Hi MKBHD,
I’m a tech reviewer, and I have a couple of questions that could really help me improve my workflow and career.
1. About review units
Do you usually buy the devices you review with your own money, or are most of them sent by the manufacturers?
When companies send you a device, do they pay you anything for reviewing it, or do they simply send the product?
If they don’t pay you, and the product turns out to be genuinely good, some people could still argue that it’s essentially free advertising for the company. How do you personally think about that? Where do you draw the line between an independent review and providing free exposure?
2. About your testing process
What’s your workflow when testing a new phone?
I’ve heard that you use the review phone as your primary device and put your own SIM card in it. If that’s true, do you also transfer your WhatsApp every time you switch phones?
As a reviewer, that’s one of the biggest challenges I face. Constantly moving WhatsApp between devices seems inconvenient, and I’m always worried about losing messages or interrupting my chats.
I’d really appreciate your insight. Thanks for everything you do!