There are many things you may want to check by reading reviews before actually buying a product, such as how hot a smartphone gets during extended gameplay and how frozen foods turn out when cooked. GIGAZINE has published numerous sponsored articles in which the editorial team actually tries and reviews products and services, so we asked readers, in a survey conducted in summer 2026, what kinds of products and services they would like to see featured in such sponsored articles.
First, we asked respondents to freely write down the categories and companies they would like to see featured in sponsored review articles on GIGAZINE, and compiled the results into the word cloud below.
The most requested category was “AI・Generative AI,” followed by “Games,” “Gadgets,” and “PCs・Custom-Built PCs.” However, a word cloud created from the full set of survey responses reveals only broad categories and does not show the specific requests. We therefore created individual word clouds for the top 10 categories.
・AI・Generative AI
Here is how the No. 1 category, “AI・Generative AI,” looks when turned into a word cloud.
Looking at individual responses, we found comments such as, “I’d like you to actually measure how much working time changes when AI is introduced into the workplace,” “I want to know the cheapest way to set up an environment for running a large language model (LLM) on your own PC,” and “I’d like you to feature the Japanese AI company ‘Sakana AI’.”
As for the cheapest way to set up an environment for running a large language model (LLM) locally, we have an article that reviews this on an iPhone rather than a PC, actually using and reviewing the image-generation AI “Bonsai Image 4B,” which runs locally on the iPhone. “Bonsai Image 4B” can run not only on the iPhone, but also on Windows PCs and Macs.
We Tried the New Image-Generation AI “Bonsai Image 4B” That Runs Locally on iPhone: Heavily Modified FLUX.2 Klein 4B into a 1-Bit Version to Reduce Memory Usage to One-Eighth - GIGAZINE
Also, by running the plan mode of “llmfit” below, you can find out “which parts you need to replace in your current PC to run the local AI model you’re interested in?”
Terminal Tool “llmfit” That Recommends the Right AI Model Based on Your System’s Memory, CPU, and GPU - GIGAZINE
・Games
In the second-ranked category, “Games,” many respondents asked for analog games such as board games and indie games to be featured.
Looking at individual responses, there were comments such as, “I want to read the impressions of someone who has actually played indie games” and “I want you to hear from individual developers and small studios about the story behind the development process.” GIGAZINE has the experience and track record of reviewing numerous board games, so if you commission a sponsored article, we can confidently create it.
We also review a wide range of indie games.
Play review of the ADV “Cafe Denkigai,” in which you become the manager of a maid café in Nihonbashi, Osaka, enliven the shop, and spend time with its unique maids - GIGAZINE
Play review of “Million Depth,” a game that traverses “world lines” by making use of time-stop action and weapon crafting - GIGAZINE
Play review of the gamebook-style RPG “Inochi no Tsukaikata,” in which the choice between “your own life or the power of revenge” affects the story and your abilities - GIGAZINE
We also review all sorts of board games.
Play report on the music card game “HITSTER Anison,” in which you listen to anime hit songs and guess their era - GIGAZINE
Review of “Bombusters,” the first Japanese-made board game to win Germany’s Spiel des Jahres Award—a masterpiece that offers simple yet profound deduction through cooperative bomb defusal - GIGAZINE
Play review of the board game “Sky Team,” where the altitude steadily drops and the runway draws closer, requiring you to control the engines and flaps with dice and avoid crashing! Two players cooperate to land the plane safely at the airport - GIGAZINE
・Gadgets
The most common requests in the third-place category “Gadgets” were for products used with PCs and around desks.
Some readers said, “I’d like you to test monitor arms and storage products in a real working environment” or “I’d like you to test gadgets available at 100-yen shops.” GIGAZINE also publishes reviews of PC peripherals. For example, in the following article, we actually attach BenQ’s “ScreenBar monitor light” to a monitor and check how much of the desk it illuminates.
Review of BenQ’s “ScreenBar monitor light,” which attaches to a monitor to save space and brightly illuminate a wide area, with 15 brightness levels and 8 color temperature levels adjustable - GIGAZINE
・PC・Custom-built PCs
The fourth-place category “PC・Custom-built PCs” received many answers about PC peripherals and components, including requests such as “I want to know how to build a custom PC.” Mini PCs and BTO computers assembled to order were also mentioned.
In addition to previously publishing article advertisements about mini PCs, we have also opened mini PCs and added storage or checked their performance with benchmarks in regular, non-sponsored articles.
Tried adding storage to a mini PC & how to reconnect the Wi-Fi cable if it comes loose during the installation - GIGAZINE
We have also reviewed the disassembly of a Steam Machine for replacing its SSD.
Actually tried the steps for disassembling a “Steam Machine” and accessing the SSD - GIGAZINE
・Smartphones
In the fifth-ranked category, “Smartphones,” there were many requests to cover apps and accessories, as well as devices from overseas manufacturers. There were also requests for smartphone reviews to test whether devices can be used comfortably even in sweltering heat and how much they heat up when high-load processing continues for a while.
There are articles that test smartphone temperatures under high loads, as shown below, but it seems that none have tested whether the devices can be used comfortably in hot environments in the first place.
We benchmarked the actual Google smartphones “Pixel 10,” “Pixel 10 Pro,” and “Pixel 10 Pro XL,” and also measured their temperatures to see how hot they get - GIGAZINE
Measured the battery life and charging speed of the “iPhone 17,” “iPhone 17 Pro,” and “iPhone Air,” and also tested whether they get hot under high loads - GIGAZINE
・Publishing/Books
In the sixth-ranked category, “Publishing/Books,” there were requests to feature publishers that produce textbooks, book-printing companies, and e-reader manufacturers.
Regarding e-reader-related articles, we have already published an article in which we used the 2026 model of the “Kindle” for about two weeks to check how it feels to use.
A thorough review of the latest 2026 “Kindle” model: what has improved in the user experience? - GIGAZINE
・Software
In the seventh-ranked category, “Software,” there were requests to compare subscription services such as video and music streaming and cloud storage. There were also responses asking us to examine the ease of use of ad-blocking tools and how well cloud services can cope when traffic spikes.
Regarding ad-blocking-related articles, we have published an article covering the installation, initial setup, and verification of the effectiveness of the iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac versions of the ad blocker “AdGuard.”
Installation and usage of “AdGuard Ad Blocker,” which makes it easy for anyone to block ads on Android and iPhone; delete all annoying and scam ads in one go - GIGAZINE
Installation and usage of “AdGuard Ad Blocker,” which makes it easy for anyone to block ads on Windows and Mac; delete ads not only in the browser, but also in apps and the Start menu, all at once - GIGAZINE
・Audio
The word cloud for “Audio,” which ranked eighth, is shown below.
Looking at the individual responses, in addition to requests such as “I want to know about earphones that are easy to use for commuting and running,” there are also budget-conscious requests such as “I want to compare headphones within 10,000 yen” and “I want you to feature desktop PC speakers for 20,000 yen or less.” In the audio category, GIGAZINE has published numerous articles on earphones, headphones, speakers, and more.
Review of the futuristic-looking wireless headphones “Headphone (1) Pro,” featuring three drivers and 10 microphones for noise reduction - GIGAZINE
I tried Anker’s wireless earbuds “Liberty Buds 2”—the smallest and lightest in the series, with a lightweight fit that eliminates the idea of “taking them out” - GIGAZINE
I set up the smart speaker “Amazon Echo Dot Max,” now with powerful bass, and the Dolby Atmos-compatible “Amazon Echo Studio” to check the sound quality - GIGAZINE
・Food & Gourmet
In the ninth-ranked “Food & Gourmet” category, there were comments such as “I want you to try new confectionery and ice cream products” and “I want to compare affordable ready-to-eat meals available at supermarkets.” There was also a response about frozen foods saying, “I want to see the cooking process and even the amount of the finished product.”
GIGAZINE has published a wide range of tasting articles, covering everything from familiar items to rare ones, and from inexpensive items to expensive ones.
I ate Burger King’s “Guilty The One Pounder”—with 1,579 kcal and a total weight of 513 g, it unleashes an overwhelmingly garlicky aroma - GIGAZINE
I tried three products from the “Cup Noodle Isekai Combination” series, combining Nissin Cup Noodle with “Gindako,” “Calamari Cho,” and “Gohan Desu!” - GIGAZINE
Starbucks chilled cup “Merry Berry Chocolate Latte,” where the festive aroma of berries and the bitter flavor of chocolate are a perfect match - GIGAZINE
Tasting review of Häagen-Dazs’ “Crispy Sandwich [Chestnut and Cassis Parfait]”—enjoy the mellow sweetness of chestnut and the festive flavor of cassis - GIGAZINE
I tried MOS Burger’s official frozen foods, “MOS Rice Burger〈Nori-bento〉～Chicken Karaage～” and “Yakiniku / Pork Ginger Roast, born from a rice burger” - GIGAZINE
・Keyboards
In the tenth-ranked “Keyboards” category, there were comments from people wanting to know about the usability of split keyboards that allow the left and right halves to be positioned separately, as well as the differences in typing feel when changing the switches (key switches).
GIGAZINE has published the following articles on keyboards.
Tried the premium keyboard “HHKB Studio” equipped with mechanical switches - GIGAZINE
Took a closer look at the appearance and typing sound of the pure-white, keycap-less keyboard “HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Yuki” - GIGAZINE
In some cases, the usability learned from reading review articles like those listed above can be the deciding factor in purchasing a product. In a reader survey asking whether they had ever purchased or used a product or service because of a GIGAZINE review article, 58.7% answered “Yes,” while 41.3% answered “No.”
GIGAZINE also publishes a variety of sponsored articles, but from our experience to date, we know that advertisers and advertising agencies tend to request that articles highlight only the advantages of their products or services. However, GIGAZINE believes that including both the advantages and disadvantages makes the content more credible and ultimately gives readers greater satisfaction when making a purchase. We therefore asked readers whether both the advantages and disadvantages of products and services should be included in sponsored articles, and 97.7% answered “Both the advantages and disadvantages should be included,” while 2.3% answered “The disadvantages should not be included.”
So, would you like to publish a review article for GIGAZINE readers, around 60% of whom have actually purchased a product because of a review article? If you are interested, please contact us through the advertising information site below. Sponsored article rates are scheduled to rise in January 2027, so we recommend contacting us as soon as possible!
GIGAZINE.BIZ | Information on advertising placements for the IT news site GIGAZINE.
https://gigazine.biz/
