
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

Your kid's first iPhone doesn't have to be the newest model — this is the one I'd recommend
By Philip Michaels published
Turning to an older model like the iPhone 15 is a great way to get your kids a solid first phone without spending a bundle.

Best phone battery life in 2025: The longest lasting smartphones
By Philip Michaels last updated
These phones held out for at least 14 hours in our test to offer the best phone battery life.

Galaxy S26 Plus is rumored to return to Samsung's flagship lineup — with these 5 big changes
By Philip Michaels published
For a while, it looked like the Galaxy S26 Plus may not be part of Samsung's plans. But with rumors pointing to it remaining in the S26 lineup, here's what you can expect from the new model.

Waiting to upgrade to iOS 26? Here's why you actually should now
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple is now pushing holdouts to upgrade to iOS 26. And the company is right to do so.

Best unlimited data plans in 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
Lots of wireless carriers promise limitless data, but only one can have the best unlimited data plan. Here’s the plan you should sign up for to save money.

The best cheap cell phone plans 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
Want to keep your monthly wireless bill under $40? We've found the best cheap cell phone plans from several different carriers that help you save.

Moto G (2026) review: The best phone for less than $200
By Philip Michaels published
The Moto G (2026) doesn't cost that much and gives you long battery life in return. But does the phone's value outweigh what you have to give up to get such a low-cost device?

This Gmail feature will cut down the clutter in your inbox — and it's a huge time saver
By Philip Michaels last updated
Less mailing list chaos right now

Best iPhones in 2025: Which iPhone should you buy?
By Philip Michaels last updated
These are the best iPhones for every need and budget based on our reviews.

Best phone carriers of 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
Trying to find the best phone carrier for your wireless service? Here's how the top providers rank based on data speeds, phone selection and more.

I used to miss incoming notifications — this iOS 26.2 improvement makes sure I see all my alerts
By Philip Michaels published
You can already make your camera flash to alert you to notifications on the iPhone. But iOS 26.2 expands that feature. Here's how I use it to never miss an incoming alert.

Galaxy S26 camera rumors: 5 features tipped for this year’s flagships
By Philip Michaels published
Don't expect an overhaul of the cameras on any Samsung Galaxy S26 model. But we could see some changes that impact the top camera phones from Samsung.

I'm skeptical about the Galaxy Z TriFold — here are the 5 big questions I have about Samsung's triple-folding phone
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung's revealed some of the specs for its Galaxy Z TriFold phone coming to the U.S. next year. But some big questions remain about this triple-folding device.

Full Qi2 wireless charging support helps great phones stand out — and that's a problem for Samsung
By Philip Michaels published
Having a chance to charge Qi2-compatible phones has made me appreciate the convenience of this feature. And I notice when phones like the Galaxy S25 series don't fully support it.

Best cell phone plans in 2025: the best options for your monthly phone service
By Philip Michaels published
Looking for the best cell phone plan for your needs? We’ve rounded up the best choices for family plans, unlimited data and low-cost plans from prepaid carriers.

iOS Reminders wii be impossible to ignore thanks to this iOS 26.2 addition — and that's great news for me
By Philip Michaels published
Among the changes in iOS 26.2 is an update to the Reminders app that lets you mark to-dos as urgent. That way, you'll be sure never to miss a reminder again.

Best Verizon phone deals for November 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
These are the best Verizon phone deals available right now for both Android and Apple devices.

Black Friday phone deals are the perfect reason to switch wireless carriers — here’s the best offers right now
By Philip Michaels published
A lot of Black Friday phone deals are aimed at getting you to switch your wireless service to a new carrier. Here's why you should take carriers up on that offer.

Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25: Should you get a Black Friday phone deal now or wait for the new model?
By Philip Michaels published
Prices on the current Galaxy S25 models are falling for Black Friday. Is it better to take advantage of those deals now or should you hold out for the improved Galaxy S26?

Cell phone service for less — the cheapest plans we've found at each phone carrier
By Philip Michaels last updated
If price is your biggest concern, these are the cheapest options out there

I’m tired of notifications interrupting my iPhone games — here’s how I set things up to play in peace
By Philip Michaels published
Nothing takes you out of a game like an incoming notification. Here's how I've set up my phone for distraction-free gaming with two built-in iOS tools.

Mint Mobile’s unlimited data plan is 50% off for Black Friday — here’s how to lock in that low rate for a whole year
By Philip Michaels published
Mint Mobile has cut its best rate on unlimited data in half, making it a good option for switchers who want to lock in a lower wireless cost for the next year.

iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 Pro shoot-out: Which camera phone zooms better?
By Philip Michaels published
Here's how zoom shots captured by the iPhone 17 compare to what the dedicated telephoto lens on the Pixel 10 Pro shoots.
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