Press scores look simple — a number out of 5 or 10, a badge, a verdict. But a 4/5 from TechRadar and a 4/5 from PCMag reflect very different editorial approaches and scoring philosophies. Here is how to read the scores that appear on SIGNAL.
TechRadar
TechRadar scores out of 5. Their scale is compressed — most products score between 3 and 4.5. A 4/5 from TechRadar is a solid recommendation. A 4.5/5 is genuinely outstanding. A 5/5 is extremely rare and represents a near-perfect product. TechRadar’s reviews are long-form and hands-on, with particular strength in laptops, audio, and cameras.
PCMag
PCMag scores out of 5 but uses Editors’ Choice as an additional quality marker. An Editors’ Choice at 4.5/5 is PCMag’s strongest possible endorsement in a category. PCMag tests extensively and their scores tend to reflect real-world performance rather than theoretical specs. Strong across smartphones, laptops, and audio.
The Verge
The Verge scores out of 10. Their scale is more distributed than TechRadar — a 7/10 from The Verge is a genuinely mixed review, while an 8/10 or above is a strong recommendation. The Verge’s reviews are consumer-first, written for a general audience, and particularly strong on smartphones and laptops. An Editor’s Choice from The Verge is a separate award indicating exceptional quality.
IGN
IGN scores out of 10 and primarily covers gaming hardware. Their scale is more generous than The Verge — an 8/10 from IGN is a standard good score, while a 9/10 or above is genuinely exceptional. IGN’s gaming hardware reviews are some of the most thorough available.
RTINGS
RTINGS scores out of 10 using a data-driven, measurement-based methodology. They are the gold standard for objective audio and display testing. A score of 8/10 from RTINGS reflects objectively strong measured performance. Their scores are often more conservative than other publications because they are based on lab measurements rather than subjective impression.
Wirecutter
Wirecutter does not use a numerical score — they publish a Top Pick recommendation in each category. A Wirecutter Top Pick is the most powerful recommendation in consumer tech journalism: it represents the product the most trusted review publication would tell their own family to buy. SIGNAL treats a Wirecutter Top Pick as equivalent to the highest numerical scores from other publications.
On SIGNAL, you will always see the publication name alongside the score so you can apply this context. A TechRadar 4.5/5 and a Wirecutter Top Pick together represent exceptional consensus. A single 7/10 from IGN on a $1,000 phone tells a different story. The combination of multiple sources — and SIGNAL’s Our Choice reasoning — is designed to give you the full picture rather than a single decontextualised number.
Sources: TechRadar, PCMag, The Verge, IGN, RTINGS, Wirecutter editorial guidelines.