How We Test and Score

How GearLab evaluates products

GearLab articles use a practical review framework built around real buying decisions, not spec sheets alone.

  • Use case fit: who the product is actually best for.
  • Core specs: battery life, connectivity, size, compatibility, and feature limits.
  • Real-world setup: what changes when the product is used at a desk, in a car, while traveling, or at home.
  • Drawbacks: every recommendation should include meaningful downsides.
  • Value: whether the product makes sense at its usual price range.

When a GearLab Score appears, it is an editorial score based on this framework, not a lab measurement.