Windows Central reviews many products every year, but we have one guiding principle throughout them all: We bring you honest, independent, and trustworthy advice on the tech worth buying.
We take this goal very seriously, putting every product through its paces before publishing any review. Throughout the review process, we go beyond just doing benchmarks, using the products day-in and day-out in the way our readers will. This process allows space for our reviewers to pick out details that others may miss, communicating what's important to our readers before they make the key decision on whether or not to buy a product.
We also leverage the wealth of knowledge our reviewers bring to the table in the Windows and PC space to offer alternatives in our reviews. If a reader decides a product isn't quite for them, we will always suggest alternate picks that differentiate themselves within the same space.
Our review team is made up of experts in their coverage areas, ensuring that you get the technical know-how you expect from Windows Central. But they're also the very same people we're writing our reviews for: those who are into keeping up with the latest and greatest in the PC space and accessories.
All of this is backed up by our parent company, Future Publishing. As one of the largest publishers in the world, being a part of Future affords Windows Central the ability to work truly independently without concern for currying favor with our reviews.
You can visit our About Us page for more about the team that makes up Windows Central.
Our promise to our readers
- We are never compensated for reviewing or recommending products. Ever. Sponsored posts will always be clearly marked as such.
- We will never shy away from being critical of products, services, apps, or anything we review. We view bad reviews as just as important as good ones.
- We use and test every product we recommend or review. Our competitors can't say the same, and we want to stand out because of that. If we cannot test a product for whatever reason, we adhere to a strict process for researching it with multiple trusted sources.
- We take selecting what to review seriously. We will always aim to review what you, the audience, want to see. And we know our audience because we are our audience.
- If you feel we haven't lived up to our promise, we want to know how to improve. Please reach out directly to our editor-in-chief, Daniel Rubino. He reads every message our readers send.
Our review scoring system
Windows Central rates every product we review based on a star rating scale. One star is the lowest rating, while five stars is the highest. Objective performance data is combined with the writer's subjective experience and the context of the overall product ecosystem to come up with this score.
- 1-1.5 stars: We cannot recommend this product, period. Save your money!
- 2-2.5 stars: We don't recommend you buy this product, but it does have some redeeming qualities that may be attractive to some. We often advocate waiting for an update or a new release before buying something with this rating.
- 3-3.5 stars: Products with this rating are average, with an even spread of pros and cons. We may not be stoked about this product, but it's worth considering and may be just what someone wants.
- 4-4.5 stars: Reviews with this score are for products that we feel are above average and are definitely worth your time to consider. These products will often earn our Recommended award (more information below).
- Five stars: The best of the best. This score is reserved for the most standout products in their category for quality and experience. You can be sure that your money will be well-spent with these products, and they will generally receive our Best award, as well.
Windows Central's awards, explained
The Best
Our Best award is reserved solely for the absolute best products in a given category. These are products that we would happily use every day and would recommend to our friends and family without hesitation. However, even if a product receives this award, you can always expect us to point out potential flaws and shortcomings. Nothing is perfect!
Recommended
Our Recommended award goes to products we feel are worthy of consideration. While these products might not be the absolute cream of the crop in their category, we generally feel confident endorsing them. You can expect these to be reliable, quality products, but we'll always highlight shortcomings or concerns alongside the recommendation.
Must Play
For games, we give the Must Play award for the experiences that truly stand out. We often put dozens of hours into reviewing games, and we want to ensure they're also worth your time. If you see this badge accompanying one of our game reviews, you know we've put our total weight behind recommending you give it your time.
Windows Central's reviews team
Windows Central's reviews team has decades of combined experience reviewing the latest tech in the PC space and beyond. This wealth of knowledge informs every review we publish. Each writer jumps into every review with the same excitement and skepticism that our audience shares and expects, ensuring you get the best advice possible.
Daniel Rubino has been involved in the Windows and PC space for over a decade and is a leading figure in the community. He has also written hundreds of laptop reviews. He focuses mostly on new form factors, such as Windows on Arm, Ultrabooks, and business laptops.
Zachary Boddy has been reviewing gaming hardware for years and has recently focused heavily on laptops, desktop PCs, and accessories.
Rebecca Spear is a gamer who loves PCs. She reviews many of the latest gaming laptops and is our expert on handheld gaming devices like Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and the Lenovo Legion Go.
Ben Wilson leads on all things laptops and niche accessories, such as fancy steering wheels for modern sims, flight joysticks, ambient RGB lighting, and microphones.
Senior editor Zac Bowden leads the charge on Windows reviews with the kind of expertise you expect from someone who has been following Microsoft and Windows for more than 10 years.
Cale Hunt is our go-to writer with nearly a decade of experience on topics such as Thunderbolt docks, cables, laptops, PC builds, and the nitty-gritty of modern PCs, resulting in hundreds of articles, including comparisons and breakdowns.
Jez Corden is one of the leading personalities in the Xbox community and has been immersed in the Xbox ecosystem, from hardware to games, for decades.
Several contributors, including Brendan Lowry and Samuel Tolbert, regularly review Windows Central products and support our core team.
