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
AI agents are the latest “next big thing” for AI, but OpenClaw has been working at the idea for a while now. Today, OpenClaw is bringing a gateway app to Android (and iOS) to help bring agents on the go. It also looks… like that.
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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 9 really doesn’t look all that different from the Watch 8, but new leaks show off updated watch bands that actually deliver some notable changes.
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Amazon’s Fire TV platform is in the process of ditching Android for an in-house VegaOS, a change that’s been controversial among users. In an interview, Amazon’s VP of Fire TV explains some of the reasoning behind the decision, but only one part really makes sense.
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WhatsApp has just announced that usernames are officially coming, but you might not be able to get yours just yet.
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Walmart appears to be doubling the price of its most affordable Google TV streaming stick, following price hikes to other parts of its lineup in recent months.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is set to include two devices, the Fold 8 and the Fold 8 “Ultra,” branding that’s still incredibly confusing, but essentially official thanks to the latest leaks.
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T-Mobile, despite its “Un-Carrier” marketing, seems to be pulling a classic carrier move, forcing some of its long-time customers off of their existing plans and over to something newer and a bit more expensive.
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Following in the footsteps of Lenovo’s Legion Tab, Redmagic has confirmed that its next compact Android gaming tablet will see a global launch, with Astra 2 right around the corner.
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One of the big advantages of Qi2 and its magnetic alignment is support for faster 25W charging speeds, but the organization behind the standard is working on even faster 50W charging for future devices, which could include future generations of Pixel, iPhone, and more.
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According to new findings under the hood of Google’s software, future Pixel updates may deliver support for a “shuffle” option for wallpapers.
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Perhaps the most visible impact of the AI industry right now is that consumer electronics are getting more expensive. Price hikes are happening left and right and, while smartphones have been mostly spared so far, that no longer feels sustainable, and you can blame AI for it.
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.
If you’ve been eyeing Google’s official Pixelsnap Stand Qi2 wireless charger, it’s currently 20% off in the final hours of Amazon’s Prime Day sales.
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Nothing’s foray deeper into the budget smartphone space is set to launch the Nothing Phone (4b) in a little over a week. The official design has already been revealed and, now, leaked specs hint at where the Nothing Phone (4b) fits into the market.
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The Google Home Speaker comes in four colors including the US-only “Jade” which is slipping in its shipping dates, but there are some alternate places to order where you don’t have to wait.
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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset lineup is eternally confusing, with slight variations generating new names and options that aren’t all that different. But it sounds like the next few releases are going to be especially confusing, with several new chips in the works including the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.”
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Ticketmaster, love it or hate it, is the company you’ll be dealing with for the vast majority of live events, which is why it’s great news that Ticketmaster is launching a new partnership with Google Wallet that will open the door to more detailed passes.
Oppo has just launched its new Reno 16 series which offers some solid upper-mid-range specs and a nice design, but also a neat “Bubble” screen accessory that, man, would just be so much better if this phone had Qi2 magnets inside.
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Continued Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaks are revealing more and more about Samsung’s upcoming foldable series, this time including some pre-order perks, the on-the-shelf release date, and some initial impressions from someone who actually held the device.
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Following earlier teasers, the Nothing Phone (4b) has officially been revealed with a design that combines elements from Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, but it’s not coming to the US at all.
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Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27, its latest budget phone that will sell for $349 and offer up to six years of Android OS updates.
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Amazon’s Prime Day sales holiday is delivering more than just discounts through a single retailer, with deals found throughout the web. That includes some deals on LG’s OLED TVs, with certain models up to $700 off in solid offers on its latest models.
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The Motorola MA1 was the first wireless Android Auto adapter with Google’s stamp of approval and its had a sequel in the works for a while in the Motorola MA2, but the release date has been pushed way back to November of this year.
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I’m a Nest Cam user every single day, and I mostly enjoy the product. But “Familar Faces” has been a sticking point for me as, frankly, it just doesn’t work very well. Finally, though, Google says it has a plan to fix “Familiar Faces” on Nest Cam, and I really hope it works.
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There’s no one not frustrated by the cost of YouTube TV and services like it, but prices keep on going up. In a small victory, though, YouTube TV subscribers that sued Disney over its role in driving up the cost of streaming have won in court, with Disney settling for $50 million.
It just won’t change your bill.
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