John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.
Latest articles by John Velasco

Best cheap phones 2026 tested — Our top budget phone picks
By John Velasco last updated
These are the best cheap phones you can buy based on our testing and reviews.

Verizon vs. Mint Mobile: Which carrier is better for you?
By John Velasco last updated
A cheap and flexible option or one of the best known carriers in the US — we can help you find the best option for your needs.

Mint Mobile vs AT&T — which carrier is better for you?
By John Velasco last updated
Mint Mobile and AT&T are two popular carriers. Here's how their plans compare.

iPhone 18 Pro rumors: 2nm A20 Pro chip, variable aperture camera and under-display Face ID (plus new colors)
By John Velasco last updated
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September. These are the 5 biggest rumored upgrades you need to know.

I discovered this hidden camera mode on my iPhone — and it's a game-changer
By John Velasco published
Night mode max is a new camera feature added in iOS 26 that can increase the exposure of a shot up to 30 second long for even better low-light photos.

I drove the Genesis GV80 for a week — and it’s my favorite luxury 3-row SUV
By John Velasco published
The 2026 Genesis GV80 is a three-row midsize SUV that seats up to seven and packs all the trimmings you'd expect in a luxury vehicle.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra upgrade guide: What owners of older models should do
By John Velasco published
Should you upgrade to the the Galaxy S26 Ultra next month? We take all the leaks and rumors to tell you if it's worth getting if you have an olde Galaxy Ultra phone.

I added a 10x optical zoom to my iPhone with this attachable lens — but it has a more amazing trick up its sleeve
By John Velasco published
The Shiftcam 240mm Super Zoom Tele add mores zoom to any camera phone, but it also takes stunning macro shots when paired with 10x magnification lenses.

The best electric cars in 2026
By John Velasco last updated
These are the best electric cars and trucks you can buy now, including Volvo, Rivian, Subaru, Nissan, and more.

I drove the Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado EV for a week — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
When it comes to electric pickup trucks, two of the best options right now are the Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado. Here's the one I recommend after testing out both out for a week.

The coolest thing at CES 2026 is a new dashcam that brings thermal night vision and CarPlay to any car
By John Velasco published
Introduced at CES 2026, the Vantrue Pilot 2 features a thermal smart module that lets it see through the darkness to alert drivers about potential hazards.

Segway's new Navimow robotic lawn mowers ditch pesky base stations and perimeter wires while avoiding all your kids' toys in the yard
By John Velasco published
Segway introduced a slew of new robotic lawn mowers at CES 2026 Its Navimow lineup adds eight new models, complete with drop and mow installation for quick setup.

I’ve been using the OnePlus 15 for over a month — and these are the hidden features all Android phones need to copy
By John Velasco published
I've spent more than a month with the OnePlus 15, making it one of my daily drivers, and these are the hidden features you need to know about.

I tried this monocular thermal camera to see critters around my property from afar — but I spotted some anomalies in the sky instead
By John Velasco published
The Mileseey Optics TNV10 Pro is a monocular that offers thermal night vision to see far away distances with crystal sharp clarity, allowing me to discover strange sightings in the night sky.

The coolest gadget of 2025 doesn’t just give me night vision, it makes me feel like I’m looking through a telescope
By John Velasco published
I've been testing out the Cigman CNVPRO night vision binoculars for months now, and it's proven to be a versatile companion for all of my astrophotography shoots.

Samsung tipped to delay Galaxy S26 launch — but there could be good news
By John Velasco published
New reports hint at a delay for the Galaxy S26, with the announcement apparently happening in February, after January launches in recent years.

I bought this MagSafe power bank to charge my iPhone anywhere — and it doubles as a retro gaming handheld
By John Velasco published
The Miro V99 is a 5,000 mAh power bank that attaches to a phone via MagSafe, but it also doubles as a retro gaming handheld with over 1,500 games.

Phones in 2026: What we’re hoping to see (and our biggest worries)
By Josh Render published
2026 could be a fantastic year for smartphone fans, but that doesn't mean that we don't have some concerns.

I thought it was weird spying on my cats with this new robotic litter box — but it does more than just record them
By John Velasco published
The Petkit Purobot Max Pro 2 is one of the most tech heavy robotic litter boxes around, complete with an AI-powered 1080p camera to track your cats.

I’ve tested every flagship phone this year — and these are my 7 favorite AI features on each one
By John Velasco published
From Google's Ask Photos that makes photo edits a breeze, to Samsung's Cross App Actions, these are the 7 best AI features I've tested this year.

I tested more than 40 EVs this year — here's the top 5 most affordable models
By John Velasco published
After driving more than 40 electric vehicles this year, these are the most affordable that I've tested — with prices starting from $30,000.

I test smartphones for a living — and the best new feature of the year is now on every phone
By John Velasco last updated
There were plenty of cool smartphone features introduced in 2025, but Google's AI-assisted Ask Photos feature is the best one of them all. And it's available on every phone.

I added a rear screen to my iPhone — and it's a game changer for my selfies and vlogs
By John Velasco published
I'm able to take better selfies and vlogs with the help of the SYNCO XView M4, a portable monitor with a 3.9-inch display that attaches to the back of my iPhone.

I drove the Polestar 3 for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
I test the 2025 Polestar 3 for a week to find out if this mid-size luxury crossover SUV has what it takes to stand out in the EV crowd. Here's what I found out.

I put the OnePlus 15R vs iPhone 16e through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
I tested the OnePlus 15R vs iPhone 16e for a week to see how these relatively affordable phone compare against each other when it comes to delivering value for money. Here's what I found.
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