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.

Articles by: Philip Michaels

Apple Music and App Store back online after major outage — live updates

By Philip Michaels published 22 March 22

For the second time in as many days, some Apple customers are experiencing problems connecting to Apple Music, the App Store and other cloud-based services.

iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max schematics just leaked — and there's bad news

By Philip Michaels published 22 March 22

The camera array will still stick out on this fall's phone, if we go by some leaked schematics claiming to show off the iPhone 14 Pro's design.

C-Band 5G: Here are the phones you need for faster speeds

By Philip Michaels published 21 March 22

C-Band 5G service for both AT&T and Verizon has gone live, and to enjoy the faster speeds, you'll need phones that can support the new networks. The good news? You may already own such a phone.

iPhone SE 2022 drop tests by Allstate Protection Plans

iPhone SE 2022 drop test results are in — here's how tough it is

By Philip Michaels published 21 March 22

You don't sacrifice durability by opting for Apple's cheaper iPhone, according to drop tests conducted by Allstate Protection Plans on the iPhone SE (2022).

Samsung Galaxy A53 is going right after the Google Pixel 6a

By Philip Michaels published 21 March 22

Now that we've seen the Samsung Galaxy A53, we can't help but think it was designed to take on Google's upcoming budget phone.

iPhone SE 2022 back of phone against stone

Why I fell out of love with the iPhone SE

By Philip Michaels published 21 March 22

The latest version of Apple's budget phone disappoints a long-time fan — and some absent features are the reason why the iPhone SE affection has faded.

T-Mobile 5G map, phones, plans, speed and home internet

By Philip Michaels published 18 March 22

The T-Mobile 5G network reaches from coast to coast — here’s what you need to know, including what phones work with T-Mobile and how much you'll pay for 5G coverage.

Siri adds a new voice in iOS 15.4 — here’s how to switch to it

By Philip Michaels published 18 March 22

One of the changes in iOS 15.4 adds a new voice for Siri. Changing to that option — or any of four other voices — takes just a few taps.

Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Galaxy A33: What's the difference?

By Philip Michaels published 18 March 22

While the latest Galaxy A phones share some features, there are big differences, too. Here's how the Samsung Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 compare.

Samsung Awesome Galaxy A event live blog

Samsung Galaxy A event recap — Galaxy A53, Galaxy A33 make their debut

By Philip Michaels published 17 March 22

Samsung just launched a pair of lower costing midrange phones that pack in some high-end capabilities. Find out all about the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 coming next month.

How to watch Samsung’s Galaxy A event live stream

By Philip Michaels published 17 March 22

Get ready for new midrange phones from Samsung. Here's where you can watch the Awesome Galaxy A event when it gets underway today, March 17.

Samsung launching Galaxy A phone today to crash iPhone SE 2022 party

By Philip Michaels published 17 March 22

Get ready for Samsung's midrange phone lineup to make its 2022 debut. Samsung is holding a launch event today, March 17, to show off its new Galaxy A phones.

a leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy A53

Samsung Galaxy A53 could steal new iPhone SE's thunder — here's why

By Philip Michaels published 17 March 22

Samsung's Galaxy A phones may not be sexy, but they deserve your attention. And that could especially be true of the rumored Galaxy A53 based on specs Samsung could reveal today.

iOS 15.4 update adds face mask support to face id unlocking

Use Face ID with a face mask — here’s how to set up this iOS 15.4 feature

By Philip Michaels published 15 March 22

iOS 15.4 has arrived, and its top new feature lets you use Face ID and wear a face mask at the same time. Here's how to turn this feature on.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review

By Philip Michaels published 15 March 22

The Galaxy S21 FE has finally arrived. And while we're impressed by how few trade-offs this lower cost version of the S21 makes, it's hard to buy the phone with the Galaxy S22 now available.

iphone 13 mini display on in hand with plants in background

iPhone 14 rumor — it looks like the mini is really dead

By Philip Michaels published 15 March 22

A new report says that Apple will release four new iPhone 14 models this fall, and the mini is toast. Plus, satellite communication is still in the works.

camera lenses on the iPhone 13 and Galaxy 22

Samsung Galaxy S22's best feature is something the iPhone 13 can't match

By Philip Michaels published 15 March 22

Samsung includes a telephoto lens on the Galaxy S22 — something missing from some other phones in its price range. And that gives the Samsung phone an edge.

Samsung Galaxy S22 vs. Google Pixel 6: Which Android phone is tops?

By Philip Michaels published 14 March 22

What should your next Android phone be? Our Samsung Galaxy S22 vs. Google Pixel 6 face-off features two affordable Android flagships that boast premium features.

iPhone SE (2022) vs. iPhone 13: All the differences

By Philip Michaels published 14 March 22

Should you get an iPhone SE or an iPhone 13? We can help you decide with this comparison of Apple's phones.

The big winner of the iPhone SE 2022 release — it's the iPhone 13 mini

By Philip Michaels published 12 March 22

There's a new iPhone SE out, but despite a low price tag and a more powerful processor, it still lacks some features found on the iPhone 13 mini.

iPhone 14 renders by Front Page Tech and Ian Zelbo

iPhone 14 — what the iPhone SE 2022 tells us about Apple’s upcoming phones

By Philip Michaels published 12 March 22

Apple may not ever comment on unannounced products, but you can get some hints about the iPhone 14 based on the decisions the company made with its new iPhone SE (2022) release.

Apple Studio Display and Mac Studio on desk in promo photo

Apple Mac Studio — who is this beast for?

By Philip Michaels published 11 March 22

iMac upgrade? Mac Pro challenger? Here's where the Mac Studio fits in with Apple's desktop lineup.

Moto G Power (2022) review: A step back for Motorola's long-lasting phone

By Philip Michaels published 11 March 22

The Moto G Power (2022) is a long-lasting budget phone just like its predecessors. But performance issues mean it's less of a bargain than previous models.

Forget the Galaxy S21 FE — Samsung’s Galaxy S22 is the better value

By Philip Michaels published 10 March 22

The Galaxy S22 may cost $100 more than the Galaxy S21 FE. But the extra features in Samsung's newer device make it the better buy.

iPhone SE (2022) — 5 reasons to buy and 3 to skip

By Philip Michaels published 9 March 22

The latest iPhone has a lot of things going for it. But there are reasons to hold off on upgrading to Apple's new phone.

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