TrueRated rates products the way they perform after the unboxing video ends. We publish the score, the misses, and the reason a popular model sometimes should not win.
Our Scoring Rules
A true rating has to hold up when a reader checks the notes. That is why every TrueRated score includes what we measured, what we could not verify, and where a product fell short of its own claims.
We would rather publish fewer lists than pad a ranking. If a category does not have five products worth buying, we do not invent three more.
Three steps. No mystery math. No silent upgrades for partners.
We start with what the product promises — battery life, suction, heat, noise — and run it until the claim either holds or breaks.
Missing accessories, awkward apps, and week-two failures count. A high launch score that ignores those gaps is not a true rating.
Every winner has a runner-up and a “not for you if…” note. Readers should know who should skip the pick, not just who should buy it.
Air fryers, blenders, and coffee gear scored on cleanup, noise, and whether they actually beat a simpler tool.
Vacuums, mops, and air tools rated on pickup, filter hassle, and how they handle real floors — not showroom tile.
Chargers, earbuds, and smart-home extras scored for setup friction and whether they stay useful after week one.
If a product cannot pass all four, it does not sit at the top of a TrueRated list.
We log what we can measure. Unverified marketing language stays out of the score.
Charging, emptying, pairing, and cleaning count as much as peak performance.
A cheaper product can outscore a premium one. Extra spend has to buy a better result.
We weigh long-term owner reports against our bench notes before a ranking goes live.
"TrueRated is the only site that listed what a blender could not do. That paragraph saved me a return."
— Dana K., Verified Reader"I trust a score more when the runner-up is explained. Their vacuum guide felt like advice from a picky friend."
— Luis M., Verified Reader"No padded top-ten. They published four picks and said the fifth was not worth it. That is rare."
— Nora J., Verified ReaderRead the scoring rules, the disclosure, and why TrueRated would rather leave a list short than make a ranking look complete.
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