
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

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: All the rumors so far
By Alan Martin last updated
Samsung’s next flagship phone is already taking shape ahead of its launch later this year. Here's what we know so far about the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

iPhone 18 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: How this year's top flagship phones could compare
By Philip Michaels published
With the iPhone 18 unlikely to appear this year, that means it could fall to Samsung's Galaxy S26 to compete with the iPhone 18 Pro. Who's got the advantage in this Apple vs. Samsung face-off?

iOS 26 Preview: 7 features to explore in your iPhone’s newest app
By Philip Michaels published
Preview arrives on your iPhone with iOS 26. Not sure what to do with the new addition? Here's some of the top features I've been trying out.

I was worried about Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 release plans but now I think users will benefit
By Philip Michaels published
No iPhone 18 this year? No problem

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

Best cell phone plans for seniors in 2026
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's how the best cell phone plans for seniors compare, ranging from the cheapest to best unlimited options.

Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What to expect at Samsung's big launch event
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung figures to show off new phones at its next product launch. But when will that edition of Galaxy Unpacked take place?

Best phone battery life in 2026: 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.

Motorola's most advanced budget phone lasts a long time on a charge — but is that enough?
By Philip Michaels published
The Moto G Power (2026) is the latest version of Motorola's long-lasting low-cost phone. But it's getting harding to separate this model from Motorola's other long-lasting low-cost offerings.

iPhone 17e can be the must-have midrange phone — if Apple adds this feature
By Philip Michaels published
The iPhone 16e offers wireless charging, but if Apple wants to take a step forward with the iPhone 17e, it needs to add support for the newer Qi2 wireless standard. Here's why.

The new iOS 26 Preview app has solved one of my biggest problems with the iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
When a PDF requiring my signature landed in my Mail inbox, I usually had to wait until I was back at my Mac to deal with it. But the arrival of a mobile Preview app in iOS 26 changes that.

Should you buy the Galaxy S25 now or wait for the Galaxy S26?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Prices have dropped on the Galaxy S25 ahead of the anticipated Galaxy S26 launch. Should you take the deal on Samsung's older phones or wait to see what's new with the latest models?

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. iPhone 17 Pro: How these top flagship phones could compare
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S26 Ultra figures to be Samsung's premium flagship when it debuts this year. But can it top the value that the iPhone 17 Pro provides?

First the iPhone 17 Pro, now the Galaxy S26 Ultra? Why phone makers may be turning their backs on titanium
By Philip Michaels published
Galaxy S26 rumor has Samsung dropping titanium from its Ultra model

The best prepaid phone plans in 2026
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.

The best cheap cell phone plans 2026
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.

Phone prices are expected to go up in 2026 — here's how to avoid the sticker shock
By Philip Michaels published
Rising costs for RAM could drive up the price of flagship phones. That makes turning to midrange phones smarter than ever.

Phones in 2026: What we’re hoping to see (and our biggest worries)
By Josh Render published
2026 could be a fantastic year for smartphone fans, but that doesn't mean that we don't have some concerns.

Apple's new iPhones for 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Fold and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
The coming year should be another big one for the iPhone, as Apple plans new models, a revamped Siri and a potential change to its release schedule.

I like Apple’s iOS 26 update but the new Games app is a letdown — here's why
By Philip Michaels published
Now that iOS 26 has been out for a few months, it's time to revisit the Games app introduced with that software update. In my experience, it's really falling short.

Samsung reportedly doesn't know what to charge for the Galaxy S26 — and that could be bad news
By Philip Michaels published
A report out of South Korea suggests Samsung is struggling with setting a price for the upcoming Galaxy S26 models due to the rising costs of components.

Santa Tracker 2025 LIVE — how to find Santa now with Google and NORAD
By Jeff Parsons last updated
You can follow Santa Claus on his journey around the world thanks to Google and NORAD's festive trackers.

Forget smart glasses — these AI upgrades made phones way smarter in 2025
By Philip Michaels published
From the Galaxy S25 models that debuted at the start of the year to the iPhones that arrived later on, 2025 saw a number of phones put productivity features front and center.
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