Articles by Axel Metz, Phones Editor

Axel is TechRadar's Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Working out of the brand’s London office, he is a versatile, NCTJ-accredited journalist with a keen interest in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and has bylines in various publications including Total Film, ShortList, Esquire, and FourFourTwo.

After graduating from the University of Warwick with a degree in English Literature, Axel spent time as a freelance writer before joining TechRadar as part of its inaugural digital training scheme. His role sees him keeping a close eye on the latest trends in the worlds of mobile technology and digital culture, and his coverage extends from news reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.

Away from the keyboard, Axel can be found working his way through a lengthy watchlist of films and counting down the days until Chelsea's next managerial change. Want to get in touch? You can contact Axel over email (linked above) or through Twitter.

Articles by: Axel Metz

An invite for Apple's 'Surprise and shine' event next to a mockup of a foldable iPhone on a yellow background

Apple Event 2026 live — last-minute iPhone Ultra leaks, AirPods 5 rumors, and more ahead of today's big showcase

By Axel Metz Last updated 9 September 26

We're reporting live from Apple's ‘Surprise and Shine’ event, where we expect the foldable iPhone Ultra, AirPods 5, and more to be unveiled.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold being held in the hand

We tried Xiaomi’s thunder-stealing iPhone Ultra rival — here’s what the Xiaomi 18 Fold could tell us about Apple’s rumored foldable

By Axel Metz Published 8 September 26

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is the latest in a growing line of shorter, wider foldables — here are our first impressions of the device.

The best Android tablets 2026: top laptop replacements and affordable all-rounders

By Axel Metz Last updated 3 September 26

Updated We've selected the best Android tablets for work, play, and more, based on our extensive hands-on experience.

The Poco F9 Ultra being held in the hand on a yellow background

‘Having the latest chipset will cost a lot more’: Poco gets real about the ‘pressure’ of rising memory costs as it launches the F9 Ultra with an unchanged chipset

By Axel Metz Published 1 September 26

In a briefing for the Poco F9 Ultra, Xiaomi sub-brand Poco explained why its new flagship phone doesn’t come with a chipset upgrade.

I’ve spent a month with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and this video-friendly phone has turned me into a foldable believer

By Axel Metz Published 22 August 26

It's the one-month anniversary of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — here are my thoughts on the device so far.

The Honor Robot phone being held in the hand

‘We don't even know all the use cases yet’: Honor and ARRI explain why the Robot Phone's ‘extremely high’ processing power makes it such a ‘revolutionary’ device

By Axel Metz Published 15 August 26

In an interview with TechRadar, Honor explained why it developed a custom imaging chip to sit alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Robot Phone.

I spent two hours with the Honor Robot Phone, and this ridiculous, remarkable device made me feel like a kid again

By Axel Metz Published 12 August 26

TechRadar got hands-on with the Honor Robot Phone in China — here are our first impressions of this weird and wonderful device.

ICYMI split image of Bose headphones, the GTA VI box art and Kojima holding a CD-player

ICYMI: here's the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from our Z Fold 8 Ultra review to GTA 6's Netflix partnership

By Hamish Hector Published 8 August 26

The week's biggest tech news stories from Samsung, Google, GTA, Netflix and more for August 7, 2026.

‘A football playground built for you and your friends’: The Grounds in FC 27 is EA’s answer to NBA 2K’s The City — and it could be just what the franchise needs

By Axel Metz Published 4 August 26

EA Sports has officially confirmed its new open-world mode, The Grounds, in FC 27.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra screen comparison

Samsung claims the Galaxy Z Fold 8's wider shape is ‘the new standard for viewing content’ — but is it really better than the Z Fold 8 Ultra? I tested Netflix, YouTube, and Instagram on both phones to find out

By Axel Metz Published 2 August 26

I compared the video-watching experience on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra to find out which is best.

6 Comments

The iPhone 7 and iPhone Air being held in the hand, next to a man's face

How far has iPhone photography come in 10 years? I compared the iPhone 7 and iPhone Air — and the results speak for themselves

By Axel Metz Published 28 July 26

I took the iPhone 7 and iPhone Air on a photo walk to see how far Apple's photography hardware has come in 10 years.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on a wooden table

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: which foldable should you choose?

By James Rogerson Published 25 July 26

Does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra live up to its name, or is the smaller model a better choice? We highlight their key differences.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 being held in the hand

Watch: AirDrop via Quick Share on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 works like a dream

By Axel Metz Published 24 July 26

Want to send files between an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy phone? AirDrop via Quick Share now works seamlessly.

I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and this passport-shaped oddity has revived my interest in foldable phones

By Axel Metz Published 22 July 26

Prefer watching Netflix to taking photos? I tried the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it might just be the best phone for streaming video.

The best iPad: we've tried and tested top Apple tablets you can get right now

By Roland Moore-Colyer Last updated 21 July 26

Updated We've tested and ranked the best iPads that you can buy today, from the big-screened iPad Pro to the college-friendly iPad Air.

Best Xiaomi phones: top Xiaomi, Poco mobiles tried and tested

By Roland Moore-Colyer Last updated 17 July 26

Updated Our roundup of the best Xiaomi phones features models for every budget, from the Xiaomi 17 Pro to the Poco X8 Pro Max.

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and Google Pixel 10a

I’ve tested almost every phone released this year — here are my 5 favorite models of 2026 so far, including a top pick that isn't made by Samsung or Apple

By Axel Metz Published 5 July 26

We're halfway through 2026, so I've rounded up my favorite phones of the year so far.

The top of a Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan next to a hand holding the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, next to two hands holding a Sony A7R VI

The best tech of 2026 so far — the 21 finest gadgets we've tested this year

By Mark Wilson Published 4 July 26

TechRadar has spent days testing 639 products across phones, TVs, laptops, cameras, smartwatches and more in 2026. These are the best ones we've reviewed so far this year.

2 Comments

A photo of a man on a bench edited with Clean Up in iOS 27

I tried Clean Up in the iOS 27 developer beta, and Apple's AI-powered image editing tool is finally worth using — but there's a big caveat

By Axel Metz Published 3 July 26

I put an early version of Clean Up in iOS 27 to the test against its iOS 26 equivalent, and the results surprised me.

The Apple iPad 11-inch (2025) on a green background

The best cheap tablets: top picks from Apple, Amazon and more, for people on a budget

By Axel Metz Last updated 2 July 26

Updated Our expert guide on the best cheap tablets features affordable models from Apple, OnePlus, Amazon and more, which you can buy today.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max on a blue background

The best iPhone: we've tried and tested all the Apple smartphones

By Roland Moore-Colyer Last updated 1 July 26

Updated We've tested and ranked the best iPhones, from the supersized iPhone 17 Pro Max to the budget-friendly iPhone 16e.

I'm not joking: the iPhone Air is the best-value phone purchase you can make this Prime Day — for two very different reasons

By Axel Metz Published 23 June 26

If it’s on sale, there are two big reasons why the iPhone Air is the best-value phone purchase you can make this Prime Day.

Apple’s new Child Safety features ‘don't get to where the harm is happening,’ online safety expert says — pushing responsibility to iPhone app developers poses a ‘huge risk’ to kids despite ‘genuine progress’

By Axel Metz Published 20 June 26

We spoke to SafeToNet CEO Richard Pursey about where Big Tech companies like Apple are still falling short when it comes to child safety.

Sonos speakers, Tim Cook, and the new Commodore flip phone

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories, from Commodore flip-phone nostalgia to Tim Cook's Apple price-hike warning

By Hamish Hector Published 20 June 26

The week's 7 biggest tech news stories, featuring Commodore, Apple, Microsoft and more, for June 20, 2026.

Apple just future-proofed the iPhone Air in a way that only the iPhone 17 Pro can match

By Axel Metz Published 18 June 26

At WWDC 2026, Apple gave us one more reason to buy the iPhone Air — and it’s got nothing to do with design or price.

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