Plate VI · The legend

How the atlas is drawn.

Every comparison on Biohacker Atlas follows six rules — measure with instruments, decode the regulatory status, calculate the real cost, and show our work. This page is the single source of truth.

Fig. I · The six rules

Six laws of the territory.

§ 1

Bench first

Every device passes calibrated instruments before it gets a verdict. No exceptions. Manufacturer specs are recorded but never accepted as proof.

§ 2

Filings read

PMA · 510(k) · registered · wellness · DSHEA decoded into a 7-tier classification. We link the openFDA record on every brand page.

§ 3

Three-year horizon

Cost = hardware + subscription + consumables + energy, over 36 months. Sticker price is misleading when subscriptions vary tenfold.

§ 4

No paid placement

Affiliate links exist; rank order does not move. Ever. Commissions never influence verdicts.

§ 5

Conflicts disclosed

Any unit a manufacturer supplied is flagged on the bench page. Every review carries a sample-source field: purchased, loaned, gifted, or not-tested.

§ 6

Errata published

A correction log lives in the back matter, dated and signed. Brand disputes trigger an independent re-test, published here.

Fig. II · Regulatory classification

Seven tiers — what the badge means.

PMA FDA Pre-Market Approved — highest level, full clinical data submitted.

510(K) CLEARED Demonstrated substantial equivalence to a predicate device.

510(K) OFF-LABEL Cleared for one indication but marketed for another.

REGISTERED Listed with the FDA but NOT cleared or approved. Administrative only.

WELLNESS Marketed under FDA's general wellness policy, no submission required.

CE MARK Meets European Medical Device Regulation requirements.

NOT CLEARED None of the above.

Browse verified filings → /fda-database/

Fig. III · Verdict glyphs

We don't assign numeric scores. We assign positions.

◆ Recommended

We'd buy this with our own money for its stated purpose.

◇ Conditional

Good for a specific use case or buyer profile, with caveats.

✕ Avoid

Significant issues found in testing, regulatory status, or value.

· Not yet tested

Researched but not hands-on tested with instruments yet.

Fig. IV · Bench instruments

11 calibrated instruments.

ISO-17025 calibrated annually · serial numbers on file · uncertainty published with every value

Cornet ED88TPlus Red Light · Saunas · PEMF

decibel meter Sleep-Tech

digital multimeter Grounding · tDCS

H2Blue titration H₂ Water

HOPOOCOLOR OHSP-350 Red Light

kWh meter Saunas · Sleep-Tech

Opple Lightmaster Red Light

Polar H10 + Kubios HRV Rings · HRV · Vagus Nerve

thermal camera Saunas · Sleep-Tech

Trifield TF2 Saunas · PEMF

Trustlex ENH-1000 H₂ Water

Raw bench measurements → /lab-tests/

Fig. V · Back matter

Errata, changelog, conflicts.

Independence

Biohacker Atlas earns affiliate commissions from links on our pages. Commissions never influence rankings, verdicts, or measured data. Our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure are published in full.

Dispute resolution

Any brand challenging a published measurement triggers an independent re-test. The dispute, re-test results, and any correction (or confirmation) are published on the affected review page and in the changelog below.

Changelog

2026-05-08: Atlas redesign — methodology presented as Plate VI of the field guide.
2026-04-10: Initial methodology published. Phase 1 instruments listed. Calibration certificates pending first annual cycle.