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
Spotify is rolling out yet another new AI feature, this time giving listeners the ability to talk to the music streaming app like they would an AI chatbot, giving it commands/prompts or asking questions about media.
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With roughly a week to go before the full launch, Samsung’s wide new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is showing off its revamped form factor alongside the rest of the company’s new lineup in a major leak.
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Following its announcement back in March, Google Maps appears to be rolling out its “Immersive Navigation” redesign more broadly, but not everyone has it yet. Do you?
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An issue with a Philips Hue Bridge Pro update seems to be completely breaking the hub for some users, leaving lights and other accessories unable to be controlled.
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Google is preparing a redesign for Android Auto’s dashboard media player and, while it may be a bit of a visual downgrade, it’s functionally a huge upgrade.
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Ahead of its debut barely a week from now, Samsung is officially teasing the Galaxy Watch 9 with its returning circle-on-a-square design, new health insights, and an “all-new inside.”
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Ahead of its official reveal next month, Google’s Pixel Watch 5 has fully leaked in official-looking new renders, showing off new colors for the case and the band collection.
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While Google’s next Tensor chipset in the Pixel 11 series isn’t expecting to be a gamechanger by any means, it sounds like it will be right on the bleeding edge, as a new report claims Tensor G6 will be the first to adopt TSMC’s 2nm process, beating even Apple to the punch.
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The end is near and the clock is ticking. OnePlus is reportedly going to be shut down for good in the US and Europe markets as of this week.
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XREAL glasses are designed for more than just creating a giant display for watching movies or playing games, but that’s probably what most people want to use them for. That’s where the new $299 XREAL XBX A01+ glasses really come into the picture, but what are you losing for those savings?
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Walmart is preparing a big shake-up for its Google TV streaming hardware lineup, all while existing models are hard to find in stock.
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Google’s Pixel 11 series is almost exactly a month from its official launch and, ahead of that, an early trio of Amazon listings appears to show off the base model in three colorways.
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Like everything else in the tech industry, Google’s Pixel 11 series appears to be getting a price hike, but there are a few factors that make this one a bit harder to accept.
9to5Google Weekender by Ben Schoon is a part of our free newsletter that also includes ‘Inbox,’ a twice-weekly roundup of key stories from around the web by Daniel Bader. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every Sunday along with ‘Inbox’ on Tuesday and Thursday. You can find past issues here.
Baseus has officially launched its new PicoGo Air magnetic power bank. It’s ridiculously thin and just so happens to fit Pixel 10 like a glove. Here’s how to save over 30% on one.
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As RAMageddon rages on, Samsung is reportedly boosting production of its existing Galaxy S26 series to meet growing demand as customers hope to buy devices before price hikes and more expensive sequels.
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In a case of hilarious timing – you know, in a dystopian kind of way – a new report details Meta’s forthcoming “super sensing” smart glasses that would have microphones and cameras that are constantly active, right as the company has fixed a glaring privacy problem with existing models.
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Samsung has dropped a new Galaxy Z Fold 8 teaser, offering a quick glimpse of the wider new form factor with the help of everyone’s favorite public menace.
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It seems that the 7-year-old but still-latest Nvidia Shield TV model has been quietly discontinued, but one still remains.
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At the end of the Argentina vs Egypt match during the World Cup yesterday, Google Search usage apparently hit a new all-time record high.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is going to be pretty disappointing; that much is clear. But, taking the sting out just a bit is a new deep purple color for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra that just looks absolutely stunning.
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Mario Kart Tour was perhaps the biggest mobile game release in Nintendo’s collection but, as the company shifts away from mobile, the game is shutting down in September, and it’ll be gone permanently.
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The latest batch of Google Home app updates are now rolling out, including new “Suggested Automations” to make it easier to automate your smart home.
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Samsung’s upcoming One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, is set to also launch some powerful new homescreen customization options, and early screenshots show off what’s coming.
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The death of Manifest V2 extensions on Google Chrome has been going on for well over four years at this point, and the end finally has a date. August 31 is the official and complete end of older Chrome extensions.
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