Latest news with #Shark
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'This vacuum cleaner vs built-up pet hair was wild'
Shopping writer Lauren put Beldray's new Airfinity Cordless Vacuum Cleaner to the test - how would it fare in her home? Let's find out Vacuuming might be an essential household chore, but that doesn't mean it has to be tedious. Recently, I retired my old corded Henry vacuum (faithful, but bulky) in favour of something sleeker, lighter and (hopefully) a little smarter: the Beldray Airfinity Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. Beldray's latest model promises powerful suction, clever tangle-free tech and cordless convenience - all for a much more affordable price than its big-brand rivals. At £159.99, it's significantly cheaper than the likes of Shark and Dyson, whose cordless vacuums usually cost around £250-£400, depending on the model. So, could this Beldray vacuum make cleaning quicker, easier and less frustrating? I put it to the test - here's what I found. My honest review of Beldray Airfinity Vacuum Cleaner Straight out of the box, the Airfinity is light, compact, and easy to assemble (it's split into three parts). It looks modern without feeling too plasticky, and it's not overly bulky to store - a big plus if you're short on cupboard space like me. It also comes with several handy attachments, including a built-in brush tool and a crevice tool, making it a solid all-rounder for everything from carpets to stairs. An integrated LED light in the brush bar also makes it easy to see hidden dust in dark corners, ensuring no crumbs escape detection. The Airfinity has three power modes - Eco, Normal, and Turbo - that can be controlled via a touchscreen on the top of the vacuum. On Eco, it handled my carpets quite well, cleaning fluff without much fuss (see photo below). Normal mode handles everyday dust, crumbs, and pet hair with ease, while Turbo mode boosts power for deeper cleans, albeit at the expense of draining the battery faster. To really put the vacuum through its paces, I decided to try it out in my communal hallway, which, let's just say, has been a bit neglected. My downstairs neighbour has a dog that sheds a lot, and the fur was deeply embedded in the carpet. Armed with the built-in brush tool, I was curious to see how it would cope. If I'm honest, the brush didn't overly impress me; it managed to lift the more obvious bits of fluff, but it didn't dig deep enough to tackle the worst of it. What did make a notable difference was the crevice tool, which I used along the skirting boards and in the corners where the fur was at its worst. It performed far better than expected, pulling up clumps I hadn't even spotted at first glance. Another of its standout features is its tangle-free brush bar, designed to stop long hairs and pet fur from wrapping around the roller. As someone with long hair who's had their fair share of detangling vacuum heads, this was a significant selling point. And yes, it works. After a week of use, I noticed far less hair build-up than usual - the photo below shows no sign of hair at all around the brush. It's not 100% immune to the occasional strand, but it's significantly better than any other vacuum cleaner I've used (including my old Dyson V8). If I have one major gripe, it's the bin capacity. It's on the small side and I found it got full after just one or two rooms. That could partly be down to the years of dust my Henry clearly wasn't picking up on, but still, it's worth noting if you have a larger home or lots of carpeted space. For vacuums with a larger dust bin, Shark's Classic Anti Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum NZ801UKT (£199) has a 0.83L capacity, which is reasonably good for a vacuum cleaner. It should offer enough room for multiple cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied, even when faced with a lot of dirt and debris. I also struggled to figure out how to empty the Airfinity's dust canister, but once I realised it detached easily, it was much more straightforward. That also makes it simple to swap out and clean the filter when needed. That said, the bin itself is quite narrow, so getting all the muck out wasn't the most pleasant experience. I had to reach in with my fingers to scoop out some of the compacted dust and fur - not the most glamorous task around. The final verdict For anyone looking to upgrade their vacuum without spending a fortune, the Beldray Airfinity is a genuinely impressive option. It's easy to use, lightweight, and tackles the most annoying part of vacuuming (tangled hair) with its smart design. It's not perfect - the brush tool wasn't as tough as I hoped on deep pet fur, and the bin capacity is disappointing - but its other features more than make up for it. And for the reasonable £159.99 price tag, it's hard to beat.
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
BYD Shark dethrones Ford Ranger Raptor as fastest bakkie in SA
Plug-in hybrid double cab reaches 100km/h from a standstill in a mere 5.66 seconds. I was really looking forward to driving the BYD Shark. It's South Africa's first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) bakkie. It makes stupid power, and I wanted to see if all the hype was justified. There are videos online showing how it takes out the Ford Ranger Raptor. On the road that is, something I honestly thought I would never see. The BYD Shark has all the tech, luxury and safety any owner could want in a bakkie. But this we have already covered and today is about the highly-anticipated road test. Now, before you say who cares how fast a bakkie is, just remember that every Ford Ranger Raptor that lands here is sold. ALSO READ: BYD Shark banks on credentials to take down Ford Ranger Raptor BYD Shark raises the bar Nobody needs a 300kW bakkie, but seemingly everybody wants a 300kW bakkie. Talking of which, the BYD Shark PHEV produces a combined 321kW and 650Nm from a 135kW/260 Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine up front, plus a 170kW/310Nm electric motor on the front axle and a 150kW/340Nm motor at the rear. The Ford Ranger Raptor makes 292kW and 650Nm for those that want to know. There is a new boss in town. Picture: Mark Jones Racelogic VBOX test equipment loaded. A claim of 5.70 seconds to 100km/h from BYD for the Shark. Which would make it by far the fastest bakkie The Citizen Motoring has tested. And that includes the Ford Ranger Raptor that ran a time of 6.90 seconds. Select Sport Mode. Hit the accelerator, and with just a hint of hesitation as the computers let the hardware know it's go-time, the BYD Shark bolts off the line. Cold-blooded Raptor killer There is no emotion, no sound, no sense of real speed like with the Ford Ranger Raptor. Yet the BYD Shark hit 100km/h in a mere 5.66 seconds. And just like that, the king was gone, and a new king had his crown. BYD claim an electronically limited top speed of 160km/h for the Shark. I got to this speed in just 14 seconds after covering only 400m of road. Then the surprise came, it did not stop pulling. 170km/h came along, then 180km/h, which is where the Ford Ranger Raptor stops. And finally, just before the 800m mark, the speed limiter kicked in at 185km/h, as seen in the chart below. The obvious question now is what happens when the battery goes flat? The BYD Shark is quite clever in that driving in pure EV mode or intelligent HEV Mode, the bakkie won't let the battery go below 25%. You will always have that combined power when you need it. ALSO READ: Sub-R1m BYD Shark becomes South Africa's most powerful bakkie The BYD Shark features an aircraft-like starter button. Picture: Mark Jones Clever battery tech We ran the bakkie for as long as we could flat out in Sport Mode in attempt to try kill the battery. It eventually got it down to 13%, but nothing lower. I would have run out of fuel first and that number would still not have changed. Sure, once you have tried to kill the battery like this, the BYD Shark is then a sitting duck for the Ford Ranger Raptor, but it's still faster than almost all the other bakkies on the market today. And the moment you stop trying to be stupid, it starts charging the battery up again for full performance and increased EV range. Which brings me to the topic of fuel consumption. BYD claim a figure of 9.6 litres per 100km and I averaged 9.8L/100km. Which I thought was more than acceptable. But it could have been way better. I don't have a BYD installed wall charger at home, but if I did, the Shark would almost always be fully charged, and that meant I would have been able to do around 85km on electricity alone. And that for me most days would mean I would not be stopping at a filling station. Value for money The BYD Shark is priced at R959 900. If you look at what's on offer at this price point, this is not a bad deal. If you are still obsessing over this being an out and out war with the Ford Ranger Raptor, it comes in some R300 000 more expensive at R1 270 000. That a big chunk of change. Especially when you consider that the BYD Shark comes with a five-year/100 000km vehicle warranty, eight-year/200 000km battery warranty and five-year maintenance plan. This is something no other manufacturer offers on their bakkies as standard. Clever tech ensures the battery never goes flat. Picture: Mark Jones ALSO READ: VIDEO: BYD Shark leaps into SA, guns for Raptor's crown The BYD Shark is well-appointed with a premium feel interior. The ride quality is okay, if not a bit firm for what is a luxury bakkie. It is faster on road than the Ford Ranger Raptor, and anything else on the market right now. But you can't dismiss the sound and emotion that the Ford Ranger Raptor brings to the table. And if hardcore off-roading, or high-speed dirt is your thing, then it is still the bakkie to beat. You know it, I know it, and BYD knows it too. The Shark is more city slicker than cowboy. It's up to you which one you are. And which bakkie you want. BYD Shark road test data
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Powerful' Shark fan falls to record low price amid heatwave
Amazon shoppers are beating the heatwave with the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan that's now cheaper than Shark's own price Amazon has undercut Shark's price for a cooling fan that's on offer for a record low price. The Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Cordless Indoor and Outdoor Fan has been reduced from £249.99 to £219. A similar deal is available direct from Shark, where the same fan is down from £249.99 to £219.99. Arguably the main selling point of the Shark fan is its misting feature, powered by the portable and removable MistPro tank. This can be filled with chilled water to enjoy a cool mist outdoors, with Shark claiming it lowers temperatures by up to 6C. The fan can be converted between pedestal and tabletop fan modes at the touch of a button. Simply press, lift away, and enjoy misting and oscillation in both modes. The FlexBreeze boasts five fan speeds and two SmartBreeze modes said to simulate natural wind patterns capable of reaching up to 20 meters. It also has 180° of side-to-side oscillation and a 55° tilt, allowing complete control of the wind direction. The fan can be powered through its main plug for continuous power or cordlessly with a battery life of up to 24 hours, with the portability allowing Brits to beat the heat around the garden. For those looking for a more budget-friendly fan, the JYMIPA Standing Fan (£95.99) has received no negative feedback from Amazon customers and is said to be 'whisper quiet'. Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan £249.99 £219 Amazon Get the deal here Product Description Those preferring a bladeless fan can opt for the Russell Hobbs Premium Tower Fan (£59) from Dunelm, which boasts a 4.9-star rating and a flexible seven-hour timer. But the Shark FlexBreeze has won over shoppers, racking up a 4.2-star rating at Amazon and a 4.8 at Shark. One five-star review says: 'The fan is extremely quiet even on higher speeds and acts as advertised, lowers temperatures without mist on, with the mist on outside it works even better. It's expensive but looking at the build quality I'm hoping it will last for years.' Another said: 'A good powerful fan providing a lovely breeze to keep things cool in the conservatory when the sun is out. The water mist is strictly for outdoors as the spray does generate quite a lot of large droplets that gather on the base plate and will also moisten any items nearby. The mist is perfect for those summer barbecues keeping the chef nice and cool. Kids love standing in front of it to help keep them cool while playing in the garden.' However, the same buyer added: 'Only drawbacks would have been nice to have more angle on the oscillation and the ability to adjust the height and not just the angle of the fan.' This happy customer said of the Shark FlexBreeze: 'A must have, whatever the weather. Just another SharkNinja product you never knew you needed. The fan is incredibly effective when used both with and without the misting feature. It's sturdy but easy to manoeuvre and the ability to run for hours off the rechargeable battery is a game changer.'
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Epic Walmart weekend sale live from $9 — shop deals on TVs, patio furniture and 4th of July essentials
Summer is finally here — and if you're looking to indulge in some shopping in celebration of sunny season, Walmart's shelves are fully stocked with deals. In fact, the retailer is currently hosting an epic summer sale on everything from TVs and headphones to grills and patio furniture. This weekend, you don't want to miss Walmart's Patio and Garden Event with up to 50% off outdoor essentials. Need a new grill for summer? You can snag one for under $100 at Walmart. And if you're already gearing up for 4th of July celebrations, there's plenty of festive items to shop from $9. The discounts certainly don't end there! Below, I've gathered all my favorite Walmart deals to shop this weekend. For more ways to save, check out our Walmart promo codes. 4th of July sale: deals from $9 @ Walmart Independence Day is just two weeks away — and of you're gearing up for celebration or barbecues to celebrate the holiday, Walmart has plenty of festive deals to help prepare you. From decor and fashion to coolers and grilling essentials, shop Walmart's 4th of July shop for everything you need. Patio and garden event: up to 50% off @ WalmartWalmart has launched a major savings event to help you refresh your garden. If you're looking to upgrade your garden, deck or patio for less, consider Walmart's outdoor living section your one-stop shop. The retail giant is currently offering unbeatable discounts of up to 50% on stylish and functional outdoor items, including string lights, fire pits, lounge chairs, garden beds and more. Grill sale: deals under $100 @ WalmartFrom Weber to Blackstone (and many notable brands in between), Walmart is having a huge grill sale with many deals under $100 mark. With barbecue season officially here, Walmart has tons of grill options to choose from — without breaking the bank! Shark and Ninja appliances: up to 40% off @ WalmartWalmart is offering up to 40% off select Shark and Ninja appliances. The sale includes air fryers, robot vacs, blow dryers, blenders and more. Prices start as low as $49 for Shark devices or $29 for Ninja appliances. Smart TVs: deals from $88 @ WalmartWalmart has a massive sale on smart TVs. The sale includes TVs from brands like TCL, Hisense, JVC, and Walmart's own Onn brand. After discount, prices start as low as $88. Keep in mind that there are a few 1080p sets included in the sale. I recommend sticking with 4K resolution as the price difference isn't all that great. Light up your outdoor space at night with this set of string lights that are 100 feet long and include 50 bulbs. You'll want to spend all night under the stars with these lights that emit a soft white glow and will make a stylish statement hanging in your backyard or over your patio. This umbrella is the perfect addition to your backyard or patio. It provides optimal shade while adding some elegant style. The umbrella surface is UV-proof, waterproof and fade resistant so you can use it on both sunny and rainy days. Walmart is taking $140 off this folding Adirondack Chair, a durable piece of patio furniture that doesn't come cheap. But for just $99, this foldable, weather-proof design (it's constructed from high-density polyethylene lumber) is a steal. Reviewers rave these are easy to put together and are built to last for many summers to come. One buyer even notes it's "a very solid chair for the money!" This small outdoor conversation set is available for $130 off the regular price. Made of woven rattan, high-quality steel frames, and tempered glass table top, this adorable set will be the perfect spot to relax or enjoy a cocktail outdoors this spring. It also comes with seat cushions featuring an ergonomic design for extra comfort. Level up your outdoor events with an all-in-one cooler cart! Perfect for entertaining, its huge capacity can hold up to 50 bottles, 70 cans or all your favorite food and snacks. It also has four sturdy wheels that allow you to easily move the cooler or even take it on the go. Kick back in style and comfort with this outdoor wicker set that will match any theme or decor. Perfect for cozy spring nights by the fire pit, this set of rocking chairs feature a comfortable high-back design and plush cushions. The set also comes with a 2-tier coffee table. It will make a lovely addition to your porch or patio. I've got to recommend a TV when it's under $100, especially when it's 32-inch and comes from Walmart's very own Onn. range. It's a sturdy set with Roku Smart TV running the show., meaning you'll get access to a lot of streaming. So, if you're looking for a simple TV that'll let you watch your movies and shows in HD-quality, this one's at the breathtakingly cheap price of $88. If you want a new TV but don't want to overspend, the Hisense U8N Mini-LED TV offers an unbelievable price-to-performance ratio. In addition to its Mini-LED panel, it also offers beautiful contrast and colors as well as support for a 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision Atmos, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. In our Hisense U8N review we said the Editor's Choice TV is one of the best mini-LED TVs you can buy. The C4 is LG's current flagship OLED TV. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It's also one of the few OLED TVs that can natively accept a 144Hz input from a PC. In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said content looked colorful and dazzlingly bright on the new C4 series. It's the best version we've seen of the company's top-selling OLED TV range. What if your TV could hide the fact it was a TV? The Frame by Samsung does just that, disguising itself as a piece of art whenever it's not in use. That's on top of a 4K QLED display, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos support, and all the smart features afforded by Samsung's Tizen OS. This is the cheapest price we've seen for the 55-inch model. The Keurig K-Express is your top choice if you're looking for a low-cost single-serve coffee maker, or a pop of color in your kitchen, as it's available in 6 colorways at Walmart. At just 6.5 inches wide, it's also compact and is ideal for small spaces. You can also brew one cup after another, without waiting for the water to reheat, which sits within the 36oz reserve. If you're after a basic yet versatile air fryer, this is a great deal. With a 4-quart, basket capacity, it's sufficient to cook fit 2 pounds of fries. This comes with convenient functions such as air fry, roast, bake and broil. Plus, at such a low price this is a deal not to be missed! Get rid of the tiniest of unwanted particles and air contaminants with the Shark Clean Sense Air Purifier. Its anti-allergen HEPA filter is designed to tackle everything form smog and toxins to dust and dander, giving you healthier, purified indoor air quality. The Ninja Creami has been making waves (scoops?) in the home cook world. We gave it 4 stars in our Ninja Creami review. We loved how easy it was to make delicious homemade ice cream. There's a huge range of recipe styles available, such as milkshake, froyo, and even gelato! And as if it couldn't get any better — the Creami is also easy to clean. Leave your spring cleaning to your digital assistant. The Shark Matrix Robot Vacuum features precision home mapping, powerful suction that makes it great for households with pets, and hands-free cleaning thanks to its Alexa/Google Assistant support. The Shark FlexStyle Hair Styling System can be used as a powerful, no-heat-damage hair dryer or an ultra-versatile multi-styler letting you curl, volumize, smooth, or dry. It's often compared to the popular Dyson Airwrap, but it's currently less than half the price (and might even be the superior choice performance-wise). We recommend jumping on this deal! A budget friendly option, these wireless headphones offer playback for up to 57 hours, and recharge in as little as 2 hours. They also have JBL Pure Bass sound. Although we haven't tested this model, they receive 4.5 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers for sound quality and value for money. Our JBL Go 4 review determined that this is the perfect portable Bluetooth speaker for those on a budget. Small enough to take traveling, it still packs enough performance to soundtrack small gatherings while bringing useful features like IP67 water and dust protection, and multi-point connectivity. It also comes in a variety of fun colors. Sony's budget on-ear cans are inexpensive, but they bring the sound where it counts. They earned a 4.5-star rating in our Sony WH-CH520 review, thanks to their top-notch sound, intuitive controls, and lengthy battery life of 50 hours. 3 minutes of charge nets you 1.5 hours of use as well, if you run out and need a quick boost. The SRS-XE200 is an IP67 certified Bluetooth speaker that's waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. It offers up to 16 hours of battery life and includes a built-in strap that makes it easy to take on the go. There's also a buit-in mic with echo cancelling technology. This is one the best bang for your buck party speakers on the market right now. Users reported that the speaker has thumping bass that doesn't distort even at loud volumes. This speaker has two 1/4" inputs at the reverse for a mic and a guitar, should you want to soundtrack the party on a more personal level. The XM5 are Sony's premium noise-cancelling headphones and our pick for the best headphones on the market. The large, over-ear cushions are incredibly comfortable and the active noise cancellation is excellent. Plus, despite ANC being a drain on battery life, these amazing headphones still give you up to 30 hours with ANC enabled. You can push that up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned off. The AirPods Pro 2 pack Apple's new H2 chip to provide 2x more noice cancellation than their predecessors. They also offer Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive audio experience. In our AirPods Pro 2 review, we said they take everything we loved about the original AirPods Pro to the next level. This newer model includes a USB-C charging case. The 2nd-Gen Apple Watch SE sports an S8 processor, Crash Detection capability, and watchOS 9. In our Apple Watch SE review, we called it the best Apple Watch value you'll find. Just note this sold for $149 back on Black Friday. The Apple Watch 10 boasts a thinner and lighter design, faster charging and a new sleep apnea detection feature. Some other new key features include 30% more screen area, rounded corners and a first-ever wide angle OLED display. The device also features advanced health insights, including the ability to take an ECG anytime. It's no longer Apple's flagship, but the MacBook Air M1 offers fantastic performance and value. The M1 CPU never stuttered in our tests and also helped it reach over 14 hours of battery life. It features a 13.3-inch Retina display, Apple M1 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M1 review, we said it offers amazing endurance and very good speed.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
When the Amazon Prime Day sale starts and best early deals on summer essentials
Get ready to bag a bargain, because Amazon Prime Day 2025 is coming up soon, saving you huge amounts on thousands of products – and you'll find offers already live Get set to save some serious money this summer, as Amazon has just confirmed that its popular annual Prime Day sale is back next month, and it's the perfect time to shop for all your summer essentials. From fans and garden furniture to plants and top products, you can expect to find thousands of products slashed in price during July's mega-sale. Here's everything we know about Amazon Prime Day so far – but how to get ahead of the crowds and bag a bargain right now... Best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals already live Shark FlexBreeze TableMate Cordless Fan: Was £149.99, now £99 Roundup 119407 Fast Action Weedkiller Pump 'N Go: Was £27.49, now £22.99 AJVV Mobile Air Conditioner: Was £39.99, now £31.98 SMILOVII 24V Cordless Strimmer: Was £89.99, now £42.49 Kouric Neck Fan: Was £35.98, now £29.98 Russell Hobbs Handheld Clothes Steamer: Was £59.99, now £41.99 Ailemei Direct Cooling Blanket: Was £27.99, now £22.79 La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+: Was £19.68, now £12.56 Char-Broil Gas BBQ: Was £529.99, now £377.99 CNMTCCO 100FT Garden Hose Pipe Expandable: Was £16.99, now £11.99 When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon has just announced that its Prime Day 2025 sale will kick off at 00:01 on Tuesday 8 July and run until 23:59 on Friday 11 July – running over four days for the first time ever. This gives shoppers even longer to shop for a bargain, although be aware that prices may change, or deals may end early, over this period. What will be included in the Amazon Prime Day 2025 sale? We don't know yet exactly which products will be included in Amazon Prime Day 2025, but if previous sales are anything go by, expect huge savings across pretty much every category: homeware, tech, beauty, gardening, fashion and more. As we're reaching the height of summer, we reckon there'll be loads of offers on warm weather essentials, such as fans, sun creams and gardening tools – maybe of which you'll find already on sale above. How do I access these deals? To shop these deals when they launch you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member. Membership costs £8.99 and gets your loads of perks, including next day delivery on thousands of items, plus access to Prime Video, where you can watch hit TV shows such as Clarkson's Farm and The Boys. If you're not yet a member, you can sign up here for a 30-day free trial. Don't forget that Amazon isn't the only place where you'll find a great deal this summer. Lookfantastic and Boots always run plenty of offers on beauty (including the super-popular Boots £10 Tuesday), Boden is currently running a huge sale, and Yimbly, the shopping platform owned by The Mirror's parent company, has lots of garden furniture at excellent prices.
