The team at Android Central consists of technology enthusiasts who eat, sleep and breathe everything Android has. Our ranks also include experts in several related areas, including Google apps and services, mobile games, PlayStation, AR / VR, smart home, wearables, audio and more.
We love the products and services we write about, and we spend countless hours testing and evaluating everything from smartphones to smartwatches, wireless earphones to security cameras, and social media apps for gaming. We want to share that enthusiasm with our readers while conveying our expertise and authority around the devices and services we cover. As such, we take the responsibility of delivering accurate, honest and reliable reviews very seriously.
Our efforts are backed by our parent company, Future PLC, one of the world’s largest technology publishers. The resources and support that Future provides help ensure that we are able to provide our readers with content they can trust and believe in.
To learn more about the Android Central team and their areas of interest and expertise, visit our About Us page.
Android Central’s warranty for our readers:
- We do not receive compensation for reviewsnor do we allow brands to have access to pre-release or input to our review process unless specifically marked as SPONSORED CONTENT.
- Like our audience, we love the Android ecosystem, so we know what our readers want to learn about. This shared passion drives our strategy for which products and services we choose to review.
- If a product or service is secondary or should be avoided, we will not pull the wool over your eyes – we tell you! We will not shy away from being critical when justified.
- Similarly, if we give a product or service a high rating and / or our approval, we will tell you exactly why it achieved that distinction.
- Every product or service we review has been handled, including in daily and intended use, and thoroughly tested by our staff. Sometimes we may recommend a product in a buyer’s guide that we for some reason could not get hold of. In these cases, we have a rigorous process of researching such devices using several reliable sources.
- If you think we’re failing on any of these promises, we want to know (and so does our boss). You can always send an email to our content director Al Sacco directly with your concerns. Al reads every single message from our readers and takes them very seriously.
Our assessments, explained
Android Central rates the products and services we review on a star rating of one to five, with one being the lowest rated and five being the highest. The ratings combine objective data and performance with the product’s subjective context in its broader ecosystem, as well as the authors’ personal experiences.
- 1-1.5 stars: We can not recommend this product or service with a clear conscience. Save your money!
- 2-2.5 stars: We do not recommend this product or service either, but it has some redeeming qualities that set it apart from anything you should definitely not buy. In these cases, we often recommend waiting for an update or new release before you consider making a purchase.
- 3-3.5 stars: These products are right in the middle of the road. This rating is perfectly average, and while we are not overly enthusiastic about the product or game, the reader may find enough good in it to justify a purchase.
- 4-4.5 stars: These reviews are for products and services that are above average and should be considered when purchasing. These will often earn our recommended badge (more info below).
- 5 stars: These are the best products or services in their respective categories and we recommend them without hesitation or reservation. These reviews will generally receive our best badge. Your money will be well spent on a product or service that Android Central rates as 5 stars.
Android Central prices, explained
Our Best badge Honors go to the rare products and services that differentiate themselves with head and shoulders above the competition. These may not always be the most expensive or highly specified devices, but they generally tick all the boxes for items we are looking for from that item. Best badges are awarded only to five-star products or services.
Products or services that serve ours Recommended badge do it because they are among the best in their category. They are a good value and are an option that we can comfortably recommend to our readers based on our evaluation criteria and experience with similar devices or services. Recommended badges are generally awarded to 4-4.5 star rated products or services.
Games that earn ours Must-Play badge are the best of the best. Whether it’s revolutionizing a genre or perfecting a proven formula, these games provide a gaming experience that people will not want to miss. We evaluate games based on a number of criteria such as their history, gameplay, performance and more. Games that typically earn our Must-Play badge are awarded 4-5 stars.
Android Central’s all-star review team
Android Central’s team of writers brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to the reviews they put together. With decades of combined experience, each author approaches new reviews with the same level of excitement and skepticism that our readers have come to expect.
Jerry Hildenbrand has been separating gadgets to see how they tick for over a decade, and Harish Jonnalagadda has had his fingers in almost every Android phone coming out of Asia since 2010. Nick Sutrich has reviewed Android devices for the North American market for almost as long, and Andrew Myrick digs into Chromebooks and Chrome OS like no other.
Michael Hicks and Jennifer Locke are fixtures in the Android, AR / VR and PS5 communities, and Chris Wedel has quickly made a name for himself when he reviews smart home devices and technology for kids and families. News editor Derrek Lee and editor-in-chief Jeramy Johnson share an interest in smartwatches and wearables and have not encountered a pair of smart glasses they would not try on.
The core team is also supported by a number of contributors who regularly review products, including Jay Bonggolto, Namerah Saud Fatmi, Ted Kritsonis, Samuel Tolbert and Charlie Wacholz.
Android Central reviewers focus on products and categories where they are industry experts, bringing their own unique personalities and perspectives to complement the objectivity expected of one of the best Android blogs.
Again, you can learn more about our reviewers on our About Us page.
Our test method for products, apps, services and games
Backed by many years of experience and by our parent company, Future PLC, we have a well-established set of ethics and standards that we follow for all reviews and recommended content on Android Central. The specific processes may vary from one product or category to another, but the underlying values remain the same. We strive to take the time to truly understand and evaluate the products and services we review so that our readers can feel confident and trust our recommendations. We will not recommend products or services that we will not recommend to our friends and family or buy for ourselves.