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  • Author Author: JoRatcliffe
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RoadTest Open Call

JoRatcliffe

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Has there ever been a product that you wanted to test and review but it has not been featured in another RoadTest here on the community? Now is your chance!

Submit an application to review any product of your choosing under $175 (USD) on the Newark / Farnell / element14 online stores.

The ten best applicants will receive their requested product for FREE and get to keep it in return for writing a review.

How To Apply

Click the button on the right to enroll by putting in your application. Here is an idea of what to include in your application:

  • The product you want to review and why you have chosen it
  • The details of the test plan or review you plan on carrying out
  • A brief description of your background, general experience level, and familiarity with the technology (embedded systems / microcontrollers / programming / prototyping etc.)

A more innovative and/or thorough review of a new or overlooked product is more likely to give you a chance of being selected, as long as the ambition of your review matches up with your experience level and familiarity with the technology.

Example Product Review Possibilities

So, what kind of product could you review?

  • A single board computer (eg. Arduino Uno Q)
  • An all-in-one kit (eg. development kit, motor control kit, optical, wireless transceiver kit)
  • Bench equipment (eg. power supply, oscilloscope, soldering station)

Once you know the product you want to receive and review, what sort of review could you write?

The only limit is your imagination but here are a few examples:

  • The out-of-the-box experience of a product - Do an unboxing, power the product up, check any pre-programmed options or features, and follow the user guide.
  • Performance test - Measure accuracy and see if the product is faster/slower than specifications
  • Cybersecurity evaluation - Test for security holes and vulnerabilities
  • Test a product to destruction! - Show how a product holds up in hazardous conditions such as high temperatures or rugged environments.

Important Dates

Enrollment period: 23rd June - 30th August
Enrollment deadline: 30th August
Units ship: 4th September
You begin reviewing: 11th September
Post your review by: 11th October

Look for parts to review on your local store

Terms & Conditions

RoadTest Reviews
Comments
Anonymous

  • I've officially submitted my application! 

    I recently roadtested the Arduino UNO Q and was incredibly impressed by its hybrid MPU/MCU architecture. While I pushed the board's internal capabilities to its limits, I am highly motivated to evaluate its physical expandability. I want to test Arduino's claim of seamless compatibility with the wider ecosystem—specifically how it handles classic UNO shields, Qwiic connectors, and Modulino nodes—to see if it can truly serve as the ultimate industrial/hobbyist bridge.

    I'm currently looking for new projects to get involved in, and I think this is a fantastic roadtest to enter. Nice job on evolving the roadtest concept to let members pick out what they want to review!

    Looking forward to potentially being selected to review my requested hardware.

  • Man, how expensive is a microscope. CrySweat smile

  • I am more interested in documentation format.

  • in reply to ggabe

    "Imagine if every RoadTest came not only with the evaluation kit, but also with a month of access to premium AI tooling"

    Like the deepcraft ai suite from infineon or something else?

  • Interesting new format for roadtest. 

  • I've been thinking about how the element14 RoadTest program could evolve.

    A few years ago, the value proposition was simple: you got interesting hardware to evaluate, and you wrote up your findings. That still has value, but the world has changed.

    Today, a modern engineering workflow is hardware plus AI.

    Imagine if every RoadTest came not only with the evaluation kit, but also with a month of access to premium AI tooling. Not a generic chatbot, but the tools engineers actually use: debugging firmware, understanding datasheets, generating test code, reviewing PCB designs, writing documentation, exploring APIs, and making sense of unfamiliar silicon.

    The review would no longer be "What did I think of this board?"

    It would become "What can an engineer accomplish with this board when AI is part of the workflow?"

    That would produce richer reviews, more ambitious projects, and far more realistic evaluations of how these products are actually used in 2026.

    The RoadTest wouldn't just evaluate the hardware—it would evaluate the complete engineering experience.

    I think that's a much more compelling proposition for reviewers, sponsors, and readers alike.

  • in reply to cstanton

    Hi, thanks. To me it seems possible. 

  • in reply to embeddedguy

    This is effectively answered in the terms and conditions.

  • Can we apply for more than two kits in the same categories?

    For example, a radio kit with WiFi and a kit with Zigbee connectivity?

    Of course, not more than $175 combined.

  •   Can we apply for product whose road test was already done but reviews do not cover many functionality of that product?

  • I submitted my entry for 2 separate boards that end up under the price mark.  I can change this if this is not allowed. 

  • can I choose multiple product. Where some total is in range of $175. Or, do I need to choose only one product. 

  • ACF tape is not present in in.elemnt14.com other country has it in their platform.

  • Just submitted my application and I have to say — this is one of the most interesting RoadTest formats element14 has run. The freedom to choose your own product and define your own review scope completely changes the dynamic. Instead of evaluating a product in isolation, you're evaluating it against a real problem you're actually trying to solve. That's where the most honest, useful reviews come from. Really looking forward to seeing what the community produces with this one. The range of products and angles people will bring to this is going to make for genuinely compelling reading.

  • Now this is an interesting new Road Test idea. I like it.

    All of the items I looked up in my first search on the Newark website blew well past the budget limit.  Then, upon reflection, I recalled several devices that I have been curious about but have not pursued because I didn't know if they would be fit for the purposes I had in mind.

    Well, if I could evaluate one or more of them via the Road Test program and post my results on Element 14, that would solve my dilemma and perhaps help out other members that have similar curiosities.

    Yes, this new approach might be perfect.  I think I'll write up an application.

  • Interesting approach.

    Could be fun.

  • in reply to dougw

    If only the price cap was higher, I'd agree.  Time to search from something else I need (spoiler alert, it's all too expensive).

  • This new road test twist is a great opportunity to learn about something you really need.