Hands-on review
A hands-on review means the product was in our possession and used. It records what was tested, for how long, with what configuration, and what the machine was like over time — thermals over hours rather than minutes, update behaviour, battery drift, noise.
Research-based analysis
A research-based assessment draws on published specifications, vendor documentation and independent third-party testing. It is labelled as such and never claims first-hand measurements. This label appears in the article, not only in a footnote.
How we get products
Review units are bought or loaned. Loaned units are returned or purchased at the end of the review, and the arrangement is disclosed in the article. No vendor sees a review before publication, and no vendor gets copy approval, changes to a verdict, or advance notice of a score.
What we do not accept
- Payment for a review, a placement, a score or a position in a ranking.
- Conditions attached to a loan unit.
- Affiliate arrangements that are not disclosed in the article.
Comparisons and rankings
Where an article ranks products, services or vendors, the selection criteria are published in the article, and any commercial relationship with a listed entity is disclosed in the section where it appears.