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| Two well-known tech YouTubers explain how manufacturers are lying in their marketing |
We’re all used to flashy advertising claims from major tech companies. Faster chips. Brighter screens. Revolutionary cameras. But how much of it is real? At Notebookcheck, our entire mission is to separate hype from reality—testing laptops, tablets, and smartphones to verify which promises actually hold up.
Yet even seasoned tech enthusiasts can get swept up in creative marketing. That’s why a new video from popular YouTubers Arun Maini (MrWhosetheboss) and Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) is a must-watch. The duo breaks down the industry’s most misleading tactics, from “up to” performance claims to imaginary specs and made-up buzzwords.
Below, we’ve summarized their key points—plus added our own insights from years of hands-on testing. But first, watch the video that started the conversation.
The Many “Lies” of the Tech Industry
According to Arun Maini, companies are lying more than ever. Even tiny improvements are dressed up as quantum leaps. Here are the most common deceptive strategies you’ll see in 2026.
“Up to” – The Classic Dodge
“Up to 8x faster.” “Up to 20 hours of battery life.” Sound familiar? These phrases are everywhere, but they’re almost always followed by microscopic footnotes. That 8x speed boost might only apply when comparing a brand-new flagship to a five-year-old budget phone. Or the battery life figure assumes you’re watching low-resolution video with airplane mode on.
Manufacturers rarely compare a new chip to its immediate predecessor. Apple, for example, won’t tell you how much faster the M5 is than the M4. That’s where independent reviews come in. If you’re curious about real-world performance, our review of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 with M5 Max chip (available here on Amazon) lays out exactly what you can expect.
👉 Check the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 Max on Amazon
Efficiency vs. Performance – You Can’t Have Both
Another common trick: claiming a chip is “up to 23% faster” and “20% more efficient.” Sounds like magic. In reality, you rarely get both at the same time. The faster performance requires higher power draw. The efficiency gains appear only in low-power modes or specific tasks. Marketers just list the best of both worlds as if they coexist.
Imaginary Specs – The EV Trick That Spread to Gadgets
Electric vehicle makers are infamous for this: advertising the top configuration’s range alongside the base model’s price. The same trick now appears in phones and laptops. A product page might boast “24GB RAM and 1TB storage” in huge letters, while the fine print reveals that’s only for the $1,999 version—the one you can actually buy has 8GB and 128GB.
“Unified Memory” and Other Made-Up Terms
Why call RAM “unified memory”? Because it sounds special and makes direct comparisons harder. Apple popularized this, but others have followed. In the TV world, you’ll see “Motion Rate” (which isn’t the same as refresh rate) and alphabet-soup brands like ULED, QLED, and QNED—all designed to evoke OLED, even though they’re just LCD panels with extra filters.
Then there are “1-inch sensors” in smartphones that aren’t truly one inch, or “1.5K displays” that are barely above Full HD. These numbers sound impressive but mean very little in real use.
Software Features That Aren’t Exclusive
New AI features are a huge selling point for today’s phones and laptops. But very often, those same features come to older models via an update—just a few weeks after launch. You’ll never hear that at the keynote.
Glass Improvements: A Zero-Sum Game
Ceramic Shield, Gorilla Glass Victus, and their successors all promise better drop resistance. But here’s the physics: softer glass absorbs impact better (less shattering) but scratches easily. Harder glass resists scratches but cracks sooner. No glass excels at both. Marques Brownlee has a separate video on why “tough glass” claims are always a trade-off.
Fake Free Storage Upgrades
When a company drops the 128GB base model and introduces a 256GB version at the same price, they call it a “free upgrade.” But they also raised last year’s 256GB price. You’re not getting more for less—you’re just being pushed up the ladder.
“Military Grade” and Other Meaningless Labels
“Surgical stainless steel.” “Aerospace aluminum.” “Military-grade polycarbonate.” These sound tough, but they don’t guarantee anything. Military specifications are often about manufacturing consistency, not superior durability. A cheap plastic toy can be “military grade” if it meets certain tolerance standards.
Pointless Measurements – The Thinnest Point Lie
Ever seen a laptop thickness claim that seemed too good to be true? That’s because they measured the thinnest edge, not the thickest. Or they removed the screen protector to claim a “foldable record.” Similarly, peak brightness numbers now reach 6,000 nits—useless in daily life, since you’ll never run your screen at that level except for a tiny HDR highlight. Our smartphone reviews always test real-world brightness, not just peak specs.
Camera Gimmicks: 200MP and 140x Zoom
More megapixels don’t mean better photos. A 200MP sensor often produces worse low-light images than a 12MP one unless conditions are perfect. And “140x zoom” from Nothing? That’s digital zoom, which is just cropping. You’ll never get a usable image at that range.
Then there are “Shot on iPhone” campaigns. Yes, the phone captured the video, but often with gimbals, professional lighting, ND filters, and hours of setup. That’s not how anyone uses a phone day-to-day.
How to Protect Yourself from Tech Hype
After watching the MrWhosetheboss and MKBHD video, you’ll start spotting these tricks everywhere. Here’s what to do instead:
- Ignore “up to” claims and look for median or sustained performance numbers.
- Read footnotes – The real limitations live there.
- Wait for independent reviews before buying. Notebookcheck and other trusted outlets test products the way normal people use them.
- Be suspicious of new terminology – If it’s not an industry-standard term, it’s probably marketing.
- Check update policies – That new AI feature might come to your current device for free.
Tech is advancing faster than ever. But so are the lies. Stay skeptical, and always verify the fine print.
Looking for real-world laptop performance without the marketing spin? The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with M5 Max is fully reviewed on our site. And don’t forget to watch the full exposé from MrWhosetheboss and MKBHD here.