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
After ditching physical SIM card support on last year’s Pixel 10 series, here’s a quick reminder that the Pixel 11 series in the US is still eSIM-only.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is delivering some seriously durable phones, or so it claims, with the entire Pixel 11 Pro series delivering huge upgrades in regards to scratch and drop protection.
Expand Expanding Close
The gimbal-touting AI-first Honor Robot Phone has finally made its debut, and it starts at around $1,500 – though you won’t be able to buy it in most of the world.
Expand Expanding Close
Amid a price hike on the Pixel 11 series, Google has delivered some solid trade-in values across the board on all four phones, including some pretty great values for older generations too.
Expand Expanding Close
While charging on the Pixel 11 series still isn’t super fast, Google has made some upgrades this year, including the addition of a new “Extreme Charging Mode” that unlocks a bit of extra wired charging speed.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s Pixel Watch 5 ships with an “Active Band” just like all prior generations, but now with a “2nd Gen” version that’s made from a new material.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold doesn’t look like much on the surface, nor is it the most compelling new foldable out right now, but some key changes make this the most impressive of Google’s new releases.
Expand Expanding Close
With less than 24 hours to go until the company’s Pixel 11 launch event, Google is sending $150 discount codes to customers looking to pre-order the new devices.
Expand Expanding Close
On top of hundreds of live TV channels that have been added over the past few years, Google TV Freeplay now offers over 10,000 on-demand movies and TV shows you can access with no added apps needed.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung has picked up FDA clearance in the US for a new hearing aid feature available on Galaxy Buds.
Expand Expanding Close
Beeper is rolling out a new update that takes advantage of the ability to use all of your chat apps in one place by also now letting you merge chats with the same person from across your different apps.
Expand Expanding Close
Durability is perhaps the single-biggest hesitation about folding phones, but Samsung has proven time and time again that its foldables are rather strong and resilient. Despite its wider new shape, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 remains resistant to a bend test, while a teardown reveals some key elements behind the scenes.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube has confirmed major changes to the Partner Program that allows creators to monetize their channels, as well as teasing expansions to its Premium Lite subscription.
Expand Expanding Close
With just hours left to go for Google’s Pixel 11 launch event, details keep on leaking out, with some clarification around the base Pixel 11 now making its way online.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of its launch that will likely happen next month, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE has had its full specs leak alongside a higher price tag for the device that exists solely to be more affordable.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an absolute smash hit, it seems, as Samsung will reportedly make an extra one million units of the wide foldable amid higher-than-expected demand.
Expand Expanding Close
Following a long battle in court, Google has opened the floodgates to third-party app store distribution via the Play Store in the US.
Expand Expanding Close
We’re just a few days out from the launch of Google’s Pixel 11 series and, at this point, it’s all out there. And, yeah, it’s shaping up to be a pretty boring year, and that’s got me thinking about what I want from next year’s Pixel 12 series.
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.
With just a few days left to go before Google’s Pixel 11 launch event, a hands-on leak has shown off the Pixel 11 Pro XL in real life.
Expand Expanding Close
The Pixel Watch 5 looks mostly familiar in leaks thus far, but a new leak showcases a Stephen Curry edition, a style that first debuted on Fitbit Air.
Expand Expanding Close
After spending a few weeks with Nothing Ear (3a), I can say with confidence these are the best earbuds you can buy for $99, and I’d choose them over a whole host of other options that cost twice as much.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is officially available today and, as per usual, that comes with some cuts to the deals that were available during the pre-order period, including some big cuts to trade-in values. Here’s an overview and where to find the best deal.
Expand Expanding Close
Introduced in the latest Android Canary build, Google is preparing a new feature for foldables like the Pixel Fold series called “App Handles” which offers more flexible multitasking.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Photos rolled out the ability to convert photo subjects into stickers last year, indicated by a little “shimmer” animation. Now, Google is giving users the ability to turn off that animation.
Expand Expanding Close