Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.
Latest articles by Philip Michaels
I tried Apple Intelligence to improve my writing — here’s what happened
By Philip Michaels last updated
How good is Writing Tools at improving your tone?
iPhone SE 4 vs. Google Pixel 9a: Which budget phone will win?
By Philip Michaels published
Cameras, AI features figure to be where the iPhone SE4 and Pixel 9a battle it out
Prime Day foldable phone deals — big savings on the biggest phones
By Philip Michaels last updated
Don't pay big bucks for a foldable phone — jump on these sales instead, as we bring you the best discounts we've found on foldable devices from OnePlus, Samsung and Motorola.
One of my favorite budget phones just crashed to its lowest price at Amazon
By Philip Michaels published
The OnePlus 12R is one the longest-lasting phones we've tested this year. And its already-low price has fallen even further during Amazon Prime Deal Days.
Apple Intelligence summaries — what apps support this feature and how you use it
By Philip Michaels published
AI-generated summaries help you get through long articles, messages and more
iPhone SE 4 — top 5 rumored changes to Apple's budget phone
By Philip Michaels published
From a new look to Apple Intelligence support, a lot of big changes are rumored for the iPhone SE 4. Here are the most interesting improvements that are reportedly coming next year.
My iPhone 17 wish list — 5 things I want to see from next year's phones
By Philip Michaels published
There's a lot to like about the newly released iPhone 16. But Apple can still improve next year's phones in several key ways with these iPhone 17 additions.
I use this wearable to beat the heat — and Amazon just dropped its price to an all-time low
By Philip Michaels published
The Hakt Ice Ring Neck Cooler is my secret weapon whenever the temperatures spike, and Amazon has cut the price to less than $10 ahead of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.
iPhone 16 battery life vs Samsung vs Google — which flagship phones last the longest?
By Philip Michaels published
Here's how battery life compares for the leading smartphones
iPhone SE 4 price — why I don't like what I'm hearing
By Philip Michaels last updated
The rumored iPhone SE 4 could be a swing and a miss for Apple, particularly if it's substantially larger and pricier than its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. Galaxy S24: Here's the biggest differences
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S24 FE is a cheaper version of Samsung's flagship, but what do you end up sacrificing for the lower cost? Our Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. Galaxy S24 face-off compares the two phones.
I just tried Apple Intelligence photo search in iOS 18 — and I'm surprised with the results
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple Intelligence will make it easier to find photos on your iPhone when iOS 18.1 arrives. But improved search could extend to all iPhones, at least based on my testing.
SOS appearing on your iPhone? Here's what that means and how to change it
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's how to troubleshoot your cellular connectivity issues
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE could be the budget Android to buy — here's why
By Philip Michaels last updated
A major difference this year
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: The biggest expected upgrades
By Philip Michaels published
As new as the iPhone 16 models may be, details have started emerging about next year's phones. Here's an early look at how an iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 comparison is shaping up.
Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great piece of kit and you'll want to keep it safe from harm. The best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases can help.
Don't buy Meta Quest 3 right now — a huge price drop is coming
By Philip Michaels published
You used to have to pay $649 to get a 512GB Meta Quest 3. But that's now the storage in the $499 base model now that the Quest 3s is available.
Watch iPhone 16 Pro Max drop tested — you’ve got to see this
By Philip Michaels published
Drop-testing by Allstate Protection Plans shows what a 6-foot drop can do to the front and back of an iPhone 16 Pro Max. And the results aren't pretty.
Apple made a key change with the iPhone 16, and it's made all the difference for the new phone
By Philip Michaels published
After two years of using different silicon in different iPhone models, Apple equipped every iPhone 16 with some version of the A18 system-on-chip. Here's why that's the right move.
I used Apple Intelligence to create a Memory Movie from my photos — here's how it went
By Philip Michaels published
Memory Movie in iOS 18.1 lets you use text prompts to create a slideshow out of your photos and videos. Here are some first impressions of this Apple Intelligence feature.
How to download the iOS 18.1 public beta
By Philip Michaels last updated
Even with iOS 18's release, the betas continue. The new iOS 18.1 public beta gives you a chance to try out Apple Intelligence features before they arrive in an October iOS 18 update.
iOS 18.1 public beta is live — here's the Apple Intelligence features you can try now
By Philip Michaels published
A day before the iPhone 16 goes on sale, Apple is releasing an iOS 18.1 public beta that gives people with compatible phones the chance to try out Apple Intelligence features.
Should you upgrade to iPhone 16? Here's who should buy and skip from iPhone 12 all the way up
By Philip Michaels last updated
Trying to decide whether to stick with your aging iPhone or upgrade to a new iPhone 16? We'll break it down, model by model, to show you the pros and cons of jumping to a new phone.
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