| Which evidence can enter the investigation | Documented workflow Provide a research scope plus relevant files or connected context. Constraint: Account/workspace availability governs the actual tools; no exhaustive coverage guarantee. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Deep research in Work where available; distinct from a quick web-search answer and from the developer API. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Web/Desktop can research the web and enabled connectors. Constraint: Mobile-started Research uses web only and silently skips connectors; local MCP servers are excluded. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Paid Research on web/Desktop; mobile has a materially narrower source scope. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Enterprise documentation shows selectable web, file and specialised source routes. Constraint: Confirm the chosen plan and mode; Enterprise examples do not prove personal-plan parity. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Research mode, not Pro Search, Computer or the API; enterprise-only source controls must remain labelled. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Researcher uses web sources and, at work, permitted organisational content. Constraint: Files, emails, meetings and chats must be accessible to the signed-in user. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Researcher in Copilot for eligible Microsoft 365 accounts; not retired consumer Deep Research. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. |
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| A constraint that changes the choice | Documented workflow Select Deep research rather than assuming every chat is a deep investigation. Constraint: The option can be limited by account and workspace settings. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Deep research in Work where available; distinct from a quick web-search answer and from the developer API. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Research requires a paid plan and web search enabled. Constraint: A long investigation consumes the plan’s usage; optional extra usage is separately billed. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Paid Research on web/Desktop; mobile has a materially narrower source scope. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Research selects the model combination automatically. Constraint: Manual model choice in another search mode does not establish manual choice inside Research. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Research mode, not Pro Search, Computer or the API; enterprise-only source controls must remain labelled. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Use current Researcher, not the retired consumer Deep Research feature. Constraint: The relevant entitlement is not included in every Microsoft 365 subscription. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Researcher in Copilot for eligible Microsoft 365 accounts; not retired consumer Deep Research. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. |
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| How to review the output | Documented workflow Review the returned report and sources, then ask focused follow-ups. Constraint: A citation is a route to evidence, not proof the cited page supports the claim. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Deep research in Work where available; distinct from a quick web-search answer and from the developer API. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Inspect web citations and verify claims against original sources. Constraint: Citation completeness and correct use of private sources have not been tested here. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Paid Research on web/Desktop; mobile has a materially narrower source scope. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow Inspect the linked evidence; Enterprise examples show PDF, Markdown and DOCX export. Constraint: Export options and plan eligibility need confirmation in the intended account. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Research mode, not Pro Search, Computer or the API; enterprise-only source controls must remain labelled. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. | Documented workflow The documented output is a structured, source-cited report that can be edited or shared. Constraint: Check each consequential assertion against the original source before sharing. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Researcher in Copilot for eligible Microsoft 365 accounts; not retired consumer Deep Research. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. |
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| Output-quality evidence | Output quality · not scored Not scored — matched testing unavailable. Constraint: Capability documentation does not establish accuracy, reliability or output quality. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Deep research in Work where available; distinct from a quick web-search answer and from the developer API. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. No matched test evidence is recorded for a quality rating. | Output quality · not scored Not scored — matched testing unavailable. Constraint: Capability documentation does not establish accuracy, reliability or output quality. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Paid Research on web/Desktop; mobile has a materially narrower source scope. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. No matched test evidence is recorded for a quality rating. | Output quality · not scored Not scored — matched testing unavailable. Constraint: Capability documentation does not establish accuracy, reliability or output quality. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Research mode, not Pro Search, Computer or the API; enterprise-only source controls must remain labelled. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. No matched test evidence is recorded for a quality rating. | Output quality · not scored Not scored — matched testing unavailable. Constraint: Capability documentation does not establish accuracy, reliability or output quality. Sources & assessment scopeNamed product: Researcher in Copilot for eligible Microsoft 365 accounts; not retired consumer Deep Research. Method: Research-based workflow comparison, not a hands-on review. Each fact is scoped to a named product surface, plan or documented condition. Unknown does not mean unsupported. No numeric star score is assigned without a defensible same-task rubric and evidence; no cross-category winner or aggregate rating. No matched test evidence is recorded for a quality rating. |
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