In "Is Apple Bored of Winning? - M5 MacBook Pro," Dave Lee reviews the newest MacBook by recommending older models, admits he doesn't use a product he's covering, and creates competitive context without filming a single competitor. These aren't accidents. They're specific techniques that build trust while keeping 3.6M subscribers engaged through what could've been a routine spec review.

In "Xiaomi 17 Pro Max review - Apple are you seeing this!?" Arun Maini (Mrwhosetheboss) keeps viewers engaged through a complex product review by making his evaluation process transparent. Instead of avoiding the obvious iPhone mimicry criticism, he voices it himself—"part of me thinks this is really not a good look"—then introduces the competing perspective. When viewers see the reasoning behind conclusions, they're better equipped to form their own judgments.

MKBHD – iPhone 17 Pro Review: Paradox in a Box!
Many phone reviews follow a predictable path: design, specs, camera, verdict. MKBHD ditches that structure entirely. Instead, he frames the iPhone 17 Pro around a paradox and uses every feature as evidence. Here's how this narrative technique transforms a product review into strategic analysis.