Patrick O'Rourke-Editor-in-Chief

Patrick O'Rourke

Editor-in-Chief

June, 2024
16 years of experience covering consumer technology, BA in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University
Apple, Android, Samsung
  • 192
    articles
  • 62
    News
  • 71
    Features
  • 20
    Lists
  • 4
    Guides
  • 30
    Reviews
  • 5
    Deals

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About Patrick O'Rourke

Patrick O'Rourke is XDA's News Editor and Entertainment Segment Lead. Previously, he was Pocket-lint's Editor-in-Chief, the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian tech publication MobileSyrup, and earlier in his career, he worked as the national technology editor at the Financial Post and Postmedia. He's based in Toronto.

Over the past 15 years, he's written thousands of articles. Patrick has also interviewed dozens of tech industry executives and covered GDC, E3, Gamescom, WWDC, Apple keynotes, Samsung Unpacked events and more.

Patrick has a BA in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. 

What was your first phone?

I didn't get my first phone until I was 17 (I know, that's late). It was a white LG Aloha LX140; I don't remember it fondly. My interest in phones didn't really kick off until I got my hands on a BlackBerry Curve 8900. I'll forever miss that glorious trackball. On the smartphone side, my first device was 2010's HTC Desire HD, a smartphone with abysmall battery life (by noon, sometimes it would be down to roughly 40%).

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

I'm fond of covering smartphones, particularly the iPhone, but I also enjoy writing about handheld gaming devices, video games, cameras and wacky gadgets. The weirder a device is, the better.

When did your interest in technology begin?

I became interested in video games and technology at a young age while scouring the pages of gaming magazines like Nintendo Power and Electronic Gaming Monthly. As soon as I figured out I could combine my love of tech and writing into a job, I knew that was the direction I wanted to take my career. In my early teens, I even wrote a weekly technology column for the Toronto Star.

Latest

The ROG G700 Gaming PC
I finally found the PC that made me give up console gaming

I've gone over to the fidelity-filled dark side, and don't think I can go back.

3
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple says the majority of compatible iPhones are running iOS 18

Ahead of WWDC 2025, Apple has confirmed that the majority of compatible iPhones are running the latest version of its mobile OS.

Boox Go Color 7 on a desk
3 reasons I'm not giving up my Kobo for this Android E Ink tablet

I've been using Boox's Go Color 7 for the past few weeks and have encountered a few frustrating flaws.

PopSocket Magnetic Grip-stand With Portrait Mode
PopSocket finally caught up to 2025 with this accessory

Have you ever wanted to stand your iPhone up vertically? Then this is the accessory for you.

Rog Ally X Expedition 33
4 ways I make the ROG Ally X’s awful battery life a little better

Anyway you look at it, the ROG Ally X's battery is pretty bad - but with these tips, you can improve it.

PopSocket PopGrip iPhone 16 Pro
This $30 iPhone accessory surprised me, and I'm never going back

A MagSafe PopGrip is the ultimate iPhone accessory -- no, I'm not joking.

travel-week-2025-header
World Travel Week 2025 is here: make your next trip easier

Travelling can be a stressful, sometimes frustrating experience -- here's a few tips to ensure your next trip goes smoothly.

Pocket app on the iPhone 16 Pro
Read-later app Pocket is shutting down, and I'm super sad about it

Mozilla has revealed that it's shutting down its extremely useful read-later app Pocket.

1
humane-ai-pin
OpenAI and Jony Ive's mysterious AI device will probably suck (but it'll look cool)

It's almost like dedicated AI hardware devices don't make sense, at least in part because AI itself isn't as entirely useful for the average consumer.

Boox Go Color 7
3 ways this Android E Ink tablet outshines my Kobo

If you're into customizing your devices, you'll find a lot to like about Boox's Go Color 7.

2
Pixel 9
If your Pixel's battery is suddenly draining quickly, it's not just you

If you recently updated your Pixel smartphone with Google's May security drop and your battery life has become abysmal, don't worry, you aren't alone.

1
Fortnite
Apple and Epic's Fortnite battle is somehow still going

Epic Games says that Apple has rejected its submission to bring the game back to the iOS App Store.

A HDMI 2.1 cable plugged into a PC
Hooking a new PC up to my monitor's HDMI 2.1 port was a nightmare
TVs

Getting my monitor to output at 4K/144Hz was far more difficult than it should have been. Here's how you can avoid the issues I encountered.

1:34
The Galaxy S25 Edge's front screen
The super-thin Galaxy S25 Edge looks cool, but how long will its battery last?

The first thin phone has arrived, but does it live up to the hype?

The Galaxy S25 Edge sitting on the floor on its edge
Is the Galaxy S25 Edge really worth $1,100? I went hands-on and here are my thoughts

The first thin phone has arrived, but does it live up to the hype?

A photo of the ROG Ally X 2 from an FCC filing
ROG Ally 2 leak seemingly confirms a long-rumored upgrade, if you know where to look

After months of rumors, several pictures of the ROG Ally 2 have appeared in a recent FCC filing, offering a clear look at the upcoming handheld.

ROG Ally X Xbox Game Pas
How I saved $150 this month on games for my ROG Ally X

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has given me a level of cost-effective gaming freedom I didn't expect.

Surface Copilot+ PC event
Microsoft has a big Surface announcement coming next week

A new Surface Copilot+ PC is coming on May 6th.

dbrand's KillSwitch ROG Ally X case
This $95 ROG Ally X accessory is expensive, but I promise it's worth it

As far as protecting your ROG Ally X goes, dbrand's Killswitch case is by far the best out there.

Mario Kart World's Cow killing it on a motorcycle
I played Mario Kart World, and was shocked by this one feature

Mario Kart is finally back, and this time the long-running series is going open world.