How We Test

Our testing methodology is straightforward: we use the products in the situations our readers use them, over enough time to find the problems that don't show up in a 30-minute demo.

Purchase Policy

We purchase the products we review wherever possible. This eliminates any pressure from manufacturers and ensures we're testing the same unit you'd receive — not a pre-production sample tuned for press demos.

When manufacturers provide units for review, we disclose this clearly with a "Sponsored Review" label at the top of the article. We apply the same testing standards regardless of how a unit was obtained.

Testing Duration

Most consumer electronics reviews in the industry are based on a few days of use. We disagree with this approach. Problems with battery degradation, software updates that change behavior, and long-term comfort issues don't surface in a weekend of use.

• Earbuds and headphones: Minimum 4 weeks of daily use across multiple use cases
• Keyboards and mice: Minimum 6 weeks; we track any developing issues with wrist comfort, key stiction, or build quality degradation
• Smart home devices: Minimum 8 weeks; reliability over time is the entire point
• Accessories (chargers, cables, hubs): Minimum 2 weeks plus stress testing at rated wattage

Our Scoring System

We score products on a 1–10 scale based on four weighted criteria:

• Performance (40%): Does it do the job it's designed for, well?
• Build Quality (25%): Will it last? Does it feel like the price it costs?
• Value (25%): Is this the right thing to spend your money on at this price point?
• Software & Support (10%): Does the companion app work? Does the manufacturer provide updates?

Scores above 8.5 are "we'd buy this ourselves." Scores above 9.0 are rare and represent products we consider class-leading. We don't score advisory articles (buying guides, budget roundups, security guides) — only individual product reviews.

Affiliate Links & Independence

Practical Tech earns commissions from affiliate links. We are transparent about this. The commission we earn on a product has zero influence on whether we recommend it or how highly we score it. If the $35 product beats the $199 product, we say the $35 product wins — even if that costs us $40 in lost commission per reader.

We also actively link to better alternatives when they exist, including products that aren't in our affiliate programs. The goal is useful recommendations, not maximum commission.

See our Affiliate Disclosure for the full policy.

Corrections

When we're wrong — about a spec, a price, a product comparison — we correct it and note the correction at the bottom of the article. We don't quietly edit articles and pretend the error didn't happen. Use our contact form to report errors.