This page explains how Intellinary tests products, what gets disclosed, and what won’t happen here. If a post ever breaks these rules, tell me through the contact page and I’ll fix it.
The one hard rule
I only review products I’ve actually used. No star ratings, and no “reviews” or “first impressions” of anything that hasn’t been in my house or on my bench. Guides and buying lists that include things I haven’t used say so at the top. Every review says what I used the product with.
How testing works
- Smart home: tested on a live Home Assistant setup in a real house. Posts name the hubs, coordinators and integrations involved, and say whether the device depends on the cloud.
- LEGO and compatible bricks: I build the set. Reviews cover the build, the details, the interactive features and how much room it needs.
- Maker gear: used on real projects, and the post says what was printed or cast.
- Everything else: used for as long as it takes to form an honest opinion.
Where I couldn’t test something, the post says so instead of guessing.
Free products
Some brands send products for review. When that happens:
- The post says so near the top, in plain words, for example “[Brand] sent me this unit for review.”
- Receiving a product doesn’t obligate me to publish, to say anything positive, or to follow a brand’s schedule.
- I don’t accept payment for a review, a rating, or a particular verdict.
- If I received anything beyond the product (a discount code, money, travel), the post says that too.
Affiliate links
Some links may be affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Any post with affiliate links says so at the top of the post, before the first link. Commissions don’t change verdicts, and I’ll tell you not to buy something if that’s my honest conclusion.
Editorial independence
- No brand can pay to be reviewed, ranked, or to change a review.
- Brands don’t see reviews before they’re published. I may check a fact with them or give them a chance to respond to a problem I found, but the opinions are mine.
- Brands can ask me to fix a factual error and I will. They can’t ask me to remove an honest criticism.
- If a firmware update or product revision changes the picture, I update the post and note the date.
AI assistance
Every post starts from my own notes and hands-on experience. AI helps me draft and edit, and I review and edit every post before it goes live, checking it against my notes and cutting anything I can’t stand behind. The AI doesn’t test products and doesn’t invent experiences I didn’t have.
Corrections
Spot an error? Use the contact page. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the post with the date.
What won’t happen here
- Reviews of products I haven’t used.
- Fake reviews, bought reviews, or undisclosed reviews on retailer sites.
- Payment to change a verdict or guarantee positive coverage.
- Brand marketing copy or photos passed off as my own.
Last updated: October 26, 2026