TC Mobile is an independent site covering phones and the mobile industry. This page explains where our review and comparison information comes from, what our leak labels mean, how we check deal prices, and how we fix mistakes.
What we don’t claim
We don’t present our reviews as lab tests or long-term personal use of a specific handset. If a review says a phone’s battery lasts a full day, that judgment rests on published data and named hands-on reviews, not on a unit sitting on our desk.
We think that distinction matters. Many phone sites blur it, and you deserve to know what a verdict is built on.
Where our review information comes from
Every phone review and comparison on TC Mobile draws on three kinds of source. When a specific outlet’s testing or impressions shape a conclusion, we name that outlet in the piece.
Official specifications
We start with the manufacturer’s own spec sheet: chipset, RAM and storage options, display size and refresh rate, battery capacity, charging speeds, camera hardware, software support promises and launch pricing. When a brand lists different specs for different regions, we say which version we’re describing.
Spec sheets tell you what’s inside a phone. They don’t tell you how it behaves, which is why we never stop there.
Published benchmark and battery data
Performance and endurance come from published results. These include widely used benchmark suites such as Geekbench and 3DMark, and battery rundown tests run by established review outlets. A few rules keep this data honest:
- We don’t mix methods. Battery tests from different outlets use different screen brightness, workloads and network conditions. We won’t put one outlet’s hours next to another’s in the same chart as if they were directly comparable.
- We favour repeated results over single runs. One unusually high or low score is a data point, not a conclusion.
- We treat unverified benchmark uploads with caution. Entries in public benchmark databases can be faked or come from pre-release software, so a lone pre-launch listing never becomes a performance claim in a review.
- We report sustained performance when it’s available. A phone that scores well for one run and then throttles under heat behaves differently in real use, and stress-test data shows that.
Credible hands-on reviews
For things numbers capture poorly, such as camera processing, display quality in sunlight, haptics, build feel and software quirks, we rely on hands-on reviews from established outlets with a track record of testing phones. We look for agreement across several reviews. When reviewers disagree, we say so rather than picking the opinion that suits a neat verdict.
How we reach a verdict
Once the sources are gathered, we weigh them against the phone’s price and its intended buyer. A mid-range phone isn’t marked down for lacking a flagship’s zoom lens. A flagship is held to a higher standard on cameras, software support and charging.
Our verdicts aim to answer practical questions:
- Who is this phone actually a good fit for?
- What are its clear strengths, backed by data or broad reviewer agreement?
- What are the real weaknesses, and do they matter at this price?
- Is there a better option for the same money?
When the evidence is thin, for example right after launch before many reviews exist, we say the verdict is provisional and revisit it.
How comparisons work
Head-to-head comparisons follow the same sourcing rules, with one addition. We compare like with like. That means the same storage tier, the same region where possible, and benchmark or battery figures from the same testing method. If matched data doesn’t exist for a category, we leave that category out or flag the gap clearly. We won’t fill it with a guess.
What our leak labels mean
News about unreleased phones carries one of three labels. The label reflects the state of the evidence when the story was published or last updated.
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| CONFIRMED | Officially announced by the manufacturer or carrier, shown in official materials, or documented in a public regulatory or certification filing. A filing confirms only what it actually lists. |
| RUMOR | Not officially confirmed. The story names how reliable the source is, and the wording matches that reliability. |
| DEBUNKED | Contradicted by an official announcement, a regulatory filing or other solid evidence. We keep debunked stories up, clearly labelled, so the record stays honest. |
Labels change as facts change. A rumor that turns out to be true becomes CONFIRMED, and a rumor that falls apart becomes DEBUNKED. When we update a label, we note the date.
How we weigh leak sources
A RUMOR label alone doesn’t tell you much, so we grade the source in the story itself. Roughly, from most to least reliable:
- Official sources. Company announcements, teasers, support pages, and regulatory or certification filings. These move a claim to CONFIRMED.
- Proven reporters and analysts. Named journalists or industry analysts with a long, checkable record of accurate calls on phones. We still call these rumors, but we describe the source’s track record.
- Community findings and datamines. Code strings in firmware or apps, retail listings and case-maker leaks. These are often accurate on details but can reflect plans that later change. We say what was found and where it came from in general terms.
- Anonymous or mixed-record sources. Unnamed accounts or leakers whose past claims have been hit and miss. We use cautious wording, such as “an anonymous leaker with a mixed track record claims”, and we don’t build a headline on one of these alone.
Claims that conflict with each other get reported as conflicting. We don’t quietly average them into a single “expected” spec.
Rules we follow on leaks
Some things we won’t do, regardless of how much traffic a story might bring:
- We report about leaks. We don’t host, embed or help anyone obtain stolen files, firmware, internal documents or footage.
- We never name, guess or speculate about the real identity of an anonymous leaker.
- We never promote, price or point readers to crypto tokens or coins connected to leakers or insiders.
- When coverage mentions hidden features or “hacks”, we mean settings, shortcuts and secrets inside the phone or its official software. We don’t point readers to unofficial tools or downloads that risk malware, voided warranties or locked accounts.
Deal prices
Prices in deal posts and buying guides were checked on the date shown in the article. Phone prices move quickly. Retailers change them, stock runs out and promotions end, sometimes within hours. Always confirm the current price and the exact model, storage size and region at the retailer before you buy. If we spot that a deal has expired, we mark it or update the post.
Corrections and updates
We get things wrong sometimes, and we’d rather fix errors openly than hope nobody notices.
- Factual errors such as a wrong spec, price or date are corrected promptly. Corrections that change the meaning of a story get a visible note explaining what changed.
- Leak label changes are dated in the story.
- Review updates after major software updates, price drops or new test data are noted, along with what changed in the verdict, if anything.
If you see something that looks wrong, please tell us through the contact option on the site. Include the page and the specific claim, plus a source if you have one. We read every correction request.
Independence
TC Mobile is a new, independent site. Manufacturers and retailers don’t review, approve or edit our coverage before it’s published. If a commercial relationship ever touches a page, such as affiliate links on a deal post, that page will disclose it.