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

I drove the GMC Yukon Denali and Chevrolet Tahoe for a week — here’s the massive 3-row SUV I recommend
By John Velasco Published
After spending a week with both the GMC Yukon Denali and Chevrolet Tahoe, there's a clear difference between these massive SUVs.

I’ve been on Visible since 2023 — and the lower bills I’ve paid prove why I’ll never go back to a major phone carrier
By John Velasco Published
By switching to Visible in 2023, I’ve saved thousands over 33 months — proving that breaking free from major carrier bills doesn’t mean sacrificing reliable coverage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 review: More expensive, barely different
By John Velasco Published
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 delivers top-tier performance and standout vlogging features, but a $100 price hike makes its tough considering all the iterative improvements.

I’ve tested hundreds of phone accessories this year — and these are the 9 that you won’t regret buying
By John Velasco Published
I've test hundreds of phone accessories in the last year and these are the nine that proved their worth to me and worth spending your money on.

Audi completely redesigned how the turn signal works with the Q9 and SQ9 — making them way more visible on the road
By John Velasco Published
Audi’s all-new 2027 Q9 and SQ9 make their debut as the brand’s first true full-size, three-row U.S., but they both heavily focus on lighting tech.

I shot the same 25 photos with a $329 budget phone and $1,199 flagship — here's the results
By John Velasco Published
Does having a flagship phone have a substantially better camera performance than a budget one? I put the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to the test.

This tracking card lasts 50% longer than an AirTag for just $15 more — and now I never have to worry about replacing batteries
By John Velasco Published
At just $15 more than an AirTag, the Nomad Tracking Card Pro has an unprecedented 16-month battery life.

I drove the Volkswagen Atlas and Kia Telluride for a week — here’s the mid-size 3-row SUV I recommend
By John Velasco Published
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas and 2027 Kia Telluride are 3-row, mid-size SUVs that offer outstanding utility and almost price similarly, but one does offer more value.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 battery life tested — silicon carbon pays off
By John Velasco Published
Armed with silicon-carbon batteries, Samsung’s new foldables deliver massive generational battery gains led by the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Fold 8 Ultra vs Flip 8 benchmarked — the results are in
By John Velasco Published
We benchmark Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 to see how the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performs against the competition.

I'd buy a Galaxy Z Fold 8 over the Z Fold 8 Ultra — and it's all because it steals this Z TriFold feature
By John Velasco Published
Thanks to its wider aspect ratio, you get three-app side-by-side multitasking with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which it steals from the TriFold.

I drove the Cadillac Optiq for a week — and it makes other compact electric SUVs look tiny
By John Velasco Published
RecommendedThe 2026 Cadillac Optiq V-Series backs up its steep $79,270 price tag with blistering 519-horsepower acceleration, elegant design, and more.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked recap: Everything on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, smart glasses, Galaxy Watch 9, and more
By John Velasco, Tom Pritchard Last updated
Samsung’s summer Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event showcased a major expansion with foldables like the passport-style Galaxy Z Fold 8, the flagship Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and more.

Best foldable phones of 2026
By John Velasco Last updated
More phone makers than ever are coming out with devices you can fold into more compact designs. These are the best foldable phones we’ve tested.

I’ve always liked Samsung’s flip phones, but the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is a big letdown — here’s why
By John Velasco Published
Not yet ratedThe Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 delivers a sleeker design, new battery tech, and subtle software additions, but is it worth the extra $100 it's asking for?

Samsung Galaxy Card takes aim at Apple Card with way more perks and rewards — here’s what you get
By John Velasco Published
Samsung's new Barclays-issued Galaxy Card aims to challenge the Apple Card by offering loyalists 5% cash back on direct brand purchases and 3% on all mobile wallet transactions.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — 5 biggest rumored upgrades you need to know
By John Velasco Last updated
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are shaping up to be absolute powerhouses with big upgrades that could land them in an all-time best list.

I tested the Sonim XP Pro Thermal for a week — and this ultra-rugged phone doesn't feel like a brick in my pocket
By John Velasco Published
The Sonim XP Pro Thermal proves that a rugged, military-grade smartphone with an integrated FLIR night vision camera doesn't have to be weigh as much as a tank.

I hate paying for calorie-tracking apps, so I had Gemini analyze my food photos instead — here’s what it found
By John Velasco Published
I want to avoid paying for pricey calorie-tracking subscriptions, so I used Google Gemini to analyze my meals to give me an idea of how much I'm consuming.

I drove the BMW XM Label and Audi RS Q8 for a week — here’s the only one I'd recommend
By John Velasco Published
I put the 2026 BMW XM Label and 2026 Audi RS Q8 to the test for a week each to find out which performance luxury SUV is worth splurging on.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Wide) vs Fold 8 Ultra — here's the foldable I'm most excited for
By John Velasco Published
There are key differences between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, so I'm breaking down what they are and which one I'm excited the most for.

iOS 27 hands-on preview: These new features completely change how I use my iPhone
By John Velasco Last updated
Backed by a smarter, highly contextual Siri and game-changing creative tools, the iOS 27 public beta is a massive leap forward that proves Apple is no longer just playing catch-up.

iOS 27 public beta is here: how to download it now
By John Velasco Published
The iOS 27 public beta is officially live, delivering a massive wave of features that range from a highly contextual Siri AI to more Apple Intelligence features.
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