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 cell phone signal boosters 2025
By John Velasco last updated
The best cell phone signal boosters fix poor service at home or on the road. Some even support all carriers.

My favorite 3-in-1 MagSafe charger is finally on sale at 33% off for Prime Day — and it has one killer feature
By John Velasco published
Amazon is offering the Mophie 3-in-1 Extendable MagSafe Stand at its first major sale with a generous 33% discount ahead of Prime Day.

I tested the iPhone 17 Center Stage camera vs Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 10 Pro XL — here's the winner
By John Velasco last updated
Apple introduced a new 18MP Center Stage camera with its iPhone 17 lineup, so I put it to the test against its main rivals.

Forget telescopes! I tried these AR smart binoculars and it redefines astrophotography
By John Velasco published
The Unistellar Envision smart binoculars work day and night, with the help of augmented reality to make exploration easier and smarter.

I’ve spent over two weeks with the iPhone 17 — here’s why I recommend it over the iPhone Air
By John Velasco published
After spending two weeks with the iPhone 17, I feel it's the way better value than the iPhone Air. Here's why.

Using iOS 26 CarPlay? Here’s why you’re probably not getting Messages notifications anymore
By John Velasco published
If you've been using CarPlay after updating to iOS 26, then you might notice how the Messages app has disappeared. Here's why,

I told myself I wouldn’t buy a Corolla again, but the Corolla Cross Hybrid changes my mind — here’s why
By John Velasco last updated
The 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is a subcompact SUV that gets outstanding fuel economy, making it an excellent alternative to buying an EV.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro — why the regular iPhone is the one to buy this year
By John Velasco last updated
Thanks to all of its upgrades, the iPhone 17 feels like the better buy over the iPhone 17 Pro. Here's why.

Too good to be true! This early Prime Day deal shaves $600 off the Galaxy Z Flip 6
By John Velasco published
Woot has the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for under $600 for a limited time, letting you grab an unlocked model that comes with 512GB of storage.

I shot over 200 photos with the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra — here's the winner
By John Velasco published
In this 200 photo shootout with the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra, we test out all of their camera performances to see which is the better one for photography.

I put Waze vs. Apple Maps to the test by driving over 800 miles — and there's a clear winner
By John Velasco last updated
I put Waze and Apple Maps to the test for a month to see which provides the better driving directions and features.

I've spent 2 weeks with the iPhone 17 Pro — here’s my pros and cons (so far)
By John Velasco published
After spending two weeks with the iPhone 17 Pro, I have a better appreciation for what offers. Here's my pros and cons.

OnePlus 15 isn’t waiting until next year to launch — it could be happening sooner than you think
By John Velasco published
The OnePlus 15 is on track for a November release and will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, potentially making it the most powerful phone available.

I put the iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 through a 6-round zoom camera shoot-out — and it's not even close
By John Velasco last updated
In this iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 telephoto camera zoom test, I capture the same set of photos at 1x, 2x, and 10x to see which phone delivers the better zoom performance.

Best unlocked phones in 2025
By John Velasco last updated
The best unlocked phones give you the freedom to choose your carrier without being bogged down by payment plans.

iPhone 17 'scratchgate' — I’ve had my iPhone 17 Pro for over a week and it's already scuffed
By John Velasco published
Reports are coming in showing iPhone 17 models heavily scuffed with scratches, so I checked my iPhone 17 Pro to see if 'scratchgate' is for real.

I’ve been using the iPhone 17 for a week — here’s my pros and cons (so far)
By John Velasco published
After spending more than a week with the iPhone 17, there are things I really love and don't like about it Apple's latest flagship phone.

I tested the Mazda CX-50 for a week and it'll make you forget about buying an EV — here's why
By John Velasco last updated
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid balances performance and value by delivering impressive fuel economy during my week's worth of testing.
This AI phone gimbal transforms my iPhone 17 Pro into a better DJI Pocket 3 — and it’s 37% off
By John Velasco published
I tried the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra to see how much I can improve my video with the iPhone 17 Pro using its different modes and AI features.

I put the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
Two of the best phones out there are now available to buy, so I'm putting the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra to the test against one another to determine which is better.

Amazon has Galaxy S25 Edge down to its all-time lowest price — and I think it’s way better than the iPhone Air
By John Velasco last updated
Amazon has the Galaxy S25 Edge down to its all-time lowest price, making it a way better offer than the iPhone Air. Here's why.

I test and review the best camera phones — these are my favorites right now
By John Velasco last updated
We've tested all the best camera phones, and these are the ones that rise to the top.

I just tested the iPhone 17 Pro's new zoom camera vs Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL — and the results surprise me
By John Velasco published
Apple upgraded the telephoto camera with the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. I put it to the test against some of Apple's main rivals to see how good zoom shots look on the new iPhones.
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