No mystery scores.
A ten-point rating should tell you something useful. Here is what we look for and how products earn—or lose—points.
Real use comes before the verdict.
We focus on the details that affect ownership, not just what appears on a specification sheet.
Start with the job
We define what a product needs to achieve, who it is for and the conditions in which it should work.
Use it in a real home
Testing covers setup, everyday controls, noise, storage, cleaning and the irritations that only emerge with use.
Measure meaningful performance
Measurements vary by product: temperature change, noise, energy use, battery life, capacity or task completion.
Score it out of ten
Performance, usability, build quality and value inform the final score. Five means average; eight is an excellent recommendation; ten is genuinely exceptional.
Keep the drawbacks visible
Every recommendation should explain who ought to avoid it. Affiliate relationships never change a score.