Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at 9to5Google, working for the publication as one of its primary news writers since 2016.
In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at 9to5Google including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Melissa. Ben is an avid disc golf player.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Motorola Razr+, HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, and more.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
Prototype devices find their way to leaking in a variety of different ways, such as the infamous iPhone in a bar. Now, though, there’s been the finding of what appears to be a Pixel Watch 5 that was lost… in the ocean.
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Further reflecting on Google’s practical focus for Gemini and AI in general at I/O 2026 last week, I still find myself struggling to find ways to actually make this technology useful in ways that actually matter. So, what are you doing with Gemini?
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A new leak shows off the difference, in person, of the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s wider form factor versus the “Ultra” one we’re already used to.
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An apparent bug on Pixel Watch is causing the Find My Phone and ECG apps to either not work or crash, leaving both functions useless for many.
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Disney apparently has “Project Gemini” going on behind the scenes and, according to a new report, that’s not to be confused with Google’s AI, but rather plans to kill the Hulu app.
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A new report claims that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 delivers a “significant” improvement to the display crease, on par with the current industry leader, Oppo Find N6.
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According to new code-based evidence, Samsung might be planning to launch back-to-back generations of its “Classic” style with the Galaxy Watch 9 series, as well as picking up the raise-to-talk feature from Pixel Watch.
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If you’ve noticed some problems with YouTube Music on iPhone in recent days, you’re not alone, but Google says those issues have now been fixed.
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Motorola has removed the first-gen Moto Tag from its website in the US, with Moto Tag 2 still not having a firm release date despite being available in other regions.
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Anthropic has today announced Claude Opus 4.8, the latest version of its AI model, with a focus on improving agentic capabilities.
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Spotify is rolling out some major updates to its mobile app, including on Android, which enable support for playlist folders and the ability to “reshuffle” your queue.
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If your smart speakers have been plagued by broken Apple Music integration, the latest Google Home update delivers a fix.
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Prediction market betting has become a huge trend over the past couple of years, with bets on real-life events able to generate huge profits for those who can correctly guess the outcome. The use of insider information, though, is a fairly common issue, and a Google employee was recently arrested over profits through Polymarket related to Google’s 2025 Year in Search.
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The leaks continue, as Samsung’s new and wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 has just surfaced in a hardware hands-on with a frame that looks remarkably thin in real life.
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Apple’s launch of the MacBook Neo has sent the world of Windows spiraling as, in the midst of global RAM/storage shortages and ever-inflating costs, building a more affordable laptop is harder than ever. With the new Snapdragon C, though, Qualcomm wants to help build a proper alternative to the MacBook Neo, optimistically targeting $300 laptops.
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Android tablets are getting a new video editor, with the CapCut Pad app debuting with the promise of “desktop-level” video editing capabilities.
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Just a few weeks after YouTube killed off its Clips feature, Spotify is essentially bringing it back to life as a way to share segments of your favorite podcasts through a simple link.
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Quietly launched this week, Walmart is launching its third camera as a part of Google Home’s “Gemini built in” program, with a new $35 outdoor wired camera.
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MediaTek has just announced its new Dimensity 8550 chipset, a minor update in most ways, but with the foundational support needed for Android devices that support Gemini Intelligence.
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According to a new report, Samsung could end up raising prices on its Galaxy phones as soon as next month.
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XREAL is spinning off a sub-brand, “XBX,” which will launch more affordable AR glasses starting with the $299 a01, coming soon to the US.
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Roku has just unveiled its biggest home screen redesign in years with a new “Top Picks” row on top, and AI to organize your apps, among other updates.
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Following the discovery that Motorola phones were hijacking the Amazon app to inject affiliate data, Motorola has confirmed to 9to5Google that it has ended the behavior, which it says was “unintended.”
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Google Health has replaced the Fitbit app and, with that, the major redesign has rolled out widely. Many Fitbit users are frustrated with the change and, in a new roadmap, we’re getting an overview of fixes and improvements coming to the Google Health app.
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