Reviews Policy Guidelines

How Engadget Approaches Reviews

At Engadget, we take reviews seriously. Our goal is to provide a fair, balanced, and informative critique, whether we're reviewing a smartphone or a smart home, and give readers an accurate representation of what they can expect from each product. With no shortage of ways to spend your money on new technology, we want to help readers make informed decisions on the value of each product, at any given price point.

We cover a wide range of technology products, with preference given to unique features and emerging technologies. Our reviewers will always cover the latest models from Apple and Samsung, but we also strive to unearth and elevate niche products worthy of consumer attention. We judge each product based on real-world experience, and — except where clearly noted — all Engadget product reviews are based on market-ready products, not pre-release prototypes. Given the speed at which new products are released and existing products updated, it's important to remember that our review is a snapshot and that the competitive landscape could change over time.

We provide honest and thorough assessments of every product we review, considering both the good and bad aspects. While the criteria for what makes a successful product will vary, Engadget's goal is always to indicate its overall quality and value.

Review Philosophy

Engadget reviews typically include a mix of quantitative and qualitative testing. We run different benchmarks depending on the type of product we're testing, but we always approach our reviews as consumers because we are consumers. We're early adopters, tinkerers and generally tech-obsessed. And while we definitely spend more time than most with things like smartphones, laptops, and robot vacuums, we still have questions when a new device comes across our desks: Does it deliver on all of its promises? Is it better than the next best thing out right now? Who should buy it or, more importantly, is it worth buying at all?

In order to answer questions like that, we aim to use the products we review as if they were our own. For example, we might carry a smartphone everywhere for days, taking selfies, playing games, and annoying coworkers in Slack; or we'll write a laptop review on that machine to see how the keyboard holds up over extended typing sessions. For things like synths and samplers, we use them for as long as we can so we can judge how usable the device is, both for seasoned creators and novices, and we make note of build quality, versatility and overall value.

We know that gadgets don't exist in a vacuum, so placing them into context is just as important as judging their performance and features. That involves not only comparing a device to its direct competitors, but also thinking critically about who would get the most use out of it and if the value it provides justifies its price. No gadget is perfect, but one might be perfect for your specific needs.

Different Engadget reviewers may have very different opinions about a particular product, depending on personal preferences, experiences, or tastes. It's important to remember that a review reflects just one person's opinion, and one moment in time.

Scoring

We rate products on a 1-100 scale, and the final score is chosen by our editorial team with no outside input. Each product's score is agreed upon by the reviewer and their editor, sometimes with advice from team members that have expertise in the area.

What our scores mean

0-29: An awful product that should be avoided. You'll be sorry.
30-49: A poor product that's more likely to be frustrating than useful.
50-54: A disappointing product with a lot of problems.
55-59: It might work in a pinch, but you wouldn't want to use it regularly.
60-64: A forgettable product. It isn't bad, exactly, but also doesn't do anything particularly well.
65-69: It has some redeeming qualities, but you could do better.
70-74: A dependable product that doesn't stand out from the competition or is very niche in appeal.
75-79: A very good product that falls just short of greatness, but we can still heartily endorse.

Recommended (80-89)

80-84: There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. Easy to recommend to most shoppers.
85-89: An all-around great product that's among the best in its category. You'll almost certainly be happy.

Editors' Choice (90-100)

90-94: The best in its category. We highly recommend it.
95-99: An important, nearly flawless product that raises the bar for the rest of the tech industry.
100: A gadget unicorn.

Unscored Reviews

Our review scoring system is designed for the products core to Engadget's coverage. From time to time, you will see reviews with no score on Engadget. We do not numerically rate works of art like movies or games; our media reviews instead comprise a mix of opinion, criticism and analysis. When we review software, cars and other products outside of the typical consumer electronics market, we do not apply a score.

Embargoes and Review Units

We choose which products to review independent of our parent company or advertisers. Review units are usually provided by companies to Engadget free of charge. In most cases, at the end of our review period, hardware is returned to the company. Occasionally we may hold onto units for long-term testing, but under no circumstances do they become a reviewer's personal property. Reselling of review units is strictly prohibited.

We believe in transparency. While Engadget's reviews are typically based on products supplied by manufacturers, as is the standard practice in the industry, our opinions and conclusions are independent. Where applicable, we accept early products so that we can give as thorough and informative a review as possible.

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