Our testing methodology
Every verdict is earned, not assumed
No press kits. No spec sheet paraphrasing. Every product goes through a structured test before a score is published.Select a category below to see its testing process and scoring breakdown.
Headset testing — minimum 2 weeks per product
Tested across a competitive FPS (Valorant/CS2), open-world (Cyberpunk 2077), and mixed music genres. Bass, mids, highs, soundstage width, and positional accuracy all noted.
2+ hour continuous sessions. Clamping force, ear cup depth, headband padding, glasses compatibility, and heat buildup tracked. Every headset weighed on a kitchen scale.
Recorded in a quiet room, with fan noise, and with game audio playing. Tested on Discord and in-game comms. Noise rejection described in detail.
Audio at 50% volume until shutdown for real battery life. Wireless range tested in a real home. Dropout and latency checked in competitive games.
Headband flexed, ear cups extended, cable quality assessed. Anything that creaks or looks fragile is noted.
Scoring weights
Mouse testing — minimum 3 weeks per product
Tested on hard pad, cloth pad, and bare desk. Spin-out threshold, jitter at high DPI, and cross-surface consistency recorded.
Palm, claw, and fingertip grip compatibility. Button placement, side button reach, and scroll wheel feel assessed.
Every mouse weighed on a kitchen scale — published regardless of manufacturer claims.
Official software tested for intuitiveness and onboard memory. Noted if software is required for basic use.
Laptop testing — minimum 4 weeks per product
3DMark Time Spy · Cinebench R24 · CrystalDiskMark · PCMark 10. Raw scores published, not summaries.
Cyberpunk 2077 (demanding) and Valorant (competitive) at native resolution. Max and optimised settings both recorded.
30-minute stress test. Keyboard deck, underside, and exhaust measured with an IR thermometer.
Video at 50% brightness to shutdown, plus a separate in-game drain test for real-world estimates.
Prebuilt PC testing
Same suite as laptops. RAM XMP/EXPO verified out of the box — many prebuilts ship with XMP disabled.
Case opened. Cable management, component layout, cooling, and upgrade accessibility photographed and assessed.
30-minute stress test. CPU and GPU temps logged. Noise at full load noted.
Review units: When a brand provides a product for free, this is disclosed at the top of the review. It does not affect scores or verdicts.