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
Galaxy S24 delivers a major breakthrough — and it's not the AI
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung's entry level Galaxy S model has struggled to keep up with larger phones when it comes to battery life. That's changed with the Galaxy S24.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be joined by a cheaper version
By Philip Michaels published
A new report claims that Samsung is working on a less expensive version of the Galaxy Z Fold which could possibly be ready later this year when the phone maker announces it latest foldables.
Samsung Galaxy S24: 7 reasons to buy (and 3 reasons to skip)
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Galaxy S24 is now on sale. If you're thinking about buying one, we can help you weigh the strengths and weaknesses of Samsung's new phone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — 7 reasons to buy the phone and 3 reasons to skip it
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers some solid improvements, but there are also reasons that may stop you from making this your next phone. Here are the arguments for and against upgrading.
Forget Galaxy S24 Ultra — the Galaxy S24 Plus is the way better value
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S24 Plus update is more significant than you might realize
Samsung Galaxy S24 — here's what Apple needs to copy for the iPhone 16
By Philip Michaels published
The Samsung Galaxy S24 models may not seem like a major overhaul. But there are plenty of improvements to raise the bar for what Apple's iPhone 16 lineup needs to deliver.
OnePlus 12 — 7 reasons to buy and 4 reasons to skip
By Philip Michaels published
Wondering whether the OnePlus 12 should be your next phone? We can walk you through the strengths and weaknesses of this new flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra benchmarks — the iPhone 15 Pro has met its match
By Philip Michaels last updated
We've had a chance to run some Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra benchmarks, and in some key speed tests, Samsung's latest finally tops the iPhone 15 Pro. Find out how well the S24 Ultra did.
The best 5G phones in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best 5G phones deliver faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more. Here are the 5G-capable phones worth your attention.
Galaxy AI — these are the Galaxy S24's 7 AI features you'll want to try first
By Philip Michaels published
AI is the centerpiece of this year's Samsung flagships, and it's more than just hype. These are 7 Galaxy AI features that you'll want to try once you get your hands on a Galaxy S24.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Galaxy S24 lineup, new Galaxy AI features, and a Galaxy Ring surprise
By John Velasco published
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 delivered a new lineup of Galaxy S24 flagship phones, with each model capable of delivering AI-powered features.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra price revealed — and it's surprisingly high
By Josh Render last updated
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S24 Ultra and it comes with $1,299 starting price. That's $100 more than the Galaxy S23 Ultra cost.
How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 online now — Galaxy S24, Galaxy AI and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
Galaxy Unpacked gets underway Wednesday, and we can help you find a live stream if you want to watch the Galaxy S24 product launch online.
I'm not buying an Apple Vision Pro — but here's how Apple could change my mind
By Philip Michaels published
Our managing editor for mobile is no fan of headsets. If the Apple Vision Pro is going to get him to change his tune, it will require some pretty compelling apps.
Moto G Play (2024) brings a 50MP camera to a sub-$150 budget phone
By Philip Michaels published
The Moto G Play (2024) features an upgraded camera and a lower price compared to last year's model. But you sacrifice some key features.
Samsung Galaxy S24 launch — the 9 potential upgrades to keep an eye on
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung may not be planning an overhaul of its Galaxy flagships, but some potential changes are in the works. These are the ones to keep an eye on at the Galaxy S24 launch this week.
Samsung Galaxy S24 is going all in on AI instead of hardware — and it could change how we use phones forever
By Philip Michaels published
New AI features, not hardware, looks like it will be the focus of the Galaxy S24 lineup. Will it be enough to convince people to upgrade their phones?
No iPhone SE in 2024 could be a huge Apple mistake — here’s why
By Philip Michaels published
The experts don't think a new iPhone is coming this year. But can Apple afford to wait with all the good midrange phones that are out there?
Samsung Galaxy S24 big AI focus could be bad news for the iPhone — here’s why
By Philip Michaels published
Rumored AI features on Galaxy S24 could put Apple at a disadvantage
Apple's TV app gives Apple TV a new look — and I hate it
By Philip Michaels published
Apple's TV app has a new look, as Apple wants to make it the go-to place on its streaming device. But the update has really hampered the Apple TV interface.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus vs. Galaxy S23 Plus — biggest rumored upgrades
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung's new phones should be arriving this month. Our Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus vs. Galaxy S23 Plus comparison looks at potential differences between the middle model in Samsung's Galaxy S lineup.
OnePlus 12R debuts soon — and there’s one feature I’m dying to find out about
By Philip Michaels published
Early details about the OnePlus 12R sound promising. But it's the camera performance that will determine whether this upcoming phone is a true flagship alternative.