
John Velasco
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

I've used every iPhone SE but I don't see myself upgrading to the new iPhone SE 4
By John Velasco published
I've been using all of the iPhone SE models, but the upcoming iPhone SE 4 has me worried about Apple's budget phones. Here's why.

I shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
The Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL are two of the best Android phones around, but I captured over 200 photos between them to see which is the better camera phone.

I drove the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco last updated
I tested out the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited for a week to see how efficient it is, along with what features come in this sub-$30,000 compact sedan.

Galaxy S25 Ultra camera glitch is real — here's what Samsung has to say
By John Velasco last updated
After a week of the first initial reports about the Galaxy S25 Ultra camera glitch, Samsung admits to the problem and says a fix is coming soon.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review: No man's land
By John Velasco published
The Galaxy S25 Plus has all the Galaxy AI features found on the standard S25. So unless you want a bigger screen, why not just opt for the cheaper model?

This Pixel 8 deal is so good, it makes the iPhone SE 4 irrelevant — here’s why
By John Velasco published

Best free Android apps in 2025
By John Velasco last updated
These are the best free Android apps across multiple categories, from productivity to utilities.

I drove the Toyota Camry hybrid for a week — here’s my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
The 2025 Toyota Camry XSE AWD is a hybrid car with a combined fuel economy of 44 MPG. I drove it for a week to see if I could get that.

I shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
I captured over 200 photos to compare how the Galaxy S25 Ultra compares against the iPhone 16 Pro Max to see which is the better camera phone.

I tried the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's Audio Eraser — and it beats both Apple and Google
By John Velasco published
I was skeptical about the Galaxy S25 Ultra's ability to remove background noise with its new Audio Eraser feature, so I shot a bunch of videos to put that capability to the test.

Best Metro by T-Mobile phones 2025
By John Velasco last updated
Here are the best Metro by T-Mobile phones, including inexpensive models that won't bust your budget.

I shot these videos in LOG format on the Galaxy S25 Ultra — here’s the results
By John Velasco published
I tried LOG video recording on the Galaxy S25 Ultra to see what advantages it offers.

I carry this 3-in-1 MagSafe charger everywhere — and it’s 55% off right now
By John Velasco last updated
I've been keeping the Lisen 3-in-1 Travel Charger in my backpack because of its ingenious design. Plus, it's on sale for a limited time for $20 on Amazon.

I drove the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV for a week — here’s my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
The Alfa Romeo Tonale Speciale is a PHEV with an all-electric range of 33 miles. I tried it out to see if it's worth its luxury sticker price.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a bad night mode camera glitch — here's what I found
By John Velasco published
I've been testing out the Galaxy S25 Ultra and found a glitch that causes white bands to appear in photos captured in night mode.

I shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
In order to see the year-over-year difference between Samsung's premium phones, I shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra. Let's find out which Ultra takes the better photos.

I shot professional headshots with the Galaxy S25 Ultra — here’s how it compares to the iPhone 16 Pro Max
By John Velasco published
I put the Galaxy S25 Ultra's portrait mode to the test by taking professional headshots against the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here's the winner.

I tried this thermal camera to make my nighttime driving safer — and it's a game changer
By John Velasco published
I've been testing out the Thermal Master NV300 Max to see how well it can make nighttime driving safer and easier for me.

I tried Samsung DeX on the Galaxy S25 Ultra — and it's a wasted opportunity
By John Velasco published
I've been using Samsung DeX on the Galaxy S25 Ultra to see what's new about it. Unfortunately it's a wasted opportunity.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra battery life tested — there's good news and bad news
By John Velasco published
It's the longest lasting Samsung phone we've tested

I drove the Honda Civic Hybrid for a week — and it’s better than the cheapest EV
By John Velasco published
EVs still cost a lot of money, which is why I put the Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid to the test to see if it can hold its ground against the cheapest EVs.

Forget Galaxy S25 Edge — these are Samsung's most ambitious phone designs ever
By John Velasco published
With the tease of the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung could be embarking on a new era for smartphone design. However, other Samsung phones have sported looks that were just as groundbreaking.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max displays tested — here's the winner
By John Velasco last updated
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the brightest display in any Samsung phone we've tested. Here's the results from our display benchmarking test.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 stole this genius idea from a dead phone and finally made it a reality
By John Velasco published
At Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung introduced its Personal Data Engine that powers personalized AI features on the Galaxy S25. It's very similar to the Palm Pre's Synergy.

I drove the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid for a week — and it’s a PHEV that most people can afford
By John Velasco published
The Kia Niro PHEV blends gas and electric power into a subcompact crossover SUV. I drove it for a week to see how much value it offers over EVs and traditional gas-powered cars.
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