
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

iPhone 17 Air price predictions — here’s why it shouldn't cost more than the iPhone 17 Pro
By John Velasco published
There are been many reports around the price of the iPhone 17 Air's cost, but here are all the reasons why I think it'll be less than the iPhone 17 Pro.

iPhone 17 camera rumor just shot down by leaker — what you need to know
By John Velasco published
A previous rumor has indicated a horizontal camera setup for the iPhone 17 Pro, but another leakers says otherwise.

Mint Mobile just saved Christmas with its $299 Pixel 9 deal — get it now before it's gone
By John Velasco published
Mint Mobile's deal for the $299 Google Pixel 9 is back, and it might've just saved Christmas for some in large part to the epic savings on Google's flagship phone.

Galaxy S25 Ultra likely won't get 10x optical zoom camera, but I hope it steals this iPhone 16 Pro Max feature instead
By John Velasco published
Samsung needs to copy Apple's Audio Mix feature for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it needs to add one extra thing to make it better.

Forget your camera phone — I’m using these gadgets to get clear images of the New Jersey drone sightings
By John Velasco published
New Jersey drone sightings have delivered a lot of fuzzy, low quality photos and videos, but these gadgets could help you get better looking footage.

I drove the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobhan for a week — and it might make you forget about EVs
By John Velasco published
After driving a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobhan for a week, it's one of the few all-gas powered vehicles I'd recommend.

I tried astrophotography on my iPhone 16 to shoot galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters — here's the results
By John Velasco published
The iPhone 16 has a similar main camera as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so I spent an evening using it for astrophotography to capture my favorite targets in the night sky.

Better than Black Friday! Pixel 8a price drops by 40% in this epic holiday deal — now $299
By John Velasco published
Best Buy has an unlocked Pixel 8a for $299 when you select the option to connect it to a wireless carrier.

Visual Intelligence finally gives Apple its version of Google Lens — here’s how to use it
By John Velasco last updated
With the iOS 18.2 developer beta, it unlocks Apple Intelligence to give the iPhone 16 new searching powers with the help of the Camera Control button.

I tested more than 25 EVs this year — here's the top 5 most affordable models
By John Velasco published
Of the more than 25 EVs that I've personally tested this year, only a handful are ones that most people could realistically afford.

iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 16 Pro: 5 reasons to wait for the new iPhone
By John Velasco last updated
With the iPhone 17 Air expected to arrive in 2025, we detail all the ways it's worth the wait over the iPhone 16 Pro.

Better than Black Friday! Pixel 9 Pro price drops by 40% in this epic holiday deal — now $599
By John Velasco published
Mint Mobile has the Pixel 9 Pro at 40% off with this holiday deal, which brings the flagship model down to $599.

I drove the Polestar 2 EV for a week — here’s my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
The 2024 Polestar 2 has one of the coolest looking designs in an EV, but its 254 miles of range and high cost make it a tough sell.

This smart telescope is light years better than phones — and it lets me capture stars, galaxies and nebulas with ease
By John Velasco last updated
I've been using the SeeStar S50 smart telescope for more than a year to capture galaxies, nebulas, and planets with the help of my phone, but it's finally on sale for the holidays.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cameras: 5 ways they could beat iPhone 16 Pro Max
By John Velasco last updated
We break down some of the Galxy S25 Ultra camera rumors to see what it takes to beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max as the best camera phone.

I drove a Lexus RX450h+ for a week — and this PHEV is the best of both worlds
By John Velasco published
Car shoppers hesitant about buying an EV may be convinced to try the 2024 Lexus RX450h+ PHEV thanks to how it features both gas and all-electric power.

OnePlus 13 vs OnePlus 12: Here's all the upgrades you need to know
By John Velasco published
In our OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12 face-off, we'll detail all the big upgrades you can expect with the OnePlus 13 to determine if it's a worthy upgrade to the OnePlus 12.

Galaxy S24 FE is the most underrated phone I’ve tested in 2024 — here’s why
By John Velasco published
I've tested dozens of phones in 2024, but the most underrated one is without a doubt the Galaxy S24 FE. Here's why

Best Cyber Monday phone deals LIVE: iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24, Pixel 9 biggest sales now
By John Velasco last updated
Cyber Monday is heading into its final hours but you can still save big. We're rounding up the best phone deals live to help you save money on your next purchase!

I found 10 Cyber Monday deals that are 50% off and less than $50 — and they all make great holiday gifts
By Olivia Halevy, John Velasco published
Cyber Monday is the perfect opportunity to save big on holiday shopping. Here are my favorite deals on gifts that are 50% off and under $50.

Forget AirPods 4 — you can get three pairs of Echo Buds 2 for less than just one of Apple’s right now
By John Velasco published
Amazon's Cyber Monday sale drops the price of the Amazon Echo Buds 2 down to $34, which is a whopping 71% off its normal price.

Best Black Friday phone deals 2024 live: Savings on iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24, Pixel 9 and more you can still get
By John Velasco last updated
With Black Friday fast approaching, we're rounding up the best phone deals live to help you save money on your next purchase!

The best Black Friday iPhone deals you can still get: I'm tracking the lowest prices
By John Velasco last updated
There are so many Black Friday deals happening for the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, so I break down the best ones and which one you should get.

JackRabbit OG2 review: I survived New York City traffic in this micro ebike
By John Velasco published
I spent three weeks riding the JackRabbit OG2 micro electric bike through New York City traffic to see if it has what it takes to be my next commuting ride.

Verizon Black Friday deals live — get a free iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch and iPad all at once
By John Velasco last updated
Verizon Black Friday deals are here, offering generous discounts on your favorite phones that include with free smartwatches, TVs, tablets, and more depending on the package.
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