. We therefore go fóill. Steen Bruun-Nielsen need positive and pragmatic solutions if we are to effectively and James Wims affordably manage our own national plans of change.

Our Reports Consumer Choice Published Material Reports in Consumer Choice are based on Consumer Choice is published by No part of this publication may be reproduced, market research, laboratory tests or user surveys, the Consumers' Association of Ireland stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any all of which are independently and scientifically (CAI) Limited, a wholly independent, non- form without obtaining prior permission from the conducted. Free goods are never accepted for government, non-profit making body. CAI Council by contacting the Consumer Choice office. testing – all samples are purchased. Occasionally was founded in 1966 to protect and promote It may not be used for any form of advertising, sales items may be borrowed for review purposes only. the interests of the consumers of goods and promotion or publicity. The reports are produced in the main services, and to enhance the quality of life for by our own Editorial staff. Some material consumers. CAI is registered with charitable © Consumers’ Association of Ireland 2019 is occasionally drawn from other foreign status: CHY 8559. ISSN 0790-486X independent consumer magazines. Advertising is not accepted for publication. Because Consumer Choice carries no Consumer Choice is available on a subscription commercial advertising it is not swayed by basis only. To facilitate banking requirements Staff bias or influence and can point out advantages all cancellations must be advised, by letter or Policy and Council Advisor and flaws in goods and services that other email only, a full 30 days in advance. Where a Dermott Jewell magazines may not be able to do. bank applies a €24 chargeback fee for a Member/ customer advised cancellation we will deduct Reports on any article relate only to the Design/Typeset same from any refund requests. To subscribe articles or goods mentioned, and not to any Denzil Lacey (Zava Media) please write to: other article of the same or similar description. Consumer Choice, We do not necessarily price or report on all 120/121 Baggot Street Lower, Managing Editor brands or models within the class, and the Dublin 2 Clodagh O'Donoghue exclusion of any brand or model should not be taken as a reflection on it. Tel (01) 659 9430 Researchers Email [email protected] Róisín Moloney Weekes Social Media: www.thecai.ie Atousa Motameni

1 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 www.twitter.com/The_CAI

www.facebook.com/ Contents ConsumersAssociationIreland

43 Smartphones 22 Energy saving tips MONEY FOOD & HEALTH PRODUCT TESTS 24 How to Spot A Fake 11 Mandatory Labelling of 29 Soup Makers Review Online Vegetarian/Vegan Food Fancy a hearty, warming soup Savvy consumers do their Products but short on time and energy? research before making a What is the regulatory situation A soup maker can be a handy purchase, but how can they regarding the claims made for all-in-one solution. be sure that online reviews are plant-based substitute foods? posted by genuine customers? 32 Microwave Ovens When it comes to fast and con- 26 Choosing Online venient food, our seven Choice And Mobile Banking 12 High-Protein Bars and Buy microwave ovens more than Services Energy Drinks – Facts and deliver. With more and more of us Findings opting for online and mobile Research from safefood provides 36 Headphones banking, the European Bank- important insights for consumers For easy listening with wireless ing Authority offers tips to who may overestimate the positive options, noise cancelling and consumers signing up for effects of high-protein snacks and more, the scores from our these services. energy drinks. headphone tests are in… 27 Renting - the Next 43 Smartphones Form of Consuming? Our testers have got their hands From hiring a dress for a on 44 smartphone models, but wedding or a painting for which ones have made it into our your wall to borrowing a pet LIFESTYLE top ten? for the day, Consumer Choice asks if renting is the future. 17 Choice Buy Roundup 2019 Looking for last-minute gift ideas? Consumer Choice recaps COUNSEL on some great Choice Buy gad- gets from the last year that might 10 A Christmas provide the inspiration you need. Celebration The new rules on gift vouchers 21 Help For Vulnerable providing better protection for Customers Of Energy And consumers come in the wake Water Services of one of the CAI’s longest The Commission for Regulation of lobbying efforts. Utilities outlines what protections are on offer and who is eligible. 36 Headphones

2 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 News Briefs by Dermott Jewell NEWS BRIEFS

Going, Going...... Give Me One Blink For Yes When Eir launched its GoMo phone offering last October it The great Terry Wogan’s tongue-in-cheek advice to listeners, when introducing a quickly caught the attention of consumers, especially those seek- topic of potentially salacious content, that it might be wise to “blindfold the budgie ing a standard, basic, affordable offering. At €9.99 a month for for this one” could have held more depth than previously considered possible. Fol- all calls, texts and data this was no surprise. However, for those lowing four years of intensive research, scientists from the University of Queens- who have made the purchase in the runup to Christmas or, more land and the University of Exeter have developed software that brings us closer to importantly, those who are considering signing up now, be aware knowing what animals actually see. The ability to do this has long been the stuff of that this is an introductory offer and it will expire on the 8th Janu- ary 2020. The primary reason for this is that the target set by Eir imagination only and has been sought after throughout the scientific community for the offer was limited at 100,000 sign-ups and that number, for lifetimes. Now, what is known as Quantitative Colour Pattern Analysis (QCPA) at the time of writing, has just about been reached and the com- is providing a level of understanding that is astonishing. One of the lead research- pany is simply extending the offer to gain as much traction and ers describes the QCPA framework as a collection of innovative digital image pro- interest across the Christmas break. Be also aware that GoMo is cessing techniques and analytical tools designed to solve the problem. Collectively, only available online and so too are all dealings with regard to these tools greatly improve the ability to analyse complex visual information as seen contracting, billing, technical problems and, significantly, cus- through the eyes of animals. Colour patterns have been the key to understanding tomer service. This organisation does not hold the record for the many fundamental problems and, while the role of combinations of these colours best levels of customer service and promises of a significantly and pattern information has been well known for years, the available techniques to improved service are to be determined. Some examples to date better understand them have been missing - until now. The framework has flexibil- are not encouraging and so, with the branding for GoMo advising that you will enjoy a “€9.99 a month mobile for life”, we remain to ity to allow researchers to investigate the colour patterns and natural surroundings be convinced - but, are not closed to the concept! of a wide range of organisms, including insects, birds, fish and flowering plants.

Sssssignificant Ssssskulldigary If you are planning a game of snakes and ladders this Christmas then pon- der on this. The recently unearthed fossilised remains of a creature, called Najash (an extinct genus of Basal Snake (how does he do it...)), showed that snakes did indeed have hind legs during the first 90 million years or so of their evolution. Until recently, it has been impossible to lock down factually the evolution of the snake body due to limited fossil records of their earliest existence. However, the discovery of Najash changes all of that. Impor- tantly, it is very well preserved and clearly indicates a highly mobile skull, allowing it to swallow large prey. It is now believed that the detail of the evolution of the snake lies in the skull. A team of internationally recognised researchers has published a study detailing new examples of the ancient legged snake which include that it has some of the flexible joints found in the skull of modern snakes but that, unlike all living snakes, it retains a well-developed cheekbone, reminiscent of that of lizards. We end with a gardening tip, in context of the foregoing and regardless of the still largely uncorroborated action by St. Patrick, that you keep the grass short.

December www.thecai.ie2019 / January 2020 Decemberwww.thecai.ie 2019 / January 20203 Hard To Swallow There is action being initiated by restaurant owners and managers in where the discount from the bill can be used almost everywhere, from the US that, perhaps, we might see follow through into our own domain. Delta Airlines to Amazon. The sector, while significantly greater in scale There, businesses are suffering as takeaway business is accounting for than our own, with sales of $863 billion at current levels, nonetheless is as much as 60% of restaurant traffic. So, using apps, the focus now is being affected by the growth of the off-premises market that is takeout, on offers of gift certificates and discounts of up to 40% - in exchange delivery, street-food markets and mobile coffee and food stalls. There for early and off-peak reservations. These are the hours before remains to be proof that this will turn the tide. It is not dissimilar to the 5.30pm and after 8.30pm. Examples quoted are where the well-known approach taken in Ireland by early-bird and pre-theatre menu offerings booking app, OpenTable, offers points that can be redeemed for and so we will watch with interest. Over a glass of wine, perhaps? No discounts on another visit. An innovative offering comes from Seated mention of a reduction there, I see!

Marvellhouse

Santa has been working very hard all year and has helped, for example, in the production of a new Lego treehouse kit. But, not just any treehouse! This one is made with plant-based materials to help parents and children who have been very good and, especially, want sustainable toys. Lego has advised Santa that it hopes to make Lego products entirely sustainable by 2030. Many of the treehouse kit pieces are made from plant-based ma- terials produced from sustainably sourced sugar cane. This has not gone unnoticed by the world’s leading toy makers, including Hasbro and Mat- tel. Hasbro, whose products include Marvel action figures and Play-Doh, has been working for the past several years on sustainability initiatives. Mattel, which markets Barbie and Hot Wheels, has established similar sustainability goals. Toy companies are also focusing on their packaging. Lego, which plans to make all of its packaging sustainable by 2025, has also shone a light on the fact that the environmentally friendly compo- nents of Lego - the bricks - can be reused for decades.

Taking A Note From Brexit In the UK, a private company, De La Rue, prints the nation's banknotes and passports and it has done since 1860. In 1862, the company won the contract for the only US stamp ever printed abroad. The stamp, which was for the Confederate states, featured Jefferson Davis and was known as the ‘Five Cents Blue’. De La Rue is the largest commercial printer in the world, prints currency for 140 other countries, has designed 36% of all banknotes, and produces passports for 40 countries. However, all is not rosy at De La Rue. In 2018, it lost the contract to print the UK’s new blue passports after Brexit is completed. That contract went to a German company. This was a loss in the region of €420 million to the company and then, to add to its woes, it had to write off €22 million approximately after Venezuela's Central Bank failed to pay the company for its services. While the future of the company is now in question, it nonetheless remains the case that, regard- less of the growth and demand in cashless payments, the market for cash is expected to continue to grow. The amount of banknotes in circulation is expected to increase annually, on average by 4%. You can bank on that!

Decemberwww.thecai.ie 2019 / January 2020 Decemberwww.thecai.ie 2019 / January 20204 FOOD & HEALTH/News by Clodagh O’Donoghue Food & Health News The dangers of button batteries

This time of year traditionally sees an size means that they are easy to swallow batteries from a wide range of devices influx of new gadgets and gizmos come and they can get caught in the throat or commonly found in homes. Children are into our homes, many of them battery foodpipe on the way to the stomach where naturally curious but, unfortunately, that operated, but parents need to be aware of they can do serious damage. According curiosity can be life-threatening. The the significant dangers posed particularly to the Health Service Executive (HSE), all Choice research comes in the wake of by small, circular button-sized batteries. button batteries pose a risk but lithium the tragic deaths of two small children in From remote controls for new devices batteries are particularly dangerous. When Australia since 2013 due to the ingestion of to musical greeting cards and light-up one of these batteries comes into contact button batteries. In both cases, the parents ornaments, button batteries power a range with a wet surface, such as that found in did not know their child had swallowed a of new purchases that may make their the nasal cavity or oesophagus, a chemical battery and its source was never found. way into households over the Christmas reaction is triggered and the battery starts The advice for parents is that season. Whereas battery-operated toys to leak corrosive substances, which can prevention is better than cure so they or child-focused products tend to conform begin burning the surrounding tissue must remain vigilant. It is worth doing an to safety standards that see battery within a short period of time. The results inventory of your home to check which compartments screwed down, other can include scar formation, perforation devices lying around have easily accessible devices not targeted at children – from or organ damage. Sadly, a number of button batteries and then to tape battery cameras to digital weighing scales and from deaths of young children have occurred compartments shut and ensure that these hearing aids to calculators – may not take in recent years around the world due to products are not accessible to children. The the same secure approach. Thus, some of such injuries. Even what we may view as HSE particularly warns parents to check these compartments are easily opened or a ‘dead’ battery still has sufficient charge musical greeting cards, flameless candles batteries can fall out of devices when they to harm a child if it gets stuck in their ear, and remote controls. Moreover, parents are dropped, leading to the potential for nose, throat or oesophagus, as a button should make sure that all battery-operated small children or crawling infants to come battery stops powering a device long before devices that children do have access to across these little, shiny objects. it runs out of charge. Moreover, if the have locked battery compartments. Loose swallowing of the battery is not witnessed, and spare batteries should be stored it can be hard to diagnose what present as securely out of reach and spent ones non-specific symptoms similar to those of disposed of safely and correctly. Finally, a common infection like a cold or flu and parents and those caring for young children a delay in diagnosis can have catastrophic need to be aware of the serious dangers consequences. posed by button batteries and to know to Earlier this year, our consumer immediately seek medical advice if a child association colleagues at Choice in Australia swallows a battery. carried out some research into 17 common household items and found that, in ten cases, the batteries were easily accessed, either because the battery compartment was not sufficiently secured or because the batteries were likely to be released when the product was dropped. The items in question included a digital luggage scales, Young children are naturally a fridge thermometer, a book light, a digital inquisitive and often explore the world by ear thermometer and a blood glucose putting things in their mouths but not only meter. Although the products tested may do button batteries pose a choking risk, they not seem like the sort of items that a young present additional dangers and can cause child might be attracted to, the research significant burning injuries. Their small shows that children can access button

5 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 MONEY NEWS

Money News Money News by Clodagh O'Donoghue

Lo-call numbers

Consumers no longer need to worry to 1850, 1890, 0818, or 076 now cost about potential bill shock when they no more than a call to an Irish landline make a call to a non-geographic number number and, where a consumer has a (NGN) – that is a number beginning with bundle that includes landline calls, the 1800, 1850, 1890, 0818, or 076. These call will be included in their bundle of call numbers are typically used by Irish minutes. Calls to NGNs will be deducted businesses, government organisations from bundles on a per-minute basis and, and others to deliver services including in the absence of a bundle or where the helplines. However, savvy consumers consumer has already exceeded their have long been hesitant to call such call minutes for the month, the call will numbers due to confusion over charges be charged on a per-minute basis at the and the fact that these numbers were same rate as a call to a national landline. not included in ‘call bundles’ that many Calls to 1800 numbers from both a mobile customers of telecommunications phone and a landline will continue to be providers now typically pay for monthly. absolutely free of charge. As Consumer Choice has noted in To further reduce confusion, articles in its February 2019 and October there are other changes down the road. 2017 issues, the Commission for From 1st January 2022, the number of Communications Regulation (ComReg) NGNs will be narrowed down to just two has been working over the last couple – the freephone 1800 number and the of years to address the cost of calling 0818 standard rate number, with all the NGNs and tackling the confusion that other numbers withdrawn. The lead-in surrounded these numbers and the period is designed to give businesses and difference between them. As a result organisations time to switch over their of this work, since 1st December, calls current NGNs to 1800 or 0818 numbers.

TV licence email scam

Consumers are warned about a scam email There has been an increase in • There is a sense of urgency or pressure with that claims to come from An Post, reminding emails that look to come from a trusted an indication that a service is about to expire them to renew their TV licence. The email organisation or company but that are, in or your account is about to close if you don’t has been landing in consumers’ inboxes with fact, attempts to defraud consumers. A take immediate action. the subject line “Your TV licence is about to number of telltale signs to look for include expire”. Rather than coming from An Post, the following: • You are asked to enter personal the email in fact comes from a Brazil-linked information, such as your username, address and leads to a phishing website • Although the email claims to be from a password or bank account or payment card that steals payment card details. The email well-known and trusted organisation, the details. purports to inform the customer that their sender’s email address does not match the annual subscription expires in six days and organisation’s real website address. The advice with the TV licence inviting them to click on a link to renew scam and with all unsolicited or suspicious their subscription. Unwary consumers who • A link is provided that may look similar to emails is, as ever, to ignore the email, to do click on the link are taken to a phishing the proper address but, in fact, it is slightly mark it as spam and to never click on any page hosted on a US-based website where different and will take you to a fake website. links or open attachments. they are asked to enter their payment card details. This information is then passed • The message begins with a general on to fraudsters who will attempt to take greeting, such as “Dear customer”, instead of money from the account. your name.

6 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 New Gift Voucher Rules

Consumers buying gift vouchers this festive • Retailers cannot specify that you must as these are considered to be electronic season and into the New Year can enjoy spend the voucher in one transaction. money cards and fall under different greater protection than before thanks to regulations. A number of other exclusions new legislation. Since 2nd December 2019, • If there is a balance left on the gift voucher apply, including vouchers or credit notes all gift vouchers sold must have either of more than €1 after you buy something, issued as a refund for goods returned, no expiry date or be valid for at least five the retailer must reimburse you that vouchers issued as part of a customer years from the date of issue. This is in stark balance either in cash, by electronic transfer loyalty or promotion scheme and vouchers contrast to the situation up to then, in which or with another gift voucher – the retailer bought from a deals website for a product retailers were able to stipulate any terms can choose which one of these methods to or service that must be used on a specified and conditions they liked with regard to gift offer. date or within three months. Moreover, the vouchers and, particularly, how soon they new legislation only applies to gift vouchers would expire. Now, retailers must provide • More than one gift voucher can be used in bought on or after 2nd December 2019 and consumers with the expiry date – which a single transaction. gift vouchers purchased before then do not must be a minimum of five years – in a have to comply with the new requirements. durable form, either in writing or in an email. • Retailers cannot charge you to change a The new rules take effect in The new rules come under the name on a gift voucher or refuse to let you the wake of decades of lobbying by the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act use a voucher that is not in your name. Consumers’ Association of Ireland and its 2019 and offer additional protections for Credit Where It’s Due campaign, launched in consumers beyond the extended expiry Importantly, the new rules do not August 2017. For more on this, see page 10 date. The protections include the following: apply to An Post One-4-All gift cards of the current issue of Consumer Choice.

20% of Irish adults experience financial abuse Up to one in five Irish adults has experienced by the BPFI in partnership with Safeguarding place an Enduring Power of Attorney some form of financial abuse, according to Ireland to highlight the need for greater recently published research - but despite this recognition of the all-too-real risk of financial If you have concerns about high incidence, many people believe that it abuse and calling on all adults to plan ahead suspected financial abuse, you are could not happen to them. In late November, to protect their finances in the future. encouraged to speak to your bank or An Post, the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland Safeguarding Ireland chairwoman as financial institutions can take actions to (BFPI) released the findings of a Red C survey Patricia Rickard-Clarke noted international prevent and stop financial abuse. in which 10% of participants polled said estimates that suggest that more than 10% of For more information on this topic that someone had used their property or people are dishonest in how they manage a and how to seek help, see our report on page possessions without permission. Another vulnerable person’s money and said that this 16 of the June 2019 issue of Consumer Choice. 8% noted that an income-earning adult living research confirms that “the real incidence with them refused to contribute to household is higher than that with 20% reported”. bills, while 6% said that someone was making According to the BPFI’s Head of Sustainable decisions about their money and 4% had Banking Louise O’Mahony, everyone needs money taken or used from a joint account to prepare for the likelihood that “one day without their agreement. we may need help managing our affairs due Despite these significant to a serious illness, accident or aging, and figures indicating that financial abuse is our message is that people should ‘have that comparatively prevalent, 43% of respondents conversation’ with someone they can trust said that they were not concerned about and plan ahead for the future of their finances experiencing financial abuse in the future. in order to protect themselves from financial Interestingly, the same percentage of abuse”. participants - 43% - did express concern about Steps that you can take to the possibility of financial abuse affecting safeguard yourself against financial abuse them, with older consumers the least include: concerned. Only 37% of over 55s said they were concerned that they would be affected • Understanding and organising your day-to- by financial abuse, and just 6% of Irish adults day banking to better protect your finances have put in place an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA), which is a very low figure by • Checking your bank account(s) regularly international standards. The findings were released as part • Ensuring access for you, and only a trusted of a public awareness campaign launched person if needed, to your money by putting in

7 www.thecai.ie DecemberDecember 20192019 // JanuaryJanuary 20202020 Product/Tech News

Product News by Clodagh O'Donoghue

Bags of room for improvement

Somewhat disappointingly, successive studies have shown that the ban led to the proportion of the population buying bin liners increasing introduction of a plastic bag charge or ban in countries across the world from 15% to 80%, while in California, although 20,000 tonnes of plastic actually causes an increase in the sale of single-use plastic bags. supermarket bags were eliminated by a similar ban, Californians bought Ireland led the way with the introduction of the plastic bag an additional 6,000 tonnes of plastic rubbish bags and refuse sacks. The levy in 2002 and many other countries have since followed suit, generally UK plastic bag charge was introduced in 2015 at the low cost of 5p per meeting with massive success in significantly reducing the number bag and a recent survey has found that around a third of households are of plastic bags consumers bring home from the supermarket and buying extra rubbish bags as a result. other retailers. However, there appears to be an unintended – though No-one is disputing the success of the plastic bag levy and the not altogether surprising – consequence, with concurrent increases benefits gained but, in order for us not to undo our good work, we need recorded in sales of plastic bin liners. to seek out alternative bin liner solutions that are made from mainly The plastic bag levy in Ireland was initially introduced partly recycled materials or that are biodegradable or compostable. There as an anti-litter strategy, given the high number of discarded plastic are numerous options out there, both online and on shop shelves. And, grocery bags spoiling the look of both rural and urban environments at of course, the more we recycle responsibly and shop sustainably, the the time. However, it turns out that a lot of us were not thoughtlessly less waste we create in the first place and the fewer bags of any sort are throwing these bags away but, instead, thriftily reusing them as a handy needed. way to dispose of waste. We had found that plastic grocery bags were the perfect size for smaller pedal bins in our kitchens and bathrooms, for example. Introducing the levy and making consumers pay for the plastic bags they picked up at supermarket checkouts definitely focused our minds and we opted to use far fewer of them, bringing reusable ‘bags for life’ instead. But then we were left with the problem of how to dispose of the waste we were creating on a daily basis. In many cases, we started buying single-use bin bags that cost less per item than the levy to be paid on plastic grocery bags. Thus, the success quoted of the 90%-95% reduction in plastic bag use in the year following the Irish levy's introduction might not tell the full story. A figure noted at the time put the increase in bin bag sales at 77%. This experience has been replicated across the world. In South Australia, the introduction of a carrier bag

Automating the ironing

If the sight of a huge laundry pile waiting to be pressed really gets you down, then the sound of the world’s first fully automated domestic ironing machine should perk you up. Enter Effie - a stylish but substantially sized appliance that looks like a high-tech wardrobe on wheels. Effie will take clothes straight from the washing machine and dry them before ironing them, all in a swift six minutes. Clothes that are already dry will take a mere three minutes before emerging perfectly pressed. This appliance can iron up to 12 items at one time and can cater for any type of clothing that can fit into the window of the device, including shirts, T-shirts, short dresses and trousers as well as bedding and towels. You can touch up ironing results with a useful tool for pressing collars and a drying bag is provided for dealing with delicates. Effie does not require plumbing so it can be stored or positioned anywhere in your home but you will need to remember to fill the water tank. It is a bulky appliance, however, so not everyone will have the space and, although pricing has yet to be confirmed, figures in the £699 to £999 range have been mentioned, so it will represent a significant long-term financial investment. The makers are still, ahem, ironing out a few issues with the Effie so it is not available quite yet. But if you are desperate to tick ironing off your to-do list for good, then you can register your interest at helloeffie.com and the company will let you know when these machines are ready to ship.

The products featured on these pages have not been tested by the Consumers’ Association of Ireland and their inclusion here is not, in any way, an endorsement of them.

8 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Toy appeal

Sales in toys take a massive spike at this has been looking at the impact that play conducted a study entitled Making or time of year for obvious reasons as Santa and toys have on a child’s development breaking stereotypes? that looked at their is not the only one buying presents for and how they contribute to shape the content and highlighted both negative and young folk. But what do we consider child’s behaviour and interests as well as positive trends among toy manufacturers when we buy a gift of a toy? Consumer the choices that he or she will make in and retailers. Since then, an annual social Choice always ranks safety as the first later life. This is in the context of EU-wide media campaign, #ToysandDiversity, and foremost priority but European research that provides evidence of has highlighted gender, disability and organisation COFACE Families Europe ongoing issues such as stagnating rates of racial stereotypes in toy production also wants us to think about whether the women’s participation in employment, the and marketing and has helped to raise toys we purchase help to make or break persistence of gender segregation in the awareness of the need for toy diversity stereotypes and if they promote equality labour market, low rates of employment among toy producers, marketers, retailers and diversity. among people with disabilities and the and consumers. COFACE Families Europe is difficulties experienced by those with a Now, COFACE would like to hear a European network of civil society migrant background or from minorities in from families and friends of families across associations that represents the interests accessing the profession of their choice. Europe about what they think about when of families of all types. It advocates COFACE notes that every child is born they buy toys and what influences their policies of non-discrimination and without stereotypes and predefined choices. An online survey was launched on equal opportunities for all people and gender roles and that, early in life, November 20th in 13 languages and will family forms and especially focuses on cultural and societal norms have a major run until Christmas. It takes five minutes increasing equality between women and influence on how individuals come to view to complete and the results will be men. themselves. published early in 2020. If you would like Over the last few years, Toy catalogues are a key to participate in the survey, go to https:// COFACE’s Toys and Diversity campaign marketing tool and, in 2016, COFACE surveyhero.com/c/toysanddiversity.

Close-up on the Mona Lisa

Anyone lucky enough to be planning a trip to Paris over the next Admission costs €17 and the exhibition runs until 24th February couple of months might like to put a visit to the Musée du Louvre 2020. Owners of HTC Vive headsets who cannot get to Paris in on their schedule, especially if they fancy getting an up-close, person can access an extended home version through Viveport in-depth view of the renowned Mona Lisa. The museum is at viveport.com. celebrating the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, who died in France 500 years ago, with an extensive new exhibition that not only displays paintings, drawings, manuscripts and sculptures by the Italian Renaissance master but also offers a virtual reality (VR) experience aimed at bringing the story of the Mona Lisa to life. The famous painting was viewed by over ten million people in 2018 alone but visitors not only have to battle the crowds to catch a glimpse but the fragile work itself is protected by a special glass and steel case that means it is hard to get a clear look. Aware that this can be disappointing for art lovers, a VR experience has been developed, entitled Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass, that allows visitors to enjoy an immersive view of the masterpiece. Taiwanese consumer electronics company HTC Corporation’s Vive Arts project partnered with Paris VR company Emissive to create the experience, which involved equipping a room in the exhibition with 11 Vive Cosmos VR headsets. Visitors put on the headsets to bypass the crowds and cut away the glass that normally surround the Mona Lisa so that they can see the work in all its glorious detail. Viewers can discover the techniques employed by da Vinci to create the painting and see elements of the work that are hidden to the naked eye. Meanwhile, the narration provides historical details and debunks myths about the subject of the painting - reputedly Lisa del Giocondo, wife of a Florentine cloth merchant - while 3D modelling lets her appear to move around. If getting this unique view of the 500-year-old iconic image sounds appealing, you will need to book a timeslot to see the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at https://www.ticketlouvre. fr/ and on-site reservation is required for the VR experience.

9 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 COUNSEL / GIFT VOUCHERS

A Christmas Celebration

We have been in celebratory mood in the CAI deterioration came over time. would have entered the considerations with because one of our longest lobbying efforts In the US, Marshall Field and a focus on the reality of how a gift card with – a matter of demand for over 25 years – was Company was established in Chicago in a value of €50 should not have the same realised on the 2nd of December 2019 with 1852. In October of 1871, Chicago endured approach to monthly deduction as that of a the enactment of the Consumer Protection one of the worst fires in American history and card worth €1,000. We were wrong! (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019. From this date, the store was devastated. Two years later, And so, in conclusion and in all gift vouchers bought must have either in October 1873, Marshall Field’s opened its recognition of the reality that money is hard- no expiry date or be valid for at least five new store in a building leased from the Singer earned, I cannot overemphasise the need to years. We consider that our renewed efforts, Sewing Machine Company. recognise that, firstly, one thing that has not which we commenced in August 2017 with It was in 1876 that a young Harry changed is the volatility of the business world our Credit Where It’s Due campaign, finally, Gordon Selfridge joined the company and and so, rather than hold your vouchers and caught the attention of a demanding nation. who later took over as manager in 1887. It credit notes for up to five years, I think it is We are appreciative of our Members’ support was Selfridge who introduced the marketing best that you use them and enjoy them – and which, for us, showed how critically important term that we all know today, which is Only the sooner the better. The same applies to the independent consumer voice really is in ____ Shopping Days Until Christmas. He is also gift cards but with the added caution that, society. credited with the notion of how The Customer while they have no expiry date at all, they do Early on in 2017, we had written to Is Always Right. In 1906, on a visit to London, slowly and quietly reduce in value to nil which, IBEC and Retail Ireland advising them of our he saw a gap in the UK market and set up his when you think about it, makes us the indirect imminent campaign launch and requesting own store there, on what was, at the time, the funders of the salaries of the gift card owners. an initiative on their side to raise the level of decidedly less attractive end of Oxford Street. I do not think it is hard to determine whether consideration and value for their customers. However, that change in the nature that makes us charitable or foolish ‘valued’ They never responded. This, in many ways, of the business model that I refer to, I believe, customers. brought us to revisit the argument of how a commenced in 1951 when Selfridge’s was Thank you Members, you deserve consumer passed money across the counter taken over by Lewis’s which, in turn, in 1965 the credit for getting us here today. Happy in exchange for a piece of paper which was taken over by Sears. This was followed Christmas! promised to provide a value for that sum of in 2003 by the purchase of the business by hard cash – But only for a period of, at general Galen Weston, whom Irish consumers will Dermott Jewell maximum, 12 months. Following that period recognise as the owner of Brown Thomas. Consumers’ Association of Ireland the store owners retained that money and So, following that brief historical their valued customer was told that terms and journey where the customer morphed into conditions applied, that they had left it too the consumer, with rights and entitlements of long and that their money and credit was lost return and quality, we are now a little further to them - thank you and goodbye. along thanks to the new Act. If I am to be honest, this was not Of course, the elephant in the reflective of the ethics or ethos of retail shop is the gift card system which, for in Ireland when I was growing up. The example, at expiry of a 13-month period, consideration of the customer was much commences a monthly deduction which, if it more of a value and personal basis and in a is not used, will see it devalue to nil over an realistic and respectful way. extended period of time. In fairness, we had I have recently been asked when not focussed significantly on these cards as the current system came into effect and, they are different in the nature of their terms while the answer is relatively simple, the and conditions. That said, in similar terms historical flow and what I would refer to as a of fairness, we had hoped that pragmatism

December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 10 Food & Health/Labelling of plant-based foods

Mandatory Labelling of Vegetarian/Vegan Food Products The CAI’s Raymond O’Rourke outlines the regulatory situation regarding the labelling of plant-based substitute food products.

Numerous vegetarian/vegan food products The European Parliament (EP) proposes mandating one of three simple are gaining a foothold in the Irish food retail Agriculture Committee in April this year pictorial labels on all food product labels: market. It is therefore not surprising to see when discussing a Commission proposal to Non-Vegetarian, Vegetarian, or Vegan. plant-based substitute products being sold as amend EU Regulation 1308/2013 adopted an Some may scoff at such EU Citizens’ ‘veggie burgers’, ‘plant cheese’, etc. Yet what is amendment in line with the ECJ TofuTown Initiatives but they are a new mechanism the regulatory situation regarding the claims court case stating that the designations used introduced in the Lisbon Treaty aimed at made on such food products, especially plant- for meat and meat preparations shall be increasing direct democracy by enabling EU based products using dairy-related terms? reserved exclusively for products containing citizens to participate in the development of There has already been a judgement meat. These designations include, for example, EU policies. Such initiatives require one million from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in ‘steak’, ‘sausage’, ‘escalope’, ‘burger’ and citizens who are nationals of at least one the case Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb eV ‘hamburger’. This legislation will come before quarter of the Member States to support the v. TofuTown.com GmbH (14th June 2017) the new Parliament in the coming months. initiative before the Commission is mandated regarding purely plant-based products being The approach of the EP Agriculture to respond, yet you only have to look at the sold under the names ‘soyatoo tofu butter’, Committee mirrors developments at state level issue of Glyphosate/Pesticides to see where ‘plant cheese’, ‘veggie cheese’, ‘cream’ and in the US. Recently, Arkansas was the latest such a Citizens’ Initiative has radically reformed other similar designations. The company said state to prohibit the use of terms like ‘meat’, the EU rules on the authorisation of plant consumers were not misled by such terms ‘sausage’ and ‘beef’ on products that are not protection products. since consumers’ understanding of such terms made from animals, as well as prohibiting the The new European Parliament has changed considerably in the past number labelling of items like cauliflower rice as ‘rice’ and new Agriculture Commissioner will of years and it did not use terms like ‘butter’ or soy milk as ‘milk’. Each violation will be therefore have to grapple with this issue of etc. on their own but always in association with punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Similar the designation of plant-based food products words referring to their plant origin, such as laws have passed in states throughout the US, in the very near future. If the EP Agriculture ‘tofu butter’. including Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Committee amendment is adopted by the The European Court ruled that, in South Dakota. full Parliament in the coming months, it then principle, for the purposes of the marketing Opponents of these laws say it is must be adopted by the EU Member States. In and advertising in question, the relevant EU merely an attempt to protect the interests of that case, it could take 18-24 months before legislation [EU Regulation 1308/2013] reserves traditional agricultural producers from the this ban on the use of terms like ‘veggie the term ‘milk’ only for milk of animal origin. In increasing popularity of alternative ‘meat’ burger’ and ‘vegan sausage’ would come into addition, except where expressly provided, that or ‘dairy’ products, which are enjoying a operation. The European Commission might legislation reserves designations like ‘cream’, surge in popularity in Europe and the US. In instead decide to deal legislatively with this ‘chantilly’, ‘butter’, ‘cheese’ and ‘yoghurt’ solely addition, the new laws are seen as being in issue by means of a simple logo: Vegetarian or for milk products - that is, products derived contravention of attempts by consumers to Non-Vegetarian, as per the Citizens’ Initiative from milk. The Court concluded that the purchase more sustainable food products. suggestion. Whatever approach it decides designations for ‘milk’ etc. cannot be legally The issue is not quite that simple – upon, you can be certain that there will be used to designate a purely plant-based product presently in Brussels a Citizens’ Initiative has much debate on this issue in the coming unless that product is mentioned on the list of been registered at the European Commission months in the EU where the issue of producing exceptions, which is not the case for soya or highlighting that vegetarians or vegan sustainable food has become a priority for EU tofu. consumers struggle across the EU to identify politicians. Lastly, the European Court was suitable food. They must study the list of quite clear in the TofuTown case ruling that the ingredients of a food product to determine if addition of descriptive terms or explanatory it is fit for purchase with a hyper-awareness of Raymond O’ Rourke terms cannot completely exclude the likelihood ambiguous ingredients that could be either Consumers’ Association of Ireland of confusion on the part of consumers. plant- or animal-based. The Citizens’ Initiative

11 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 FOOD & HEALTH / High-protein snacks and energy drinks

High-Protein Bars and Energy Drinks – Facts and Findings High-protein snacks are not as healthy as consumers might think, according to recent research from safefood. Meanwhile, energy drinks REPORT by Clodagh O’Donoghue have seen reductions in sugar content but increases in size and caffeine content. Consumer Choice weighs the findings on these ‘functional’ foods.

High-protein diets have become increasingly surveyed, while 77% are also high in saturated ingredients and so significant levels of sugar popular in recent years and the availability of fat and many contain added sugar and salt. and fat are introduced to make these snacks commercial high-protein snacks and drinks This is despite the fact that 37% or more than more appetizing and appealing. The additions has risen accordingly. Estimates indicate that, a third of 2,000 people surveyed believe that effectively turn these so-called healthy snacks between 2012 and 2016, there was a 498% such protein bars are “healthy”. into treats, making them comparable to a small increase in the number of foods making high- The popularity and availability of standard chocolate bar in terms of their calorie, protein claims in Ireland and the UK. However, snacks including bars, yoghurts and dairy fat and salt content. This means that these despite their perception as ‘healthy’ options, drinks with high-protein claims have grown bars should be placed on the top level of the a recent study by safefood has found that the rapidly in recent years alongside an increased food pyramid and consumed no more than sugar and fat content of these products can be interest among consumers in achieving a once or twice a week and certainly not every significant. Energy drinks are another product high-protein diet. The claimed benefits of day. category that has grown exponentially high-protein diets include the role they play In conducting its research, in recent years and continues to expand. in sustaining a healthy lifestyle, enhancing safefood analysed the nutritional content of These products similarly imply that they muscle function, supporting bone health, 39 high-protein bars, 26 yoghurts and quark offer beneficial effects, particularly in fitness managing weight, increasing energy and (a dairy product similar to a curd or cottage scenarios, but although some manufacturers contributing to satiety or a feeling of fullness. cheese) and 18 dairy drinks and smoothies of energy drinks have decreased the sugar Many consumers look to high-protein snacks and then used ‘traffic-light’ labelling criteria content in the wake of the introduction of and drinks to up their protein intake in to categorise products as low (green label), Ireland’s tax on sugar sweetened drinks, others the hope of gaining these health benefits. medium (amber label) or high (red label) for have retained high sugar levels while product However, as part of its recent study, safefood total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Among size and caffeine content have increased. established that adults are generally already high-protein bars Recently published research by all-island consuming more protein than they require organisation safefood into these product from their diet. Thus, there is no need for • 79% had an amber label for total fat categories provides important insights for most adults to be looking to add more protein • 77% had a red label for saturated fat consumers who may overestimate their to their daily intake and using high-protein • 21% had a red label for sugar; 28 % amber and positive effects. snacks - particularly bars - may do more harm 51 % green than good. Although these products are • 87% had an amber label for salt Study findings for high-protein frequently positioned at ‘healthy’ checkout tills foods and in health food sections, these products fall In addition, chocolate was listed In November 2019, safefood released findings short in terms of their health credentials. The as the primary ingredient in 38% of the bars that showed that chocolate is the main protein content generally comes from whey surveyed, while 62% listed oils, 41% listed ingredient of almost 40% of protein bars or soy, which are notoriously unpalatable sucrose, 69% listed sweeteners, and added salt

12 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 was recorded on 90% of ingredients lists. alternative to other common snacks, cancers, type 2 diabetes and raised blood Among high-protein yoghurts such as crisps and confectionery, and the pressure. The conclusion is that, not only are and quark, all of these types of products had nutrition claims lead consumers to think commercial high-protein bars not needed low values for total fat, saturated fat and salt they are ‘good for you’. In fact, commercial for good health, but that their saturated content but 70% had an amber traffic-light high-protein snack foods, and particularly fat, sugar and salt content is likely to have a rating for sugar. Finally, when high-protein bars, are highly processed products that negative impact on healthy eating. Healthy dairy drinks and smoothies were examined, are significant sources of saturated fat, eating guidelines instead recommend that 83% were low in total and saturated fat, added sugar and salt. Overconsumption of consumers get their dietary protein from while all products had a low salt content and such foods has been linked to obesity and whole foods such as nuts, eggs, chicken, a medium sugar content. overweight, with all the associated adverse salmon, chickpeas, lentils, and low-fat milk The marketing of high-protein health outcomes, such as increased risk of and yoghurt. products suggests that they are a healthier developing cardiovascular disease, certain

Table: Nutrition content (mean, minimum and maximum) of high-protein snack products surveyed, per serving and per 100 grams or millilitres of product

Per Serving (g or ml) Per 100 g or 100 ml Product Category Serving size Nutrition profile Mean Mini- Maximum Mean Minimum Maximum range (g or ml) mum Protein bars 40–61 Energy (kcal) 198.2 155 246 377.4 309 500

Total fat (g) 7.6 1.6 12.3 14.8 2.9 30.8

Saturated fat (g) 3.6 0.2 7.4 7 0.3 15

Sugar (g) 6.4 1.1 24.5 12.4 1.8 44.6

Salt (g) 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.1

Protein (g) 16.9 8.5 24.1 31.7 18.2 40.2

Yoghurts and quark 125–200 Energy (kcal) 111.2 84 149 69 53 92

Total fat (g) 0.3 0 1.6 0.2 0 1.3

Saturated fat (g) 0.2 0 1.5 0.1 0 1.2

Sugar (g) 10.1 5.8 15 6.3 3.3 10

Salt (g) 0.18 0 0.3 0.1 0 0.2

Protein (g) 15.2 12 20 9.5 8 11.2

Dairy drinks and 250–500 Energy (kcal) 195 152 280 62 46 77 smoothies Total fat (g) 2.9 0.3 6 0.9 0.1 2.2

Saturated fat (g) 1.7 0.3 5 0.6 0.1 2

Sugar (g) 19.8 10.4 28.5 6.4 3.3 10.7

Salt (g) 0.4 0 0.6 0.1 0 0.2

Protein (g) 19.1 10.8 27 5.8 4.3 8.2

Source: safefood.eu. Survey conducted on products on sale March-April 2018.

13 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 including a marked increase in the number content and possible effects on their baby. of drinks sold in 500ml sizes (16 in 2019 Moreover, despite marketing messages, compared with eight in 2015) whereas there energy drinks are not suitable for rehydration was no change in the number of drinks sold purposes after sports and exercise due to the in 250ml servings. In addition, although diuretic effect of the caffeine they contain caffeine content has remained the same and they should not be used as mixers for per 100ml on average, the mean caffeine alcohol. These drinks are also unsuitable for content of all energy drinks increased from children aged less than 16 years as the high 90mg to 106mg per serving due to the larger calorie and sugar content with no nutritional container sizes. According to the most recent benefit can cause weight gain and lead market data, there are three leading brands to childhood obesity, while large doses of in the Irish market - Lucozade, Red Bull and caffeine can have harmful side effects and Monster - which together account for 80% cause anxiety in children and teenagers. of the marketplace. Although Lucozade has Even healthy adults need to be careful of their made a significant reduction to the sugar energy drink consumption as sugary drinks 2019 findings on energy content of its products since the 2015 study, are associated with excess weight and poor drinks there was no decrease in sugar levels in the dental health while caffeine intake should be Energy drinks companies often market their other two brands. The sugar and caffeine limited to 400mg a day, which will include tea products as performance boosters, linking content of 17 energy drinks products on the and coffee sources. them to physical activity and extreme sports market is outlined in the infographic from For more information on the and suggesting to consumers that these safefood below and shows that, similar to findings contained in safefood’s two recent beverages are a quick and effective means the 2015 findings, a single 500ml serving can reports, A survey on high-protein snack of rehydration while hinting that they will contain up to 17 teaspoons of sugar and the foods and A survey of energy drinks on the improve ability or stamina. Marketing caffeine equivalent of two 60ml espressos. island of Ireland 2019, go to safefood.eu. primarily targets young and adolescent males, with sophisticated social media campaigns often a feature among the leading brands. However, the high sugar and caffeine content of these drinks has led to concerns of possible adverse health effects and the need to highlight that these products are not suitable for all population groups, particularly those aged under 16 years and pregnant and breastfeeding women. In our March 2016 issue, Consumer Choice reported on the results of safefood’s 2015 survey of the energy drinks market and the finding that a 500ml serving could contain as much as 16.5 teaspoons of sugar and up to 160mg of caffeine or the equivalent of two 60ml espressos. Since that survey was conducted, Ireland introduced the Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax and safefood has revisited the energy drinks category to see what changes, if any, this had made. Research undertaken on products for sale during April 2019 found that the number of energy drinks products on the market had risen since 2015, with particular growth noted in the own-brand category, The latest market research notes Useful contact and that there was a marked increase in a 3.4% increase in the volume of energy the number of diet and sugar-free versions drinks sold in supermarkets and convenience safefood available. A positive effect of the new tax stores between 2015 and 2018, for a total of safefood.eu on sugar sweetened beverages is that 26.7 million litres bought by Irish consumers. tel: 1850 404 567 the average sugar content per serving of This is the equivalent of every man, woman email: [email protected] energy drinks has fallen by around two level and child in the country drinking 5.5 litres teaspoons, from 31g in 2015 to 23g in 2019. of energy drinks each year and places Moreover, the proportion of products on Ireland close to the very top of energy drink the Irish market eligible for taxation - those consumption compared with other countries containing 5g or more of sugar per 100ml - in the EU. has fallen from 74% of energy drinks on sale The advice from safefood is that to 41%. energy drinks are not suitable for a number Alongside these positives, a of consumer groups, including pregnant and number of negatives were observed, breastfeeding women due to the caffeine

14 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 12/

Sugar & Caffeine in Energy Drinks

Red Bull Red Bull Lucozade Tesco Rockstar Energise Monster Monster Relentless Red Blue Monster KX Mountain Xdurance Edge Energy Assault Tiger Energy The Blue Energy Boost Blue Emerge Dew Drink Edition Origin Original Spark Thunder Bear Rehab Energy

500ml 440ml 500ml 500ml 250ml 250ml 250ml 500ml 380ml 250ml 250ml 250ml 250ml 250ml 500ml 250ml* 500ml 17 14 14 14 7 7 7 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 0 Sugar 69g 55g 55g 55g 28g 28g 28g 24g 17g 12g 12g 12g 12g 11g 11g 4g 0g

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

Caffeine 160mg 160mg 160mg 160mg 80mg 80mg 80mg 160mg 46mg 75mg 75mg 75mg 75mg 75mg 160mg 75mg 76mg

1 teaspoon = 4g sugar 1 cup of espresso = 80mg caffeine Data collected April 2019 *KX Energy is no longer available in 250ml

Check before you choose Energy drinks are not suitable: • for children under 16 years of age • as a mixer with alcohol • for rehydration after sport or exercise • for pregnant or breast-feeding women

15 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 16 Lifestyle / Choice Buy Roundup 2019

Choice Buy Roundup 2019

Here at Consumer Choice, it is traditional at heels, we look at some of the year’s Choice Looking for last- this time of year to look back at some of the Buy recommendations that might make a great products we were happy to recommend great gift idea or would be worth hunting minute gift ideas? Our over the last twelve months. In 2019, we have down in the sales by those hoping to bag a Choice Buy Roundup tested the familiar mix of state-of-the-art bargain. high-tech devices like smartphones and recaps on some laptops along with down-to-earth domestic Gadget gifts appliances, from vacuum cleaners with and Most of us start the New Year with a list of great gadgets that without a cord to laundry machines that will resolutions and good intentions, many of wash or dry - or wash and dry - your clothes. which centre around improving our health we recommended Along the way, we have looked at non- and lifestyle habits. Consumer Choice has over the year that essential but nice-to-have gadgets such as examined a number of products in the last fitness trackers and smartwatches and handy year that could help with fitness goals or might provide just the additions to your kitchen arsenal in the form healthier eating regimes and that might be of blenders, air fryers and food processors. worth putting on your own Christmas wishlist inspiration you need. Every item is bought anonymously, online or be the perfect present for someone close or in store, and then brought to our to you. independent labs where it is prodded and poked, measured and marked, to find out Air fryers if it impresses or disappoints our dedicated Chip lovers who feel the need to kick the REPORT by Clodagh O'Donoghue testers. This work is carried out with the sole deep-fried-food habit come January 1st purpose of bringing a truly objective and might be in the market for an air fryer – and At a glance completely unbiased assessment of each Consumer Choice examined what is on offer • A year of Choice Buys product to consumers to enable them to in this relatively new category this time last • Gadget gifts make a fully informed purchasing decision. year in our December 2018/January 2019 • The lengths we go to Now, with the festive season upon us and the issue. In an increasingly health-conscious post-Christmas discounts coming hot on its world, deep-fat fryers have fallen from favour

17 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 somewhat as we are all too aware of the with their ability to blitz fresh raw ingredients are provided with this Nutribullet, which negative health impacts of eating fat-heavy into a nutritious smoothie and the best won’t be able to blend hot liquids or crush dishes. Air fryers, in contrast, are inventive devices will effortlessly handle tricky items ice cubes. In contrast, a modestly priced machines that use little or no oil to produce like nuts and leafy greens to whip up silky jug blender that can tackle ice cubes with similar crispy results for your homemade sauces and perfect pestos. Mind you, before ease once a little water is added is the Tefal chips. These machines are not actually healthful good intentions take over, your Blendforce Blender BL420840. Costing €43, fryers at all and instead are small, countertop new blender can also be put to use whizzing this Tefal model holds 1.25 litres of liquid convection ovens that heat and circulate up the odd cocktail, and all the better if it is and performs all basic blending tasks to a the air inside to cook the food placed in the able to crush ice cubes for the perfect frozen high standard. You can use the dial control removable basket. As well as ‘frying’ chips, daiquiri or margarita. to choose between two speed settings many air fryers claim to be able to roast, bake Large jug and an air-cooling system and grill for an all-round cooking machine. blenders have allows you to run it for up Three models that we recommended last been around for to three minutes at a time. year remain available, including the Morphy decades but now Finally, if you are looking Richards Health Fryer 480003, which will single-serve or for a stylish addition to your produce particularly flavoursome and crispy personal blenders countertop, the Russell chips once you remember to stir them have become Hobbs Retro Blender Cream regularly during cooking. This compact popular. These 25192 is an attractive, machine can only handle 500g of chips at compact blenders 1950s-style appliance once but it is very quiet as it works away and work with that impressed testers it can bake, roast and grill as well as fry. You smaller blending with its high-performing will have to wash all parts of this machine cups that can blending, coping easily by hand but, on the plus side, we found this be detached, with all manner of tricky model recently on offer for €70 or around half topped with a ingredients – though it does of what it cost last year. If this model sounds lid and taken out take a little longer than our a bit small for your hungry family, Philips and about, so other Choice Buy blenders Daily Collection Air Fryer HD9218 has a more you can enjoy your smoothie on the go. A to achieve its excellent results. This machine generous capacity of 800g and can deliver a good personal blender that won’t break the is also adept at crushing ice down to a fine nicely-cooked batch of chips in a very swift 17 bank is the Breville Blend Active Pro Food snow for cocktails and other beverages and minutes, though frequent stirring is needed. Prep Blender VBL212, which will deliver the glass jug holds up to 1.5 litres of liquid, Despite being a little noisy, this device is super smoothies in its 600ml blending bottle making it heavy to lift when full. This blender generally straightforward to use, aided by that can be detached to become a travel is a breeze to use and is extremely quiet as it clear instructions and a basket that slides in beaker. Priced at €60, this easy-to-use Breville works away. Some models not only blend and out easily. This Philips model also comes with two other soup mixtures but they can make hot soups model is currently priced at containers – a food preparation from raw ingredients by using blade-friction €169 though you may find cup and a mini grinding mill for alone, though dedicated soup makers tend it at a discount. For €200, spices – so it can be used as a food to produce tastier results. You can read our you can opt for the versatile processor to a limited degree. At report on five great soup makers that are Tefal Actifry 2 in 1, which, the other end of the price scale for currently available on page 29 of this issue of unusually, incorporates two personal blenders come the Nutri Consumer Choice. compartments to allow you Ninja FreshVac Personal Blender to cook a second item, such BL580UKV and the Nutribullet Food preparation machines as chicken breasts, at the Balance, currently priced at €160 The foodie in your life might appreciate a same time as you cook your and €179, respectively. These kitchen gadget that will take much of the chips. The main bowl has an models both have powerful drudgery out of mundane food preparation impressive capacity of 1.5kg motors that do an excellent tasks, such as chopping, slicing, shredding, - or around eight portions of job of making velvet-textured grating or grinding. For the right cook, a food chips - which might appeal smoothies. The Nutri Ninja model processor can be invaluable and perform to larger households and comes supplied with two 600ml everyday jobs in a fraction of the time they cooking performance is blending cups for drinking on would take if done by hand. Those with very good indeed. What’s the go and it has a neat trick very limited space in their kitchen or looking more, unlike many air fryers, up its sleeve in the form of new for a cheaper, more low-key product can there is no need to stir the vacuum-blending technology that opt for a mini chopper, which is essentially chips regularly to achieve is aimed at eliminating air in order a smaller and less versatile food processor consistent results as this Tefal to reduce foam and separation, with fewer features. Mini choppers are often model includes a stirring boost vitamin content and help quite basic appliances but their price tags paddle that does the job automatically. the beverage to last longer. The Nutribullet tend to be correspondingly modest. One Balance also has a unique selling point in that Choice Buy from our July/August issue, the Blenders it is a Bluetooth-enabled smart machine with Kenwood CH180A, costs just €25 but really A great way to kick-start a healthy new year in-built sensors that can weigh contents to packs a punch when chopping or puréeing, can be to invest in a gadget that will inspire enable an accompanying smartphone app making quick work of dicing onions, crushing you to increase your fruit and vegetable to provide detailed nutritional information nuts or whipping up a dip. Everything is intake as you try to veer away from biscuits on the composition of your smoothie plus accomplished with a single stainless-steel and buns. Blenders are just such a gadget, blending advice. Two 900ml blending cups blade and the machine has an ultra-simple

18 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 design with one push-button control and two a very generous 5.5 litres along with a metal though you may be able to find it deeply speeds. Capacity is limited at only 350ml, beating whisk, a dough hook for kneading, discounted. Another model by the same so those catering for crowds on a regular a useful splashguard, and an extra-wide manufacturer, the Garmin Forerunner 25, is basis may need to look for a larger machine. feeding tube for adding ingredients while priced at €94 and is aimed mainly at running A mid-size appliance with a bowl capacity the machine is in operation. This Bosch enthusiasts but it will perform all key tasks of 800ml and that offers both style and model delivers impeccable cake mixing, fast to a high standard. This fitness watch is substance is the Magimix Le Micro. Priced at kneading and excellent – though not very lightweight, comfortable to wear, easy to €70, this attractive device comes in a range of speedy – whisking. Both stand mixers are read, water resistant and comes with built-in colours and excels at chopping and puréeing straightforward to use, easy to clean and very GPS so that you can leave your smartphone at to the required sizes and textures. Operation quiet as they work away. home and still track your distance and route. is straightforward with one speed setting Those looking beyond the basics and happy and a pulse function and all attachments Wearables to spend rather more on their fitness watch can be popped into the dishwasher for ease Moving away from the kitchen to the more may be interested in the Garmin Vivoactive of cleaning. Those really serious about their technologically minded gadget geek with 3 Music or the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music, food prep and who regularly cater for large fitness on their mind, a fitness watch or priced at €307 and €480, respectively, though crowds may like to think big and splash out tracker can be the ideal addition to their diligent shoppers may be able to find these with the Sage Kitchen Wizz Pro, costing a workout. At their most basic, fitness trackers devices for less. Aimed at those who like hefty €430. This pricey processor comes or bands are slimline wrist-worn devices that to exercise to a beat, both these Garmin supplied with a sizeable 3.7 litre bowl plus a measure the steps you take when walking, models let you load your music directly onto mini bowl for smaller-scale tasks and plenty running or carrying out daily tasks, such the device so you can leave your phone at of useful attachments – including reversible as loading the dishwasher or doing the home. These fitness watches come with 4GB grating discs, a chipping blade, an adjustable vacuuming. These devices also estimate of memory for stowing up to 500 songs that slicing disc with 24 thickness settings and distance travelled and calories burned as can be listened to through a paired set of a dough blade. The Sage Kitchen Wizz Pro well as assessing the quality of sleep you Bluetooth headphones as you work out. An is a strong performer in all key tasks, with are getting. Though some fitness trackers array of sensors allows these devices to track precision slicing and excellent chopping, may incorporate more advanced features a wide range of activities and sports and and it also doubles like built-in GPS or a smart features include receiving notifications as a highly effective heart-rate monitor, such of texts, calls, emails and social media alerts, soup and smoothie capabilities are more though the options for responding are blender. likely to be included limited. Although in upgraded versions Not everyone is focused solely on the Sage Kitchen Wizz of these gadgets that fitness, however, so for those looking for the Pro can give cake have come to be known full range of smartwatch features, with fitness mixing a reasonable as fitness or activity capabilities as an added bonus, might like to go, it will not perform watches. Their bigger consider two market-leading options - the baking-related and brighter screens Apple Watch Series 4 and the Samsung tasks to the same provide more detailed Galaxy Watch. The pricier of the two, the level as a dedicated data than trackers Apple Watch Series 4 costs around €470 and stand mixer, such alongside a greater range for this hefty sum you will get top-of-the- as the Kenwood of functionality without range specifications and performance, with kMix KMX754. With the need to resort to your super speedy operation, pleasingly bright several attachments smartphone. Indeed, the OLED screen, 16GB of memory for storing supplied, including fitness watch category music, photos and apps, and updated health a whisk, K-beater is now moving into and fitness features and heart-rate monitor. and dough hook, smartwatch territory by Battery life is on the short side, however. this mixer delivers top-notch mixing, offering some smart features, such as weather The Samsung Galaxy Watch comes in 42mm whisking and kneading. It comes with a very and calendar updates and text and social and 46mm sizes, which officially cost €319 generously sized glass mixing bowl that can media notifications. and €339, respectively, though there are hold 5 litres and there are six speed settings Most of our Choice Buy significant discounts to be found currently. to choose from plus a ‘fold’ setting for a recommendations from June remain With this Samsung model, a dual-core gentle mixing action and a ‘soft-start’ feature. available, including the Garmin Vivosport, 1.15GHz processor keeps everything At 10.5kg, this machine is rather heavy for which testers found to be compact and moving speedily, a rotating bezel aids ease lifting in and out of a cupboard but it is an comfortable to wear, even for those with of navigation, and fitness tracking is well attractive device with an appealing retro look smaller wrists, though the touchscreen covered with plenty of sensors as well as that comes in a choice of colours so many will display may be a little too petite for some in waterproofing and built-in GPS. Other be happy for it to live permanently on their terms of readability and navigation through appealing aspects include stress monitoring, countertop. We found this Kenwood model the onscreen menu. This device comes sleep tracking, the Bixby voice assistant and priced recently at €250. Another option with built-in GPS, a heart-rate monitor and 4GB of memory for storing music. for those looking for a high-performing, waterproofing up to 50 metres and it can large-sized stand mixer is the Bosch track a range of activities, such as cycling, Ebook readers MUM9G32S00 OptiMUM, which currently cardio workouts, and strength training If there are any avid book lovers left who costs €420. This silver-coloured machine sessions as well as receiving texts and social do not yet have an ebook reader to put a comes with a steel mixing bowl that can hold media notifications. It currently costs €179 veritable library at their fingertips, a couple

19 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 of redesigned old reliables are on the market in the form of the Amazon Kindle (2019) and Pricing products Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018). Amazon’s original Kindle has remained on the market A major factor in any purchasing decision is price, so when bringing you our as more feature-laden and high-end models reports, we check in a range of Irish shops to find the best price we can for each have come and gone and now, for its latest product and we indicate where products could only be found on offer by online version, the manufacturer has added a retailers. We do not record sale or promotional prices as such offers tend to be few extras that have become standard on temporary and may no longer be available by the time our readers view our higher-priced devices. The new Kindle has reports. We have repriced all products mentioned in this article to reflect the incorporated LED front-lighting to allow current market and noted any permanent price drops. Moreover, because many of for night-time reading plus the ability to the products in our roundup have been available for some months, they may well support audiobooks so that users can enjoy be on sale or at a discount so a savvy shopper who conducts a thorough search content from Amazon’s Audible service of the market could find some of these products for less than the price indicated Consumer Choice through a Bluetooth connection to wireless here – and always strongly urges consumers to take the time to headphones or speakers. The Kindle still has shop around to get the best available value. no waterproofing, however, and it has not upped its storage, so while 4GB will allow you to store plenty of ebooks, audiobooks will take up a lot more space. Nonetheless, The lengths we go to... for €90 – or less if you manage to find it Consumer Choice at a discount – this basic Kindle looks like To bring you our product tests, works closely with International something of a bargain. For €150, the latest Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT). ICRT is an association of over 35 Kindle Paperwhite has been redesigned so consumer organisations mostly from Europe but also from countries such as the that it is lighter than previous models and US, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. ICRT aggregates testing among the six-inch display now lies flush with the consumer organisations, enabling them to work together to provide high-quality frame to create a higher-end look and feel. and independent information on consumer goods and services to consumers Waterproofing has also been introduced around the world. Each test is co-ordinated by a member organisation, with input along with increased storage of 8GB and from the other organisations as to how the tests are conducted and what products Consumer Choice support for audiobooks so that you can are included. Like , each international member acts exclusively listen to your reading matter on wireless in the interest of consumers, does not take advertising and is independent of headphones or speakers over a Bluetooth commerce, industry or political parties. Around 60 highly specialised laboratories connection. A drawback with all Kindles worldwide are used to carry out research and tests on thousands of products is that you are confined to the admittedly annually using state-of-the-art testing equipment. The products are purchased well-stocked Amazon Kindle Store and you anonymously from shops and websites and subjected to rigorous tests that take will not be able to access EPUB files or borrow into account how people actually use them as well as current government and ebooks from your local library. An alternative industry standards. The tests include technical measurements and assessments is to opt for the Kobo Clara HD, which is very combined with evaluations by expert panels and, when appropriate, ratings by lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for regular consumers who are given hands-on experience with the products. lengthy reading sessions - though the plastic dimpled rear does not appeal to everyone, so it might be worth getting your hands on a display model in store before buying to decide for yourself. ComfortLight technology is incorporated to reduce blue-light exposure during the day and give a softer light for night-time readers, and the 8GB of storage is sufficient to hold up to 6,000 books. Pricing is set at €130 and there is no waterproofing on this Kobo model, so you will need to take care when reading by the pool or in the bath.

20 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 LIFESTYLE / Vulnerable consumers

Help For Vulnerable Customers Of Energy And Water Services

The CRU offers a number of protection measures for vulnerable consumers of energy and water services but a recent survey shows that many may not be aware of the help available. The CRU outlines what protections are on offer and who is eligible.

Water, gas and electricity are essential support communicating with, or receiving as a priority services customer if dependent services for our day-to-day lives; however, services from, Irish Water. on electrically powered medical equipment. some consumers are more reliant on these 5% of electricity respondents indicated services than others. For example, some What should I do? that someone in their household is eligible people depend on medical equipment If you or a member of your household is a for registration as a priority customer but powered by electricity. The Commission vulnerable consumer, it is important to let only 56% of those eligible were registered. for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s your energy supplier and/or Irish Water know. The most common reason cited for not independent utility regulator, has a role in Energy suppliers and Irish Water are required registering was a lack of awareness of the protecting all energy and water consumers to establish, maintain and regularly update a protections for vulnerable customers and - however, it is particularly important that register of vulnerable consumers. You should of the registration process. The survey vulnerable consumers are aware of and contact your energy supplier or Irish Water found that there are lower awareness avail of their rights and protections. If you, directly to discuss how you can register. levels of the special services register, with or someone you know, is vulnerable, it is approximately 25% of consumers indicating important to know that there is a range of What protections are available? that they were aware of it. Almost 10% of protection measures available. Keep reading For energy and water consumers, there is consumers indicated that they were eligible to check who is classified as a vulnerable a ‘Priority Services Register’ and a ‘Special for the special services register but just 28% customer and how you can avail of additional Services Register’ depending on your of those are registered. Again, the most services. specific needs. Once registered, you will get common reason for not registering was a an added level of protection in relation to lack of awareness. Am I a vulnerable customer? communications, disconnections and other For energy customers, you will be classified important areas. For example: Having problems with your as a vulnerable consumer if you meet the energy company or Irish following criteria: • Suppliers are required to ensure that all Water? registered vulnerable consumers are on From time to time, you may experience a 1. If you are critically dependent on the most economic tariff available for their difficulty with your energy company or with electrically powered equipment. This chosen payment method and billing format. Irish Water. If you are unable to resolve your includes (but is not limited to) life-protecting problem with the company, the CRU offers a devices, assistive technologies to support • Consumers who are vulnerable to supply free and independent complaint resolution independent living and medical equipment, interruption have additional safeguards service. Our goal is to offer customers a or against disconnection. free and easy-to-use service for resolving 2.If you are particularly vulnerable to complaints. disconnection during winter months for • Consumers who have special For more information about reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, communication requirements must be given vulnerable consumers and the services the intellectual or mental health. alternative means of communication - for CRU offers, please visit https://www.cru.ie/ example, a talking bill. or contact us by email at customercare@cru. For customers of Irish Water, you will be ie or by phone on 1890 404 404. classified as a vulnerable consumer if you Survey findings meet the following criteria: The CRU recently carried out a survey of approximately 2,000 consumers. The results 1. If you are critically dependent on water for indicated that many consumers are not your medical needs, or aware that there are additional protections 2. If for reasons that may include advanced available for vulnerable customers. 39% of age or physical, sensory, intellectual or consumers questioned were aware that it is mental health reasons, you require additional possible to register with an energy supplier

21 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 LIFESTYLE / Energy saving tips Is your home winter ready?

REPORT by Clodagh O'Donoghue

Part of the joy of the festive season is a balance between maintaining a good of 20°C is ideal, and it can be even cooler in spending lots more time enjoying being level of comfort in our homes while cutting hallways and bedrooms - 15-18°C, say. at home but keeping cosy on frosty days down where possible on energy costs and inevitably pushes up our energy bills. To reducing our carbon footprint by making the 2. Make sure not to overheat rooms you reduce our costs and avoid unnecessary most efficient use of our heating systems. don’t use. If your home has rooms that are energy usage, the Sustainable Energy The SEAI, Ireland’s national energy authority unoccupied for long periods, turn down Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number responsible for delivering effective and the thermostat or radiator valve, leaving of helpful tips that will ensure our homes sustainable solutions towards a cleaner only a small trickle of heat to help avoid are winterproofed and ready for the chilly energy future, has some practical and timely condensation or damp. months ahead. advice for all householders. 3. Heat it when you need it. The 30-minute Heating hints 1. Turn the temperature down a notch. By rule is useful when looking to maximise For the average household, heating accounts lowering the thermostat by just one degree, heating efficiency in cold weather. Set your for around two-thirds of our energy bills, you can save 10% on your heating bills, heating to come on 30 minutes before with most of that unsurprisingly occurring totalling around €150 a year for a typical you get up in the morning and to go off 30 during the winter months. The key is to find family home. For living areas, a temperature minutes before you leave for work as your

22 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 radiators will continue to emit heat for some you are cooking, choose the right sized hob time after being switched off. Similarly, set ring for your pan - as the closer the two are the heating to come on 30 minutes before matched, the less energy you will use. you are due home in the evening and to go off 30 minutes before you hop into bed. 7. Cost-effective cooking.Some appliances in the kitchen are more energy efficient 4. Close curtains once darkness falls. A than others, particularly smaller, dedicated great deal of heat is lost through windows so domestic devices. So, where possible, use a a simple remedy is to keep curtains closed microwave oven instead of the main oven or at night, ensuring that they hang behind – a toaster instead of the grill. rather than in front of – radiators.

5. Shut that door. Close all doors between heated and unheated rooms to keep the heat where it is needed. Lighting

1. Make use of natural lighting. While keeping curtains closed at night is key in curtailing heat loss, it is also important to maximise whatever winter sunshine and daylight is on offer by opening curtains during the day and holding off switching on lights until really necessary.

6. Tackle draughts. Check around windows, doors, and keyholes for draughts and take action to plug them to avoid heat loss.

7. Avoid using open fires. Though open fires undoubtedly look appealingly cosy, they are highly inefficient, with up to 75% of heat going straight up the chimney. A closed stove is a more energy-efficient option and similarly serves as an attractive focal point for the room.

8. Get your boiler serviced annually. 2. Turn off the lights when you leave.Get Keeping your boiler in tip-top condition into the habit of turning off lights as you so that it runs as efficiently and as safely leave a room empty. as possible is money well spent. The SEAI suggests that an annual boiler service could 3. Use energy-saving light bulbs. All older help reduce your energy costs by as much as incandescent light bulbs should be phased €150 a year, effectively paying for itself. out in your home and replaced with energy- efficient options, particularly LED lights. Alongside these relatively simple Consider the size of the room and the natural strategies, a longer term approach to cutting light it receives, and choose the lowest energy costs is to insulate your attic and wattage bulb required. walls or to install smart heating controls – and the SEAI offers grants to homeowners Cooking considering such investments. For a rundown of what is on offer, see page 10 of 4. Cooking time. When your food is almost the October 2019 issue of Consumer Choice cooked, turn off the rings or oven and let the or visit seai.ie. heat that has built up finish cooking the dish.

Other energy saving tips 5. Keep a lid on it. When using the hob, cover While heating is the major energy guzzler your pots and pans with a lid to prevent heat in the home, the realities of winter demand from escaping, helping your food to cook greater energy usage in a range of areas, faster and reducing condensation in your particularly in terms of lighting and cooking. kitchen. On its website, the SEAI offers some easy ways to help energy-conscious consumers 6. Ring selection. As well as using a pan cut back on their consumption. that is the right size for the amount of food

23 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 MONEY / Fake reviews

How to Spot A Fake Review Online

As consumers become more comfortable with REPORT by Róisín Moloney Weekes

shopping online, our reliance upon online consumer At a glance reviews increases. Consumer Choice investigates how • What is a fake review? to spot a fake review online. • Top tips to spot a fake review

Do you shop online? Do you book holidays and seller. It may be the case that the seller gifts Trust is central to the importance accommodation online? Do you use Airbnb? their product to reviewers in exchange for a of reviews in our decision-making and, given Do you review service providers online before positive review or they may actually pay the the level of consumer trust in reviews, it is no engaging their services? When you make a reviewer for the positive review. surprise that there is a thriving trade in fake purchase, how much reliance do you place on Businesses are willing to go to many reviews. Estimates of the prevalence of fake online reviews in assisting you in making that lengths for positive reviews because consumer reviews vary, with sources suggesting from purchasing decision? Research suggests that reviews are hugely influential in consumers’ around 33% of TripAdvisor reviews to more three-quarters of the population trust online purchasing decisions. Consumers have than 50% in certain categories on Amazon. reviews at least a moderate amount. But how increased faith in ‘verified reviews’ as they are can we be sure these reviews are posted by seen as honest and truthful. According to Ten tips for how to spot a fake genuine customers? research carried out by theconversation.com, review online consumer reviews are the second-most On top of this very large prevalence of fake What is a fake review? important source of information about reviews, which are heavily relied upon, A fake review online is a post purporting to be products and services after store browsing. consumers may be overconfident in their from a genuine customer who has used the Also, it was established that most of us rate ability to spot fake reviews, with younger product or service but is actually a positive consumer reviews from strangers just as highly consumers often rating themselves better at review planted there and often paid for by the as the opinion of friends and family. detecting fake reviews than older age groups.

24 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 from deceiving consumers. Using algorithms, it looks for certain patterns that allow it to identify reviews it considers to be reliable or unreliable. Using a number of criteria, including the English language patterns, the profile of the reviewer and the correlation with other reviewer data, it judges the authenticity of posts.

(9) Watch out for subtle clues that the reviewer might not be genuine: It is tricky to describe what you have not actually experienced, so the review may lack detail and offer general praise instead of going into specifics. Research by Cornell University suggests that fake reviews tend to try to set the scene by using phrases such as ‘vacation’, ‘my husband’ and ‘business trip’ while genuine reviews will tend to use more practical terms like ‘bathroom’, ‘check-in’ Unfortunately, given that they translate into as juicers or hot water bottles, question why and ‘price’. This research also suggests that real increases in revenues, there is plenty of anyone would need to buy many of the same overuse of personal pronouns like “I” and motivation for businesses to put every effort items? Try to apply logic as to why someone “me” may be an attempt to sound more into fake reviews, which can make them tricky would in their personal life invest in a number credible while fake reviews also tend to use to detect. As a result, consumers need to be of similar products at their own expense - you more verbs than authentic reviews, which use wary and to keep in mind the following tips: will be able to determine for yourself the more nouns. These are subtle tells admittedly, likelihood of this depending on the nature of but combined with other more concrete (1) Watch the language: Does it sound like the product. indicators, such as non-verified purchases or an ad or an honest product review? Are there suspicious timings, they can help to set alarm outrageous claims such as lifelong changes (5) Question a large number of reviews bells ringing. or miracle results? Is there punctuation or on a product: If you see excessive numbers is it written with odd formatting or all in of reviews in the hundreds or thousands with (10) Message the reviewer: If in doubt write capital letters? Is there a focus on describing the majority of those reviews being positive, directly to the reviewer with questions about product attributes and features? Is it lacking in be careful. A Which? investigation into their review. Most fake reviewers will not subjective and anecdotal details? Is the review fake reviews found that the five best-rated respond while most genuine reviewers will very much shorter or longer than others? Is it headphones had almost 5,500 unverified enjoy being helpful. difficult to read? Is it written in what could be reviews. It was also identified that hundreds of someone’s second language? five-star reviews were posted on one product Keep in mind the mantra of some on the same day. So check the dates and times online businesses: “Fake it until your business (2) Do not rely on star ratings alone: But do of reviews. makes it!” If you do spot a review that you pay attention to mid-range reviews of three or believe to be fake, you can normally flag this four stars as they are more likely to be genuine (6) Check for admitted bias: On occasion, to the marketplace as inappropriate and the than those at the extreme ends. Also keep an you will see that a reviewer may not have marketplace, in turn, should look at why you eye out for patterns of a bad review followed actually purchased or used the product and have raised this issue. by a string of positive reviews, which may be yet they feel entitled to give their opinion. If you have been misled by a review an attempt to increase a seller’s average score. Such a review should be heeded with extreme that you relied upon, remember that when To make matters more complicated, however, caution. shopping online you can cancel your order competitors have been known to post terrible and return the product. Moreover, you can reviews of rival products to drag a seller’s (7) Look for verified purchases: Verified exercise the 14-day cooling-off period, which average scores down. reviews are ones where the marketplace can begins from the day of delivery. confirm the item was purchased through their (3) Check out the reviewer’s other reviews: site and these reviews are generally more It is helpful to look for other reviews that the reliable than anonymous posts. A verified reviewer has left regarding other products or purchase may be indicated underneath services by simply clicking on their account. the review. With non-verified reviews, the If there is a stream of five-star reviews, it is marketplace cannot confirm these reviewers unlikely they are genuine. purchased items through the site or the price paid. (4) Check what else the reviewer has purchased: This is available on some sites in (8) Use online tools: To check the validity a section at the bottom and it will help reveal of a review you can use online tools such as whether the reviewer is getting products for www.fakespot.com. This service was created free. For example, if a reviewer purchases by a data analytics company with the aim many of the same or similar products, such of preventing fake and misleading content

25 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 MONEY / Online and mobile banking Steps Consumers Should Consider When Choosing Online And Mobile Banking Services

With more and more of us choosing to avail of online and mobile banking services, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a factsheet to offer tips and advice to help consumers make better and more informed choices. Some steps that consumers should take before signing up are outlined below. K�� ���� �� ������� �������� ���� �������� ������ �� ������ ������� ��������

BEFORE CHOOSING A SERVICE

Identifyyour Collect information Check whether the services Compare offers from financial needs about the services and fit your financial needs different banking read it carefully and capabilities services providers

WHEN CONCLUDING AN AGREEMENT FOR A PARTICULAR SERVICE

R��� ��� ���������� ��� ����� ��� ���������� ������ ������� Ask the provider to make available to you the pre-contractual information on your rights and obligations as it is required to do; Download the documents and save or print them for future reference; Look at the characteristics of the service, the contract duration, the total cost and any additional charges, and, if applicable, the conditions of your right of withdrawal; Make sure you understand the implications of your financial commitment (for example, what happens if things go wrong?); Ask the provider for clarifications if you are unsure about any particular detail.

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Take enough time to review the financial conditions of the agreement and the whole pricing list;

Focus not only on fees applicable to the main service/package, but also check charges, including standard fees and the costs of additional services;

Where available, use a ‘total cost indicator’ (e.g. the annual percentage rate) to compare different options.

T���� ����� �������� Understand how your personal information will be treated and protected under the agreement;

Check the identity, contact details and legal status of the provider and whether it is authorised to provide the services, to avoid you becoming a victim of fraud; Protect your personal details or security credentials to prevent criminals from accessing your account in your name. You can do this by choosing providers using strong authentication methods, logging out of your session, using secure Wi-Fi connections, strong passwords and PINs, and keeping your operating system and anti-virus software up-to-date; Monitor and report suspicious activity on your account or unauthorised access as soon as possible, so as to allow the provider to take the necessary steps immediately.

If you think yourF��� rights � ��������� have been denied, �� you ��� should ����� first try to���� solve the ������ problem yourself���� by���� writing ������ directly to the provider. If the provider does not respond or you are unsatisfiedFirst, try withto solve its theresponse, problem you yourself should by writingcontact directly and inform to the providerthe Financial. The European Services online and Pensions dispute resolution Ombudsman, www.fspo.ie. (ODR) platform can also be used to send your complaint directly to the provider, for any services bought online; If the provider does not respond or you are unsatisfied with its response, ouy may consider: (i) approaching an alternative dispute resolution scheme, such as a financial ombudsman, using the European ODR platform to get the right body to solve the dispute for you; 26 www.thecai.ie (ii) using the FIN-NET network in either your own country, or the country of your provider to fileDecember a complaint 2019 against / January a 2020 provider in another EU/EEA country by;

Contact and inform the [insert consumer body/organisation and/or the NCAs itself, if the NCA so wishes]; Consider taking legal actions at your national courts. MONEY/ Rental lifestyle

Renting - the Next Form of Consuming? Consumer Choice looks at the shake-up in the fashion industry that is encouraging shoppers to be REPORT by Róisín Moloney Weekes

more sustainable and economical with their pur- At a glance chases. We ask if this shift in consumer behaviour is • Fashion rental • Rental lifestyle reaching beyond fashion and if renting is the future? • Rental in the future

All consumers will be aware of the decision Galway native cofounder that its new more than 650 designers and can wear process involved in choosing to buy a European headquarters will be established items with a retail value up to $3,000 product. There is a certain level of risk. Is in Galway and will be hiring 150 staff for individual pieces and a combined it worth the financial investment? Will I over the next three years. The business retail value of over $10,000 per month. use this product a sufficient number of offers designer clothing and accessories Again, this subscription can be paused or times to justify the cost? Is there a lot of and works as follows: members subscribe cancelled at any time. maintenance required? These difficult and pay $89 or €79 per month to rent a The company describes itself questions that consumers face are being maximum of four items at a time and you as the world’s first living sustainable taken away with the option to rent can swap items once a month. You can closet by enabling women to rent versus products instead. This is particularly the choose from over 10,000 styles from more buy their clothing. Founded in 2009, case in the world of fashion with websites than 400 designers. You can wear items it claims to answer our desire to have such as borrowboutique.com and none with a retail value up to $350 individually constant newness by offering a rotating more so than renttherunway.com. and a monthly retail value of up to $1,400. wardrobe. It gives consumers the freedom This subscription can be paused and to experiment and to wear trends they Fashion rental cancelled at any time. may wish to try without committing to a Rent the Runway is a US-based clothing A higher subscription rate of $159 purchase. You browse the website and rental business that offers consumers a or €141 per month allows four items to choose the styles that appeal to you. You subscription service. Although this service be rented at a time and the items can be can wear the item of clothing you choose is not offered to Irish consumers at the swapped as often as you want. Subscribers once or fifty times - subscribers can keep moment, it has been announced by the have access to over 15,000 styles from the item until they decide to return it.

27 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Both plans outlined above come as 2011 when market researcher Mintel environmental crisis is most certainly a with free dry cleaning and free two-day published its Why Buy opinion. This driving force behind this move to a rental shipping for both receiving and returning. pointed to a change in consumer attitudes market. Could it offer the solution to Rental insurance is also included as well as that began with consumers weighing up the fast fashion crisis we find ourselves discounts if subscribers wish to purchase if it was worth taking the risk of buying in? Technology is of assistance in the an item. something that comes with responsibility, expansion of the rental economy with This model is not without its maintenance and financial investment if access to goods and services at the click critics and, in particular, complaints arise renting the same product was an option. of a button and, with delivery companies about the punitive nature of terms and The opinion notes that this trend was among the fastest growing businesses conditions that take effect in the event exacerbated by the recession and the fact in the world, there is no doubt that that a rental product is not returned on that achieving home ownership for many the face of traditional consumerism is time, whether due to the fault of the became unrealistic and renting long term changing. Businesses are innovating consumer or the delivery company. For became the norm. This is particularly continually and coming up with new example, Rent the Runaway has been so in Ireland with the relentless housing ways to enable consumers to access the criticised for charging a $50 per day late crisis diminishing the chance of home rental market with ease in a world that fee up to 200% or double the retail value ownership for younger members of appears to be becoming less concerned of the unreturned rented product. society, along with demands for large with permanency - with less permanent Nonetheless, this rental trend deposits, most notably in Dublin, meaning housing, fewer permanent jobs and now appears to be disrupting the $2.4 home ownership is not a realistic goal for changing the permanency of ownership. trillion global fashion industry and many. As a result, many young graduates Mintel predictions of the rental some commentators believe that in the are returning to live with their parents and economy go one step further, suggesting near future most women will have a or entering long-term renting situations. that it is a solution to social isolation. The subscription to fashion. This is acting Housing is not the only element belief is that, with convenience being to transform the traditional model of making up this rental economy. Transport the new norm and people’s life paths clothing consumption and they expect is identified as an area where significant fluctuating more than ever before, older the service will become an indispensable change has occurred, with car and bicycle generations are less likely to have the utility. renting and sharing options being rolled responsibility of grandchildren as young out across many major cities. Technology people delay starting families. This has started to form part of the rental coupled with the fact that people live economy too, with students able to more transient lives without the traditional rent laptops from Google and airline home and job security means that social passengers given the option of renting isolation and loneliness is on the rise. This iPads when flying with Jetstar. is particularly so as people swap human But it is not stopping there. interaction with digital interactions. This Ikea has announced that it will trial social isolation offers an opportunity the leasing of furniture and it appears for business to put a monetary value on that this new service is driven by the human interactions and an example of need for sustainable consumption and this in action comes from China where environmental concerns, while also consumers can hire a boyfriend to go recognising the transient nature of many shopping so he can carry your bags! In the of its customers’ lifestyles. Consumers UK, you can take a dog for a walk, playtime now change homes more frequently than or overnight stays with Borrow My Beyond fashion in previous generations and renting goods Doggy. It is predicted that in the future Rent the Runway also offers home is a far more convenient and affordable we may very well seek to rent a grandma décor solutions and, with its 11 million option for these customers. It is believed for afternoon tea or a group of friends community members, it is easy to see why that Ikea will soon test out the leasing of for a night out with the opportunity to it has been placed on Fast Company’s desks, beds and sofas. promote human connection across all Most Innovative Companies list on a According to Ikea, its demographics. number of occasions. It is not a huge own research shows that 90% of stretch to see this model expanding its consumers are ready to make a into many different areas of products. change to their behaviour motivated Could we find ourselves furnishing our by environmentalism. Ikea claims that homes and decorating our walls with the rental economy meets their main paintings from a rental company such as three strategic objectives: being more this? We could redecorate in an instant affordable, more convenient and looking and relocate to other premises easily, after the planet. Ikea intends to test a simply sending back the products we range of subscription-based leasing offers use in our everyday life. We can live in all 30 of its markets in 2020, with the with the high-quality products we desire aim that products are reused as often as without the commitment of making the possible before being recycled. purchase or taking on the responsibility of maintenance. Renting in the future The shift to a rental trend was The consumer shift towards sustainability identified by some predictors as far back and the increasing awareness of our

28 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 PRODUCT TESTS / Soup makers

Soup Makers

Fancy a hearty, warming soup but short REPORT by Clodagh O’Donoghue At a glance on time and energy? A soup maker can • Soup maker types be a handy all-in-one solution. • What to consider • Five Choice Buys

Soups really come into their own in winter Soup maker types soups to ensure that the pieces are cooked months as a comforting and warming meal There are two main types of soup maker on through. Prices for these appliances typically or snack but preparing them can take a bit the market. The first is a device dedicated to range between €60 and €140. of effort. To help reduce the work involved, the art of producing hot soups to the desired The second type of soup maker soup makers are dedicated devices that are consistency. Looking not unlike a large kettle is really an advanced blender that blitzes, increasingly making an appearance on the or thermos flask, soup makers are typically purees and grinds all manner of ingredients market. You will still have to peel and chop metal jugs with a hot plate in the base with the additional ability to blend and heat vegetables but once that is done, little else is that cooks the food and a blending blade soups. Typically, these soup-making blenders required other than popping the ingredients attached to the lid that reaches down to blitz use the friction generated by blending at into a soup maker, pressing a button and ingredients as needed to deliver a choice maximum speeds to create heat and warm letting the machine do the rest. Because between perfectly smooth or satisfyingly the ingredients through. This is not true soup makers blend and cook all at once, chunky soup. Because of the positioning cooking, however, and the end results may you can cut down on the number of pots, of the blending blades, there is usually only be warm but can still have a raw flavour. Thus, pans and gadgets you will have to use and a small difference between minimum and you may feel the need to cook the ingredients eliminate the need to hover over the hob maximum capacity and larger-sized models beforehand to maximise taste. On the plus for long periods. And when the weather often are not suited to making smaller side, these devices can have a very large warms up, most models will be able to turn portions of blended mixtures. The blending capacity but also be capable of producing their hand to blending cool and refreshing function generally can be used without small portions for appealing versatility. An smoothies or milkshakes instead. So, for the heating element for cold beverages example of this type of multitasking blender those interested in investing in a soup maker, like smoothies. Cooking times tend to be is the Sage The Boss BBL915UK, which we what do you need to consider and which between 20 and 30 minutes, with chunky reviewed earlier this year in our Blenders models will tempt you to part with your cash? soups typically taking longer than smooth report in the May 2019 issue of Consumer

29 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Choice. In our current report, we are focusing the larger appliances can cater for six to eight flavours before adding liquid and the rest on dedicated soup makers with five Choice people at a time. However, as noted above, of the soup components. This makes for a Buys to recommend. many soup makers offer only a small gap true all-in-one solution and cuts down on between minimum and maximum amounts, having to wash up a frying pan. Other handy What to consider so you may find yourself making bigger functions include a countdown timer to let Hearty soups can do the double duty of batches of smooth soups than you need. you know how long a programme has left to warming us up on cold days, at the same time Generally, if you are happy to settle for a run, a keep-warm mode that automatically as being full of nutritious ingredients for a chunkier texture and not to use the blending kicks in once the cooking programme has healthy and often low-calorie lunch, starter function, you will have more flexibility in finished and a reheat setting if you need or even a main meal. Thus, as January nears, relation to portion size. It is worth checking to boost the temperature of soup that has many may be tempted to buy a device that specifications before deciding on the right cooled. specialises in producing perfect soups to help model for your household. to boost their vitamin intake and keep New Cleaning Year resolutions for better eating habits. The Blending options The cleaning element of soup makers is easier soups are to prepare, the more likely Soup makers tend to be fairly simple important as, if these appliances are to really we are to make them on a regular basis – so machines that offer a choice of smooth or save you time and effort, they should not be which machines will streamline the process chunky soup programmes, with some adding too onerous to clean after the job is done. and which features should we look for as a medium-textured option. Alternatively, you Cleaning is often aided by a non-stick coating being the most useful? The following is a may be able to use a manual blending button on the interior, so that little more than a rundown of what to consider when shopping to finetune results or use a quick blast of wipe may be needed to lift off soup residue. for a soup maker. the smooth soup setting to produce a semi- More advanced models can offer cleaning blended texture. Smoothie programmes are programmes that typically involve adding Capacity often on offer for cold blending. water and a couple of drops of washing up You should think about what quantities of liquid and turning on the blender to loosen soup you will likely want to produce on a Additional features debris. These cleaning programmes vary regular basis. The capacity of devices ranges More advanced – and expensive – models in effectiveness and often the exterior of from a modest 0.8 litres on more compact offer additional functions, with one of the stainless-steel models will require additional appliances, to around 2 litres on larger most useful being a sauté setting. This allows attention and a good deal of elbow grease to models. The smallest models will only make you to lightly fry meat or vegetables like keep it smudge-free. enough for two full-sized portions, whereas onions on the jug base to bring out fuller

Smooth soup Smooth soup   Chunky soup Chunky soup   Speed Speed   Ease of use Ease of use  

1. Tefal My Daily Soup BL542840 €60 2. Morphy Richards Total Control Soup The Choice Buy Tefal My Daily Soup BL542840 doesn’t cost a packet Maker €140 and is super at delivering freshly made hot soup with the minimum of Although it is the priciest of our current recommended models, you fuss. The capacity is on the smaller end of these appliances at up to 1.2 will get lots of additional features as well as excellent performance litres so it may not suit households looking to prepare large quantities for your money from the Choice Buy Morphy Richards Total Control on a regular basis. However, it does a brilliant job of making soup using Soup Maker. This white plastic soup maker with a stainless-steel the hot plate at the bottom of the jug to cook any raw ingredients that inner jug offers great versatility in terms of the quantities you can you pop in. Speeds are about average, taking 23 minutes for smooth cook with a minimum capacity of 0.8 litres and a maximum capacity soups and 25 minutes for chunky versions. Controls are pleasingly of a very generous 1.6 litres. This soup maker can sauté ingredients simple with options confined to two pre-set programmes for smooth before it cooks them to maximise the flavour of your end product, or chunky soup and a smoothie setting. The smooth soup option uses and pre-set programmes let you choose between smooth, chunky a stick blender that reaches down from the lid to blitz the contents to a and medium-textured soups or you can blend manually to achieve velvety consistency. The chunky soup option just cooks the contents the desired consistency. This Morphy Richards model is pretty with no blending involved, so ingredients should be chopped to the speedy if you like smooth soups with a nippy cooking time of desired size or you can briefly switch on the smooth soup option for 19 minutes, while chunky versions will take a rather longer 28 a semi-blended mixture. As well as being easy to use, this machine minutes. Once a soup-making programme is finished, the machine is also straightforward to clean, aided by an easy-clean programme switches automatically into a keep-warm mode that will maintain that involves adding washing up liquid and water before running the temperatures for up to half an hour – and if you leave it too long, a blending setting to loosen leftover soup. reheat function is on offer to boost temperatures back up.

30 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Smooth soup Smooth soup   Chunky soup Chunky soup   Speed Speed   Ease of use Ease of use  

3. Morphy Richards Sauté 4. Morphy Richards Compact Soup and Soup Maker 501014 Maker 501021 €60 The Choice Buy Morphy Richards Sauté and Soup Maker 501014 is With very neat dimensions and particularly quiet operation, particularly suited to those who are happy to prepare fairly large the Choice Buy Morphy Richards Compact Soup Maker quantities of soup at a time and who are looking for reliably excellent 501021 is an unobtrusive machine that will produce delicious end results. This model has a sauté function with a ten-minute soups whatever the required consistency. This soup maker programme that lightly fries onions or other vegetables to maximise is notably smaller than other machines of this type, and a flavours, after which you then add stock or water and the rest of the fold-down handle makes it even neater to store if space in ingredients for the soup. Settings allow you to choose between smooth your kitchen cupboard or on your countertop is tight. This and chunky soups, juicing and manual blending and you can pause the inevitably translates, however, into a modest capacity inside, cooking process by simply removing the lid, which is handy if you wish accommodating just 0.8 litres to 1 litre of liquid, or enough for to add herbs or other ingredients midway through the programme. The two full-sized bowls. Simplicity is a virtue with this appliance, stated maximum capacity of this soup maker is a generous 1.6 litres and as it does not have any additional features such as sauté or if you are using the blending function for smooth soups, the minimum keep-warm functions. It performs the basics superbly, however, capacity is just under 1.4 litres – so smaller portions are not an option. delivering perfectly cooked soups, whether you favour a velvety If you prefer chunky soups, however, you will be able to cook smaller smooth or satisfyingly chunky consistency. As well as pre-set portions at one time. As with all stainless-steel appliances, the exterior of programmes for the two different soup types is a manual this soup maker takes a bit of effort to keep smudge-free but the interior blending button and a programme for blended beverages like is pretty easy to clean thanks to the non-stick coating and, overall, this smoothies or milkshakes. machine is straightforward to use.

5. Morphy Richards Perfect Soup Maker 501025 €100 The Choice Buy Morphy Richards Perfect Soup Maker 501025 delivers delicious and perfectly cooked soups with the added bonus of an in-built weighing scales for those keeping an eye on their dietary intake. This is a largish machine with a generous maximum capacity of 1.6 litres, though, given the minimum capacity of 1.3 litres due to the positioning of the Smooth soup blender inside, it may not suit those looking to cook smaller portions for  one or two people. If you are not using the blending function and opting Chunky soup  instead for a chunky soup, you will not be confined by the minimum Speed capacity. You can choose between the smooth and chunky setting with  a manual blending option that can also be used for smoothies or other Ease of use  beverages. You will have to wait 21 minutes for a smooth soup while a heartier chunky soup will take 28 minutes and a countdown timer will let you know how long the programme has left to run. The electric scales built onto the bottom of the jug allows you to accurately weigh ingredients to help with following supplied recipes or sticking to diet plans. A loud beep will sound to alert you when your soup is ready and, with no keep-warm function, you may like to eat immediately.

31 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Product Test/ Microwave ovens

Microwave Ovens Providing a fast, cold. Most microwave ovens stick to the Choice Buys are solo microwave ovens but basics of microwave cooking, reheating and we have one combination microwave to convenient, energy- defrosting but there are also combination recommend. microwaves available that go beyond these efficient and healthy standard functions and offer grilling and Microwave benefits cooking option, convection oven features as well. Although Beyond just a fast and convenient cooking in most circumstances they do not alternative, microwave ovens can offer an what’s not to love eliminate the need for a full-sized oven in a appealing option in our increasingly health- kitchen, these combination machines can focused and environmentally conscious about microwave be effective and fast and could certainly world. A speedy way to prepare food, ovens? Consumer be a great option for caravans or holiday microwave cooking can be significantly homes where space is at a premium and more energy efficient than conventional Choice reviews cooking requirements are more limited. cooking not only due to the shorter seven impressive Combination machines have all the features cooking times but also because the energy of a microwave oven plus a top and bottom used heats only the food and not the whole performers. element so you can grill, roast, or bake oven compartment, the containers used food as well as microwaving it - or use a or the surrounding air. This is because mixture of cooking methods. Combination microwave ovens work by generating very microwaves can be used to roast chickens, high-frequency radio waves that penetrate REPORT by Clodagh O'Donoghue bake scones and even cook pizza – though the surface of the food and that cause the they rarely perform these tasks quite as water molecules inside the food to vibrate, At a glance well as an ordinary oven. A grill microwave producing heat that then cooks the food. • Microwave benefits does not offer convection oven functions Using the microwave is particularly energy • Previous Choice Buys but has a top element to brown food, efficient compared with conventional • Seven new Choice Buys something a solo microwave won’t be cookers when dealing with small portions able to do and which provides a more or reheating leftovers. In addition, many A microwave oven is undoubtedly a useful appealing appearance to some dishes, such newer models offer energy-saving features, addition in your kitchen, more than earning as shepherd’s pie or lasagne. However, if such as variable power settings, eco its space on your countertop by providing you only use your microwave for heating modes to reduce power usage when the speedy defrosting if your time is short, fast and defrosting, a solo microwave will machine is on standby and sensors that cooking if you are in a hurry and snappy probably suit your needs perfectly and is a gauge moisture content in food and can reheating if your meal or cuppa has gone cheaper option. The majority of our current detect when it is properly cooked to avoid

32 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 overcooking and wasted energy use. it is intuitive and straightforward to use as model can accommodate a plate of up to Another bonus is that using the well as being easy to clean. The price of this 35cm in diameter and square or rectangular microwave can also be a healthy way to product has remained unchanged since last dishes will not present a problem by hitting cook. As long as you don’t overcook them, year at €240. off the edges as they might with a turntable foods prepared in a microwave may retain If you can do without a design. As well as generous dimensions, more of their vitamins and minerals than convection oven option but would still like this appliance cooks and defrosts quickly those cooked conventionally because your microwave to be able to brown your and evenly and also has the benefits of microwave ovens cook more quickly, using food to an appealing colour and texture, being easy to use and clean as well as very little water. Some microwave ovens another Choice Buy from last year, the being very quiet as it works away. For full come with a steamer supplied – or one can Panasonic NN-K18JMMBPQ, is available in reviews of these models, see page 30 of be bought separately – to provide a swift shops for around €120. For this price you the December 2018/January 2019 issue of and healthy way to cook vegetables or fish. will get a great microwave oven that can Consumer Choice. Appliances can vary, however, in the results also grill. This appliance really shines when achieved with steam cooking. performing its main function of microwave cooking, reheating and defrosting, which Previous Choice Buys it does quietly and swiftly while delivering Our current Choice Buy reviews below very even results throughout. The grill feature mostly solo microwaves with only does a decent job without being overly one combination microwave making impressive but it can come in handy the grade. However, an appliance from when you want to finish off a dish after last year’s report that provides roasting, microwaving or when you don’t have a baking and grilling options alongside grill alternative in your kitchen. You can microwave cooking and defrosting remains use the grill and microwave functions in available. The Panasonic NN-CT56JBBPQ combination and multistage cooking is also delivers exceptional defrosting with no on offer. Sporting a stainless-steel finish, frozen patches or cooked edges and the this Panasonic model is fairly compact microwave cooking results are similarly and will only fit plates of up to 27cm in uniform throughout the dish. Moreover, it diameter, so you should check before you turns in an equally excellent performance buy that it won’t be too small for your when used for baking, steaming or grilling needs. as it does when microwaving and you Yet another Panasonic model will be able to use all functions in any that we recommended last year might be combination and even all together for worth considering for those looking for a faster cooking times and optimum results. microwave oven that can accommodate This appliance offers a roomy interior that larger dishes. The Panasonic NN- can accommodate a plate with a 35cm SF464MBPQ has a flatbed design in place diameter and, with plenty of automatic of the more familiar turntable, which the programmes to choose from alongside the manufacturer claims gives up to 31% more manual settings and a clear digital display, cooking room in the interior. This spacious

1. Beko MOC20200C €90 (Solo microwave) The Choice Buy Beko MOC20200C combines an appealing retro look with ease of use and great performance across the board – and Speed of heating all for a relatively affordable price. This solo microwave comes in a  range of colours - red, black, cream and blue - to fit into your kitchen Evenness of heating colour scheme, and it excels at the main task of heating food swiftly  and evenly. Defrosting is particularly speedy, though results could Manual defrosting be a little more even here. This microwave oven shines when it  comes to steaming dishes, with perfect results delivered and, unlike Ease of use  some microwaves, this Beko model won’t lose power if you cook a number of dishes one after the other. You won’t need to keep the instruction manual handy as this is a straightforward appliance to operate with not too many buttons to complicate matters. There are a number of auto-cook programmes on offer for items such as fish, potatoes and pizza and a reheat button for warming up a cuppa that has gone cold. Multistage programming is available with the ability to set up to four stages for complex dishes. Potential purchasers should be aware that this is a noisy machine, however, especially when in defrost mode.

33 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Speed of heating Speed of heating   Evenness of heating Evenness of heating   Manual defrosting Manual defrosting   Ease of use Ease of use   Grilling  Baking 

2. Panasonic NN-CD58JSBPQ €300 3. Panasonic NN-E47HW €100 (Combination microwave) (Solo microwave) The Choice Buy Panasonic NN-CD58JSBPQ is an excellent multitasking The Choice Buy Panasonic NN-E47HW is straightforward to use all-rounder that performs to a high standard. This combination and delivers great results when tackling the key tasks of heating microwave not only heats food quickly and evenly and defrosts and defrosting. This white solo microwave will make swift work efficiently on both manual and automatic programmes but it can of heating food through with very even results so you won’t find also grill, roast and bake dishes, ensuring it really earns its place on any disappointing cold spots within an otherwise piping hot dish. your countertop. When used as a convection oven for baking, this Six auto-cook programmes are on offer to take the guesswork microwave delivered excellent results and its steaming function is out of preparing items like casseroles or potatoes. Moreover, this particularly impressive, providing for a healthier cooking option. The microwave excels when it comes to defrosting, whether you use the grill covers a larger area than on most equivalent models, though manual setting or one of the auto-defrost programmes, including the heat distribution is a little uneven so the centre of dishes will a bread defrost option for those who keep their sliced pan fresh in brown quicker than the edges. This Panasonic model handily offers the freezer. In terms of size, this is quite a deep appliance so you multistage programming so, for example, you can set it to defrost, will need to set aside a fair amount of space on your countertop, cook and grill a lasagne in quick succession without having to return but the substantial exterior dimensions do not necessarily translate to the kitchen between each stage. Despite relatively shallow into a roomy interior as this device will fit dishes only up to 30cm dimensions, the interior is spacious, easily fitting plates of up to 35cm in diameter. The touch panel display is intuitive to operate and this in diameter, and if you do need to cook or defrost a series of dishes appliance is also simple to keep clean with a smooth interior that one after the other, this machine will not lose much in the way of makes wiping away spills a breeze. The interior light is a little dim, power after continuous usage. This microwave is fairly loud when in however, for those who like to keep an eye on their food as it cooks. convection mode, however. Speed of heating Speed of heating   Evenness of heating Evenness of heating   Manual defrosting Manual defrosting   Ease of use Ease of use  

4. Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ €250 5. Russell Hobbs RHM2086SS €120 (Solo microwave) (Solo microwave) Although on the pricey side for a solo microwave, the Choice Buy The Choice Buy Russell Hobbs RHM2086SS is a solo microwave Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ not only performs impressively but it offers that focuses on the basics, performing all key tasks extremely a spacious interior and a wide range of automatic programmes and well, while not taking up too much room on your countertop. If features. This is a large appliance, so you may need to measure your you are looking for reliably fast heating and cooking that will countertop space before buying to make sure you have room. The deliver perfectly even results, then this Russell Hobbs model is upside of the sizeable dimensions, however, is that the inside is nicely the machine for the job. It has seven auto-cook programmes for roomy and can fit dishes of up to 34cm in diameter. Your food will those who like a little help with their settings, covering familiar be heated through quickly and evenly, and there are 21 auto-cook dishes like vegetables, fish and potatoes as well as options to make programmes on offer for items such as vegetables, potatoes, fish/ popcorn and reheat pizza. Defrosting is similarly impressive both meat, and rice/pasta, with the manufacturer crediting the Genius when you use manual controls and the auto-defrost settings that sensor with automatically adjusting temperature and running time decide on the time needed when you input the weight of your for perfect results. Defrosting is also excellent, particularly using food. The dimensions of this attractive silver-coloured appliance manual settings, with items defrosted gently and evenly. This is a are relatively compact for those who are tight for space in their very straightforward machine to operate using the intuitive touch kitchen, though this does limit the size of the dishes that can be panel display, though it will take a bit of elbow grease to keep the used as the interior only accommodates diameters of up to 28cm. mirrored door smudge-free. The Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ is the Operation is fairly intuitive via a few control buttons, dial and large black version of this appliance, but it is also available in white, the LED display but the mirrored door will take a bit of effort to keep Panasonic NN-ST45KWBPQ, or in a stainless-steel finish, the Panasonic clean and you will not be able to see through it to gauge how your NN-ST48KSBPQ – so you can choose the one that best suits your meal is getting on. kitchen décor.

34 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Speed of heating Speed of heating   Evenness of heating Evenness of heating   Manual defrosting Manual defrosting   Ease of use Ease of use  

6. Panasonic NN-S29KSMBPQ €160 7. Samsung MS23K3513AK €120 (Solo (Solo microwave) microwave) The Choice Buy Panasonic NN-S29KSMBPQ is a compact solo The Choice Buy Samsung MS23K3513AK offers neat dimensions while microwave oven that is nicely straightforward to use and will do a delivering first-class performance and offering some nifty programmes great job of cooking, reheating and defrosting. This Panasonic model and features. This solo microwave is on the small side, both inside and can be relied upon to quickly microwave your food so that it is piping out, so you won’t be able to fit in dishes any larger than 30cm in diameter. hot and well-cooked throughout, without leaving any cool patches, On the plus side, however, food is cooked quickly and beautifully evenly, and you can use it a number of times in quick succession without it with no unpleasant surprises in terms of unexpected cold spots and losing power. As well as an auto-reheat programme, there are four it doesn’t lose power when cooking dishes one after the other. In all, auto-cook settings for simple dishes like baked potatoes and fish or 16 auto-cook programmes are on offer, including some more unusual a quick-start button will let you choose your own timing. When it options for quinoa and bulgar, and keen bakers will appreciate the comes to defrosting, this appliance is exceptionally speedy – which settings for softening and melting ingredients like butter and chocolate. is handy if you have forgotten to defrost dinner and time is of the Five auto-defrost programmes are provided, including a handy one essence – with the manual mode outperforming the auto-defrost for bread, and these are exceptionally fast. Additional useful features programmes slightly. If countertop space is tight, this microwave include an energy-saving mode, a deodorisation setting for when you could be a good option but the compact exterior does translate into are cooking something particularly unpleasant-smelling and the ability limited space inside, with testers only able to fit a 27cm dish. With a to deactivate the beeper. The mirrored door is hard to see through and bright LCD display, operation is very simple and intuitive via buttons tricky to keep clean but this is generally a very easy-to-use appliance. and dial controls but the grid on the door makes it tricky to see what The Samsung MS23K3513AK is the all-black version of this appliance, but is happening inside for those who like to keep an eye on their food as also available is the Samsung MS23K3513AW, which comes with a white it cooks. surround while keeping the black door and control panel section.

35 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 PRODUCT TESTS / Headphones

Headphones Which headphones will be music to your REPORT by Clodagh O'Donoghue ears? Which earphones will be head and At a glance • Wireless options shoulders above the rest? The scores from • 43 headphones on test our listening tests are in… • Six Choice Buys Headphones and earphones are no longer give you the optimum listening experience and pockets. There may be the odd downside just for music fans - they have become for different environments and situations, – for example, you will need to remember to an essential accessory to plug us in to from TV-binging on your sofa or You-Tube charge the battery powering your wireless our various devices as we consume vast watching on a dull commute to providing headphones if you want to avoid running quantities of content of all sorts during the a motivating soundtrack for your fitness out of juice halfway through your commute day. Personalised listening is not confined to regime. To further facilitate easy listening, or at a particularly crucial moment in a when we are out and about, as households many headphones now do not have an untidy season finale. A way around this problem, are increasingly likely to have each individual cable tethering them to an appliance, big or however, is to look for a model that comes member consume their own choice of small, with wireless options becoming the with a detachable cable that you can keep on content on their individual device, often norm. With a bewildering array of choice on standby. By plugging in the cord when the while in the same room – so headphones the market, our testers have put 43 pairs of battery runs out, you will be able to continue are needed to keep the peace and avoid a headphones and earphones through their with basic listening – you will lose additional cacophony of competing soundtracks. For paces to see which ones would make for a functions like noise cancelling but it should those watching the household’s main TV, sound investment. tide you over until you find a socket for their experience can be enhanced with a recharging. In the past, wireless headphones great set of headphones, with advanced Going wireless were significantly more expensive than wired noise-cancelling features able to block out Over the last few years, headphones have alternatives but the price gap is narrowing all extraneous sounds to let them savour increasingly gone wireless, with the ability rapidly. In addition, you used to pay for the stirring scores and focus on particularly tense to connect to an audio source without added convenience of wireless listening with moments of drama or meaningful murmured cables or cords, and these now account for a drop in audio quality, but the technology dialogue. And high-end headphones can be the majority of models in our current test. has improved to the extent that such a must for true music aficionados looking to Manufacturers have upped the convenience differences are hardly discernible for most of immerse themselves in a private high-quality of their products by getting rid of a cable that us. audio experience. It may be, in fact, that you is prone to become tangled and can be easily Without a wire, there are two main need more than one set of headphones to damaged, particularly when stuffed into bags ways that wireless headphones connect to

36 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 devices. All wireless products on our table life of entirely wireless earbuds is fast themselves. For totally hands-free operation, use Bluetooth for linking to audio sources improving and, in the best models, sound some headphones support voice control and some additionally have NFC (near-field quality now equals that of great over-ear or via the voice assistant on your smartphone communication). Bluetooth is a universal on-ear headphones. or tablet, though our tests have found that standard, so you will be able to transmit An added incentive to invest in a some models can work better than others in music and other audio content from any pair of wireless headphones and an indication this regard. Bluetooth-enabled phone, laptop, tablet, that manufacturers think that wireless is Active noise cancellation is mainly TV or turntable to any pair of Bluetooth undoubtedly the way of the future is that a feature found on higher-priced products headphones in the vicinity. This process primary devices, from TVs to smartphones, and uses battery-powered electronics to is very simple, involving nothing more are starting to ditch the headphone socket counteract unwanted external low-frequency complicated than putting the headphones for connecting wired accessories. Thus, those and medium-frequency noise. This can make into pairing mode and locating them in the who like the lower-tech nature of the wired for a more immersive listening experience Bluetooth settings menu on your smartphone option or who have a lot of interference and help to drown out irritating background or other device. An even easier method, compromising a Bluetooth signal may need noise - like the drone of an aircraft engine, for however, is to use NFC where available, as to buy a separate adaptor to connect wired example. However, eliminating all ambient the connection can be made by merely headphones to their new devices. noise can be hazardous when you are out and physically touching your smartphone or about, as you are cut off to an extent from device against the appropriate symbol on the Headphones on test the surrounding world. Some headphones NFC-supporting headphones. A connection With 43 headphone models on test, ranging offer an ambient mode within their can also be established over wi-fi, though this in price from a positively frugal €12 to a noise-cancellation settings to let essential is likely to be confined to home use and, as whopping €419 and at every price point in sounds filter through - such as when you yet, there are not many wi-fi headphones on between, there is certainly something for all are crossing a road or listening out for travel the market. budgets. Our ratings table below divides the announcements. While wireless headphones options on offer into three main categories – In assessing new models on the have been available for the last number of over ear, on ear and in ear. Whereas over-ear market, our tests place most weight on years, ditching the cord has been a greater headphones tend to be pricey, starting all-important sound quality across a range challenge for in-ear headphones and ‘truly at around €100 and running into several of music genres as well as the spoken word wireless’ in-ear products have only recently hundred euro, on-ear headphones and but we also consider how comfortable the emerged. These truly wireless options have earphones vary in price greatly. Whether headphones will be to wear for extended managed to eliminate the cable or headband you pay a little or a lot depends on what periods, how well they will withstand wear that links the two earbuds together so that capabilities you are looking for and how and tear, and what features or enhancements each earbud is now positioned entirely deeply you care about audio quality – though are available to facilitate the listening independently in your ear for the ultimate in high cost does not necessarily ensure high experience and ease of use. freedom and convenience. Unsurprisingly, performance. Headphones or earphones on early offerings suffered from poor battery life As noted above, the majority of our table with scores of around 40% or less due to limits imposed by their tiny size, and models on test are wireless headphones, are probably best avoided unless they are charging cases to boost power supplies when most of which have controls, either physical exceptionally cheap and you are not fussy on the move were introduced. However, as buttons or touch-sensitive controls, about audio quality or just want a backup the technology has developed, the battery positioned on the headphones or earbuds pair for travelling.

The lengths we go to...

To evaluate the all-important sound quality delivered or while seated on a plane with the background drone by each set of headphones on test, a minimum of of the aircraft engine. A calibrated reference ear is five experts or experienced assessors of different used to deliver technical measurements of the noise- ages and with a variety of tastes perform subjective cancelling ability of the headphones and the listening listening tests. These tests are carried out in a panel also provides an overall subjective rating in comfortable environment with minimal background tests that use a repeatable constant background noise, and the listening panel assigns ratings to each noise and a repeatable background noise at varying of seven set tracks in the following genres: classical, volumes and proximities. jazz, pop, rock, speech/mono spoken word, pink Our labs also test for acoustic leakage noise, and electronically recorded music. Members to see how well each set of headphones will shield of the listening panel also provide an overall rating others around you from what you are listening to and detailed comments on each of the headphone and to determine, for example, how much fellow models. passengers will be disturbed by your listening choice To assess the headphones’ noise-cancelling on a quiet coach or train. Again, the calibrated ability, tests are conducted that seek to replicate reference ear takes technical measurements and the the use of headphones while the outside audible listening panel subjectively rates each headphone environment changes – for example, listening to a model’s performance using repeatable audio tracks play list while walking down a busy shopping street for different genres at varying volumes.

37 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 1. Sony WH-1000XM3 €330 2. JBL Live 650BTNC €220 3. Jabra Elite 85h €340 (Over ear) (Over ear) (Over ear) With a score that is streets ahead of their next main The least expensive of our recommended over-ear The Choice Buy Jabra Elite 85h over-ear headphones rival, the Choice Buy Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones models, the Choice Buy JBL Live 650BTNC wireless deliver great audio and effective noise cancellation for a wowed our testers with their exceptional audio quality headphones deliver a lot in terms of high-end highly enjoyable listening experience. Sound quality is and superb noise cancelling. These wireless over-ear performance and features. Testers were impressed with beautifully warm and detailed with nicely clear, natural headphones deliver stunning sound that is detailed, rich, the audio quality across all music genres, with plenty speech. Moreover, the noise-cancellation function warm and vibrant with crystal clear vocals, achieving of clarity and vibrancy, while speech sounded nicely performs well, particularly with low-frequency sounds like top marks across all our listening tests. What’s more, natural. The noise cancellation is particularly effective, the drone of an aircraft engine, and a useful Hear Through you will be able to fully immerse yourself in your minimising external sounds over a wide range of ambient sound mode is on offer, allowing environmental listening choice or block out background sound entirely frequencies for immersive listening. There is no ambient noises to filter through as needed when you are on the with the highly effective noise-cancelling function. An mode, however, to allow certain environmental noises move. A range of controls is available on the headphones Ambient Sound Control setting will let essential sounds to filter through when on the go. Controls are positioned and by downloading the fairly straightforward Jabra like travel announcements filter through when you on the headphones for adjusting music volume, playing Sound+ app you will be able to access a plethora of are out and about and a quick touch to the earcup will or pausing, selecting tracks, taking calls and turning on personalisation options to tweak music settings, tone instantly turn down the volume as needed. Indeed, all and off noise cancellation. Voice controls are also on offer controls and noise-cancellation features. Battery life functions are operated via the touch-sensitive controls via the My JBL Headphones app but, whereas Apple’s Siri is seriously impressive, measured at a whopping 36 on the headphones, which will take a little getting voice assistant worked well, testers found some difficulty hours with noise cancellation turned on, and when used to, or you can use voice controls as a handy connecting with Android devices and getting Alexa and the battery does eventually run out of power, you can alternative. By downloading the accompanying Sony Google Assistant voice controls to function properly. An attach a supplied cable for wired listening without Headphones smartphone app, you can finetune a huge app update will likely rectify this and the headphones noise cancellation. Also supplied is a flight adaptor for range of settings to suit your personal listening tastes. work perfectly without the app. These headphones lack connecting to an airline’s flight infotainment system and Importantly, these headphones are very comfortable to the premium look and feel of higher-priced offerings, but a hard case for protecting your foldable headphones. wear with a battery life of over 27 hours and a detachable they are reasonably comfortable to wear and battery life At almost 300g, these headphones are the heaviest on cord for wired listening without noise cancelling when the is a decent 22 hours, after which you can use the supplied test and can be a snug fit, so it is advisable to try them on battery runs out. cable for basic listening without noise cancellation. before buying.

4. Bose Noise Cancelling Head- 24. Apple AirPods (2019) 25. Sony WF-1000XM3 €249 phones 700 €419 (Over ear) €179 (In ear) (In ear) Undoubtedly pricey, the Choice Buy Bose Noise Cancelling The Choice Buy Apple AirPods are high-end earbuds that With a hefty price tag, the Choice Buy Sony WF-1000XM3 Headphones 700 are premium over-ear models that impressed with first-rate audio quality across our stringent headphones not only provide an exceptional listening performed well across our stringent tests with some tests. These truly wireless in-ear headphones hang experience but are among the first truly wireless in-ear additional features that might appeal. In terms of sound independently from the ears and connect to the audio models to offer noise cancellation. No matter what your quality, testers particularly praised these headphones for source via Bluetooth. Across all music genres, the delivered musical tastes, audio quality is excellent, with plenty of delivering speech that is clear and natural and scores were audio is rich and warm, with a high level of detail, and fine detail and depth, and speech sounds extremely clear consistently good across music genres with well-balanced, spoken content sounds natural and clear. Voice controls and natural. In addition, Sony has managed to squeeze detailed audio supplied. The effective noise cancellation via the Siri voice assistant work well and the basic controls highly effective noise cancellation into these earbuds’ minimises external sounds at most frequencies, and a located on the earbuds are compatible with Android tiny dimensions, minimising most unwanted background ten-step slider lets you decide how much outside noise devices, though they work best with Apple equipment. In sounds, and an ambient noise mode is available that can should filter through. Optimisation options for noise terms of battery life, these new AirPods will manage five be switched on and off via the touch-sensitive controls cancellation are available via the Bose Music app and noise and a half hours of continuous use, a substantial increase on the earbuds themselves. These touch controls can cancellation also works for those receiving a call from over the three hours managed by the first-generation take a little getting used to, though you will also be able to you. Other touch controls on the headphones let you play, AirPods released in 2016. Nonetheless, frequent charging activate your smartphone’s voice assistant for hands-free pause or skip music tracks, adjust volume or take calls and will be needed, and the new AirPods come with either operation, with voice commands found to work well. The hands-free control via voice assistants works well. Battery a standard charging case that will need to be plugged accompanying Sony Headphones app can in theory be life is very decent at 23 hours, with a cord supplied for basic in for recharging purposes or a wireless charging case used to finetune music and noise-cancellation settings but, listening with no noise cancellation when the battery runs that can simply be placed on a compatible charging mat in practice, our testers found some difficulty using the app out. The manufacturer touts its Bose Augmented Reality for maximum convenience. The price quoted is for the with these earbuds – though an app update may resolve (AR) as using sensor information on head orientation and standard charging case option, whereas AirPods that come these issues satisfactorily. These Sony earbuds manage body movement along with location data from your phone with the wireless charging case will cost €229. Although a very decent six hours with noise cancellation turned to deliver tailored audio content, but this may be more of a comfortable to wear, the AirPods may be too loose for on or eight hours with it turned off and a charging case is novel trick than a useful feature. sports activities and there is significant acoustic leakage. provided for recharging on the move.

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MODEL SPECIFICATIONS TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE USING THE TABLE

Sound quality (60%) Comfort and durability (15%) Star ratings are out of five. Overall Audio en- Cable con- Controls on Noise can- Classical Features % Price (€) Weight (g) Wireless sound Speech Pop music Jazz Comfort Durability hancements Battery (0%) SPECIFICATIONS trols headphones cellation music (10%) quality (15%) Price: Typical retailer’s price if you shop around. Weight: Weight in grams of the headphones Over ear with cable, where applicable, but without charger or case.

1 Sony WH-1000XM3 330 268.4 ✓ ✓ ✓           91 TEST PERFORMANCE Sound quality: Results of the listening tests for 2 JBL Live 650BTNC 220 259.1 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓           77 a range of genres including classical, jazz and pop music and the spoken word. Comfort: Rating for how comfortable the 3 Jabra Elite 85h 340 298.7 ✓ ✓ ✓           75 headphones are to wear, how well they fit, their adjustability and their potential to fall out of Bose Noise Cancelling the ear. 4 419 261.6           71 Headphones 700 ✓ ✓ ✓ Durability: Rating for the quality of construction and how well the headphones 5 Bose QuietComfort 35 II 350 233.5 ✓ ✓ ✓           69 and cable withstand stress tests. Audio enhancements: Includes the results Plantronics BackBeat of technical measurements and subjective 6 160 222           68 Go 810 ✓ ✓ ✓ assessments of sound leakage and the effectiveness of noise-cancelling features. 7 Sony WH-XB900N 250 253.1 ✓ ✓ ✓           60 Features: Rating for the availability of such features as built-in cable and headphone controls, external noise cancellation, and the 8 Sony MDR-1AM2 280 207 ✓          na 60 ability to make and take phone calls.

9 Goji GTCBTNC18 80 162.9 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓           52 Useful contacts

10 Skullcandy Venue 180 242.3 ✓ ✓ ✓           49 Apple Ireland Ltd 1800 804 062 Beats by Dr. Dre Power- 11 259 21.3           49 www.apple.com/ie beats Pro ✓ ✓ Audio Technica ATH- 12 180 249 ✓ ✓ ✓           48 Bose ANC700BT tel 1800 656 750 bose.ie 13 JBL Live 500BT 160 248.9 ✓ ✓           46 Jabra 14 Panasonic RP-HTX80B 100 181 ✓ ✓           37 jabra.co.uk

On ear JBL jbl.com 15 Jabra Move Style Edition 110 160.4 ✓ ✓           63 Sony Beats by Dr. Dre Solo 3 16 220 214.3 ✓ ✓           53 tel 01 407 3341 Wireless www.sony.ie 17 Sony MDR-ZX330BT 60 144 ✓ ✓           50

18 Sony WH-XB700 156 195 ✓ ✓           49

19 AKG Y500 160 222.9 ✓ ✓ ✓           47

20 Sony WH-CH510 75 131.1 ✓           42

Marshall Major III Blue- 21 120 179.4           36 tooth ✓ ✓ ✓

22 Goji Lites (GLITOBT18) 12 234.9 ✓ ✓ ✓           33

Jam Out There (HX- 23 55 183.6           32 HP303) ✓ ✓ ✓

39 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 40 12/

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE

Sound quality (60%) Comfort and durability (15%) Overall Audio en- Cable con- Controls on Noise can- Classical Features % Price (€) Weight (g) Wireless sound Speech Pop music Jazz Comfort Durability hancements Battery (0%) trols headphones cellation music (10%) quality (15%)

In ear

24 Apple AirPods (2019) 179 8 ✓ ✓           80

25 Sony WF-1000XM3 249 13.7 ✓ ✓ ✓           76

26 Sennheiser CX 100 31 10.8          na 64

27 JBL Endurance Sprint 49 26.5 ✓           59

28 Sony WI-C310 55 18.5 ✓ ✓           59

29 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 300 13.4 ✓ ✓           58

30 Sony WI-SP600N 120 22.3 ✓ ✓ ✓           58

31 Sennheiser CX 300S 48 16 ✓          na 55

32 Jabra Elite 65t 140 12.4 ✓ ✓           53

33 Jlab Audio JBuds Air 50 10.3 ✓ ✓           50

34 JBL Tune 120TWS 100 13.7 ✓ ✓           46

35 Sony WI-SP500 90 17 ✓ ✓           46

36 Sony WF-SP700N 170 16 ✓ ✓ ✓           45

37 RHA MA750 Wireless 180 42.2 ✓ ✓           44

38 Skullcandy Push Truly Wireless 120 16.6 ✓ ✓           44

39 Sony WF-SP900 230 15.5 ✓ ✓           44

40 Sony WI-C200 37 18.1 ✓ ✓           44

41 Jlab Audio JBuds Pro Bluetooth Earbuds 25 12.7 ✓           41

42 JBL T110BT 35 15.8 ✓           40

43 Jaybird X4 115 17.8 ✓           39

41 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 42 PRODUCT TESTS / Smartphones

Smartphones Which smartphones have hands on 44 models to assess every aspect, camera that appears when needed and slides from camera capabilities to ease of use and away again when the job is done. made it into our top ten? from audio quality to battery life. The results In an acknowledgement that Our testers have had are in and ten smartphones have impressed smartphones have become unwieldy for sufficiently to become Choice Buys. some, manufacturers have experimented hands-on experience with with altering the screen-to-body ratio and 44 models to bring you the Smartphones on test reducing the width of their handsets to aid A look at the phones on test in our current single-handed operation and some offer best of the bunch. batch points to both established and customisation options to adapt the display emerging trends in the category. For some to, again, make it easier to use with one hand. years, phone screens have been getting In several high-end devices, fingerprint larger and larger with no display on test scanners have moved from the bottom of the falling below the 5.6-inch mark and the device to an in-screen position, which, once REPORT by Clodagh O’Donoghue biggest measuring 6.8 inches, essentially the you get used to the placement, allows you size of a small tablet. Manufacturers have to unlock your phone without waking the At a glance been keen where possible not to add to the screen. The fingerprint scanning technology • Smartphone trends overall size of the handset in the quest for a is advancing with, for example, Samsung • 44 models on test larger screen, hence the emergence of almost introducing an ‘ultrasonic’ scanner that, • Ten Choice Buys bezel-less displays, with the screen stretching instead of reading 2D images, assesses the from edge to edge and sometimes curving 3D contours of your fingerprint for increased around – all in the pursuance of delivering security. Facial scanners are becoming more The bewildering array of smartphones on the an uninterrupted view. The expanded common and, indeed, Apple abandoned market at every price point can make choosing screen dimensions provide more space to the fingerprint scanner completely some the best device for you a tricky business. Our show off the increasingly dazzling displays years ago in favour of facial recognition as current batch tests phones costing just €100 with ever-higher resolution and advanced an unlocking mechanism. Some phones up to devices that cost more than ten times technologies, such as XDR, an upgrade offer fingerprint and facial scanning in that, and given the often-significant sums of from HDR, on Apple’s latest phones for combination for added security. A number cash involved, buying a smartphone is not added brightness and more natural colours. of smartphone manufacturers have started a decision to be taken without doing your Meanwhile, Samsung’s new flagship devices ditching the familiar 3.5mm headphone jack, homework first. As is so often the case, the sport an Infinity-O design, which engulfs the presuming that users will be happy to switch more you spend, the more features and higher whole display with only a small hole punch to wireless headphones, so you may need specifications you will get – but do these or notch in the corner for the front-facing to buy a separate adaptor to connect older always translate into superior performance camera, and relative newcomer OnePlus has accessories. and will you need all of those advanced gone a step further on one of our current In an effort to make their device capabilities? To help you find the best Choice Buys to remove even this small notch stand out from the crowd, manufacturers smartphone for you, our testers have got their by introducing a motorised pop-up selfie have increasingly focused on their camera

43 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 offerings. A great single lens or even dual lens camera may no longer be enough to attract attention and buyers, so many How about Huawei? phones now are offering a triple rear camera configuration - typically a telephoto, wide-angle and ultra-wide lens - with One of our current recommended models comes from Huawei, some high-end devices adding a fourth ‘Time of Flight’ lens which has been in the news in recent months due to an ongoing US for additional depth. Among our current Choice Buys are government ban on sales to the Chinese manufacturer. This ban smartphones boasting all these top-of-the-range developments affects US firm Google, which announced in late August 2019 that and more. Not for the first time, our recommended models are upcoming Huawei smartphones will not have access to the Google dominated by Apple and Samsung flagship devices but two Play app store. Both Huawei and Honor devices are expected to be newer manufacturers have also made a showing in our top ten. affected and, though Huawei will continue to launch new high-end devices in Europe, these will not include such popular Google apps as YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps and Google Drive. In addition, users will have to find a way to download some other familiar apps like Facebook and Twitter that they would have generally accessed through the Play Store. Huawei has said that existing devices, including the P20 and P30 range and the Mate 20 X 5G phones, will “continue to receive security patches, Android updates and Microsoft support”. Moreover, because Android is an open-source operating system, Huawei will still be able to run it but without Google support or apps in future devices. Huawei has been working on its own completely new operating system, called HarmonyOS, and although it has not said yet if it plans to develop this for its smartphones, future users may be faced with a whole new ecosystem to get to grips with. Huawei has set up a dedicated webpage to answer consumers’ questions on https:// consumer.huawei.com/uk/campaign/huawei-answers/.

Evolving tests

Technological categories like that of smartphones are marked by rapid advances and changing usage patterns and our independent labs seek to keep pace with such developments by adapting and modifying tests accordingly. In addition, as specifications become ever more impressive, our tests respond by becoming ever more rigorous and demanding and testers’ expectations also are raised, making scoring even more stringent. To reflect shifting usage and take account of areas that have become more or less important to users, the weighting of test criteria is reassessed from year to year and changes are made as needed. For example, in our current ratings, the camera and video tests have been increased in importance slightly, reflecting a key point of differentiation among these devices and the expanded use of these capabilities by smartphone owners. Assessments for texting and browsing have been incorporated into the ease-of-use rating while the performance rating evaluates the speed of the processor and how swiftly key tasks are achieved. As a result of this continuously evolving testing, direct comparisons of products are best made within batches rather than from year to year.

44 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 1. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max €1,200 2. Samsung Galaxy S10+ €830 Once you get over the eye-watering price tag, the Choice Buy Apple The Choice Buy Samsung Galaxy S10+ is an exceptional phone with iPhone Pro Max is a superb device that justifiably sits at the top of state-of-the-art specifications. Measuring 6.4 inches diagonally, this our smartphones table. A direct descendant of last year’s iPhone XS phone provides more screen space than its predecessor, the S9+, at the Max, this top-of-the-range Apple offering has the same spacious same time as slightly reducing the length and width of the handset to 6.5-inch screen complete with impressive 2688 x 1242 resolution, aid one-handed operation. Its striking Quad HD+ AMOLED display with though the 11 Pro Max has upped the ante by adding XDR technology the near bezel-less Infinity-O design sporting 3040 x1440 resolution to the Super Retina display and the result is a stunning screen with provides plenty of clarity and detail while focusing on colour accuracy improved brightness for better readability even in strong sunlight. and natural tones. An octa-core processor ensures ultra-speedy Along with its 11 and 11 Pro siblings, the 11 Pro Max is powered by operation and a generous 128GB of storage was on offer on the tested Apple’s A13 processor, which, the manufacturer claims, is 20% faster model, with a microSD card slot allowing you to expand this by up while using 25% less energy. In tests, this phone was outstandingly to 512GB. Keen photographers will have plenty to experiment with speedy with no lag, no matter what the task, and though Apple using the triple rear cameras providing telephoto, wide-angle and devices have often not excelled in terms of battery life, with a larger ultra-wide lenses and advanced intelligent camera technology to battery on this device, the 11 Pro Max can manage a substantial 24 optimise your shots. Meanwhile, the two front-facing cameras allow hours of call time on a full charge. Unlocking via facial recognition for first-rate selfies. Unlocking options include very swift and accurate is very secure, accurate and responsive and the triple rear cameras facial recognition as well as an in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint scanner deliver exceptional detail and depth. The price quoted is for rather that reads a fingertip’s 3D contours and that takes fractionally longer to stingy 64GB of storage and rises to €1,449 and €1,679 for 256GB and work than the more familiar 2D mode. 512GB, respectively.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ €1,050 4. Samsung Galaxy S10 €730 Crammed with features and impressive specifications, the Choice The upgraded version of the manufacturer’s 2018 phone, the Buy Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ provides the ultimate in versatility and Samsung Galaxy S9, the Choice Buy Samsung Galaxy S10 offers some high-end performance. The big brother to the Galaxy Note 10, the Note key improvements over its already-excellent predecessor. With the 10+ inflates its screen size to a very substantial 6.8 inches but, thanks ubiquitous move to virtually eliminate bezels and tweaking of the to its curved design, nonetheless offers users a good grip. Along with a screen-to-body ratio, the S10 offers an increased screen size of 6.1 inches bigger screen size, the Note 10+ delivers some other improvements over up from 5.8 inches and is 2mm longer than the S9 but still weighs in the Note 10, including a larger battery for longer-lasting power, 12GB of a little lighter. The additional screen space is put to good use with the RAM for greater multitasking ability and a microSD card slot to let you stunning Dynamic AMOLED display boasting Full HD+ resolution and expand the already very generous 256GB of storage up to 1TB. With its customisation options are available to adapt the display for one-handed Infinity-O display and impressive 3040 x 1440 resolution, the Note 10+ operation on this largish phone, which you will be able to unlock using offers a fantastic viewing experience with bright sunlight causing little in either the swift and accurate face scanner or the ultrasonic fingerprint the way of reflection issues and highly responsive touchscreen controls. scanner that takes 3D images for added security. The sound quality of Operation is exceptionally swift on this powerful phone and the versatile this phone impressed our testers in terms of clarity both when listening and precise S-Pen stylus can be used for navigation, drawing, and making to music through the external speakers and making and taking calls. The handwritten notes, which can then be automatically and accurately larger battery on the S10 translates into longer browsing time than the converted into text. A new feature of the S-Pen is its air gesture controls S9 can manage plus nearly 23 hours of call time and the Fast Wireless that let you operate the phone with magic wand-like movements. With a Charging 2.0 capability promises to get the battery to 50% capacity in grand total of four rear cameras including the new ‘Time of Flight’ infrared just half an hour. The triple camera configuration on the rear produces depth lens, ambitious photographers are given plenty of versatility and extremely detailed and well-balanced images and selfie takers will not be flexibility and the quality of both photos and video footage is first rate. disappointed with the front-facing camera’s abilities.

45 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 5. Apple iPhone 11 Pro €1,090 6. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 €900 The Choice Buy Apple iPhone 11 Pro makes for a worthy upgrade The Choice Buy Samsung Galaxy Note 10 packs most of the same great from its direct predecessor, the iPhone XS, with all the high-end functionality and high performance of its plus-size sibling, the Galaxy performance and top-flight specifications you would expect. Note 10+ into a slightly more compact package. Whereas the massive Unusually, at 5.8 inches, the 11 Pro has a smaller screen than the 6.8-inch screen dimensions of the Note 10+ might be simply too large standard iPhone 11, which measures 6.1 inches diagonally, but there for some, the more modest - though still very sizeable - 6.3 inches of is still more than enough room to enjoy the Super Retina XDR OLED the Note 10 is better suited to one-handed operation and, unusually display with 1125 x 2436 resolution. Apple has powered its new range in the world of smartphones, is a little smaller than its predecessor, the with its A13 Bionic processor for a claimed 20% greater speed while Note 9. Resolution has come down a notch from last year also but the using 25% less energy and this increased power efficiency combined Note 10’s 1080 x 2280 resolution edge-to-edge display is nonetheless with the 11 Pro’s larger battery translates into over 18 hours of call bright, clear and a pleasure to view with few reflection issues even time, outperforming the battery life of the iPhone XS by several hours. in strong sunlight. Audio quality is similarly impressive both when This Apple model offers fast charging and is also wireless-charging listening to music on the external speakers and making and taking compatible, though it is not 5G ready. Compared with the iPhone calls. As with all Galaxy Notes, this phone comes with the benefit of XS, the 11 Pro adds an extra lens to create a triple rear camera setup the S-Pen stylus for navigating, making notes, doodling, drawing, and that features telephoto, wide-angle and ultra-wide lenses, capable of more. An added ability is air gesture controls that let you perform capturing top-quality images with great colour vibrancy and contrast. multiple operations, including remotely controlling the camera, by Although the front-facing 12MP camera only has a single lens, selfie waving the S-Pen almost like a magic wand. lovers will appreciate the high level of detail and the ability to take slow-motion selfie videos.

7. Samsung Galaxy S10e €570 8. Huawei P30 Pro €720 The least expensive of the recommended models in our current From Chinese manufacturer Huawei, the Choice Buy Huawei P30 Pro is batch, the Choice Buy Samsung Galaxy S10e may not look as premium the updated version of last year’s P20 Pro and follows the success of its as its higher-priced siblings but it has many of the same impressive predecessor with another excellent performance across all our tests. The specifications and performance levels to offer. The Galaxy S10e is the sizeable 6.5-inch Full HD+ display has an in-screen fingerprint scanner lower-priced option in the manufacturer’s flagship range and, to keep that is responsive and accurate or you can unlock the phone via the the cost down, there are some design differences with the S10 and S10+. face scanner, which can also be used for safely accessing locked screen The S10e does not benefit from the eye-catching edge-to-edge display notifications or apps. This is a large phone but you can reduce the size of and is instead bounded by less up-to-date black borders. Moreover, the the display for easier one-handed operation and an innovative feature screen size is a more compact 5.8 inches, though this could appeal to is the manufacturer’s new Acoustic Display Technology, whereby sound those resisting the move toward phablet-size phones. Under the hood, is emitted from under the screen and which worked well in tests for top- the Galaxy S10e more than matches up to high-end devices, with 6GB scoring audio results. This powerful phone offers super-fast charging, of RAM, the same octa-core 8nm processor as its siblings to ensure with a full charge achieved in less than an hour and a half to give almost super-speedy operation and top-of-the-range functionalities such as 8K 20 hours of permanent call time, while a brief 15-minute charge delivers video processing. The S10e even outperformed the other S10s in some of over six hours. The manufacturer has focused on camera quality with its our battery tests and is capable of both fast charging of around an hour newest flagship phone, introducing a fourth rear camera to the P20 Pro’s and three-quarters to fully power up the battery and battery life of almost triple camera setup by adding a top-of-flight lens to the 40MP wide-angle 21 hours of call time. Unlocking options include 2D fingerprint scanning lens, 20MP ultra-wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 50x zoom. The and facial recognition, which work swiftly and accurately and can be used photographic results are excellent with plenty of detail, depth and colour in combination for added security. accuracy.

46 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 9. OnePlus 7 Pro €700 10. Apple iPhone 11 €760 The Choice Buy OnePlus 7 Pro is a large, powerful phone with a Of the three iPhones in Apple’s latest release, the Choice Buy Apple iPhone premium look and feel and an array of high-end specifications under the 11 is the least expensive, coming in at between €400 and €500 cheaper bonnet. Measuring 6.7 inches, the sleek bezel-less screen with curved than the 11 Pro and 11Pro Max, but nonetheless offering the same high- edges and impressive 1440 x 3120 resolution is a pleasure to view and end feel and performance. The same weight, size and dimensions as last there are plenty of customisable options for you to tailor your user year’s Apple iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 has, however, a number of upgraded experience. To enhance the seamless appearance of the display, instead elements to distinguish it from its predecessor. As with all the iPhone 11s, of featuring as a notch on the screen, the selfie camera is a motorised there is the manufacturer’s new A13 Bionic processor powering the device, pop-up affair that emerges automatically when needed and slides which Apple claims delivers improved speeds while using less energy. from view when the job is done. Importantly, this 16MP camera takes Certainly, operation of this phone is beautifully smooth and speedy, with well-balanced shots both indoors and outdoors, while the advanced a highly responsive touchscreen and a bright and detailed display with triple rear camera configuration - including the main 48MP camera plus few reflection issues adding to the overall appeal. Moreover, battery life a 16MP ultra-wide lens and 8MP lens with a 3x optical zoom - produces has increased over the iPhone XR, with the iPhone 11 providing a very excellent results both for still photos and video footage. With an octa- decent 19-plus hours of permanent call time along with wireless and fast core Snapdragon 855 processor, higher-than-normal refresh rate and charging. The iPhone 11 has only two camera lenses on its rear compared 8GB of RAM, this phone is super-snappy as it works away and is powered with the three on the 11 Pros but its 12MP wide-angle and ultra-wide angle by a large 4,000mAh battery that delivers a whopping 34 hours of lenses do a sterling job of capturing photos and video with exceptional permanent call time on a full charge. Moreover, charging this device depth and detail. The 12MP front-facing camera will not disappoint selfie is similarly speedy, taking less than an hour and a half. As one of the takers and fun features include slow-motion selfie videos and automatic largest and heaviest phones in our current batch, potential purchasers zooming out in landscape mode for group selfies. With all the iPhone 11s, should make sure to try it out before buying and you might like to bear the ‘box’ that the cameras are kept in on the rear is quite sharp and liable in mind that there is no headphone jack or microSD card slot. to scratch surfaces.

47 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 Smartphones

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE

Resolution Front-facing Best Internal Operating Screen size Screen reso- of main rear camera/s Camera and Performance Ease of use Battery Navigation Capabilities price pre- Weight (g) storage Display (20%) Music (10%) Calling (5%) Durability (5%) system (inches) lution camera/s resolution video (25%) (15%) (5%) (7.5%) (5%) (2.5%) % pay (€) (GB) (MP) (MP)

1 Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max 1,200 iOS 13.0 223 6.5 1242 x 2688 12/12/12 12 64           86

2 Samsung Galaxy S10+ 830 Android 9 175 6.4 1440 x 3040 12/16/12 10/8 128           85

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 1,050 Android 9 197 6.8 1440 x 3040 12/16/12 10 256           84 10+

4 Samsung Galaxy S10 730 Android 9 158 6.1 1440 x 3040 12/16/12 10 128           84

5 Apple iPhone 11 Pro 1,090 iOS 13.0 188 5.8 1125 x 2436 12/12/12 12 64           84

6 Samsung Galaxy Note 10 900 Android 9 169 6.3 1080 x 2280 12/16/12 10 256           83

7 Samsung Galaxy S10e 570 Android 9 150 5.7 1080 x 2280 12/16 10 128           82

8 Huawei P30 Pro 720 Android 9 192 6.5 1080 x 2340 40/20/8 32 128           81

9 OnePlus 7 Pro 700 Android 9 206 6.7 1440 x 3120 48/16/8 16 256           80

10 Apple iPhone 11 760 iOS 13.0 194 6.1 828 x 1792 12/12 12 64           80

11 OnePlus 7 500 Android 9 185 6.4 1080 x 2340 48/5 16 256           77

12 Huawei Mate 20X 5G 610 Android 9 235 7.2 1080 x 2244 40/20/8 24 256           77

13 Sony Xperia 1 1,020 Android 9 178 6.5 1644 x 3840 12/12/12 8 128           76

14 Oppo Reno 550 Android 9 188 6.4 1080 x 2340 48/5 16 256           75

15 Honor 20 Pro 600 Android 9 182 6.3 1080 x 2340 48/16 32 256           75

16 Google Pixel 3a XL 559 Android 9 167 5.9 1080 x 2160 12 8 64           75

17 Google Pixel 3a 480 Android 9 147 5.6 1080 x 2220 12 8 64           75

18 Samsung Galaxy A80 580 Android 9 221 6.7 1080 x 2400 48/8 48/8 128           74

19 Samsung Galaxy A70 360 Android 9 184 6.7 1080 x 2400 32/8/5 32 128           74

20 Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro 480 Android 8.1.0 176 6.2 1080 x 2248 12/12 20 128           73

21 Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 210 Android 9 187 6.3 1080 x 2340 48/5 13 64           72

22 Nokia 9 PureView 550 Android 9 173 6 1440 x 2880 12/12/12 20 128           72

48 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 49 Smartphones

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS TEST PERFORMANCE

Resolution Front-facing Best Screen Internal Camera Operating Weight Screen of main rear camera/s Display Performance Ease of use Music Calling Battery Durability Navigation Capabilities USING THE TABLE price pre- size storage and video system (g) resolution camera/s resolution (20%) (15%) (5%) (10%) (5%) (7.5%) (5%) (5%) (2.5%) % pay (€) (inches) (GB) (25%) (MP) (MP) Star ratings are out of five.

23 Honor 20 490 Android 9 174 6.3 1080 x 2340 48/16/2 32 128           71 SPECIFICATIONS Best price pre-pay: The lowest available Pay-As-You-Go price. Prices are provided 24 Samsung Galaxy A50 290 Android 9 164 6.4 1080 x 2340 25/8/5 25 64           71 for the lowest specification model, generally with the lowest available memory option. Contract prices will vary. 25 Nokia 7.2 310 Android 9 182 6.3 1080 x 2280 48/8/5 20 128           70 Operating system: The operating system that comes on the tested device. This can often be upgraded to a newer version as it 26 Samsung Galaxy A40 230 Android 9 142 5.9 1080 x 2340 16/5 25 64           70 becomes available. Screen size: Measured diagonally in inches. Weight: Including SIM card and battery in 27 Motorola One Vision 324 Android 9 181 6.3 1080 x 2520 48/5 25 128           69 grams. Internal storage: The internal storage available on the tested version of the device. 28 Sony Xperia 10 250 Android 9 160 6 1080 x 2520 13/5 8 64           69 The available storage will be less than this when the space used by the operating system and any preinstalled apps is taken 29 Honor 20 lite 280 Android 9 164 6.2 1080 x 2340 24/8/2 32 128           68 into account. Test performance 30 Huawei P30 lite 250 Android 9 159 6.2 1080 x 2312 48/8/2 24 128           68 Camera and video: Includes ratings for the front and rear cameras’ versatility and ease of use as well as for the quality of Android 31 Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 240 169 6.2 1080 x 2280 12/5 24 128           67 photos taken and for the picture and audio 8.1.0 recording quality of the video function. Display: Rating for the size and visual 32 Huawei P Smart+ 2019 220 Android 9 159 6.2 1080 x 2340 24/16/2 8 64           67 quality of the display, including brightness, contrast, readability in various lighting conditions, and viewing angle as well as for 33 Motorola Moto G7 Power 200 Android 9 192 6.2 720 x 1570 12 8 64           66 responsiveness of the touchscreen. Performance: Rating for the speed of the processor when web surfing and uploading and downloading files and for the stated 34 Huawei P Smart Z 270 Android 9 202 6.6 1080 x 2340 16/2 16 64           66 storage of the device. Ease of use: Rating for the ease of use of the menu configuration, web browsing, and the 35 Samsung Galaxy A20e 170 Android 9 141 5.8 720 x 1560 13/5 8 32           66 camera and texting functions, as well as for the placement and illumination of buttons and the range of unlocking mechanisms on 36 Huawei P Smart 2019 170 Android 9 164 6.2 1080 x 2340 13/2 8 64           65 offer. Music: Rating for sound quality from the integrated speakers, supplied headphones 37 Honor 10 Lite 220 Android 9 165 6.2 1080 x 2340 13/2 24 64           64 and high-quality headphones and for player versatility and the range of media formats on offer. 38 Huawei Y7 2019 170 Android 8.1 168 6.2 720 x 1520 13/2 8 32           62 Calling: Rating for the general ease of use of making calls and the sound quality of Android calls made and received, with and without 39 Alcatel 3 2019 100 141 5.9 720 x 1560 13/5 8 32           61 8.1.0 ambient noise. Battery: Rating for the length of battery life on a full charge when calling and 40 LG Q60 250 Android 9 173 6.3 720 x 1520 16/5/2 13 64           61 web browsing and on standby as well as operational time after a quick 15-minute charge and for charging versatility. 41 Samsung Galaxy A10 140 Android 9 167 6.2 720 x 1520 13 5 32           60 Durability: Rating for the build quality of the device and its shock, scratch and water resistance. 42 Nokia 4.2 140 Android 9 161 5.7 720 x 1520 13/2 8 32           58 Navigation: A rating for the GPS navigation quality, accuracy and features with and without voice guidance. 43 Honor 8A 170 Android 9 152 6.1 720 x 1560 13 8 32           58 Capabilities: Rating for the range of ports and slots available on the handset, the Android connectivity options and the sensors on 44 LG K40 190 146 5.7 720 x 1440 16 8 32           56 8.1.0 offer.

50 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 December 2019 / January 2020 www.thecai.ie 51 INDEX 2017 - 2019 Consumer Choice Index 2017-2019 This index covers reports in the past three years’ issues of Consumer Choice. Each entry shows the year and month of publication followed by the page number.

A Year Month Page C (ctd.) Year Month Page A to Z of food safety practices 2017 Oct 10 Central Credit Register 2017 July/Aug 18 Advance healthcare directives 2019 Sept 13 Child car seats 2019 July/Aug 39 Advertising of food to children 2017 June 10 Child car seats 2017 Sept 24 Age Action computer training 2018 July/Aug 7 Children's eating - health campaign 2018 Feb 10 Airbnb and short-term letting 2018 Nov 13 Children’s smartwatches -security flaws 2017 Dec/Jan 14 Air fryers 2018 Dec/Jan 27 Choice Buy Roundup 2018 2018 Dec/Jan 14 Allergen information 2018 Nov 5 Choice Buy Roundup 2017 2017 Dec/Jan 40 Allergen labelling on food 2017 June 5 Coffee machines 2018 June 19 ANEC presidency 2019 July/Aug 10 Compact digital cameras 2017 July/Aug 40 Antibiotic resistance 2019 July/Aug 5 Complaints resolution - Ombudsman 2019 July/Aug 17 Apple iPad 9.7 2017 May 22 Compulsory purchase orders on property 2018 July/Aug 22 Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus 2017 Dec/Jan 25 Computer training for older adults 2018 July/Aug 7 Apple iPhone XS and XS Max 2018 Nov 18 Consumer complaints bodies 2018 Sept 10 Appliance safety notice roundup 2017 Sept 7 Consumer complaints - ECC Ireland 2018 Oct 7 Asthma adviceline 2018 May 5 Consumer complaints resolution 2018 Sept 13 Consumer conditions scoreboard 2017 Oct 7 Consumer rights app - ECC-Net 2018 Dec/Jan 7 B Year Month Page Consumer rights -Brexit 2019 April 6 Back-to-school allowance 2018 July/Aug 5 Consumer rights myths 2019 Oct 6 Back-to-school allowance increases 2019 July/Aug 7 Consumer rights - shopping online 2017 Dec/Jan 19 Back-to-school costs 2017 Sept 5 Consumer rights - warranties / guarantees 2018 May 10 Barbecue food safety 2017 July/Aug 10 Consumer scams 2019 Nov 6 Blenders 2019 May 19 Consumer scams 2018 June 12 Blenders 2017 July/Aug 25 Consumer scams 2019 March 6 Blood donation 2017 July/Aug 5 Consumer spending 2018 Dec/Jan 23 Brexit and consumers 2017 Dec/Jan 10 Contactless payments 2017 June 6 Brexit and postal services 2019 Sept 8 Cooking skills survey 2017 April 10 Brexit and savings 2018 June 6 Cordless drills 2018 June 24 Budget 2020 2019 Oct 16 Cordless vacuum cleaners 2019 Nov 18 Budget 2019 2018 Nov 15 Cost of a healthy food basket 2019 Sept 5 Budget 2018 2017 Nov 15 Cost of raising a child in Ireland 2018 Oct 15 Budgeting and financial planning 2018 Dec/Jan 25 Counterfeit alcohol 2017 April 5 Built-in ovens 2019 Oct 19 Counterfeit goods online 2017 April 13 Buying second-hand goods 2019 July/Aug 15 CPR training 2018 June 5 Credit union current accounts 2019 Nov 15 Cross-border car purchase 2018 May 14 C Year Month Page Customs charges when buying online 2018 Oct 12 CAI campaign - Credit Where It’s Due 2017 Sept 4 CAI campaign - Credit Where It’s Due 2017 July/Aug 4 CAI lobbying in 2017 2017 Dec/Jan 12 CAI submission - Ticket resale 2017 Sept 12 Calories on menus 2019 Nov 5 Car purchase - cross-border 2018 May 14 Car safety - Euro NCAP 2017 Oct 9 Car safety - Euro NCAP Results 2017 2018 Feb 21 Car safety - Euro NCAP Results 2016 2017 March 21 Cashless society - pros and cons 2019 June 6 Central Bank investor protection 2019 July/Aug 22 Central Bank warning 2019 April 7 Central Credit Register 2018 Oct 6

52 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 D Year Month Page F (ctd.) Year Month Page Data protection 2017 Oct 4 Food labelling 2019 May 8 Data protection - infographic 2018 June 10 Food labelling 2017 Oct 5 Data protection regulations 2017 Dec/Jan 23 Food marketing to children 2017 June 10 Data protection rights 2017 March 15 Food processors and mixers 2019 July/Aug 24 Debt and financial planning 2018 Dec/Jan 25 Food pyramid 2017 Feb 5 Deliveries and returns - consumer rights 2019 March 11 Food Safety Authority of Ireland 2019 Feb 5 Digital compact cameras 2017 July/Aug 40 Food safety – consumer complaints 2017 March 5 Digitalisation of financial services 2017 July/Aug 7 Food safety in the kitchen 2017 Oct 10 Dishwashers 2019 April 17 Food safety outdoors 2017 July/Aug 10 Dishwashers 2018 May 16 Freedom of information 2017 April 6 Dishwashers 2017 March 17 Free trial scams 2018 March 7 Disposal of unused medicines 2018 March 12 Free trial subscription traps 2017 Feb 6 Drills - cordless 2018 June 24 Freezers 2018 July/Aug 41 Freezers 2017 June 15 Fridge freezers 2019 Sept 20 E Year Month Page Fridge freezers 2018 Nov 19 Ebook readers 2019 Sept 16 Fridge freezers 2017 Sept 18 Ebook readers 2018 Oct 17 Fridges 2019 May 23 Ebook readers 2017 April 15 Fridges 2018 April 21 E-cigarettes - risks 2019 Oct 5 Fuel contamination 2018 Sept 16 E-commerce website irregularities 2019 May 6 Economic growth figures 2018 July/Aug 6 Eggs labelling 2017 April 5 G Year Month Page Electric cars 2017 Dec/Jan 16 Gadget insurance 2018 Dec/Jan 21 Electric shavers 2018 March 16 Gadget insurance 2017 Dec/Jan 7 Electric toothbrushes 2018 May 22 Geo-blocking regulation 2019 Feb 7 Electric vehicle toll incentive scheme 2018 Sept 6 Geo-blocking 2017 Feb 7 Enduring power of attorney 2017 June 13 Gift vouchers 2018 July/Aug 6 Energy label 2019 April 9 Gift voucher problems 2018 Feb 7 Energy reduction - home grants 2018 March 9 Gluten-free products 2017 May 9 Environmentally friendly cars 2019 April 12 Green NCAP Results 2019 April 12 ESTA overcharging 2019 June 7 EU roaming charges 2017 July/Aug 6 Euro NCAP developments 2017 Oct 9 H Year Month Page Euro NCAP Test Results 2018 2019 Feb 21 Hand hygiene/handwashing 2017 Sept 9 Euro NCAP Test Results 2017 2018 Feb 21 Headphones 2018 July/Aug 46 Euro NCAP Test Results 2016 2017 March 21 Health and technology 2018 Dec/Jan 5 European Consumer Centres 2017 April 6 Health insurance 2018 Feb 14 European small claims procedure 2017 Sept 6 Health insurance premium increases 2019 July/Aug 6 Executor role in will 2018 March 6 Healthy eating for children 2018 Feb 10 Expired medicines disposal 2018 March 12 Healthy Ireland Survey findings 2018 Feb 5 Export/import figures 2019 March 7 Holiday booking online 2017 June 7 Holiday car rental 2018 April 6 Holiday food safety 2019 July/Aug 11 F Year Month Page Home buying 2017 May 5 Fake reviews online 2018 Dec/Jan 9 Home energy saving kits 2017 Sept 8 Family finance 2018 Oct 15 Home energy upgrades - grants 2019 Oct 10 Financial planning 2018 Dec/Jan 25 Home improvment grants 2018 March 9 Financial products – consumer protection 2017 March 7 Home loan for first-time buyers 2018 March 13 Financial elder abuse 2019 June 16 Home purchase 2017 Dec/Jan 21 Financial Services and Pensions 2019 June 12 Home-sharing and short-term letting 2018 Nov 13 Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau 2017 May 18 Household pollutants 2017 March 10 First-time buyers home loan 2018 March 13 Hotel booking sites - misleading practices 2019 Oct 7 Fitness watches and trackers 2019 June 23 House prices 2017 July/Aug 7 Flight rights 2018 April 7 Housing market 2018 May 6 Fluoride exposure 2018 June 5

53 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 I Year Month Page O Year Month Page Ice pops, lollies and bars - nutritional info 2018 July/Aug 11 Ombudsman Offices - complaints resolution 2019 July/Aug 17 Import/export figures 2019 March 7 Online holiday booking 2017 June 7 Indoor air pollution 2017 March 10 Online photo printing 2017 July/Aug 12 Initial coin offerings 2018 Feb 6 Online subscription traps 2018 March 7 Insurance claims 2018 March 7 Outdoor food safety 2017 July/Aug 10 Insurance implications of Brexit 2019 March 14 Ovens 2019 Oct 19 Insurance premiums (motor) 2017 Oct 1 Internet-connected products - security 2018 Dec/Jan 19 Internet of things - consumer safety 2018 Feb 12 P Year Month Page Iodine levels in teenage girls 2018 April 11 Package Travel Directive - new rules 2018 July/Aug 14 Irons 2017 July/Aug 35 Passport applications 2017 March 6 Passport renewal and processing times 2017 Oct 6 Payment Services Directive (PSD2) 2018 Feb 7 J Year Month Page Pension gender gap 2019 Oct 14 Jug blenders 2017 July/Aug 25 Personal Injuries Assessment Board 2018 Sept 15 Juice cleanses 2018 Dec/Jan 10 Personal injuries claims 2019 April 14 Pesticides on fruit and vegetables 2017 June 11 Pet boarding options 2017 July/Aug 15 K Year Month Page Pet boarding - regulation 2017 Sept 11 Kobo ebook readers 2017 April 15 Phthalates in toys 2019 May 5 Photo printing and sharing 2017 July/Aug 12 Picnic food safety 2017 July/Aug 10 L Year Month Page Plastic packaging reduction 2018 April 9 Laptops 2019 Nov 22 Prepaid cards 2018 July/Aug 26 Lawnmowers 2019 April 21 Prescription medication costs 2017 Feb 13 Lawnmowers 2017 May 24 Pressure washers 2017 July/Aug 30 LEDs - environmental benefits 2018 Dec/Jan 9 Printers 2018 Oct 19 Legal services - complaints and costs 2019 Nov 13 Printers 2017 Oct 17 Lip balm products 2017 Dec/Jan 5 Private health insurance 2018 Feb 14 Living wills 2019 Sept 13 Product recall - tumble dryers 2019 Sept 10 ‘Lo call’ numbers - upcoming regulations 2019 Feb 10 Property market 2017 Dec/Jan 21 ‘Lo call’ numbers 2017 Oct 13 Pushchairs 2019 Oct 25 Pushchairs 2018 Sept 19 Pushchairs 2017 June 20 M Year Month Page Medicine costs 2017 Feb 13 Microsoft Surface Go 2018 Sept 9 Microwave ovens 2018 Dec/Jan 30 R Year Month Page Microwave ovens 2017 Dec/Jan 28 Radon exposure 2018 March 5 Misleading practices on hotel booking sites 2019 Oct 7 Rapid Alert System 2018 May 12 Mobile phone performance research 2018 Nov 10 Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan 2018 March 13 Moneylenders - regulations and advice 2019 Sept 14 Record players 2017 Dec/Jan 35 Mortgage arrears figures 2019 April 7 Recycling refresher 2018 March 10 Mortgage approval/drawdown figures 2019 March 7 Recycling responsibly 2019 Nov 10 Mortgage options 2017 July/Aug 21 Refurbished phones - online buying 2108 Dec/Jan 6 Mortgage preparation 2019 Feb 6 Regulators and consumer complaints 2018 Sept 10 Mortgage repayments - savings 2018 July/Aug 24 Rent controls 2017 April 7 Motor insurance - new transparency rules 2019 Nov 7 Motor insurance implications of Brexit 2019 March 14 Motor insurance premiums 2017 Oct 15

N Year Month Page National Standards Authority of Ireland 2017 July/Aug 9 New Deal for Consumers 2018 June 7 Non-geographic numbers 2019 Feb 10 Non-geographic numbers 2017 Oct 13 Novelty contact lenses 2017 Oct 5

54 www.thecai.ie December 2019 / January 2020 S Year Month Page T (ctd.) Year Month Page safefood research - cooking skills 2017 April 10 Tracker mortgages 2018 June 17 safefood research - hand hygiene 2017 Sept 9 Traffic light labelling 2017 March 4 safefood research - supermarket specials 2019 April 10 Travel insurance survey 2018 July/Aug 16 Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ 2017 Oct 17 Treat foods and children's health 2019 June 10 Samsung Galaxy S9 and A8 2018 Sept 18 Tumble dryer fire risk 2017 April 9 Saving accounts 2019 May 15 Tumble dryers - product recall 2019 Sept 10 Saving and investment trends 2018 May 7 Tumble dryers 2019 July/Aug 33 Saving trends 2017 Dec/Jan 6 Tumble dryers 2018 July/Aug 34 Scams aimed at consumers 2018 June 12 Turntables 2017 Dec/Jan 35 SEAI home energy grants 2019 Oct 10 Second-hand purchases - consumer rights 2019 July/Aug 15 Seniors Alert Scheme 2017 Dec/Jan 8 U Year Month Page Shift work - health impacts 2017 Feb 10 Unauthorised financial firms warnings 2019 June 7 Skin cancer prevention 2018 July/Aug 9 Unauthorised firms 2018 Nov 6 Smartphones 2018 Dec/Jan 39 Unauthorised investment firms 2018 March 6 Smartphones 2017 Nov 18 Undercooked burgers 2017 July/Aug 11 Smartwatches 2019 July/Aug 28 Under The Weather website 2018 Oct 5 Smartwatches for children - security flaws 2017 Dec/Jan 14 Unhealthy special offers 2019 April 10 Sports nutrition for teenagers 2019 Sept 11 Stand mixers and food processors 2019 July/Aug 24 Steam irons 2017 July/Aug 35 V Year Month Page Storm damage insurance claims 2018 March 7 Vacuum cleaners 2019 Feb 17 Student accommodation 2017 Sept 15 Vacuum cleaners 2017 Dec/Jan 31 Student accommodation - advice 2019 Sept 7 Vacuum cleaners - cordless 2019 Nov 18 Student accommodation rental costs 2018 Sept 7 Vegetables 2017 Oct 5 Student food safety in the kitchen 2017 Oct 10 Virtual currencies 2018 Feb 6 Summer camps for children 2017 May 11 Summer treats - sugar and fat content 2018 July/Aug 11 Sunday trading 2018 April 10 Supermarket Basket Survey 2019 May 10 W Year Month Page Switching mortgage provider 2019 Feb 7 Washer-dryers 2019 June 19 Washer-dryers 2018 July/Aug 30 Washing machines 2019 March 16 T Year Month Page Washing machines 2018 April 16 Tablet PCs 2018 Dec/Jan 34 Washing machines 2017 Feb 16 Tablet PCs 2018 Feb 16 Weaning your baby - challenges and advice 2018 Dec/Jan 12 Tablet PCs 2017 Feb 21 Wills - creating and updating 2018 April 13 Tax guide - Budget 2020 2019 Oct 16 Workplace wellbeing 2019 March 5 Tax guide - Budget 2019 2018 Nov 15 World Consumer Rights Day 2019 March 10 Tax guide - Budget 2018 2017 Nov 15 World Food Safety Day 2019 July/Aug 5 Tax savings - credits and reliefs 2019 Feb 15 Technology terms jargon buster 2017 March 12 Teeth whitening 2019 July/Aug 13 Televisions 2019 March 20 Televisions 2018 March 21 Televisions 2017 April 18 Television license requirements 2019 July/Aug 7 Tenancy rights 2019 May 7 Tenancy rights 2017 July/Aug 23 Third-level student accommodation 2017 Sept 15 Ticket resale update 2018 Oct 11 Ticket restrictions 2018 July/Aug 6 Ticket touting/resale 2017 Sept 12 Tipping culture 2019 July/Aug 20 Tobacco Free Ireland Plan 2017 July/Aug 5 Toy product recalls 2019 May 5 Toy safety 2017 Dec/Jan 9

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