Accessories: cleaning, storage, and how the ratings are set

How accessories are rated

The rating is a weighted average of five criteria with the same weight, on a 0–10 scale with one decimal. Below 6.0, no product is recommended, regardless of price. The category includes different types of products — cleaning products, storage, charging cables and batteries — and the criteria are adapted to what each product is supposed to do. A cleaning product is not rated on the same things as a hard case, but both are rated on how well they protect the product they are intended for. Ratings can be compared within the category, but never against a product in another category.

Each product is assessed using the same basis: the manufacturer’s published specifications and product manual, comparison against direct competitors in the same price range, and the current price at all Swedish shops that sell the item. No manufacturer is allowed to read the text in advance, and no shop can pay for placement. Where the manufacturer does not publish a value, it explicitly states instead of an estimate. The full basis is in that’s how I make the assessment.

Cleaning, storage and charging

Cleaning products should be fragrance-free and able to be rinsed off completely — fragrance and colorants are the most common causes of irritation, and they also leave residues on non-porous surfaces. Storage should keep the product dry and protected: a fabric pouch protects against scratches but not against dust, and a hard case does both. The charging solution is the most common reason why a working product becomes unusable, and a proprietary cable that can’t be replaced lowers the rating even when it’s sold separately.