Don’t be fooled again! This is a series of lies the technology brand that you often swallow raw

The world of gadgets has now reached a point where competition is no longer a matter of real innovation, but a matter of being able to string words together. Often we see ads for smartphones or laptops with fantastic performance figures. However, behind these numbers, there is data manipulation and the use of technical terms that are deliberately made to confuse consumers.

In the latest collaboration between well-known technology creators MrWhosetheboss and MKBHD, they dismantled various cunning tactics used by major tech brands such as Apple, Samsung, to automotive companies such as Rivian. Let’s dissect deeper how they trick us all.

1. The trap of the word up to that is misleading

One of the most classic tricks in marketing strategies is the use of the word up to or up. Brands often promise performance up to twice as fast or a battery that lasts up to eight hours longer. The problem is, this maximum number is usually only achieved in very specific laboratory conditions and is almost impossible to find in daily use.

Legally, the use of this word protects the company from demands. If a product only provides a performance increase of one percent, claims of up to fifty percent are technically still considered true. Therefore, never use the number behind the word up to as the main benchmark when buying the latest gadget.

2. Imaginary Specifications: Best Combination at the Lowest Price

Have you ever seen an electric car or laptop ad showing the farthest mileage or top speed right next to the price starting from? This is what is called an imaginary specification. Many brands combine the specifications of the highest variant with the price of the lowest variant in one promotional page.

A clear example is seen in several high-end automotive and laptop brands. They show off premium features on the main banner, even though they are only available in models that cost tens of millions more expensive than the prices they display. Consumers often only realize this when they are on the payment page.

3. Creation of new technical terms to avoid comparison

In order for consumers to find it difficult to compare their products with competitors, many brands create their own terms for technology that is actually standard. Apple uses the term unified memory for their RAM. Although it has good efficiency because it is integrated in the chip, the claim that 8 GB of unified memory is equivalent to 16 GB of RAM on Windows is often not proven in heavy multitasking tasks.

In the world of television, we are familiar with the term motion rate from Hisense or QLED and ULED. Many lay consumers think this technology is equivalent to OLED, when in fact it is still an LCD panel with the addition of a certain filter layer. The use of a similar name is deliberately done to disguise cheaper technology to make it look premium.

4. Manipulation of camera sensor size and screen resolution

Advertisements about the 1-inch camera sensor are often the center of attention. However, the technical facts show that the sensor is not actually a physical one inch. The term refers to the standard of ancient vacuum tubes from the 1950s which are physically much larger than the actual sensor area. So, when the brand claims a 1-inch sensor, the light catchment area is actually much smaller.

The same thing happens at a 1.5K screen resolution. This term does not have standard technical standards such as 1080p or 4k. Brand uses the term 1.5K to name the screen whose resolution is between Full HD and Quad HD to make it look like a significant technological improvement, even though the increase is often very thin.

5. Unfair Performance Comparison

Another tactic that is often used, especially by big laptop brands, is to compare their latest products with products that are five years old. They may claim an eight-fold increase in speed, but they do not mention that the comparison is made to the old model that is already far behind. They avoid direct comparisons with last year’s model because usually the increase is only around five to ten percent.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

• Is 8 GB RAM on a MacBook really enough? Although efficient, for long-term professional use, physical capacity still determines the maximum limit of multitasking.
• What are the main differences between QLED and OLED? OLED produces its own light in every pixel, while QLED is an LCD screen that still needs a backlight.
• Why does the brightness rate (nits) in the ad feel so bright? The figure is usually a peak brightness that can only be reached at one small point on the screen in a short time, not the brightness of the entire screen continuously.

In conclusion, do not be easily tempted by large numbers and technical terms that sound sophisticated at the launch event. The best way to know the original quality of a product is to wait for independent reviews that test the device in a real use scenario. Stay a critical consumer in the midst of today’s onslaught of technology brand marketing tricks.