How We Review
& Score Products
Our 5-step engineering framework evaluates every product through workflow context, hardware constraints, compatibility risk analysis, and full trade-off disclosure. No spec-sheet regurgitation. No commission-driven rankings. Read our full disclosure.
The 5-Step Review Framework
Every product passes through this decision architecture before a rating is assigned. See our Buying Guide to see it in action.
Understand Workflow Context
How Ratings Map to Recommendations
Our scale ranges from 8.0 to 9.3 across 23 reviewed products. We do not review products scoring below 8.0. See Comparisons for full product data.
Exceptional
Outstanding performance with minimal compromises. Defines the category. Example: Anker 778 Thunderbolt 4 (9.3).
Strong Performer
Reliable with clear strengths and minor limitations. Featured in our Buying Guide recommendations.
Capable with Caveats
Notable trade-offs limiting audience. Reviews include "who should NOT buy" and alternatives from other categories.
Baseline Acceptable
Minimum quality with significant limitations. We often recommend upgrading. Check comparison data for alternatives.
Scoring Breakdown by Category
Each product category has its own weighted criteria reflecting real-world impact. Click a category to see how we weight the final score.
What We Refuse to Do
These anti-patterns are common across affiliate sites. We reject every one. Read About Us for our editorial principles.
We Never Do This
Commission-Based Rankings
Ranking products by affiliate payout instead of quality.
Manufacturer-Provided Scores
Accepting or publishing scores from manufacturers.
Spec-Sheet-Only Reviews
Rewriting Amazon descriptions as if it were a review.
Hidden Affiliate Links
Disguising monetized links without transparent labeling.
Universal Recommendations
"Best for everyone" blanket verdicts with no context.
Urgency Tactics
Countdown timers, "limited time" pressure, scarcity manipulation.
What We Do Instead
Weighted Criteria Scoring
Rankings by our framework per category.
Independent Testing
Every metric from our own testing across multiple devices and OSes.
Real-World Workflow Testing
Hands-on testing and trade-off analysis.
Full Disclosure on Every Page
Disclosure present, links only after education.
Workflow-Specific Verdicts
Suitability verdicts with "who should NOT buy" sections.
Calm, Evidence-Based Guidance
Through FAQ and category pages.
Testing Equipment & Environment
Transparency requires disclosing what we test on. Our environment replicates real-world conditions across common hardware configurations.
Test Laptops
- MacBook Pro 14" (M3 Pro, macOS Sonoma)
- Dell XPS 15 (Intel i7-13700H, Win 11)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
- HP Spectre x360 (Intel/AMD variants)
- Framework Laptop 13 (Linux testing)
Operating Systems
- Windows 11 Pro (23H2+)
- Windows 10 22H2
- macOS Sonoma 14.x / Ventura 13.x
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- ChromeOS (Flex and native)
Cables & Adapters
- Thunderbolt 4 certified cables (0.8m, 2m)
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP Alt Mode verified)
- HDMI 2.1 and 2.0 reference cables
- USB-C to HDMI adapters (multiple chipsets)
- USB-A 3.0 adapters for legacy testing
Measurement Tools
- USB-C power meter (voltage, amperage, wattage)
- Digital scale (0.1g precision)
- Colorimeter for display calibration
- Lux meter for brightness measurement
- Infrared thermometer for thermal testing
Test Protocols
- 24-hour burn-in test for stability
- Multi-display stress test (4K + 1080p)
- Hot-plug and wake-from-sleep cycling
- Sustained load thermal measurement
- Real-world workflow simulation
Documentation
- Standardized scoring spreadsheet
- Photo documentation of test setups
- Failure-mode logging with timestamps
- Driver version tracking across tests
- Version-controlled methodology updates
How Affiliate Relationships Work
ScreenExtendersHub earns revenue through affiliate links. When you click a product link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This is how we fund our testing equipment, hosting, and content development.
Affiliate revenue never influences our ratings, rankings, or recommendations. Our editorial process is completed before any monetization decisions are made. If the best answer is "do not buy this product," we publish that verdict.
We are transparent about this relationship because trust requires it. Every page with affiliate links includes our full disclosure statement. Read our About Us page for our complete editorial philosophy.
Our content is governed by a simple test: could this page exist unchanged if we removed every affiliate link? If no, it does not belong on ScreenExtendersHub. Learn more in our Terms of Service and Disclaimer.
ScreenExtendersHub is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Full details on our Disclosure page.
Our Guarantees
Transparency Commitments
These commitments are non-negotiable. They define how we operate and how we hold ourselves accountable to readers and the broader ScreenExtendersHub community.
Methodology Versioning
This page is versioned. Changes are documented with dates and rationale. Current version: 1.0 (January 2025).
Reader Feedback Loop
Report errors, challenge ratings, or suggest improvements via our Contact page.
Correction Policy
Factual errors corrected within 48 hours with a visible correction notice. Scores updated if new data warrants it.
Testing Reproducibility
Test protocols documented in detail so results could be independently verified with similar equipment.
No Pay-for-Play
We do not accept payment from manufacturers for reviews, scores, or placement. Read our full disclosure policy.
Common Questions About Our Process
Questions about how we review, score, and recommend products. For product-specific questions, see our main FAQ page.
Explore Our Reviews
Now that you understand how we evaluate products, explore our detailed category pages with full reviews, specifications, and recommendations.
How We Review
& Score Products
Our 5-step engineering framework evaluates every product through workflow context, hardware constraints, compatibility risk analysis, and full trade-off disclosure. No spec-sheet regurgitation. No commission-driven rankings. Read our full disclosure.
The 5-Step Review Framework
Every product passes through this decision architecture before a rating is assigned. See our Buying Guide to see it in action.
Understand Workflow Context
How Ratings Map to Recommendations
Our scale ranges from 8.0 to 9.3 across 23 reviewed products. We do not review products scoring below 8.0. See Comparisons for full product data.
Exceptional
Outstanding performance with minimal compromises. Defines the category. Example: Anker 778 Thunderbolt 4 (9.3).
Strong Performer
Reliable with clear strengths and minor limitations. Featured in our Buying Guide recommendations.
Capable with Caveats
Notable trade-offs limiting audience. Reviews include "who should NOT buy" and alternatives from other categories.
Baseline Acceptable
Minimum quality with significant limitations. We often recommend upgrading. Check comparison data for alternatives.
Scoring Breakdown by Category
Each product category has its own weighted criteria reflecting real-world impact. Click a category to see how we weight the final score.
What We Refuse to Do
These anti-patterns are common across affiliate sites. We reject every one. Read About Us for our editorial principles.
We Never Do This
Commission-Based Rankings
Ranking products by affiliate payout instead of quality.
Manufacturer-Provided Scores
Accepting or publishing scores from manufacturers.
Spec-Sheet-Only Reviews
Rewriting Amazon descriptions as if it were a review.
Hidden Affiliate Links
Disguising monetized links without transparent labeling.
Universal Recommendations
"Best for everyone" blanket verdicts with no context.
Urgency Tactics
Countdown timers, "limited time" pressure, scarcity manipulation.
What We Do Instead
Weighted Criteria Scoring
Rankings by our framework per category.
Independent Testing
Every metric from our own testing across multiple devices and OSes.
Real-World Workflow Testing
Hands-on testing and trade-off analysis.
Full Disclosure on Every Page
Disclosure present, links only after education.
Workflow-Specific Verdicts
Suitability verdicts with "who should NOT buy" sections.
Calm, Evidence-Based Guidance
Through FAQ and category pages.
Testing Equipment & Environment
Transparency requires disclosing what we test on. Our environment replicates real-world conditions across common hardware configurations.
Test Laptops
- MacBook Pro 14" (M3 Pro, macOS Sonoma)
- Dell XPS 15 (Intel i7-13700H, Win 11)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
- HP Spectre x360 (Intel/AMD variants)
- Framework Laptop 13 (Linux testing)
Operating Systems
- Windows 11 Pro (23H2+)
- Windows 10 22H2
- macOS Sonoma 14.x / Ventura 13.x
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- ChromeOS (Flex and native)
Cables & Adapters
- Thunderbolt 4 certified cables (0.8m, 2m)
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP Alt Mode verified)
- HDMI 2.1 and 2.0 reference cables
- USB-C to HDMI adapters (multiple chipsets)
- USB-A 3.0 adapters for legacy testing
Measurement Tools
- USB-C power meter (voltage, amperage, wattage)
- Digital scale (0.1g precision)
- Colorimeter for display calibration
- Lux meter for brightness measurement
- Infrared thermometer for thermal testing
Test Protocols
- 24-hour burn-in test for stability
- Multi-display stress test (4K + 1080p)
- Hot-plug and wake-from-sleep cycling
- Sustained load thermal measurement
- Real-world workflow simulation
Documentation
- Standardized scoring spreadsheet
- Photo documentation of test setups
- Failure-mode logging with timestamps
- Driver version tracking across tests
- Version-controlled methodology updates
How Affiliate Relationships Work
ScreenExtendersHub earns revenue through affiliate links. When you click a product link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This is how we fund our testing equipment, hosting, and content development.
Affiliate revenue never influences our ratings, rankings, or recommendations. Our editorial process is completed before any monetization decisions are made. If the best answer is "do not buy this product," we publish that verdict.
We are transparent about this relationship because trust requires it. Every page with affiliate links includes our full disclosure statement. Read our About Us page for our complete editorial philosophy.
Our content is governed by a simple test: could this page exist unchanged if we removed every affiliate link? If no, it does not belong on ScreenExtendersHub. Learn more in our Terms of Service and Disclaimer.
ScreenExtendersHub is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Full details on our Disclosure page.
Our Guarantees
Transparency Commitments
These commitments are non-negotiable. They define how we operate and how we hold ourselves accountable to readers and the broader ScreenExtendersHub community.
Methodology Versioning
This page is versioned. Changes are documented with dates and rationale. Current version: 1.0 (January 2025).
Reader Feedback Loop
Report errors, challenge ratings, or suggest improvements via our Contact page.
Correction Policy
Factual errors corrected within 48 hours with a visible correction notice. Scores updated if new data warrants it.
Testing Reproducibility
Test protocols documented in detail so results could be independently verified with similar equipment.
No Pay-for-Play
We do not accept payment from manufacturers for reviews, scores, or placement. Read our full disclosure policy.
Common Questions About Our Process
Questions about how we review, score, and recommend products. For product-specific questions, see our main FAQ page.
Explore Our Reviews
Now that you understand how we evaluate products, explore our detailed category pages with full reviews, specifications, and recommendations.