How we test and score products

Every verdict on this site comes from using the product, not from reading its spec sheet. This page explains how we do that, how our scores work and how we keep reviews honest over time.

We test in Indian conditions

A product has to work in an Indian home, not just in a showroom. So we use products the way you would, in the conditions you live with.

Power. We plug into ordinary household wiring. Where voltage swings and power cuts are part of life, we note how a product copes: whether it restarts on its own, loses its settings or needs a stabiliser.
Water. Hard water leaves scale and changes how purifiers, kettles, geysers and washing machines perform over time. We pay attention to it.
Cooking. Kitchen appliances get Indian cooking: idli and dosa batter, dry masalas, chutneys, rotis and long pressure-cooked meals.
Heat and dust. Hot summers and dusty homes are hard on motors, batteries and screens. We watch for overheating and wear.

We use products long enough to know them

We don’t give verdicts on first impressions. A product that impresses on day one can annoy you by week three.

How long we test depends on the product. A phone needs everyday use as someone’s main phone. An air conditioner needs hot weather. Every review states how long we used the product, so you can judge for yourself.

How our scores work

Each review has an overall score out of 10, given to one decimal place.

Subscores

Alongside the overall score, we score the things that matter most in that category. For a mixer grinder that might be performance, noise, build quality and value. For a phone it might include battery, display and camera. Where it matters, we also score after-sales: warranty terms and how easy it is to get service.

The overall score

The overall score is our judgement of the product as a whole, informed by the subscores. It is not a simple average. A serious flaw in the thing a product is bought for can pull the overall score down more than the maths would suggest.

Scores compare a product with others in the same category at the time of review. An 8 for a mixer grinder and an 8 for a laptop are not directly comparable.

What the scores mean

Every score also gets a letter grade, so you can compare products at a glance. The grade comes straight from the score. We never set it separately, and we always show the score next to it.

Score	Grade	What it means
9.5 to 10	A+	Outstanding
9.0 to 9.4	A	Outstanding
8.5 to 8.9	A−	Excellent
8.0 to 8.4	B+	Excellent
7.5 to 7.9	B	Good
7.0 to 7.4	B−	Good
6.0 to 6.9	C	Fair
5.0 to 5.9	D	Not recommended
Below 5.0	F	Not recommended

How we keep reviews up to date

Prices change, brands revise products and better models come out. A review that was right last year can be wrong today.

When a price changes enough to affect value for money, we update the review and, if needed, the score.
When a brand changes a product in a way that matters, we test again before changing our verdict.
When a product is discontinued or replaced, we say so on the review.
Every review shows the date it was last updated.

Prices on our pages are a guide, checked on the date shown. We don’t display Amazon prices; we link you to Amazon.in to check the current price.

Where our review units come from

We buy most products at retail price. When a brand lends a unit, we say so at the top of the review. If a brand gives us a product, we disclose that too.

How we got a product never changes how we test it or what we say. Brands that lend us products don’t see the review before it is published. Our editorial policy covers this in more detail.