
Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.
Latest articles by Philip Michaels

iPhone 17 release date: All the possibilities for this year's phone launch
By Philip Michaels published
There's no official word on an iPhone 17 release date. But using Apple's own history of iPhone rollouts, we can make an educated guess as to when the new models might arrive this year.

Goodbye, iPhone? Apple's Cue says the phone could be replaced by AI
By Philip Michaels published
The iPhone may be an important part of Apple's business now. But Apple executive Eddy Cue says shifts in technology could mean that Apple's phone eventually makes way for something else.

Samsung just announced a May 12 Unpacked event — get ready for the Galaxy S25 Edge
By Philip Michaels published
After multiple previews showing off the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung sounds like it's ready to release the ultra-thin phone. A launch event is set for Monday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

Apple's rumored iPhone release date shake-up is good news for the iPhone 17 – here's why
By Philip Michaels published
A report claims that Apple will stagger its iPhone launches in 2026, with the standard iPhone coming out earlier in the year. If so, that's another argument in favor of an iPhone 17 upgrade.

I lose my TV remote all the time — and this sticker tracker has come to my rescue
By Philip Michaels published
The right tracker for certain types of jobs

I tried this wallet-sized tracker for a month — and I wouldn't recommend it
By Philip Michaels published
The Tile Slim is perfectly designed for a wallet or purse to make sure you don't lose track of your valuables. But the range is too limited to depend on this tracker.

Tile Pro 2024 review: Still a good key finder, but a backward step
By Philip Michaels published
The updated version of Tile's top-of-the-line key finder isn't as polished as past versions. Our Tile Pro 2024 review looks at what the key finder does well and where it falls short.

I've been testing key finders for a decade — and this is my new top pick
By Philip Michaels published
The Tile Mate may not be the most expensive of the Tile trackers, but it's the best.

Best cell phone plans in 2025: The best options for your monthly phone service
By Philip Michaels last updated
Looking for the best cell phone plan for your needs? We’ve rounded up the best choices for family plans, unlimited data and low-cost plans from prepaid carriers.

Buying a Galaxy S25? This carrier blows everyone else away
By Philip Michaels published
A new report shows how 5G connectivity speeds have gotten faster for more recent Galaxy S flagships. And one phone carrier in particular stands out for 5G download and upload performance.

Trump tariffs could impact iPhone 17 prices — should you upgrade now?
By Philip Michaels published
There's a lot of uncertainty about how much iPhones will cost in the fall. Does it make sense to get a new iPhone now rather than wait for the iPhone 17 launch?

I needed to get in better shape — my iPhone played a big part in getting me on the right track
By Philip Michaels published
My health and fitness are on the upswing, and the Fitness and Health apps on my iPhone deserve a lot of the credit.

Tim Cook defends Siri during Apple earnings call — ‘we need more time’
By Philip Michaels published
The Apple Intelligence revamp is 'taking a bit longer than we thought'

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra (2025): How these flip phones could compare
By Philip Michaels published
Which foldable flip phone will be the best?

The Galaxy S25 has a feature to fix your group photos — here's how to use it
By Philip Michaels published
Galaxy AI brings a new Best Face photo-editing tool to fix faces in group photos. It debuted with the Galaxy S25, but other phones running One Ui 7 support Best Face, too.

Best Android apps — free and paid
By Philip Michaels, John Velasco last updated
There are plenty of apps in the Google Play store, but we tracked down the best Android apps that deserve a place on your smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch is looming — these are the 5 biggest rumors about Samsung's thin phone
By Philip Michaels published
If rumors are accurate, the Galaxy S25 Edge could launch in two weeks. It's time to start familiarizing yourself with the rumored features coming to this ultrathin Samsung device.

Tech CEOs think I'm going to trade my phone for smart glasses — here's why they're wrong
By Philip Michaels published
Everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to Tim Cook thinks smart glasses will be the next big thing. But I'll need some convincing before I turn to glasses instead of a smartphone.

I gave Memory Movies another try 6 months after Apple Intelligence arrived — here’s what I’ve found
By Philip Michaels published
Memory Movies was among the first Apple Intelligence tools to land on your iPhone. Six months after first testing it, I wanted to see if the AI-powered movie creator has improved any.

The iPhone 17 Air and Galaxy S25 Edge feel like the next foldable phones
By Philip Michaels last updated
Foldable phones have yet to provide a compelling reason to exist. The iPhone 17 Air and Galaxy S25 Edge need to avoid the same fate.

How to recycle electronics and old tech — tips for properly disposing used phones, TVs, and computers
By Kate Kozuch, Jason England, Philip Michaels, Michael Desjardin published
When it comes time to get rid of your used electronics, here's what to know about how to recycle them properly.

iPhone 17e rumor has me scratching my head — here's why
By Philip Michaels published
A leaker claims that Apple is developing an iPhone 17e for a May 2026 release. Here's why that doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

iOS 18.5 makes it easier to customize your inbox — here’s what you can do
By Philip Michaels published
In iOS 18.5, it's easier to hide contact photos from people who send you messages in Mail. We'll also show you how to turn off the Group by Sender feature.

The Trump administration wants Apple to build iPhones in the U.S. — here's why that will be hard to pull off
By Philip Michaels published
Trump administration officials are talking about the prospect of bringing tech manufacturing from overseas to the U.S. The iPhone is a good example of why that would be hard to pull off.

Apple brings recipes to News Plus in iOS 18.4 — here's what one foodie thinks
By Philip Michaels published
The iOS 18.4 update brings a new Food section to Apple News Plus that includes recipes among other features. I've explored this addition to see if it makes an Apple News Plus subscription worthwhile.
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