Should review scores be comparable across categories?

Do you think a numeric score should mean the same thing across completely different product categories, or only within the category being reviewed?

I lean toward consistent definitions for the criteria but category-specific weighting. Otherwise a strength that matters a lot in one type of product can distort the score somewhere else.

That is close to our approach. The framework needs consistent definitions, but the importance of a criterion can change with the product’s purpose. The review should make those priorities visible rather than hiding them inside one number.

I also prefer category context because it keeps buying guidance useful. A “9” only helps if readers understand what was being optimized.