Phones Canada is excited to announce a new and improved smartphone scoring system on our website. We have implemented this system since late September 2023 to provide our users with a more comprehensive and unbiased way to evaluate smartphones.

Our new scoring system consists of 12 different categories, each with carefully selected criteria to ensure fairness and minimize personal bias. These categories include Speed and Performance for daily smartphone tasks, Performance in heavy-duty tasks and gaming, Battery life, Charging speed, Wireless charging speed, Camera – Photo Quality, Camera – Video Quality, Display Quality, Biometrics Speed, Performance, and Reliability, Audio Quality, Software and Updates, and Design.

We use a 10-point grading scale for each category and the final overall score, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Each category carries a different weight in the scoring system, with some categories being more important than others. This balance reflects the priorities of most users when it comes to smartphone features.

It is important to note that the price of a device is not directly accounted for in the score. Generally, lower-end phones will receive lower scores compared to higher-end devices due to their slower or less capable components. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as the Pixel A series and the iPhone SE (2022) which have standout features despite their lower price points.

In addition to the final score, we are working on introducing a new visualization that will show a breakdown of scores by category. This will provide users with a more detailed understanding of a device’s performance in specific areas.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each category:

1. Daily Performance: This category evaluates the phone’s perceived speed and smoothness in daily tasks like calls, mails, browsing, and social media. Factors like app loading speed, scrolling smoothness, and gesture navigation are considered.

2. Extreme Performance: This category measures how well the phone performs in heavy-duty tasks and gaming. CPU performance tests and GPU/gaming-related benchmarks are used to determine the score.

3. Battery life: The battery life category assesses how long the phone can last. We conduct three battery tests, including web browsing, video streaming, and 3D gaming, to evaluate the device’s endurance.

4. Charging speed: We measure the time it takes for the phone to charge from 1% to 100% using the manufacturer’s recommended charger and cable.

5. Wireless charging speed: Similar to the charging speed category, we test the time it takes for the phone to wirelessly charge from 1% to 100% using the recommended wireless charger.

6. Camera – Photo Quality: We have developed a complex system to evaluate photo quality based on various aspects. Extensive testing is conducted to assign a score in this category.

7. Camera – Video Quality: Just like photo quality, we have a new rating system for video quality. More details about this rating system will be provided in a separate post.

8. Display Quality: This category involves lab tests to measure various screen characteristics, including maximum brightness, color accuracy, and more.

9. Biometrics: We test the performance and accuracy of a phone’s fingerprint scanner or face recognition system and assign a score based on the results.

10. Audio Quality: The loudspeaker system of the phone is evaluated based on its loudness and sound quality.

11. Software and Updates: We investigate the software update commitment of each phone and consider any limiting factors or major restrictions on software. A score is assigned based on this assessment.

12. Design: This category evaluates the build quality, materials used, and overall aesthetics of the phone.

In the coming months, we will introduce a new graph with each review that shows the individual scores for each category, providing users with a more detailed understanding of why each smartphone review score is given. We are committed to delivering the best possible information to our readers.

If you have any questions about our new smartphone scoring system, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued support!