HOW WE TEST HARDWARE.
A good score should mean something. Our reviews start with the product in use, a recorded test setup and the limitations that matter to buyers. These are the standards we work towards across PC components, displays, controllers, peripherals and creator equipment.
Visual disclosure: the four hardware product images above are illustrative and sourced from our editorial archive, not photographs of the current test room. The miniature is our original painting photography. Each review identifies its image sources separately.
Evidence before adjectives.
Identify the exact product
Record the model, variant, firmware, connectivity, included accessories, current UK price and whether the product was purchased, loaned or supplied.
Document the test environment
Record relevant system, console, display, software, drivers and game versions. A comparison is only useful when readers know the conditions.
Use it in realistic conditions
Test ordinary gaming, work or content creation alongside repeatable checks appropriate to the category. Extended-use verdicts should explain the length and nature of testing.
Publish a defensible verdict
Explain what works, what does not, who the product suits, how it compares with alternatives and the basis for any 1–100 score. Unfinished testing remains unscored.
The right test for the right equipment.
Gaming monitors
Resolution, refresh rate, supported modes, ergonomics, connectivity, perceived motion clarity, HDR implementation, colour and daily use. Objective brightness or colour-accuracy figures are only reported when measured with suitable equipment.
Console and PC controllers
Platform compatibility, pairing, layout, trigger and stick feel, remapping, wireless stability, battery behaviour, comfort and real-game response. Instrumented latency and drift data are only reported when measured.
Keyboards and mice
Switch feel, keycap and chassis quality, input behaviour, software, wireless reliability, comfort, noise and signs of wear during longer use.
Headsets, microphones and speakers
Usability across supported devices, speech clarity, background noise, isolation, tonal balance, positioning and connection options, with recordings or comparisons where practical.
PCs and components
Exact CPU/GPU/RAM/storage, driver and game versions, settings, average frame rates, frame pacing, 1% lows, heat and noise where measurement is possible. Avoid direct comparisons from mismatched settings.
The Painting Desk
Setup, finish, cleaning, longevity, ergonomics, compatibility and value during an actual miniature project. Airbrush testing requires appropriate compressor and ventilation.
Rules that apply to every verdict.
- Hands-on means hands-on. A press release, official photo or specification list cannot be described as independent testing.
- Every image has a source. Our own photographs are labelled as original; manufacturer imagery is identified as illustrative, with permission and source confirmed before use. We do not use AI-generated product photography.
- Numbers need a method. We distinguish measured performance, software-reported readings and subjective experience. We do not invent benchmark results or imply we own instruments we do not have.
- Scores are independent. Free samples, review loans, affiliate links and sponsored placements are disclosed. They cannot purchase a verdict or score.
- Previews are not reviews. Early looks, unboxing and news remain unscored until sufficient hands-on testing supports a verdict.
- Corrections stay visible. Material factual or testing corrections should be dated and explained rather than silently changing a conclusion.