
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

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.

Tim Cook is reportedly focused on Apple Glasses — and that could be bad news for the iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
A report claims that Tim Cook's focus is on developing AR glasses. But there's plenty of iPhone improvements that require attention, too.

iPhone Flip — all the iPhone Fold rumors so far
By Philip Michaels last updated
Rumors about the iPhone Flip are bringing some details about a folding iPhone into focus. Here's a look at what we've heard so far.

Apple Maps is my go-to choice for directions — here's how Apple Intelligence could make it even better
By Philip Michaels published
I turn to Apple Maps on my iPhone when I need to get from one place to another. And I'd like to see Apple Intelligence make those turn-by-turn directions even smarter.

iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Biggest expected changes
By Philip Michaels published
The iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10 figure to duke it out as the choice for people looking for an affordable high-end camera this fall. Here's how the phones compare based on current rumors.
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