Get up to speed on an unfamiliar product with Perplexity before you buy

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ToolPerplexity

A MakeUseOf writer who knew little about coffee machines asked Perplexity to explain the different types, then to list the best drip machines on Amazon, and to pull together pros and cons from reviews across the web, before checking verified buyer reviews himself.

Prompt to copy
I know very little about [PRODUCT TYPE, E.G. COFFEE MACHINES]. Explain the main types in plain English, who each suits and rough price ranges in [COUNTRY]. I care most about [PRIORITIES]. Then shortlist [NUMBER] well-reviewed models of the type that fits me, with pros and cons from several review sources, and link each source.

Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.

How to try it

  1. Start broad: ask what types exist and which suits your needs before looking at specific models.
  2. Ask for a shortlist with pros and cons pulled from several reviews, with links.
  3. Open the links and read verified buyer reviews before you buy; prices and stock change quickly.

More shopping use cases

Research a new fridge or vacuum with Perplexity

One shopper won't buy a fridge, oven or vacuum without asking Perplexity first, because it scans dozens of reviews and sums them up in seconds. He warns it sometimes makes up sources, so important details need checking.

Find up-to-date gift ideas with Grok’s web search

Looking for birthday gift ideas, one user found ChatGPT's suggestions were based on older results, while Grok's web search came back with more relevant, current ideas.

Source: X @pelaseyed

Sanity-check Black Friday deals with Perplexity

Which? asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for the best Black Friday air fryer deals. Only Perplexity found the experts' top pick and a working discount code, but it misquoted the deal price, so Which? suggests AI as a starting point, not the final word.

Source: Which?

Reference: MakeUseOf