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 Unpacked News: Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Watch Ultra and more
By Philip Michaels, Mark Spoonauer last updated
Meet the latest Samsung foldable phones and wearables
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.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Motorola Razr Plus (2024): How the flip phones compare
By Philip Michaels last updated
Which flip phone should you get?
Best iPhone 14 Pro Max cases in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best iPhone 14 Pro Max cases can keep your precious iPhone looking like new, especially if you happen to drop it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Price, release date, features and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 arrives with 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.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 unveiled with better cameras and durability — but higher price
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Here's what's new with the $1,099 foldable flip phone.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Summer 2024: Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Ring and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
Samsung has set a date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event. Here's a look at when and where it's happening and all the products we're expecting to see.
Samsung rumored to be dropping the Galaxy S25 Plus — here's why that's a big mistake
By Philip Michaels published
Yet another rumor claims the days are numbered for a Plus version of the Galaxy S flagship. But that would leave a big hole in the Galaxy S25 lineup next year.
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.
iPhone 16 Pro rumors — everything we know so far
By Philip Michaels last updated
The iPhone 16 Pro won't arrive until the fall, but that's not stopping rumors from appearing now. Here's what we know so far about the iPhone 16 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked summer 2024 — here's everything to expect
By Philip Michaels last updated
Could Samsung's latest foldables wind up on the sideline?
10 best iOS 18 features for productivity — get more done on your iPhone with this update
By Philip Michaels published
Apple intelligence and greater customization in iOS 18 are getting most of the attention, but the iPhone software update also makes some notable improvements to boost your productivity.
My favorite iPhone app is the one that irritates me the most — here's why
By Philip Michaels published
The Fitness app is great at motivating people to get up and get moving. But its one big flaw raises questions about Apple's push into health tracking.
iOS 18 Wallet: 3 big changes coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
Apple's digital wallet gets some new ways to pay in iOS 18 Wallet. Find out more about the changes, including event guides for tickets you store in the app.
iOS 18 Mail: Biggest changes coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
Apple says the changes coming to Mail in iOS 18 will arrive later in the year. When they do come, they'll lean heavily on Apple Intelligence and AI.
I cover smartphone launches, and Google's Pixel 9 event is the one that has me excited
By Philip Michaels published
Google plans a hardware event for August 13 — two months earlier than its usual product launches for the fall. Here's why that's a bigger deal than you might have realized.
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.
Rumored iPhone 16 camera layout is the right move, even if it’s for the wrong reason
By Philip Michaels published
It's looking increasingly likely that Apple is going to change the camera layout on the iPhone 16. It's an improved look, even if it doesn't lend the desired boost to spatial video.
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.
iOS 18 Control Center — 5 biggest changes coming to your iPhone
By Philip Michaels published
Customization is a big focus in iOS 18, and that's especially true for the Control Center. You get more control panels in this refreshed version and more ways to customize the layout.
I put the Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15 through a 7-round face-off — here's the winner
By Philip Michaels last updated
The two top smartphones go at it in our Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15 face-off, as we look to see which is the best phone for $799.
Best Verizon phone plans for 2024: Unlimited, prepaid and more
By Philip Michaels last updated
These are the best Verizon phone plans available, whether you’re looking for an unlimited plan, prepaid or a family plan.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold — all the rumors so far
By Tom Pritchard published
Whether the next Google foldable goes by the Pixel Fold 2 or the Pixel 9 Pro, here's what we know so far about the upcoming phone based on rumors.