John Velasco

I’ve tested the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and it proves Apple really needs to solve this one thing

By John Velasco Published 3 August 26

While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 delivers top-tier hardware, its flawed app scaling proves that Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold doesn't need to win on hardware — it needs to win with developers.

I drove the GMC Yukon Denali and Chevrolet Tahoe for a week — here’s the massive 3-row SUV I recommend

By John Velasco Published 2 August 26

After spending a week with both the GMC Yukon Denali and Chevrolet Tahoe, there's a clear difference between these massive SUVs.

I’ve been on Visible since 2023 — and the lower bills I’ve paid prove why I’ll never go back to a major phone carrier

By John Velasco Published 2 August 26

By switching to Visible in 2023, I’ve saved thousands over 33 months — proving that breaking free from major carrier bills doesn’t mean sacrificing reliable coverage.

10 Comments

Network Carriers

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 review: More expensive, barely different

By John Velasco Published 1 August 26

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 delivers top-tier performance and standout vlogging features, but a $100 price hike makes its tough considering all the iterative improvements.

I’ve tested hundreds of phone accessories this year — and these are the 9 that you won’t regret buying

By John Velasco Published 31 July 26

I've test hundreds of phone accessories in the last year and these are the nine that proved their worth to me and worth spending your money on.

Audi completely redesigned how the turn signal works with the Q9 and SQ9 — making them way more visible on the road

By John Velasco Published 30 July 26

Audi’s all-new 2027 Q9 and SQ9 make their debut as the brand’s first true full-size, three-row U.S., but they both heavily focus on lighting tech.

I shot the same 25 photos with a $329 budget phone and $1,199 flagship — here's the results

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.

By John Velasco Published 29 July 26

Does having a flagship phone have a substantially better camera performance than a budget one? I put the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to the test.

This tracking card lasts 50% longer than an AirTag for just $15 more — and now I never have to worry about replacing batteries

Nomad Tracking Card Pro held in the hand.

By John Velasco Published 27 July 26

At just $15 more than an AirTag, the Nomad Tracking Card Pro has an unprecedented 16-month battery life.

I drove the Volkswagen Atlas and Kia Telluride for a week — here’s the mid-size 3-row SUV I recommend

By John Velasco Published 26 July 26

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas and 2027 Kia Telluride are 3-row, mid-size SUVs that offer outstanding utility and almost price similarly, but one does offer more value.

10 Comments

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 battery life tested — silicon carbon pays off

By John Velasco Published 25 July 26

Armed with silicon-carbon batteries, Samsung’s new foldables deliver massive generational battery gains led by the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Fold 8 Ultra vs Flip 8 benchmarked — the results are in

By John Velasco Published 24 July 26

We benchmark Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 to see how the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performs against the competition.

I'd buy a Galaxy Z Fold 8 over the Z Fold 8 Ultra — and it's all because it steals this Z TriFold feature

By John Velasco Published 23 July 26

Thanks to its wider aspect ratio, you get three-app side-by-side multitasking with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which it steals from the TriFold.

I drove the Cadillac Optiq for a week — and it makes other compact electric SUVs look tiny

By John Velasco Published 23 July 26

Recommended

The 2026 Cadillac Optiq V-Series backs up its steep $79,270 price tag with blistering 519-horsepower acceleration, elegant design, and more.

EVs

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked recap: Everything on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, smart glasses, Galaxy Watch 9, and more

By John Velasco, Tom Pritchard Last updated 22 July 26

Samsung’s summer Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event showcased a major expansion with foldables like the passport-style Galaxy Z Fold 8, the flagship Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and more.

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I’ve always liked Samsung’s flip phones, but the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is a big letdown — here’s why

By John Velasco Published 22 July 26

Not yet rated

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 delivers a sleeker design, new battery tech, and subtle software additions, but is it worth the extra $100 it's asking for?

Samsung Galaxy Card takes aim at Apple Card with way more perks and rewards — here’s what you get

By John Velasco Published 20 July 26

Samsung's new Barclays-issued Galaxy Card aims to challenge the Apple Card by offering loyalists 5% cash back on direct brand purchases and 3% on all mobile wallet transactions.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — 5 biggest rumored upgrades you need to know

By John Velasco Last updated 19 July 26

The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are shaping up to be absolute powerhouses with big upgrades that could land them in an all-time best list.

I tested the Sonim XP Pro Thermal for a week — and this ultra-rugged phone doesn't feel like a brick in my pocket

By John Velasco Published 18 July 26

The Sonim XP Pro Thermal proves that a rugged, military-grade smartphone with an integrated FLIR night vision camera doesn't have to be weigh as much as a tank.

I hate paying for calorie-tracking apps, so I had Gemini analyze my food photos instead — here’s what it found

By John Velasco Published 16 July 26

I want to avoid paying for pricey calorie-tracking subscriptions, so I used Google Gemini to analyze my meals to give me an idea of how much I'm consuming.

Google Gemini

I drove the BMW XM Label and Audi RS Q8 for a week — here’s the only one I'd recommend

By John Velasco Published 16 July 26

I put the 2026 BMW XM Label and 2026 Audi RS Q8 to the test for a week each to find out which performance luxury SUV is worth splurging on.

2 Comments

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Wide) vs Fold 8 Ultra — here's the foldable I'm most excited for

Renders of Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8

By John Velasco Published 15 July 26

There are key differences between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, so I'm breaking down what they are and which one I'm excited the most for.

iOS 27 hands-on preview: These new features completely change how I use my iPhone

iOS 27 Siri AI running on iPhone 17 Pro.

By John Velasco Last updated 14 July 26

Backed by a smarter, highly contextual Siri and game-changing creative tools, the iOS 27 public beta is a massive leap forward that proves Apple is no longer just playing catch-up.

iOS 27 public beta is here: how to download it now

By John Velasco Published 13 July 26

The iOS 27 public beta is officially live, delivering a massive wave of features that range from a highly contextual Siri AI to more Apple Intelligence features.

I drove the Toyota GR Corolla for a week — and it's the perfect car for first time manual drivers

By John Velasco Published 12 July 26

Learning to drive stick shift in the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla proves that behind its intimidating looks is a perfect starting point for any manual beginner.