Latest articles by Philip Michaels
Best family cell phone plan in 2025
Looking for the best family cell phone plan? We can help you find a smartphone plan that brings unlimited data to multiple people without breaking the bank.
I hate getting texts from strangers, and this iOS 26 Messages feature lets you silence them for good
If you're tired of texts from unknown senders cluttering up the Messages app on your iPhone, iOS 26 offers a way to filter them out. Here's how to enable that feature.
Which phone display is best? I ran 5 tests on iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25 vs Pixel 10 Pro to find out
Want to know which phone display is brightest? So did I, so I put the latest flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Google through five different tests.
I put the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 through a 7-round face-off — here's the winner
A Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 face-off pits the two leading notebook-style foldable phones against each other. And while it's a tough battle, there's one clear choice.
I rely on my iPhone’s Notes app to quickly jot down ideas, but there's one feature that drives me crazy
Auto-correct can get in the way of quick note-taking on your iPhone. But the only fix is to disable the feature entirely.
Before Prime Day ends, you should pick up an iPhone case — here's my discounted favorite
Prime Day isn't just for saving on big items. You can pick up accessories at a discount, too, like a case for you new iPhone.
Our phones are getting smarter but our on-device transcription tools are not
It's hard to believe in the promise of on-device AI when transcription features on phones are so hit-and-miss.
The best alternative Prime Day sale lets you save on books — and no, it's not through Amazon
If you're on the lookout for a good book, Bookshop.org is offering free ship on purchases made through Wednesday, as it runs its alternative to Amazon Prime Day.
Hurry! You can get the best cheap phone we've tested all year at its lowest price for Prime Day
The Google Pixel 9a normally costs $499, but that already low price has dropped to its lowest level ever at Amazon as part of the ongoing Prime Big Deal Days event.
I love to cook and this iOS 26 Apple Intelligence addition makes trying new recipes a snap
In iOS 26, you can now use Apple Intelligence to suggest a list of to-dos for the Reminders app. Here's how I use suggested reminders to create grocery lists from the recipes I find online.
I just upgraded to the iPhone 17 from the iPhone 12 — and these are the 5 big things I noticed
After holding on to my last iPhone for years, I've made the switch to an iPhone 17. And it's really eye-opening to see how phones have evolved since my last upgrade.
The iPhone 17 got a lot of big updates from Apple — but there's one thing missing
Despite other improvements, the iPhone 17 looks a lot like the iPhone 16 that came before it. And that's starting to become a problem.
Need to set up a phone for an elderly parent? Here's how I handled things for my mother
My mom needed a phone to stay connected in her new assisted living apartment, but most smartphones were too complex for her. Here's how I simplified her setup so that she can still make phone calls.
What is Tello Mobile, and is it worth it?
Low-cost plans with mix-and-match options
Best mobile hotspots in 2025
These are the best mobile hotspots for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customers.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 AI features 'will be an extension of you,' Qualcomm exec says
A closer look at what Qualcomm's latest chip means for mobile AI
iPhone 17 durability put to the test — how well Apple's new phones withstand bending, scratching and dropping
We've rounded up all the iPhone 17 durability test results to see whether Apple's new phones lived up to the company's claims.
The best 5G phones in 2025
The best 5G phones deliver faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more. Here are the 5G-capable phones worth your attention.
iPhone 17 Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Here’s what you give up for a thinner phone
Trying to decide which Apple premium phone to get? Our iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison looks at the trade-offs you make with both phones.
Messages is the iPhone’s most complete app, but iOS 26 has made it even better — here's how
Even though Messages was already a complete app, Apple still managed to make some key improvements to its texting app in iOS 26.
I've been skeptical about AI on phones — the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip coming to Android could make me a believer
The performance delivered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for Android phones will grab a lot of attention. But don't overlook what this new silicon means for AI on your phone.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 unveiled — here's all the performance and AI upgrades likely coming to Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset will power many of next year's top Android phones, including, potentially, Samsung's next Galaxy S flagships. Here's what you can expect from the chipset.
I benchmarked the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — the iPhone 17 Pro has already met its match
We've gotten a chance to benchmark the just-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and next year's top Android phones should be performance powerhouses.
