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Plain-English explainers for reading a gadget, car accessory or clothing listing before you buy. Free, no account.

9 plain-English explainers
1 minute each
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Check any listing in about two minutes

Before you add a gadget, car accessory or piece of clothing to your cart, run these five checks. No account, no tools.

Open the step-by-step guide

Find the rated numbersWh, watts, GB or size, in the spec table and not only in the title.
Look for the rating behind each claimIP rating, PD or PPS, UPF: a bare adjective is not a rating.
Match title, photos and variationsThe listing should agree with itself.
Look for the marks that applyNTC for radio devices, DTI-BPS PS or ICC where required.
Read the sellerShop age, real sales, warranty and return policy.

Check before you buy

Marks, sellers and prices: how to tell a solid listing from a risky one.

Marks
NTC and DTI marks: what they mean on a listing
Some products sold in the Philippines need an approval or a mark. Here is what the main ones are for, and what…
1 min read
Fakes
How to spot a fake or inflated gadget listing
Most problems are visible before you pay. Look for these. Specs that do not fit the price A very low price per…
1 min read
Prices
Why the cheapest listing can be the risky one
Sometimes the cheapest listing is simply a good deal. Often there is a reason it is cheaper. Common reasons The specs are…
1 min read
Sellers
Shopee seller badges: what they tell you, and what they do not
Badges such as Shopee Mall and Preferred describe the seller. They are a useful starting point, and they are not a product…
1 min read

Read the spec sheet

What the numbers on a gadget listing really tell you.

Power banks
mAh vs Wh: what a power bank's capacity really means
A power bank listing that says 20,000mAh sounds precise. It is not, on its own, because mAh measures charge, not energy, and…
1 min read
Chargers
Fast charging, PD and PPS: what a charger listing should say
"65W fast charger" tells you the maximum the charger can supply. It does not tell you what your phone will get. Three…
1 min read
Water and dust
IP ratings explained: waterproof vs water-resistant
"Waterproof" is a marketing word. An IP rating is a test result. How to read it IP is followed by two digits.…
1 min read

Clothes and fit

Where a listing can look fine and still not fit.

Clothes
How to read a clothing listing
Clothes are hard to judge from photos. A good listing gives you information to decide without guessing. What a good listing states…
1 min read

Try it on a real listing

Seven checks before you pay

Open the listing you are about to buy and tick each one as you go. Nothing is saved to our servers.

0of 7 done

Find the rated capacity or wattageIn Wh, W, GB or the stated size, in the specification panel. A figure only in the title, or in the wrong unit, is a flag.
Look for the rating behind each claim"Waterproof" needs an IP rating, "fast charging" needs a wattage and protocol, "UV protection" needs a UPF. A bare adjective is not a rating.
Check that the listing agrees with itselfTitle, photos, variations and description should give the same capacity, piece count and model.
Look for the marks that applyNTC for radio devices such as Bluetooth and WiFi, DTI-BPS PS or ICC for regulated products. A mark in a photo is a lead to check, not proof.
Compare with the official storeFind the brand's own store. A big gap in price for the same model, from an unknown seller, is a warning.
Read the seller detailsHow long has the shop existed? Real sales and ratings? Is there a warranty and a clear return policy?
Read the compatibility or size informationA named list of compatible models or a real size chart beats "fits all".

Read how to spot a fake

Quick wins

Myth or fact?

Tap a card to see what the evidence on our pages says.

Myth20,000mAh means you get 20,000mAh out of the port.

Fact

mAh is quoted at the cell voltage, about 3.7 V. Energy in Wh is mAh times volts divided by 1,000, so 20,000mAh at 3.7 V is 74 Wh. What reaches your phone at 5 V is lower because of conversion losses.

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MythA 65W charger charges everything at 65W.

Fact

The number is a maximum. The charger, the cable and the device agree on a speed, and that needs a shared protocol such as USB Power Delivery. Ports often share the total.

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Myth"Waterproof" means you can swim with it.

Fact

Only an IP rating tells you what was tested. IPX7, for example, means temporary immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes under lab conditions. A listing that says "waterproof" with no rating has told you nothing checkable.

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MythA Shopee Mall or Preferred badge means the product is compliant.

Fact

A badge tells you about the seller. It does not tell you whether the product carries the marks it needs.

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MythA printed 256GB on a cheap micro SD card is the real size.

Fact

Fake-capacity cards exist. A very low price per GB is a warning, and you can test a card when it arrives with a free capacity-test tool.

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MythThe cheapest listing is just a good deal.

Fact

Sometimes it is. Often it is cheaper for a reason: inflated specs, an unbranded copy or a seller with no after-sales.

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MythA clothing listing with good photos will fit.

Fact

Photos on a model tell you little about fit. A size chart with real measurements and a return-for-size policy tell you more.

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Already bought it?

If something looks wrong

Four steps, in this order.

Stop using a unit that swells, gets unusually hot, smells or is visibly damaged. This is general safety advice, not a diagnosis of your product.
Request a return or refund through Shopee or Lazada within the return window.
Keep the listing screenshot, the box and your order details.
Report unsafe or misrepresented products through the platform, and to the Department of Trade and Industry through its official consumer channels.

Put it to work

Every guide we publish uses these checks. See how the picks score.

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