Finder review methodology

Here's how we break down the scores for our hands-on product reviews.

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By

Sarah Brandon

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Here at Finder, our team of experienced reviewers spends hours rigorously testing products to determine an overall score as well as individual scores for design and performance. Our reviewers rate each category out of five, with zero being the lowest possible score.

This is how our reviewers determine each score:

Design

To determine the design score, we consider the following:

  • Aesthetics. How does the product look?
  • Size and weight. How heavy and bulky is it? Is it portable?
  • Materials. What is it made of? Does it feel cheap or high quality?
  • Functionality. Is the design functional? Does it make the product easier or harder to use? What physical controls does it have?
  • Durability. Does it have a waterproof rating? Is it dustproof? Is it kid-friendly?
  • Set-up. What's included in the box? How easy is it to set up?
  • Display. Is there a screen? How big is it? How vibrant are the colours? Can you see it clearly in all lighting conditions?

Performance

To determine the performance score, we consider the following:

  • Usability. Is it easy to use? Does the product live up to expectations? Is there anything about the product that doesn't work as expected?
  • Features. Are all features accessible? Do they work as described? Is the product missing anything you'd expect to see?
  • Smart features. Does the product have smart capability?
  • App. Is there an app? If so, how easy is it to navigate and use? Is there anything missing from the app that you'd expect to see?

With certain products, such as mobile phones and tablets, the performance score can be further broken down into scores for battery life and camera(s).

Overall score

To determine the overall score, we consider the scores for design and performance, the price and how it compares to other available products. For example, a coffee machine could have high scores for design and performance, but an exorbitant price tag might bring down the overall score.

When coming up with the overall score, we consider the following:

  • Our overall impression of the product
  • Value for money
  • Design
  • Performance
  • Camera and battery life (if relevant)
  • How it compares to the rest of the market

Finder expertise

Our team of journalists has more than 40 combined years of experience reviewing products. While our scores reflect the value we give each product, there is a level of subjectivity to each review. If your experience with a product differs from ours, we'd love to hear from you.

We review products as we get them. For some products, software updates and improvements can occur after the time of the review, changing the performance of the product. When possible, we aim to reflect these updates in our reviews.

Finder values its editorial independence, basing all review scores on objective analysis independent of commercial relationships. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some of the links on our site. Learn more about why you can trust our guides and how we make money.

For specific review breakdowns, check out more product methodologies below:

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Former Editor

Sarah Brandon was an editor at Finder. She has a degree in Psychology from New York University and loves learning about why people do what they do. Sarah has researched and written about a wide range of topics, from pool fences to private jets to personal loans. But no matter the subject, her number one priority is figuring out what information our readers need to make the best decisions. See full bio

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