The trick I’ve found is to use something like this to get some model numbers - read up on the specs, and then start searching for the model number on Reddit and other places until I find people talking about it, then read as much as I can.
And also search “model number problem” too.
It’s not perfect but it usually works well enough.
It's a good one, but worth also making a collection of alt model numbers. Costco, for example, gets custom models just for it's stores, as does Best Buy in the US. Often the products are the same except for a color, though some include extras either in the box (a sleeve!) or in the product.
Yeah, once you start searching on a model, you often can find details about what that model actually is, and the various forms it appears (manuals, especially repair manuals, can be tremendous for this).
Search engine "item + problem" is where i always start. Of course, you get the 'piece of crap, took three months to get during covid' bs, but i really want to know how bad the item may be, as much as how bad the company may be ("didn't solve my problem").
And also search “model number problem” too.
It’s not perfect but it usually works well enough.