Similar to how one cannot compare the fuel economy of a V8 SUV to a subcompact hatch, it would be reckless and misleading to compare the quality of a product simply by its brand. Manufacturers usually have different product lines — from entry-level to hi-performance — to service varying customer requirements. Aside from price points, these segments can also have different claims and specializations, and in some cases, even warranties.
When determining which product to purchase (or which is the better product), it is imperative to compare similarly categorized items. This means comparing the premium product of one brand, with the premium product of another brand. It is also not enough to say that one brand lasts for at least three years while another brand is only good for only twenty-four months without qualifying your claim. It would be very silly and quite useless to do otherwise.
Let’s make a concrete example. Motolite, a Filipino company that exports batteries globally and is among the market leaders in countries like the United States, Australia, and Malaysia, has three lines of maintenance-free batteries at different price points and with different warranty periods.
The most popular and most affordable line is the Motolite Enduro which is recommended for everyday use vehicles and has a 15-month warranty period. Next in line is Motolite Gold that recommended for heavy-duty vehicle use and has a 21-month warranty period. The top-tier line is the Motolite Excel for ultra-duty vehicle use and comes with a 24-month warranty period. All the batteries are built for hot climates (tropicalized) and with EGX technology. According to the manufacturer’s claims, the Motolite Excel is made to last at least 70% longer than those produced by other brands in the market, and that it uses German technology.
So to be truthful, when you are comparing the life expectancy of a Motolite battery with premium batteries of other brands, make sure you are using the available information about the correct product, in this case, the Motolite Excel that has the longest warranty coverage. On the other hand, when comparing affordability in pricing, the correct product for comparison is Motolite Enduro.
The same applies to other products. Apples to apples.