How we test and score

Setup

We unbox and assemble every product ourselves, with the tools in the box where possible, and note how long it takes and what the manual leaves out.

Living with it

We train on each product over several weeks in a real room. We note noise at a steady pace, wobble under load, how far it creeps on the floor, and what it is like to fold, move and store.

For connected equipment we use the app and any subscription the maker sells, and we say what still works if you stop paying.

Footprint

We measure the working and stored size with a tape, including the clearance you need around it, and compare that with the maker's figures.

The score

Scores run from 0 to 10 with one decimal. 9.0 and above: best in its class. 8.0 to 8.9: recommended, our line for putting it in our own homes. 6.0 to 7.9: good for some rooms and budgets, with caveats. Below 6.0: a better buy exists, and the review names it.

Price is part of the score. A machine that is slightly better than a rival at twice the price does not outscore it.

Updates

We keep using equipment after a review is published. If something wears out, a price changes or a firmware update changes the product, we update the review and, where needed, the score.