
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

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.

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.

Best international phone plans in 2025 — what travelers need to know
By Philip Michaels last updated
Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

I left my OnePlus 13R alone for a week — and I was shocked at what happened when I returned
By Philip Michaels published
I knew that the OnePlus 13R lasted a long time on a charge based on the Tom's Guide battery test. But I found out exactly how long just the other day.

Best Boost Mobile plans in 2025: what's the best option for you?
By Philip Michaels last updated
Here's a look at Boost Mobile's wireless plans, as we find out which of the four available unlimited data plans is the best one for you.

Samsung Galaxy S25 — 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip
By Philip Michaels published
Is Samsung's premium phone a good fit for your needs?

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge — I've got 7 big questions about this super hyped phone
By Philip Michaels published
Samsung has told us that it's working on a Galaxy S25 Edge, but we don't know much else about the phone. Here's what I'm hoping to figure out before the S25 Edge arrives.

Samsung Galaxy S25 — here’s the AI features that could make you upgrade
By Philip Michaels last updated
Several Galaxy AI improvements could bring more personalized features to the Galaxy S25 phones. But will it work will enough to overcome skepticism about mobile AI?

The Galaxy S25 series looks a lot better thanks to a change Samsung didn't make
By Philip Michaels published
The Galaxy S25 has a lot in common with its predecessor, including the same price. And that will make a big difference to would-be upgraders.

Samsung Galaxy S25: 5 reasons to buy and 4 reasons to skip
By Philip Michaels published
Considering a Galaxy S25 purchase? Here's what to keep in mind, as we go over what we like and what we don't about Samsung's latest flagship.
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