How we test / choose picks

Core criteria

• Compatibility: devices, standards, plugs, and UK buyer expectations.
• Specs vs marketing: we prioritise real standards (e.g. USB-C PD profiles, HDMI versions).
• Reliability signals: warranty, brand track record, common failure modes.
• Value: price vs feature trade-offs, not just cheapest.
• Use-case fit: we name who each pick is for (travel, desk, gaming, etc.).

How we score (the SPP Score)

Every pick carries an SPP Score out of 10. This is our own editorial score. We work it out from a fixed rubric we apply to each product's specifications and intended use. It is not an Amazon star rating and it is not taken from or matched to Amazon customer reviews.

The rubric scores four things, each from 1 to 10, and every guide shows the per-criterion scorecard under each pick so you can see the working:

• Capability (35%): real output, capacity or resolution for the job (wattage, mAh, port speeds, video standards).
• Versatility (25%): ports, features and compatibility for the use-case.
• Build and portability (20%): materials, form factor, travel-friendliness (e.g. GaN, foldable plugs, braided cables).
• Value for its tier (20%): how well it fills its role as the overall, budget or premium pick.

Because every product here has already passed our shortlist, scores cluster towards the upper half of the scale; the weighted total (to one decimal place) and the per-criterion scorecard are there to separate strong options within that shortlist, not to rate them against the whole market. A budget pick can outscore an overall pick when its value is exceptional - the scorecard shows why. We revise scores when we update a guide.

Notes

Not every item is physically tested in-house. Where we cannot test directly, we rely on standards compliance, documented specs, known platform constraints, and consistent reliability signals. We update shortlists when better options appear.