Our method for hardware testing at SmartRead
Product reviews may be quite difficult, particularly in the spec-driven, fast-paced world of mobile games and technology. A single product could serve a small number of people flawlessly or enough for a larger audience. At SmartRead, we follow a rigorous evaluation process for all of our products, and we would want to share it with you so that you can rely on and comprehend our recommendations.
Our evaluation procedure has been refined after many years of use.The best gaming phones, portable gaming consoles (such as Nintendo Switch consoles), tablets, headphones, controllers, and other accessories are all put to the test by our staff of writers and regular reviewers.
How phones are tested by SmartRead
At SmartRead, we evaluate phones in a straightforward manner by putting them to heavy use in real life and testing their performance with a ton of the best mobile games.Since this is a mobile gaming website, our primary focus is gameplay, but we'll also examine the overall features and functionality of phones. We often test with demanding apps like Honkai Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Diablo Immortal, PUBG Mobile, and others since we constantly aim to push the phone to its limits.
A phone review should include a number of important topics, including performance, display, battery life, specifications, software, features, design, and cameras. For the most part, that's also in declining order: although cameras are less important to die-hard mobile gaming players, performance is what matters most to us.
But sometimes, various phone models call for various kinds of testing. For instance, the goods on our list of the top rugged phones aren't the greatest, but that's to be expected given that their focus is more on durability than performance. In other words, we focus on a phone's features and determine if they justify the cost.
We test out a phone's functions, use it as our daily driver, and see how well it fits into our life based on how much time we spend with it. We are honest in our criticism, and we will never endorse a phone with glaring defects.
We often choose not to provide Geekbench results in our assessments, even if some companies do so to clarify processing and CPU power. These numbers don't really tell you anything about how a phone could feel and work unless you know a lot about smartphone technology. Instead, we focus on our own experiences with the phone and test it using demanding games, streaming media, and other techniques.
We often collaborate with manufacturers to get smartphones for evaluation.All phones are lent out and are either returned or stored for comparative purposes only. When we don't have enough time, we let you know in the title. Take a look at our Xiaomi 13 Pro review, for instance.
How to test handheld consoles using SmartRead
We once again concentrate on five important factors when evaluating the best portable gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck: performance, display, build quality, battery life, and games library. The latter is often the most important factor; if a gadget doesn't have any enjoyable games, it becomes difficult to suggest it.
In light of the growing popularity of portable computers, we also examine user experience. Comparing the user experiences of the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck to those of the smaller firms entering other markets, they are both rather frictionless.
We test as many different games as we can for extended play sessions keeping those aspects in mind. Since our concentration is on portable devices, we also play games while on the road to test how they perform in situations when there are obstacles like glare and poor internet.
We usually disregard benchmarks since they are even less helpful for portable gaming devices (a Nintendo Switch's Geekbench score is almost pointless). With so many custom chipsets available, handhelds may be astutely tailored to the libraries they utilize.
We also work with manufacturers to get consoles for evaluation; however, this is done on a loan basis, and all consoles are either maintained for use in future comparative articles or returned after. We never get payment for our evaluations, and we'll never rig a product's rating. Our viewpoint is always impartial.
How SmartRead evaluates evaluated
It's not the same as reviewing gaming phones or portable consoles since, for example, you can't really benchmark a Nintendo Switch headset. Reviews of accessories are so often a bit more subjective. Fortunately, there are still verifiable facts available.
We provide a more intimate look at using the device in daily life along with these important details: features, costs, build quality, and simplicity of use. For instance, we state up front what the reviewer looks for in a gaming headset in our EPOS H3PRO Hybrid review.
Even while we may all agree that certain headphones sound better than others, we can't always agree on that. (For example, some people swear by AirPod Pros, yet any audiophile would laugh at them).
Again, we often engage with manufacturers to get accessories for evaluation; however, this is done on a loan basis, and all samples are either retained for use in comparative articles down the road or returned after use.
All in all, we at SmartRead strive to provide reviews that are reliable, comparable, and enlightening. We evaluate hundreds of gaming and smartphone goods so you don't have to, and we utilize our in-depth industry experience to assist you in making sense of the options. We want you to have a clear understanding of what to anticipate from a product and to learn about the items we spend time with. In this manner, you may use our tips to help you make a selection and ensure that the product you choose will meet your demands.
View our testing process in action with our Xiaomi 14 review, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, and Steam Deck OLED review.