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
![iOS 18 notes app on iPhone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dEwLCQtoSaZ5UpVs9Nf7D7-320-80.jpg)
iOS 18 Notes — 5 biggest changes coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
Apple may not have spent a lot of time previewing iOS 18 Notes during WWDC, but the built-in note-taking app will see some pretty big changes with this year's iPhone software update.
![iPhones showing Apple Intelligence features](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XNswekLWT3vsQpWdNEP2m7-320-80.jpg)
Apple Intelligence underscores Apple’s biggest iPhone mistake in years
By Philip Michaels published
Our managing editor for mobile never cared for Apple's move to use different chipsets in the same iPhone family. Apple Intelligence's lack of wider support only makes that decision more irritating.
![iOS 18 home screen customization features](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wz7BZbmXj7P98tBMUwBs5i-320-80.jpg)
iOS 18 home screen — 5 biggest upgrades you need to know
By Philip Michaels last updated
iOS 18 lets you change the look and layout of your home screen. Find out about all the changes you can make to the appearance of app icons and widgets.
![WWDC 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vXhmHeiudqJng2sBDHYsLG-320-80.png)
Apple Intelligence is leaving hundreds of millions of iPhone owners out in the cold — here’s why
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple Intelligence introduces a lot of interesting and promising features to your devices — if they meet Apple's requirements. And a lot of iPhones fall short of that.
![Leaked promo image of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vig3Cu9yPfRZiBZev4xk8V-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 both tipped for price hikes — this is a huge mistake
By Philip Michaels published
A rumor claims that both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will cost $100 more than their predecessors. No one likes to see price hikes, but this one would be especially bad.
![best iphone 14 cases](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/749FGTMDdSSjRvzLf5wKrE-320-80.jpg)
Best iPhone 14 cases in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best iPhone 14 cases add protection and style to your new Apple phone. Here are our picks for the cases that can keep your iPhone 14 looking good as new.
![iOS 18 Apple Maps trail and hiking maps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eFXhP4b25EFXATUMrJChCE-320-80.jpg)
iOS 18 Maps — biggest new features coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
iOS 18 Maps focuses on just one feature, but it's a welcome one if you enjoy the great outdoors. Here's what you need to know about the addition of trail maps to iOS 18 and what it means for hikers.
![Galaxy s25 Ultra concept design by Technizo Concept on YouTube](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dXLg8BRAQ99xF46YGNg8QD-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy S25's best feature could force a major price hike
By Philip Michaels published
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 likely to run the Galaxy S25 could prove to be a very pricey piece of Samsung's flagship phone.
![Leaked promo image of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vig3Cu9yPfRZiBZev4xk8V-320-80.jpg)
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 cameras — 5 biggest rumored upgrades
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Flip should see the bigger improvements
![iPhone 16 Pro render front and back](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5wDTVRZKp9R9XBGanPzCND-320-80.jpg)
iPhone 16 — could Apple Intelligence spur upgrades to the new iPhone?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's what Apple Intelligence means for the iPhone 16's prospects — and beyond
![best iphone 15 pro max cases](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qw33tht5EecDdwcYDZaJm4-320-80.jpeg)
Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
Now that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most expensive phone Apple's ever made, you'll want to keep it safe from harm. The best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases can help.
![iOS 18 logo next to iOS 18 Photos app screenshot on iPhone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7M8HmNoABMkmPGCffM83B9-320-80.jpg)
iOS 18 Photos — all the new features coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
The iOS 18 version of Photos focuses on a redesign that's supposed to make it easier to find the images you're looking for. And Apple Intelligence should bring some new tools to Photos, too.
![iOS 18 logo on an iPhone 15 Pro](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NhD7YieM3pkjYFkVVUoAXj-320-80.jpg)
iOS 18 features — here's which ones will (and won't) work with your iPhone
By Philip Michaels last updated
Just because your iPhone supports iOS 18, it won't necessarily be able to run every feature. Here's the iOS 18 capabilities that require specific iPhone models.
![Apple Watch Series 8 shown on wrist](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TKipScgveoEgfmpWmce8UB-320-80.jpg)
watchOS 11 has a feature I love so much, I hope iOS 18 steals it
By Philip Michaels published
iPhone users should be able to pause their Move streaks, too, Apple
![wwdc 2024 keynote live blog](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rQnA4inNNv9jUFaH3NFB6f-320-80.jpg)
Apple WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence, iOS 18, new Siri, iPadOS 18 and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
AI takes center stage at Apple's developer event
![best mobile hotspots](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4CmSKZtMMNtnKnKjq3NJUV-320-80.jpg)
Best mobile hotspots in 2024
By Jeffery Battersby last updated
These are the best mobile hotspots for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customers.
![iPhone 16 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LRHRJgnJqueph5xbXspJkR-320-80.jpg)
iPhone 16 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Can Apple beat Samsung’s best?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's how the phones compare based on iPhone 16 Pro rumors
![Unofficial renders of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max from the front](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GyyTEMvaZ4Ddz2CdxWKACo-320-80.jpg)
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro displays — 5 biggest rumors for the new iPhones
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple could make some big changes to the displays on the iPhone 16 — quite literally, in the case of the Pro models. Here are the biggest rumors surrounding iPhone 16 displays right now.
![iPhone 16 ultra concept by 4RMD](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LiuQPUbn5totwWrWRLJVBc-320-80.jpeg)
iPhone 16 Ultra: All the rumors so far
By Philip Michaels last updated
A new top-of-the-line iPhone could be coming this year. Here's what we know about a potential iPhone 16 Ultra based on rumors about Apple's upcoming phones.
![Unofficial iOS 18 logo on an iPhone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AuRomvkySEmFHuB868KNx4-320-80.jpg)
WWDC 2024 — 5 biggest iOS 18 questions for this year's Apple event
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple's about to preview iOS 18 — here's what we want to know
![Samsung Galaxy Fold 5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Kv8xLJNYnnyFcCQghNk89-320-80.jpg)
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 — this is how Samsung can make them stand out at Unpacked
By Philip Michaels published
If Samsung wants the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 to stand out from stepped-up competition for foldable phones, it needs to highlight Galaxy AI additions.
![iPhone 15 iphone 15 pro](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WvxcvGGY8hJSQTVsqxLznE-320-80.jpeg)
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Biggest rumored differences
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple likes to distinguish its Pro models from the standard iPhone. An early iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro comparison finds some key differences already emerging.
![Unofficial renders of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max from the front and back](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c36pCvWkbjFe4A4XG8GrLo-320-80.jpg)
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro design — 5 biggest rumors for the new iPhones
By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone's look isn't getting an overhaul, but there are some changes