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
iOS 18.2 lets you change your default phone and messaging apps — here's how
By Philip Michaels last updated
iOS 18.2 lets you change your default app for more tasks than ever before. Here's what you can change and where you'll find the new setting.
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.
Cellular bills are out of control — and this unlimited deal for $30 a month puts the big carriers to shame
By Philip Michaels published
A deal at Visible lets new customers cut the price of the phone carrier's unlimited data plans for the next 25 months when they sign up with a special promo code.
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.
iPhone 17 Pro rumor points to a big design change — and I think it's garbage
By Philip Michaels published
A rumor claims that Apple will move away from titanium frames for its iPhone 17 Pro models. But that claim doesn't seem to fit in with how Apple markets its Pro phones.
Rumored OnePlus 13R specs look promising, but there's one thing missing
By Philip Michaels published
The OnePlus 12R was one of my favorite phones last year. The OnePlus 13R will soon replace it, but can it live up to the 12R's standard?
iOS 18 has a neat shortcut to resize your home screen widgets — here's how it works
By Philip Michaels published
iOS 18 adds a quick way to change the size of any widget on your home screen. Here's where to find that shortcut.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Which will be the best Android phone of 2025?
By Philip Michaels published
Get ready for an early Android phone face-off
With Samsung Galaxy S25 launch, AI will take center stage
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S25 will see some notable hardware changes, but Galaxy AI should highlight the phone's launch next month. But what can we expect to see in terms of new AI features?
Best unlimited data plans in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
Lots of wireless carriers promise limitless data, but only one can have the best unlimited data plan. Here’s the plan you should sign up for to save money.
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 8a vs. Samsung Galaxy A35: Here’s the budget phone you should get
By Philip Michaels published
Both the Google Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A35 promise a lot of value for not much cash. But which of these sub-$500 phones should you get?
Best phones 2024 tested — December top picks
By Philip Michaels last updated
These are the best phones you can buy at a wide range of prices based on our extensive testing and head-to-head comparisons.
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.
The best cheap cell phone plans 2024
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.
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.
The best 5G phones in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best 5G phones deliver faster downloads, lower latency and a lot more. Here are the 5G-capable phones worth your attention.
Best GPS tracker for kids in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
Our pick for the best GPS tracker for kids can help pinpoint a lost child’s location, giving worried parents some peace of mind.
Best Android phones in December 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
Our list of the best Android phones at every size and for every budget will help you make the right choice.
Samsung Galaxy A35 review: How good is this $399 phone?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Samsung's midrange phone faces stiff competition from Google and OnePlus
I test all kinds of phone cases— these are my 6 favorites with Black Friday discounts
By Philip Michaels published
Phones aren't the only thing on sale during Black Friday. You can also pick up cases for top smartphones on the cheap thanks to sales and discounts.
Best family cell phone plan in 2024
By Philip Michaels last updated
Looking for the best family cell phone plan? We can help you find a smartphone plan that brings unlimited data to multiple people without breaking the bank.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim could have a huge advantage over the iPhone 17 Air — here’s why
By Philip Michaels published
Rumors about slim phones from Samsung and Apple suggest the two companies are taking very different approaches to building ultra-thin handsets.
I tried to use Apple Intelligence's Image Playground to design a Thanksgiving menu — here's what I learned about the app in the process
By Philip Michaels published
Using Image Playground on a Thanksgiving project, I learned about the Apple Intelligence app's strengths as well as its limitations.
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