Our Mission
Tom's Guide upgrades your life by helping you decide what products to buy, finding the best deals and showing you how to get the most out of them and solving problems as they arise. Tom's Guide is here to help you...
Accomplish your goals
Our primary ambition is to help you leverage the products you buy to achieve your goals, whether it’s being more productive, getting in shape, protecting your privacy, or just having fun.
Find great products without the hassle
We spend more than 4,000 hours a year researching and testing new products to provide recommendations we’re willing to stake our reputation on. Our reviews and buying guides are here to help you pick the best products for your needs.
Get the best deals
We’ll keep you informed on the latest sales and discounts so you don't have to pay full price, whether it's the best TV deals or best Apple Watch deals. We can also help you where to find PS5 restock.
Discover things others don’t want you to know
From testing the best phone carriers to understanding how buying your own cable modem can free you from recurring fees, our reporting uncovers truths that make life easier.
Save time when problems arise
When jargon confuses or annoys us, we solve problems with helpful tutorials and a community of experts in our forums willing to offer their knowledge.
Who We Are
Mark Spoonauer, Global Editor-in-Chief
Mark Spoonauer is responsible for the editorial direction, strategy and growth of Tom's Guide. He has covered technology for more than 20 years, focusing on reviews and product coverage. Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed hundreds of smartphones and other gadgets. He speaks at key tech industry events and has appeared on CNN, CNBC, NBC, Fox News, Cheddar and more. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag and served as reviews editor at Mobile Computing. His work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc.
Contact Mark: Email | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook
Mike Prospero, Deputy Editor
Mike Prospero oversees all of Tom’s Guide’s evergreen content to ensure it’s up to date with the latest information. He is also in charge of the smart home devices, wearables, cameras, and drones categories for Tom's Guide. An avid runner, skier and foodie, he's always looking for the latest gadget that intersects with his hobbies. After receiving his Master of Science in journalism from Columbia University in 2003, Mike worked at Fast Company. Prior to that, he worked at The Times of Trenton and George magazine.
Philip Michaels, Managing Editor
Philip Michaels oversees coverage of smartphones, apps, wireless carriers and all things mobile for Tom’s Guide. He’s been covering Apple since 1999, first at Macworld and now for Tom’s Guide. When not looking over the fine print in assorted cell phone plans, he’s likely ranting and raving about the Oakland Athletics or old movies.
Contact Phil: Email | Twitter | LinkedIn
Marc McLaren, U.K. Editor in Chief
As UK EiC on Tom’s Guide, Marc is responsible for the site’s UK-focused output as well as overseeing all gaming, streaming, audio, TV and entertainment coverage. He previously edited the gadget website Stuff and also spent years on a music magazine, where his duties mainly involved spoiling other people’s fun. An avid photographer, Marc likes nothing better than taking pictures of very small things (bugs, his daughters) or very big things (distant galaxies).
Contact Marc: Email
Paul Wagenseil, Senior Editor
Paul Wagenseil handles security and privacy coverage for Tom’s Guide. He sometimes presents talks and moderates panels at technology conferences, and even shows up on TV explaining information-security issues to viewers. He has also worked as a bartender, a ditch digger, a fry cook and a dishwasher. He graduated from a fancy college with a degree completely unrelated to his present job.
Brian Westover, Senior Editor
Brian Westover is a senior editor at Tom's Guide, covering everything from TVs and Wi-Fi routers to the latest all-in-one PCs. With more than a decade of experience writing about computers and consumer technology, he's just as focused on finding great value as he is in picking apart fancy new features. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he wrote for PC Magazine, and his work can also be found in several other tech publications. Hailing from the Western United States, Brian spent several years living in New York, and still travels back for the occasional falafel. He lives in Utah full time.
Contact Brian: Email | Twitter
Louis Ramirez, Senior Deals Editor
As senior deals editor at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets. That means price checking against multiple retailers and searching high and low for the best deals to bring readers the best of what’s available online. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.
Contact Louis: Email
Henry T. Casey, Senior Editor
Henry is a senior editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all Apple. Prior to joining Tom’s Guide — where he’s the self-described Rare Oreo Expert — he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. You can find him at your local pro wrestling events, taking as many photos as his iCloud storage will allow.
Contact Henry: Email | Twitter
Marshall Honorof, Senior Editor
Marshall Honorof is an editor for Tom's Guide, covering all sorts of gaming hardware, including gaming mice, keyboards, headsets and more. He also focuses on security and streaming video. After earning a B.A. in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University, Marshall started his journalism career at The Escapist. In his off time, you can find Marshall practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.
Contact Marshall: Email | Twitter | LinkedIn
James Archer, Audio Editor
As Audio Editor, James covers headphones, speakers, soundbars and anything else that might make the air vibrate. He’ll also occasionally venture into gaming and PC hardware news, usually to complain about graphics cards. James is also a part-time musician, at least to the extent bassists can be considered musicians, and previously worked at Computer Shopper UK. He lives in London with his cat, who has never worked at anything.
Contact James: Email
Jordan Palmer, Phones Editor
Jordan Palmer covers all things phones for Tom’s Guide, but he likes to help out the team where he can. He’s always busy, but loves talking to people about phones and mobile tech. He previously wrote for Android Police, Android Central, Gamebyte, iMore, and Windows Central. When not working, he’s usually chipping away at personal writing projects or playing video games. He is usually joined at work by his cat, who loves to make her presence known during meetings.
Contact Jordan: Email | Twitter
Imad Khan, News Editor
Imad Khan is news editor at Tom’s Guide, helping direct the day’s breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a full-time freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Post and ESPN. Outside of work, you can find him sitting blankly in front of a Word document trying desperately to write the first pages of a new book.
Contact Imad: Email
Roland Moore-Colyer, U.K. Editor
Commissioning, editing and managing the morning content written by the Tom’s Guide U.K. team is Roland’s main mission that he chose to accept. Come the afternoon, that’s all mixed with a dose of hot takes around all manner of tech, but mostly phones and gaming. Outside of journalism, Roland has precious few other skills, but makes a cracking cup of tea and good sandwiches; he does this while watching the world spiral deeper into chaos.
Contact Roland: Email
Tom Pritchard, Channel Editor
Tom covers a little bit of everything at Tom’s Guide, ranging from tackling the early morning news beat all the way down to hot takes on why Christopher Nolan is wrong about everything. Appliances are also muscling their way into his routine, which is a pretty long way from his days as Editor at Gizmodo UK. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won’t let him buy the stuff he really needs online.
Contact Tom: Email
Katie Mortram, Homes editor
Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice!
Based in London, when she’s not writing she can be found trying to keep fit by running and practicing yoga.
Contact Katie: Email | Twitter
Kate Kozuch, Senior Writer
Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom’s Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related.
When she’s not trying to pass as a cyborg, you can find her on an exercise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will rule the world one day.
Kelly Woo, Staff Writer
Kelly covers streaming media for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.
Contact Kelly: Email | Twitter
Richard Priday, Staff Writer
Richard is one of Tom’s Guide’s London-based staffers, writing news and reviews for all sorts of products, but focusing on smartphones. He has also written for WIRED U.K. and The Register since graduating with an MA in Journalism from the University of Sheffield, but before that he built custom gaming PCs and worked as a tour guide in a castle. These days, if he’s not at his desk, you’ll likely find him streaming movies, PC gaming, or learning how to be a specialty coffee snob.
Contact Richard: Email | Twitter
Rory Mellon, Staff Writer
Rory is a Staff Writer based in the UK. He likes to think of himself as a jack of all trades (and a master of at least a few), though he mainly focuses on deals and gaming matters. Often covering both at the same time. When he’s not scouring the web for the biggest savings or writing hot takes about the latest video games and hardware, he can be found watching a borderline unhealthy amount of movies, attending gigs, and getting frustrated at his football team.
Contact Rory: Email
Denise Primbet, News Writer
Denise is a trainee news writer at Tom’s Guide covering consumer tech news, deals, streaming and gaming. She’s particularly passionate about feature writing and multimedia content.
When she’s not streaming horror games at Twitch, she’s a part-time piano enthusiast.
Contact Denise: Email
Brian Nadel, Contributing Editor
Brian is a 40 year veteran of technology writing and reviewing, who has developed an emphasis on mobile, security and education. Over the years he has appeared on Bloomberg News and CNN to give context to the latest development on laptops, mobile phones and mobile services. He has worked at PC Magazine (senior editor) and Mobile Computing & Communications (editor in chief) as well as writing for CNET, Fortune Magazine, Laptop Mag and, of course, Tom's Guide. He lives outside New York City with his wife and the family tortoise.
John Quain, Contributing Editor
John R. Quain has covered science and technology for more than two decades. In addition to being a contributing editor at Tom's Guide, he's a regular contributor to The New York Times and the weekly tech guru for WTVN. His articles have appeared in Car & Driver, Esquire, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, and U.S. News & World Report, as well as numerous technology publications. Quain was the recipient of a Paris Accords of Science Communication fellowship in 2019. He regularly speaks about issues relating to autonomous vehicles and is the Editor-in-Chief of OntheRoadtoAutonomy.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jqontech.
Jonathan Lesser, Contributing Writer
Jonathan Lesser is a writer, editor and communications professional living in Pelham, N.Y.
Jonathan writes about personal finance and cryptocurrencies for Tom's Guide.
He has been published in Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Vibe, Travel + Leisure Golf and other publications.
Emily Long, Contributing Writer
Emily Long is a Utah-based freelance writer who covers technology, security, and personal finance for Tom's Guide.
When she's not writing, you can find her trail running, teaching and practicing yoga, or studying for grad school—all fueled by coffee, obviously.
Kenneth Butler, Social Media Editor
Kenneth uses social media and video to share the Tom’s Guide team’s collective knowledge with hundreds of thousands of fans and followers. That includes covering PR events on Instagram, shooting close-up video of great backpacks, and arming readers with Tom’s Guide’s limitless advice and know-how. In the past, he’s worked as a fact checker, staff writer and production director. His off-hour hobbies include early morning runs, writing about pop culture, and an unending quest to try every flavor of Oreo.
Contact Kenneth: Email | Twitter
Matthew Murray, Head of Testing
As head of testing for Tom’s Guide’s parent company, Future Media, Matthew helps coordinate and conduct product testing for all of the company's editorial brands, including Tom's Hardware, AnandTech, Laptop, TechRadar, PC Gamer, and, of course, Tom's Guide. Prior to his stint at Future, Matthew worked at publications as diverse as PCMag.com, ExtremeTech.com, Computer Shopper, Stage Directions magazine, and TheaterMania.com, and before that he worked in IT and helpdesk roles. He has also edited seven books, and for more than 16 years was the chief New York theater critic for TalkinBroadway.com.
Madeline Ricchiuto, Lab Tester
Madeline Ricchiuto is a lab tester at Future, testing products for Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Hardware, and Laptop Magazine. Prior to working at Future, Madeline was the Head Games Writer and Editor at Bleeding Cool and a QA tester with LiquidSky Software. She’s also written for various publications including CG Magazine, Marvel Entertainment, Diver Magazine, and the Examiner.
How We Test and Rate Products
To help make complex tech-buying decisions easier for our readers, we test and review hundreds of different gadgets, software and services each year, ranging from smartphones, laptops and smartwatches to TVs, Bluetooth speakers and the best antivirus suites. Here's how we rate products.
How We Test
Our editorial team rates products with two questions in mind: Is this a good choice for readers, and if so, who should buy it? We'll tell you whether an alternative is better or worse, and in what ways. We also find out what owners of these products are saying, such as by analyzing user reviews, to further inform your next purchase.
Our reviewers spend quality time using each product to determine how well it works for its target market. We'll go jogging with a fitness tracker, play the latest titles on a gaming keyboard or browse the web with several tabs open on a Chromebook.
We also run a bevy of benchmarks and real-world tests, many of which we've developed in-house. For instance, our smartphone, tablet and laptop battery test surfs the web over 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi, just as you would if you were using these devices at home.
What Our Ratings Mean
On Tom's Guide, all products are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where higher is better. Products may also receive an Editors’ Choice award, which marks them as best-in-class. The ratings are as follows; anything rated 2 or below is not recommended:
5 stars = Practically perfect
4 stars = Totally worth it
3 stars = Worth considering
2.5 stars = Meh
2 stars = Not worth the money
1 stars = Laughably bad
Best Picks and Use-Case Recommendations
Our Best Picks lists don't just name our top overall picks, but also make specific, tailored recommendations for different scenarios. For example, we pick the best TVs in different sizes and price ranges, and look at the best drones both for beginners and fliers who want high-quality aerial photography. Ultimately, we judge products based on what they're trying to accomplish as well as how well they reach their target audience, thus giving shoppers a complete picture of not only whether a product is good or great but whether it's good or great for them.
Independent Editorial
No outside party determines what products we review or the content of our reviews. Tom's Guide accepts advertising and enable visitors to purchase the items we evaluate through the use of buy buttons. However, these revenue relationships are handled by the Future ad-sales and e-commerce teams, and neither they nor advertisers are permitted to influence our coverage.
We accept several forms of advertising, including occasional sponsored content (aka "native advertising"). Paid placements are clearly identified so that our readers can easily tell the difference between a paid promotion and our objective advice.
Tom's Guide is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact us here. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk.
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