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
iPhone 16 battery life vs Samsung vs Google — which flagship phones last the longest?
By Philip Michaels published
Here's how battery life compares for the leading smartphones
Apple Intelligence Mail summaries in iOS 18.1 will help tame your inbox — here's how it works
By Philip Michaels last updated
Among the changes to Mail coming via Apple Intelligence are summaries for both your inbox and the messages themselves. Here's how the feature works.
iPhone SE 4 — all the rumors and what we want to see
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple could have another iPhone SE with a new look in the pipeline. Here's what we've heard so far about iPhone SE 4 rumors.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: All the rumors so far
By Philip Michaels last updated
Samsung is already at work prepping the next premium flagship for its lineup. Here's what we've heard about the Galaxy S25 Ultra ahead of its 2025 launch.
Best camera phones in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
We've tested all the best camera phones, and these are the ones that rise to the top.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Price, release date, features and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers an improved camera, bigger battery and a lot more Galaxy AI capabilities. Here's what's new with this foldable flip phone and how much you'll pay for it.
Best phone carriers of 2024
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.
Clean Up is Apple's take on Magic Editor — here's how to use it with Apple Intelligence
By Philip Michaels published
iPhones capable of running Apple Intelligence gain a Clean Up feature that removes unwanted people and objects from your photos with just a tap. We'll show you how Clean Up works.
iPhone SE 4 price — why I don't like what I'm hearing
By Philip Michaels last updated
The rumored iPhone SE 4 could be a swing and a miss for Apple, particularly if it's substantially larger and pricier than its predecessor.
The best prepaid phone plans in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best prepaid phone plans can save you money on your monthly cell phone bill. Here are the best options we found from a variety of carriers.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. Galaxy S24: Here's the biggest differences
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S24 FE is a cheaper version of Samsung's flagship, but what do you end up sacrificing for the lower cost? Our Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. Galaxy S24 face-off compares the two phones.
I just tried Apple Intelligence photo search in iOS 18 — and I'm surprised with the results
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple Intelligence will make it easier to find photos on your iPhone when iOS 18.1 arrives. But improved search could extend to all iPhones, at least based on my testing.
SOS appearing on your iPhone? Here's what that means and how to change it
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's how to troubleshoot your cellular connectivity issues
iPhone Flip: Everything we know about Apple's foldable phone plans
By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone Flip could be Apple's first foldable phone. Here's what we know so far.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE could be the budget Android to buy — here's why
By Philip Michaels last updated
A major difference this year
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: The biggest expected upgrades
By Philip Michaels published
As new as the iPhone 16 models may be, details have started emerging about next year's phones. Here's an early look at how an iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 comparison is shaping up.
Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great piece of kit and you'll want to keep it safe from harm. The best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases can help.
iOS 18 Memory Movie is one of Apple Intelligence’s best features — here’s how to use it
By Philip Michaels published
You can use Apple Intelligence to auto-assemble a slideshow on iPhones running iOS 18.1. Here's how to create a Memory Movie.
Best foldable phones of 2024
By Philip Michaels 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.
Don't buy Meta Quest 3 right now — a huge price drop is coming
By Philip Michaels published
You used to have to pay $649 to get a 512GB Meta Quest 3. But that's now the storage in the $499 base model now that the Quest 3s is available.
Best cell phone plans in 2024: The best options for your monthly phone service
By Philip Michaels last updated
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.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is here — everything you need to know
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is now here. Here's what it costs and how it differs from the Pixel Fold that came before it.
Best phone battery life in 2024: 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.
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