How we test hardware

Short version

We use it like you would, write down what stands out, grab a few helpful numbers, and share photos you can zoom. That is it :). We test for daily usage first, then add a few quick checks to get hard, quantifiable data like temperature, noise level, power usage, and speeds. The goal is simple: tell you what it is like to live with the product and give you a few numbers that matter.

Real use on our desks

We drop the dock, monitor, lamp, or gadget into our own setup and daily drive it for a few days. That means meetings, edits, file copies, gaming breaks, and sleep and wake on both Windows and macOS when relevant. If something annoys us during normal work, it goes into the review.

Photos you can zoom

After living with the product we do a clean photoshoot so you can inspect details in high resolution. Ports, labels, stands, vents, cable paths, and real scale on a desk. If you want to check something we did not highlight, you can usually spot it in the gallery.

Quick measurements that help decisions

We are not a standards lab. We keep it practical and repeatable, with the same laptops, cables, and apps we use every day. If a product needs special steps or a firmware update to behave, we say so.

• Power and heat: we note charge rate with a simple power meter and take a quick thermal photo when heat matters
• Speed: fast file copy to check USB or storage performance, and a short network run for ethernet ports
• Noise: a short note on coil whine or fan noise in a quiet room
• Display basics for monitors and USB-C displays: resolution and refresh, text clarity feel, brightness feel, and any VRR or HDR quirks we hit
• Comfort and setup: stand adjust, ports placement, cable reach, OSD or app friction, and small things that make daily use better or worse

What us to review your product?

Ping us on the contact page. If you represent a brand and want to submit a sample, email our reviews inbox.

Our Review Team