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 16e — everything you need to know
By Philip Michaels last updated
Apple has announced its latest phone, the iPhone 16e and here's everything we know about the device.

Best Mint Mobile plans 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
The best Mint Mobile plans feature some of the cheapest prices right now — here's how to save on your monthly wireless phone service.

Best mobile hotspots in 2025
By Jeffery Battersby last updated
These are the best mobile hotspots for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customers.

Best cell phone plans in 2025: 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.

I covered Samsung's Galaxy S25 launch and I saw 5 things Apple should learn for its iPhone releases
By Philip Michaels published
Apple could learn a few lessons from what Samsung announced when it showed off the Galaxy S25 models last month.

Best cell phone plans for seniors in 2025
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's how the best cell phone plans for seniors compare, ranging from the cheapest to best unlimited options.

iPhone SE 4 coming soon — 7 biggest rumored upgrades
By Philip Michaels last updated
With an iPhone SE 4 launch looming, here are all the top rumors surrounding the upcoming device.

Best GPS tracker for kids in 2025
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.

An iPhone SE 4 launch next week sounds like a huge mistake for Apple — here’s why
By Philip Michaels published
A report says that Apple could release the iPhone SE 4 to little fanfare next week. That would be doing the new model a great disservice if rumored features are accurate.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which one should you buy?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Trying to decide which of Samsung's new phones to get? Here's how the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra compare.

Best Verizon phone plans for 2025: 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.

Best AT&T phone plans in 2025: What's right for you?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Looking for a monthly data plan at AT&T? Here's what you can expect to pay whether you're signing up for one of AT&T's best data plans for families or individuals.

Best family cell phone plan in 2025
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.

The best baby monitors of 2025
By Anthony Spadafora last updated
These are the best baby monitors with the video quality and features you need to check in on a sleeping child.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 could be a lot like this foldable that already launched
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 details make the upcoming phone sound an awful lot like the Galaxy Z Special Edition that came out in South Korea last year.

Helium Mobile unveils a free monthly wireless plan — here's what you need to know
By Philip Michaels published
Helium Mobile is unveiling a new set of mobile plans, with the most intriguing of the bunch offering 3GB of data at no cost.

Galaxy S25 hits stores this Friday — here's the first feature I'm going to try
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S25 lineup introduces many features, but cross app actions powered by Galaxy AI is the one that interests me the most.

iOS 18.3 proves Apple Intelligence is far from finished
By Philip Michaels published
The Apple Intelligence rollout continues, even if iOS 18.3 enables AI tools by default now. And Siri updates are the big missing piece of the puzzle.

Apple's likely to release lots of iPhones this year — which one should you plan to get?
By Philip Michaels published
With an iPhone SE 4 launch expected in the spring and this year's iPhone 17 updates likely to happen in the fall, it's time to start thinking about which iPhone you''re going to upgrade to.

The best unlimited data plan just dropped 33% — but you've got to act now
By Philip Michaels published
Visible's best unlimited data plan normally costs $45/month, but you can get it for $30 for the next 25 months with this sign-up code.

Apple says the iPhone 16 is selling well and Apple Intelligence is a big reason why
By Philip Michaels published
iPhone sales may have been flat during the holiday quarter, but Apple says the iPhone 16 is performing better than the iPhone 15 did. And Apple Intelligence is apparently a big reason why.

I tested Motorola’s new budget phone and I'm surprised by what you get for less than $200
By Philip Michaels published
The Moto G (2025) is the latest version of Motorola's budget phone. It delivers the long-lasting battery life of previous versions while making unexpected improvements in other areas.

Visible: Are the wireless carrier's low-cost unlimited plans too good to be true?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Verizon-owned Visible offers unlimited smartphone data starting at $25 a month. It's a compelling alternative to pricier wireless phone providers, thanks to Verizon's extensive network.
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