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
Item trackers for your smartphone are not a new concept, but Apple changed the game with its AirTag by making all of its devices work as a network for finding the tracker. Android finally has that same functionality and the hardware to use with it, but I can’t help but feel that the Find My Device network is being held back.
Expand Expanding Close
Over the past month or so, YouTube has been testing a new desktop design that most users don’t seem to like. Now, YouTube is giving its Premium subscribers a chance to test the redesign themselves.
Expand Expanding Close
With its new “Copilot+ PCs” powered by Snapdragon processors, Microsoft also debuted a clever new feature called “Recall” which is able to let users search anything they’ve done on their machine. But following privacy concerns, Microsoft has announced that “Recall” in Windows 11 will be an opt-in feature.
Expand Expanding Close
Ever since Spotify announced that it would kill Car Thing, there’s been a push for the company to open the product to allow users to tweak it to keep it useful. But, as it turns out, Spotify has already done most of that legwork, but the Car Thing is already so underpowered that, not only could it barely handle an OS like Android, but it could have already been called e-waste from the start.
Expand Expanding Close
As we suspected, the Galaxy Watch FE is likely launching sooner rather than later, with a leaker claiming the budget-oriented smartwatch could see a release date before the end of June.
Expand Expanding Close
The Android market has lost a lot of big names over the past few years, with one of those being HTC. However, the company continues to put out a phone or two every once in a while, and it’s currently gearing up for another new release this month.
Expand Expanding Close
In an update to the Find My Device app, Google has made it easier to locate devices use by children in your family.
Expand Expanding Close
After being called out for a controversial repair policy recently, Google has updated its policy around Pixel devices sent in with unauthorized parts.
Expand Expanding Close
After debuting with headphones and other accessories last year, Nothing’s sub-brand “CMF” is preparing to launch its first phone.
Expand Expanding Close
Rivian is bringing keyless entry powered by your smartphone to its latest electric vehicles, and it includes support for “select” Google Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding Close
Best Buy has quietly ended its repair program for Samsung Galaxy devices as Samsung continues to be scrutinized its repair practices.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is working on a new Good Lock feature that will let you check the time by using a double-tap gesture on your device.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24 series launched with a massive focus on AI, and many of the new features using that tech were focused on translation. One of the most impressive of those, “Live Translate,” will soon be coming to other calling apps on Android, Samsung has announced.
Expand Expanding Close
The Find My Device app on Android has taken on new importance with the launch of a network that helps you find smartphones, trackers, and other objects. However, one glaring omission thus far has been the use of UWB, but it seems the Find My Device app is working on it.
Expand Expanding Close
Google launched AI Overviews in mid-May to all users and, following some viral mistakes, it seems the company has pulled back, as new research shows it may be appearing in merely 15% of search queries.
Expand Expanding Close
Google made a big commitment with the Pixel 8 last year with the promise of 7 years of software updates and, now, Apple has confirmed that that’s more than an iPhone will be guaranteed.
Expand Expanding Close
In what seems to be a rolling bug across Google TV devices, users have found that their homescreen is going mostly blank, skipping recommendations and only showing their apps.
Expand Expanding Close
Following several other leaks, Samsung has now confirmed the name of its upcoming budget smartwatch as the “Galaxy Watch FE.”
Expand Expanding Close
The Nothing Phone (3) won’t be coming this year, the company has confirmed, but Nothing also has some AI projects in the works.
Expand Expanding Close
Corning’s Gorilla Glass is used throughout the mobile industry to protect displays, but more affordable devices often end up using older versions. Today, Corning has introduced “Gorilla Glass 7i” which is focused on bringing better protection to affordable devices.
Expand Expanding Close
We’ve heard a lot about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, but official-looking images haven’t really made their way online yet. But, now, Samsung itself has allegedly posted an ad for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, showing off the updated designs in full.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s repair policy for Pixel devices was briefly under fire when it was noticed that the company would not return a device to the owner if it used “unauthorized parts.” Now, the company is striking that from its policy.
Expand Expanding Close
Announced this week, New York City officials are putting a focus on improving the use and finding of public bathrooms in the city, and that includes using Google Maps to do it.
Expand Expanding Close
After rolling out a YouTube Music extension last month, Google may soon add a Spotify extension to Gemini.
Expand Expanding Close