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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:

  • 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

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RoadTest Reviews
Comments
Anonymous
  • in reply to saramic

    What're your plans for it?
    I believe its availability is not within the timeframe for enrolment for this RoadTest.

  • having just upgraded a couple of UNO Q's, I noticed a new board is on the horizon - Arduino®︎ VENTUNO (E14 blog post) given I have mucked about with the 2GB UNO Q, I would be keen to lift my game and see what can be done with the 16GB VENTUNO

    an overview with one of the Arduino Developers at embedded world

    an overview of some of the Arduino Demos at embedded world

  • in reply to cstanton

    would agree with this I have a expensive scope at my work I use here and there many once or twice a year for really detailed inspections but for the most part a hundred dollar or under scope I have in my home lab does all I need it to think I paid like 60 for it really and even got my work to get one which I use for on the fly inspections and for soldering.   I have mine mounted on a mount for a microphone I can move around my bench and lift it out of the way less footprint then our big one for sure and if I hit it with a soldering iron....im ok with it vs our expensive one.   If I was doing more indepth inspections day in and day out this might change so really its based on needs sure everyone wants the big shiny setup but in reality its overkill no different then buying a really expensive oscilloscope and only ever working on arduino projects its over kill for what you need which a 100-200 scope will do the trick vs a 5k one. 

  • in reply to me_Cris

    "but for the pros it's nothing so special."

    You can be a pro' and not be able to afford criminally expensive microscopes. Slight smile

  • in reply to reeva

    If a product is US$175 or under on any of the online stores then it should be eligible for the competition.

    In the case of applications that seem 'borderline', I would definitely recommend giving it a go and applying. We would love to see what you are proposing! You can always drop me a message to ask about anything further.

  • in reply to cstanton

    Yes, for an ordinary guy, but for the pros it's nothing so special.

  • in reply to Gough Lui

    I remember the first time it seemed a little strange to me, I also have some vision problems, and yes, I stuck the soldering iron in my fingers a few times. Joy
    But a microscope is a really nice to have.

  • For the $175 limit, which store's price applies? If a product is under $175 on the US Newark store, but costs over $175 on my local Farnell store after currency conversion, is it still eligible?

  • in reply to cstanton

    I was going to say it's a "little teeny tiny bit" expensive. Haha.

    Optical ones, definitely, but I'm finding that digital ones are getting affordable ...

    - Gough

  • 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.