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
![Nomad Tracking Card in hand](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9gGZxgMaHQQFuMeRNeHuh-320-80.jpg)
I tried Nomad's new Apple Find My Tracking Card, and it finally adds this one feature I've been asking for
By John Velasco published
The Nomad Tracking Card offers all the same Apple Find My features I've come to expect on other wallet trackers, but it's different for its convenient MagSafe charging.
![iPhone 15 Pro Max in blue](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vhhJu8kuMwLR8cPkuhdjvg-320-80.jpg)
Forget Magic Editor — here are the AI camera features the iPhone 16 Pro desperately needs
By John Velasco published
AI camera features should be intuitive and practical
![Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE RWD (2024).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JUdDarz3XrtMzqdp8ctQm-320-80.jpg)
I tried charging an EV at home and it was a shock I wasn't expecting
By John Velasco published
I finally got to charge my first EV at home, but I was shocked by how it turned out. Here's what every new and first time EV driver needs to know about charging at home.
![Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8a camera shootout.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vjP497XuoyvVBamiybxYbi-320-80.jpg)
I took over 200 photos with the Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8 — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
In this Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8 photo shootout, I take both phones to capture over 200 photos and judge them in 10 different categories to find out which is the better camera phone for photography.
![Blackview BL9000 Pro held in hand showing off the back.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTHxaWiVwPhJrUume5stQd-320-80.jpg)
I used this rugged phone with a FLIR camera to see behind walls — and it even has an obnoxious 8,800 mAh battery
By John Velasco published
You might be surprised by what rugged phones can do nowadays
![best android apps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bSG4ajHm5o9kW6xmnXEhGC-320-80.jpg)
Best Android apps in 2024
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.
![Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE RWD (2024) parked in a park.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rJkpE9bmuH3Kqt3N6WaWAo-320-80.jpg)
Forget Tesla Model 3 — I drove a Hyundai Ioniq 6 for a week and it’s a sportier alternative
By John Velasco published
I got to test drive a Hyundai Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan for a week, and I think it's a worthy alternative to the Tesla Model 3. Here's why.
![Composite image between Pixel 8a and iPhone SE 3.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GYQgdaDb6g742C8unDPNWQ-320-80.jpg)
I put the Pixel 8a and iPhone SE through a 7-round face-off — here’s the winner
By John Velasco published
The two year spread makes a difference
![Samsung Galaxy Fold 5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2a5F2NcQvp4rTfSZyfZwK7-320-80.jpg)
It’s about time! Galaxy Z Fold 6 deserves better cameras than the Galaxy S24
By John Velasco published
Rumors tip big camera improvements for this year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 release. And that's approprite given the phone's lofty price tag.
![Composite image between the Pixel 8a in the hand and the iPhone SE (2022) in the hand.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/anDKweiuJamggLSFdVDJD5-320-80.jpg)
I shot over 200 photos with the Pixel 8a vs iPhone SE — here’s the winner
By John Velasco last updated
In this Pixel 8a vs iPhone SE photo shootout, we captured over 200 photos to determine which has the better camera performance for mobile photography.
![Google Pixel 8a.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B56wzkojAkGWc9J7HDoSVL-320-80.jpg)
Forget iPhone 16 — Pixel 8a AI features proves why Google’s so ahead of Apple
By John Velasco published
The Pixel 8a inherits AI features that were first available on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, but they prove that Apple can't afford to come up short on AI features with the iPhone 16. Here's why.
![Android 15](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cDP4TxoaL2qGYh6GwwdbzW-320-80.jpg)
Android 15 — 5 ways it just put iOS 18 on notice
By John Velasco published
Google I/O 2024 was a launchpad for many new AI features that will be coming to Android sooner than later, which means there's more pressure for Apple to respond with iOS 18.
![Sundar Pichai wide shot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FXgaURo5zEreekjkLue3e-320-80.png)
Google I/O 2024 announcements — all the big Gemini AI and Android 15 news
By Philip Michaels published
Get all the latest news from Google I/O as Google holds its annual developers conference, where the focus figures to be on artificial intelligence and Android among other Google products.
![Google event 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pz7Xivdv7s6A8AmQGn98sZ-320-80.jpg)
Google I/O 2024 dates, Android 15, AI and more
By John Velasco last updated
Google I/O 2024 is coming up in May. Here's when the developer conference will take place along with the latest on all the new products we expect from Google.
![Lexus TX550H+ in a parking lot.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kppQ9ukdpPDvwriHGdZGgM-320-80.jpg)
I let the Lexus TX550H+ PHEV take over the steering wheel for me, and it was the biggest leap of faith I’ve had driving a car
By John Velasco published
It felt like I was about to go on a roller coaster ride
![Pixel 8 Pro vs OnePlus 12 held in both hands.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JhrpbeWTTt7Srb2ExURFjn-320-80.jpg)
I shot over 200 photos with the OnePlus 12 vs Pixel 8 Pro — here's the winner
By John Velasco published
This one came out a lot closer that I initially thought
![Apollo Go scooter.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hfdmcmqtTiyHY2gmhy2yuK-320-80.jpg)
Apollo Go scooter review: a reliable, all-around performer
By John Velasco published
When it comes to getting around, the Apollo Go electric scooter makes it easy for anyone who's had little experience riding a scooter.
![Google Pixel 8a in all four colors positioned next to each other on table.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KKpBrNLGNfURW57eUDAxVF-320-80.jpg)
The Pixel 8a just put Apple and Samsung on notice — here’s why
By John Velasco published
Now that the Pixel 8a is official, it's clear how Google's phone is vastly better than anything its rivals offer in the midrange space. Apple, Samsung, and others can't afford to fall behind.
![Google Pixel 8a in hand.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S4wh2sNEUAN9c2ErBQQXdE-320-80.jpg)
Pixel 8a is proof that Apple can't afford to shortchange the iPhone SE 4 — here's why
By John Velasco published
With the Pixel 8a's announcement, it pretty much means more pressure for the iPhone SE 4 to overdeliver, considering how Apple's cheapest iPhone is long overdue for an upgrade.
![Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra in hand showing cameras](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a4RBu7chKA3BmLejyqHVi5-320-80.jpg)
I took over 200 photos with the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra — here's the winner
By John Velasco published
This one came out a lot closer this time
![iPhone 16 prototypes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nvFJS8JLoSRCXxbdehohm4-320-80.jpg)
iPhone 16 — this is the one upgrade Apple needs to make
By John Velasco last updated
While others might be turned off by rumors about the iPhone 16 keeping to a 60Hz display refresh rate, Apple instead needs to upgrade it with an always-on display.
![Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Press Images.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zhgu4zQDRo2u3LexkvkDGY-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra now looks like a lock for this year — here’s why
By John Velasco published
The Galaxy Watch Ultra could be the premium model Samsung's expected to launch soon to complement its Galaxy Watch 7 series of smartwatches.
![Lexus TX550H+ in a parking lot.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VDXDR6dFuFUZV9aEyjayhK-320-80.jpg)
I drove a Lexus TX550H+ plug-in hybrid for a week — here's my pros and cons
By John Velasco published
After test driving my first plug-in hybrid vehicle, a Lexus TX550H+, I got a better understanding of what this PHEV has to offer drivers as a luxury SUV.
![Pixel 8 Pro running apps that require subscriptions.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2DZYYtX3FZ9aWDwgyMYafa-320-80.jpg)
Most of my favorite apps are ditching one-time payments for subscriptions — this is a problem
By John Velasco published
Many of the photo and video editing apps I use on my smartphones have been moving to subscription models instead of the one-time payments I was used to. This annoys me so much. Here's why.