rtings com
RTINGS.com is one of the few product review websites that shows exactly how they test, what tools they use, and why each score exists. Instead of short summaries and affiliate fluff, they publish raw measurements, comparison charts, and standardized test methods across TVs, monitors, headphones, speakers, and other electronics. If you care about real performance rather than marketing claims, RTINGS is worth understanding—how they work, where they shine, and where their system still has blind spots.
What RTINGS.com Actually Does
RTINGS.com is a Canadian review lab focused on consumer electronics. They buy the products they test—no manufacturer samples—and run them through a strict, public testing methodology. They publish measurement data, assign category-specific scores, and allow users to compare multiple products side by side.
They currently cover:
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TVs
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Monitors
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Headphones and earbuds
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Soundbars and speakers
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Keyboards, mice, and office gear
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Printers and projectors
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Recently: appliances and vacuums
Every product is tested in-house in Montreal using the same testing pipeline. That’s important because most review websites rely on impressions or sponsored units. RTINGS tries to behave like an independent lab.
Why Their Testing Method Matters
1. Standardization
Every TV is calibrated the same way. Every monitor is measured with the same tools. That consistency lets you compare models released years apart.
2. Raw Data + Scores
They give numerical results for brightness, color accuracy, black uniformity, motion handling, response time, input lag, distortion, battery life, microphone quality—depending on the product category. The final score is a weighted summary, but the data is all there if you want to dig deeper.
3. Transparency
They publish test bench pages explaining exactly how each measurement is performed. Few review outlets do this.
4. Product Retesting
When firmware updates change performance, they sometimes retest products. They also revise old reviews when they upgrade their methodology (e.g., TV Test Bench 2.0).
How RTINGS Makes Money (and Why People Trust Them)
RTINGS earns revenue in three main ways:
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Affiliate links (Amazon, Best Buy, etc.)
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Membership subscriptions (“Insider Access” with extra features)
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Limited advertising
They do not take free units from manufacturers. They maintain a wall between testing and monetization. They also explain their revenue sources publicly. This doesn’t eliminate bias entirely, but it removes the most common conflict of interest in tech reviews: free hardware.
Deep Dive: TVs, Monitors, and Headphones
TV Reviews
RTINGS runs 350+ tests per TV. They measure brightness in SDR and HDR, motion handling, contrast, local dimming, color volume, reflection handling, burn-in risk, and more. They test input lag for gamers and viewing angle performance for living rooms. They release updated “Best TV” lists by category: gaming, movies, sports, bright rooms, budget, etc.
Monitor Reviews
About 400 tests per monitor. They check color accuracy, gradient handling, refresh rate behavior, pixel response time, motion clarity, black uniformity, text clarity, ergonomics, and connectivity. They also evaluate productivity, gaming, and media use cases differently.
Headphone Reviews
They use a calibrated head and torso simulator. They measure frequency response (how accurately a headphone reproduces sound), noise isolation, leakage, latency for wireless use, microphone quality, and build comfort. They group sounds into profiles like bass-heavy, neutral, V-shaped, etc., to make data understandable.
Strengths of RTINGS
Highly detailed measurements – They publish raw charts instead of vague language.
Consistency across hundreds of products – You can compare a 2022 TV to a 2024 model without guessing.
Public methodology – Anyone can evaluate whether the testing is valid.
Objective focus – Less marketing, more performance facts.
Retesting over time – They don’t abandon products after launch.
Where RTINGS Falls Short
Overall scores can mislead
RTINGS uses weightings to calculate final scores. If you don’t agree with their weightings, the score might not reflect your needs. Example: They might downplay brightness, but you have a sunny room.
Subjective experience isn’t always captured
Soundstage quality, tactile feel, design appeal—these are hard to measure, and sometimes their text reviews feel thin in these areas.
Method updates create inconsistency
When they launch a new test bench, older models may temporarily reflect outdated scoring.
Scores bunch together
A TV with 8.4 and another with 8.2 might feel very different in practice, but visually the score gap looks tiny.
Lab vs real world
Testing rooms are controlled. Your living room isn’t. Reflection handling, ambient light, seating distance—these change results in real life.
How Consumers Should Use RTINGS
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Start by looking at the individual category scores, not just the final overall number.
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Read the “Pros and Cons” section—they’re usually direct.
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Check if the review says “updated due to firmware” or “updated methodology.”
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Use their side-by-side comparison tool to compare two models directly.
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Ignore the score if you know your priorities. A gamer shouldn’t care about movie accuracy if they never watch movies.
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Check user comments on RTINGS or Reddit if you want long-term reliability info.
Common Mistakes People Make When Using RTINGS
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Treating the overall score as absolute truth
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Ignoring scoring weights
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Not reading the methodology changes
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Assuming all updates are reflected immediately
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Thinking RTINGS covers build quality or long-term durability in-depth (they don’t)
The Real Value of RTINGS
RTINGS is best used as a data source, not a dictator. Their tests reveal what a product can actually do, not what the marketing page claims. If you understand how to read the data and align it with your needs, RTINGS is one of the most useful resources on the web for electronics research. For TV buyers, it’s often the final stop before purchase. For gamers, it's a shortcut to finding low input lag and fast response times. For headphone buyers, it's a way to avoid muddy sound or weak noise cancellation.
They are not perfect. But they are honest about how they work, they constantly improve their testing, and they update old reviews—something most review sites never do.
Why RTINGS Still Matters in 2025
The electronics market is flooded with product variations and paid influencer promotions. RTINGS cuts through noise by showing measurable results. As devices get more complex—HDR formats, VRR, AI upscaling, spatial audio—objective testing becomes more valuable. RTINGS' approach scales well with that complexity.
They have also expanded into appliances and vacuum cleaners, applying similar methodology. If they maintain accuracy and depth, they could become a broader consumer testing authority similar to Consumer Reports, but more modern and data-focused.
FAQ
Is RTINGS reliable?
Yes. They buy what they test, show their data, and avoid sponsored reviews. Their transparency sets them apart.
Why do RTINGS scores seem close together?
The scoring scale compresses differences. Read the breakdown instead of comparing overall scores only.
Do they test for long-term reliability?
Not deeply. They do some long-term TV burn-in tests but don’t track years of ownership issues for most products.
Can I trust RTINGS for headphones?
For frequency response and isolation data, yes. For comfort and fit, use your own judgment or user reviews.
Where is RTINGS based?
Montreal, Canada. All testing is done in-house there.
Do they retest old products?
Sometimes. Especially when firmware or methodologies change. But not every old model gets updated immediately.
How do they make money without bias?
Affiliate links, subscriptions, and limited ads. They don’t take free units from manufacturers.
RTINGS.com isn’t trying to entertain or sell hype. It’s trying to measure reality. If you know how to use their data, you can make smarter buying decisions and avoid overpriced products that look good on paper but fail in your actual setup.
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