Methodology

How Clinchmark scores products

Last updated September 6, 2026

Clinchmark is a head-to-head comparison tool. Each matchup scores published figures for two products and writes a one-line verdict. We do not run a lab. A “win” means the published number is better on that row, not that we measured the device ourselves.

Where the numbers come from

Most rows come from the manufacturer's spec sheet (or issuer terms for credit cards). Some rows — for example TV input lag or approximate HDR brightness — are other published figures that usually do not appear on that sheet. We still use those when they help you decide, and we mark them on the page. Confirm anything that matters on the official page before you buy.

How wins are scored

Rankable numeric specs score once each (higher or lower depending on the field). Descriptive rows are shown for context but are not ranked. Use-case lenses (Photos, Battery, Cleaning, and so on) re-score only the rows that matter for that lens. Deal-breakers flag hard requirements from the same published sheet.

Prices and TCO

Prices are manufacturer list / MSRP-style snapshots in US dollars when shown — not live offers. Where the catalog documents known consumables (filters, bags, and similar), total cost of ownership can add those on top of list price. Retail checkout prices vary; confirm with the seller.

ENERGY STAR badges

ENERGY STAR badges and annual kWh appear only when a catalog model is matched to EPA open data on data.energystar.gov. Matches cover room air cleaners and televisions. Cordless vacuums are never badged — they are not an ENERGY STAR product category. TV rows are often series matches across screen sizes; the badge shows a representative listing. See the ENERGY STAR hub.

Update cadence

The catalog is updated continuously as we add products and refresh sheets. Compare pages show a verification line such as “Verified catalog figures as of …” (currently keyed to catalog date 2026-09-01). Spec sheets and ENERGY STAR open data change; we do not promise every page is complete or current on every visit.

Limitations

No lab measurements. Subjective comfort, build quality, and long-term reliability are not scored. Some brands and generations are missing from ENERGY STAR datasets and stay unbadged. Credit-card pages are not financial advice.