Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels was 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

By Philip Michaels Published
Trying to decide which Apple premium phone to get? Our iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison looks at the trade-offs you make with both phones.

By Philip Michaels Published
Even though Messages was already a complete app, Apple still managed to make some key improvements to its texting app in iOS 26.

By Philip Michaels last updated
The performance delivered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for Android phones will grab a lot of attention. But don't overlook what this new silicon means for AI on your phone.

By Philip Michaels last updated
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset will power many of next year's top Android phones, including, potentially, Samsung's next Galaxy S flagships. Here's what you can expect from the chipset.

By Philip Michaels last updated
We've gotten a chance to benchmark the just-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and next year's top Android phones should be performance powerhouses.

By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone 17 models may have just gone on sale. But if you're wondering what's in store for future iPhone releases, we've got a look at the rumors of what's coming next.

By Philip Michaels Published
iOS 26 doesn't offer a lot of new Apple Intelligence features, but the improvements to Visual Intelligence suggest Apple has the know-how to beef up its AI tools.

By Philip Michaels Published
Apple reportedly has an iPhone 17e in the works for next year. How many of the improvements on the just-released iPhone 17 will find their way to Apple's midrange phone?

By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple's iPhone 17 models are now on sale. If you're wondering whether or not to upgrade from your current iPhone, I can guide you through exactly how the iPhone has changed over the last four years.

By Philip Michaels Published
The A19 Pro that powers the new iPhone 17 Pro models not only delivers performance gains over last year's A18 Pro chip, but it also gives Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones all they can handle.

By Philip Michaels Published
iOS 26 brings a lot of features from a new interface to improvements to existing apps. But it's Call Screening in the Phone app that will change how you use your iPhone for the better.

By Philip Michaels Published
Our iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max face-off can tell you if enough has changed with Apple's premium handset to justify upgrading your phone.

By Philip Michaels last updated
The full release of iOS 26 is now out Use this guide to find your way around all the changes Apple is bringing to the iPhone.

By Philip Michaels Published
If you're ready to take the iOS 26 plunge, here's how to download and install the iOS 26 beta.

By Philip Michaels Published
Liquid Glass dominates this update, for good and for ill

By Philip Michaels Published
Apple has released all of its updated software today, September 15, including the iOS 26 update. Before you download the upgrade, here's what you can do to prepare your phone.

By Philip Michaels Published
The iPhone 17 Pro Max introduces plenty of key changes, from a new look to a different camera setup. But is it enough to justify an upgrade?

By Philip Michaels Published
Battery life is a key factor in deciding whether or not to upgrade your phone. Here's what we know so far about how long the iPhone 17 models might last.

By Tom Pritchard, Philip Michaels, Richard Priday last updated
The iPhone 17 launch event brought eight us new products, including phones, watches and earbuds. Find out everything you need to know about the iPhone 17, Apple Watch 11. AirPods Pro 3, and more.

By Philip Michaels Published
Apple's latest flagship phone could be a very compelling upgrade

By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's the latest on rumored features on the iPhone 17 Pro, including potential changes by Apple and what we could expect on September 9.

By Philip Michaels Published
We're going to get our first official look at Apple's latest iPhones later today. Here's the biggest changes we're expecting to see in each model.

By Philip Michaels last updated
Our Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison looks at what Google changed with the entry-level model in its flagship lineup, from new cameras to updated AI capabilities.
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