
John Velasco
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

Best Android apps in 2025
By Philip Michaels, John Velasco last updated
There are plenty of apps in the Google Play store, but we tracked down the best Android apps that deserve a place on your smartphone.

Forget Razr Ultra — Best Buy has the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 for just $249 right now
By John Velasco published
Best Buy has the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 down to $249, which is a 75% off savings from its normal price.

Google Pixel 9a review: The phone to beat under $500
By John Velasco last updated
The Google Pixel 9a still reigns supreme in the budget phone market thanks in part to its helpful AI features, excellent camera performance, brighter screen and more upgrades.

I tried the Motorola Razr Ultra's killer feature — and it takes productivity to a new level
By John Velasco published
Smart Connect is one of the Razr Ultra 2025's killer features. It lets you access the phone on a computer, but it has one major flaw.

I drove the 2025 Hummer EV SUV for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
It’s the biggest EV on the market: I put the 2025 GMC Hummer EV to the test to see how well it drives, its efficiency, charging speeds, and more to see if it’s worth the $100K+ asking price.

7 ways Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 could beat the Galaxy Z Flip 7
By John Velasco published
Now that I've spent hands-on time with the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025, I feel it's going to be the superior flip-style phone against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Motorola Razr 2025 launch live — three new foldables just announced
By John Velasco last updated
Motorola just announced three new Razr flip phones for 2025: the Razr 2025, Razr Plus 2025, and Razr Ultra 2025. Here's everything we know about them in our live coverage.

Best foldable phones of 2025
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.

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 hands-on review: Samsung should be worried
By John Velasco published
Not yet ratedMotorola's new foldable phone lineup consists of the Razr 2025, Razr Plus 2025, and Razr Ultra 2025. Here's everything new and different about these flip phones in our hands-on.

Best camera phones in 2025
By John Velasco last updated
We've tested all the best camera phones, and these are the ones that rise to the top.

I’ve been using Ring’s solar powered lights over two years, and they’re my favorite eco-friendly gadgets — here’s why
By John Velasco published
I replaced the lights around my home with Ring's solar powered lights and have not looked back. Not only were they easy to install, but they saved me from hiring an electrician.

Avoid EV charging surprises: this smart electrical box protects your home and doesn't cost a fortune
By John Velasco published
Presented by Siemens
There are challenges to charging your EV at home, but you can monitor it while keeping your electrical system safe with Siemans' smart boxes.

Motorola Razr Plus 2025 — 7 biggest rumored upgrades for the new flip phone
By John Velasco published
This might be the flip-style foldable phone to beat

I tested astrophotography on my Pixel 9a — here's the results
By John Velasco published
I put the Pixel 9a's astrophotography mode on a relatively clear night to see what it produces and how it compares to others phones I've tested.

I drove the 2025 Rivian R1S for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
I put the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor all-electric SUV to the test by driving it for a week to get a feel for its features and uncover its efficiency.

New York Auto Show 2025 — here’s the one EV I'd actually buy
By John Velasco published
The 2025 Toyota bZ4X has a subtle redesign, but also gets a significant price drop that makes it much more affordable than most EVs.

Best cell phone signal boosters 2025
By John Velasco last updated
The best cell phone signal boosters fix poor service at home or on the road. Some even support all carriers.

5 coolest EVs I saw at the New York Auto Show 2025 — Kia EV4, Lucid Gravity and more
By John Velasco last updated
I spent time at the New York Auto Show 2025 checking out all the new EVs coming out this year and next year. Here are the coolest electric cars that stood out.

I put the Google Pixel 9a vs Apple iPhone 16e through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
When it comes to budget phones, a Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e comparison is inevitable because of similar features and prices. However, there's only one winner in this face-off.

I lost home internet for 2 days and this underrated iPhone feature was a lifesaver — and it wasn’t the hotspot
By John Velasco published
After my Verizon Fios service unexpectedly stopped working, I had to lean on my iPhone's USB tethering feature to stay connected. Here's how to use tethering when you need to stay connected.

I put the Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Apple iPhone 16 through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
With Samsung's new phones now a reality, here's how a Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16 showdown goes down after putting them both to the test.

I drove the 2025 Cadillac Optiq EV for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
With an MSRP of $57,090, the 2025 Cadillac Optiq Sport 2 is a luxury crossovers that packs impressive features with better than average efficiency. Is it enough to dissuade me from the Lyriq?

I shot over 200 photos with the Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
I captured over 200 photos with the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e to find out which is the better camera phone.

I asked cats to test these robotic litter boxes — here's the ones they think are best
By John Velasco last updated
My cats have been using these different smart cat litter boxes for months now and using the data from the apps, we can see how much they prefer them over standard litter boxes.
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