How We Test
Our review and testing methodology - how TechSpecs evaluates devices, scores them, and reaches a verdict you can trust.
Last updated: June 2026
A score only means something if you know how it was reached.
This page explains exactly how TechSpecs evaluates the products we review - the criteria we weigh, the process we follow, and what each number on our scale actually means - so you can read every verdict with full context. It works hand in hand with our editorial policy.
What every review covers
Every device is judged against the same six pillars - the things that actually shape what it’s like to own, weighted to suit the category.
Design & build
Materials, fit and finish, ergonomics, and how the device actually holds up to everyday handling - not just how it photographs.
Performance
Real-world speed and responsiveness for the tasks the device is bought to do. Benchmarks support our judgement; they never replace it.
Display, audio & core experience
The qualities that define the category - a phone's screen, a laptop's keyboard, headphones' sound - measured and judged in use.
Battery & efficiency
How long it lasts through a normal day, how quickly it charges, and whether the numbers on the box hold up away from the lab.
Software & support
The experience over months, not minutes - software polish, the update commitment, and how long the device stays current.
Value
Price against the competition and against what you actually get. A great product at the wrong price is a different verdict.
Our testing process
Four steps stand between a product arriving and a published verdict - the same four, every time, for every device.
Step 1. Real-world use
We live with a device through its normal workload - the apps, the commute, the all-day carry - rather than relying on synthetic figures alone. The verdict reflects ownership, not a spec sheet.
Step 2. Like-for-like comparison
Every device is tested against the most relevant alternatives at the same price, so a score means the same thing across the whole category and across time.
Step 3. Spec verification
Stated specifications are checked against the manufacturer and independent listings. Where claims and reality diverge, we say so plainly in the review.
Step 4. Consistency over time
The same criteria apply to every product, and we revisit older reviews as software matures and prices shift - so comparisons stay fair.
How we score
Every review lands on a single number out of ten - but the number is shorthand for a recommendation, never the whole story.
Avoid
1 – 4
Good
5 – 7
Great
8 – 10
Avoid
1 – 4Significant flaws that affect everyday use, or a price that the experience simply doesn't justify. Look elsewhere.
Good
5 – 7A solid, recommendable product with clear trade-offs. Right for many buyers once you know where the compromises land.
Great
8 – 10Best-in-class for its price and purpose. Few meaningful weaknesses, and an easy recommendation for the buyers it's built for.
A score weighs the six criteria above against what the device costs and who it’s for. That’s why an outstanding budget product and an outstanding flagship can both earn top marks for completely different buyers - we score value, not just hardware. Whatever the number, every review ends with a plain-language verdict: who it’s for, who should skip it, and the best alternatives at the same price.
Independence, guaranteed
Review units are evaluated purely on merit. We never accept payment for a review or for a particular score, and advertising or affiliate relationships have no bearing on a verdict. When a manufacturer loans us a device for testing, that loan changes nothing about our assessment - the unit goes through the exact same process as one we bought ourselves, and goes back when we’re done.
Updates & re-reviews
A product can change after launch - a software update fixes a flaw, a price cut shifts the value equation, a new rival raises the bar. When any of that materially affects our verdict, we revisit the review, adjust the score if needed, and note exactly what changed and when. How we handle those edits is covered by our corrections policy.
Think we got it wrong?
If our testing missed something, or you simply disagree with a verdict, we want to hear it. Challenges make the next review sharper - reach the team and tell us where we went wrong.