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Tom’s Guide says every laptop, tablet, and PC it reviews undergoes standardized lab testing before a reviewer evaluates it in everyday use. The tests measure distinct things—such as processing, graphics, battery runtime, display characteristics, and heat—so a single benchmark score cannot tell you how well a computer will suit every task. The process can help readers compare products, but it does not guarantee savings or establish that a particular purchase is right for every buyer.
This is Tom’s Guide’s account of its own methodology, published September 16, 2026. Procedures and software versions may change. Read the full testing-methodology description.
How does Tom’s Guide’s testing process work?
Tom’s Guide describes a two-stage approach: standardized lab tests first, followed by reviewer hands-on evaluation. Its general methodology also says reviews consider real-world scenarios, design, ease of use, features relative to competing products, and price. In some cases, the publication may issue a limited first look as an unrated hands-on review. Tom’s Guide’s general review methodology explains that broader process.
For Windows computers, the lab says it follows a standard preparation procedure: check manufacturer settings against retail defaults, install test applications, reboot, and run tests with no other applications active. It also specifies display and power settings. These are Tom’s Guide’s procedures, not a universal industry standard.
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What performance tests are used?
The lab uses tests aimed at different workloads. Their scores and completion times should not be treated as interchangeable: a strong result in one task does not establish equal performance in another.
- File copying: a custom script copies a 25 GB folder of mixed file types.
- General system and processor performance: Geekbench 6 and Geekbench 7, plus CrossMark, cover different system and productivity workloads.
- AI tasks: Geekbench AI measures a separate category of work.
- Video encoding: HandBrake is used for video transcoding.
In its September 16, 2026 account, Tom’s Guide names Geekbench 6.7 and Geekbench 7.0. It says each version has a baseline score of 2,500, but those baselines use different reference computers:
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| Benchmark version | Stated baseline | Reference system named by Tom’s Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6.7 | 2,500 | Dell Precision 3460 with Intel Core i7-12700 |
| Geekbench 7.0 | 2,500 | Lenovo Legion with AMD Ryzen 7 7700 |
Because the versions are calibrated against different systems, the matching baseline number alone does not make results from Geekbench 6.7 and 7.0 directly interchangeable. When comparing computers, check the benchmark version as well as the score.
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Tom’s Guide uses 3DMark tests selected for the type of computer being evaluated. It also runs games with built-in benchmarks to make graphics tests more repeatable. Productivity-focused systems may be tested with Civilization VI and, in some cases, other demanding games.
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For gaming PCs, the described tests usually run at or near high settings at 1920 × 1080 and at the computer’s native resolution; some demanding games use lower detail settings. A frame-rate figure is useful only when you know the game, resolution, and settings behind it. Tom’s Guide calls 30 frames per second (fps) or above playable and 60 fps its threshold for genuinely smooth play. Those are the publication’s editorial thresholds, not universal standards.
Mac testing uses compatible cross-platform benchmarks, but some games require setting changes. That makes platform, benchmark, resolution, and configuration important context when comparing a Mac with a Windows PC.
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How does the lab measure heat and display quality?
Heat
For its ordinary laptop heat test, Tom’s Guide plays 4K video for 15 minutes, then checks temperatures with an infrared thermometer. Gaming laptops receive a separate repeated workload using Metro: Exodus. Results from those tests describe different conditions, so a temperature reading is most informative when paired with the workload that produced it.
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For laptops and all-in-one desktops, the lab names the Klein K10-A colorimeter for measuring color and brightness. It measures sRGB and DCI-P3 color-gamut volume and checks brightness at five points on the screen. Tom’s Guide says its methods are adapted for OLED and HDR displays. These measurements go beyond resolution: two screens with the same pixel dimensions can differ in brightness and color coverage.
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What does the battery-life test measure?
The described laptop and tablet web test cycles through web pages over a closed Wi-Fi network until the device shuts down. The lab sets display brightness to 150 nits, standardizes selected settings, and runs the test at least twice. This is a result for that defined web-browsing workload and setup, not a promise of the same runtime for every person’s mix of apps, brightness, network conditions, or tasks.
Gaming battery life is measured separately with PCMark’s gaming battery test. It represents a different workload from the web test, so those runtimes should not be compared as though they measure the same kind of use.
How does testing change for Macs, Chromebooks, and workstations?
The lab adapts its methods to each platform and the work a system is designed to do.
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- Macs: compatible cross-platform tests are used; some games need setting changes.
- Chromebooks: testing may use web-based or Android applications.
- Workstations: professional creative and engineering tests can include PugetBench, UL Procyon, and SPECworkstation.
Because operating systems, software, and test workloads differ, a result from one platform may not map cleanly to a result from another. For creative or engineering work, the relevant professional workload is more informative than inferring performance from a general-purpose score.
How should shoppers use benchmark results?
Start with the work you want the computer to do, then compare results that reflect that work. A benchmark is evidence about a defined task, not a complete verdict on how a system will feel in every situation.
Quick Recap
- Match benchmark name and software version before comparing scores or times.
- For games, match the title, resolution, and graphics settings; frame rates from different configurations are not like-for-like.
- For battery life, compare the same test and setup, and distinguish web browsing from gaming workloads.
- For displays, look beyond resolution to brightness and color measurements.
- For professional work, prioritize the specific creative or engineering test that resembles your workflow.
- Use lab measurements alongside reviewer hands-on findings. Neither alone proves that a computer is the best value for every buyer.
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