How we review
Our reviews, guides and comparisons are built from a combination of first-hand use, manufacturer documentation, specialist reporting and community knowledge. We distinguish hands-on experience from desk research and do not present research as personal testing.
Whenever an article uses the first-person perspective, it represents the human author's genuine experience, opinion or actions. Statements about products purchased, prices paid, time spent testing or games played reflect what the author actually did.
Where prices, availability, compatibility or software support can change, we check current primary sources before publication. We explain meaningful trade-offs instead of treating every product as a winner.
Publication dates and changing recommendations
Every article reflects the information, products and recommendations available when it was published. Retro technology can move surprisingly quickly: firmware changes, stock returns and new hardware can alter what makes sense for a reader.
We do not routinely update published articles as the market changes. Instead, we make the publication date clear and frame recommendations around the situation at that time. When a correction is needed, we welcome it through our contact page.
AI assistance and illustrations
NeonGrade may use AI assistance during research, outlining, drafting, editing or limited visual adjustments. Every article published with AI assistance is reviewed by NeonGrade Editorial, and that assistance is disclosed near the byline. Final editorial decisions, opinions, conclusions and responsibility for factual accuracy remain with the human author.
When an article image is an AI-generated editorial illustration, we label it directly beneath the image. Those illustrations are not presented as product photography, and readers are warned where a product's appearance may differ from the real device.
We distinguish between fully AI-generated illustrations and author-created photographs that received limited AI-assisted editing. We do not label an author-created photograph as wholly AI-generated when doing so would misrepresent the origin of the image.
Commercial independence
NeonGrade does not currently publish paid placements or affiliate links. If that changes, paid or commission-bearing links will be clearly identified where readers encounter them, and commercial relationships will not decide our editorial conclusions.