Every product we review goes through a consistent testing process so that scores are comparable across a category. Here is how it works.

Smartphones and tablets

We use each phone as our primary device for at least one week. Battery life is measured with a standardized web-browsing and video loop at 200 nits, and cameras are tested in daylight, low light and portrait scenarios against the leading rivals.

Laptops

Laptops run a suite of synthetic benchmarks (Geekbench, Cinebench, 3DMark) plus real-world tasks such as exporting a 4K video and compiling code. Display brightness and color accuracy are measured with a colorimeter.

Audio

Headphones and speakers are evaluated by at least two reviewers across genres, with active noise cancellation measured in a simulated airplane cabin and busy café environment.

Home and kitchen

Appliances are used in real homes for everyday cooking and cleaning. We record cooking times, noise levels and energy use, and note how easy each product is to clean and maintain.

Scoring

Products are scored out of 10. A score of 9 or higher earns our Editor’s Choice badge and means we would recommend it without hesitation.