Why we still test on an old phone

Our test drawer has a couple of newer phones and one stubborn old mid-range device that refuses to die. That old one does the most important work.

Reviews written only on flagship hardware paint a flattering, misleading picture. A game that hits a smooth frame rate on a brand-new phone can stutter, overheat and drain fast on the handset most readers actually carry. We'd rather know that.

So every game gets a run on the old phone, and if it struggles, that goes in the review. Sometimes a quick trip into the settings fixes it, which is worth noting too.

It's not glamorous, but it's the difference between a review that reflects your experience and one that reflects a press event. We'll keep charging the old phone as long as it keeps switching on.