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
If you’ve been wanting to get an AAWireless TWO adapter for Android Auto and/or CarPlay, Prime Day is here with a discount on both.
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I get to try out a lot of crazy smart home gear and, usually, my favorites are the ones that blend into my home without standing out. Dreame’s futuristic-looking bladeless fan and air purifier do not fit that description and, yet, I’ve been pretty impressed by both. With Dreame’s heavily discounted Prime Day deals going right now, these should both have your attention.
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Wyze is today launching a new scale that tracks more than just your weight while also being affordable, with the Wyze Scale BodyScan costing under $80.
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The Google Home Speaker finally has a release date and, with it, Google has also ended its long-running and mega-hit Nest Mini speaker. It leaves the lineup in a weird place, as Google has a product that doesn’t replace anything it had before, and might not be everyone’s cup of tea either.
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.
Ahead of Samsung’s July event, new leaks are revealing a few more details about Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
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Philips Hue is expanding on its smart lighting catalog even further with new table and floor lamps, as well as improved candle bulbs that are now available to customers.
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Nothing’s CMF Phone series has released two models thus far and, at least for now, won’t be getting a third, as the rising cost of materials has essentially left the series dead in the water.
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Widgets have long been a useful part of the Android homescreen and, for many, they’ve solidified their spot and functionality for years. That’s why it’s pretty frustrating that, for some Google Pixel owners that have upgraded to Android 17, homescreen widgets haven’t just been removed from the homescreen, but they’re not even available to come back.
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A bug in Gmail affecting Google Pixel owners is making it difficult to reply to emails, as the AI-powered “Help me write” is getting in the way.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series has a decent slice of the overall smartphone market, but it’s off to a rough start for 2026.
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VP of engineering at Google and the co-lead of Gemini, Noam Shazeer, has announced he is departing his role to work at OpenAI.
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Google has confirmed that it has ended production of the Nest Mini and Nest Audio, its 5+ year old smart speakers, as the Google Home speaker is now replacing both devices.
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The World Cup is in full swing and, with it, many are glued to finding out the scores of each match. Waze, though, has rolled out a new enabled-by-default feature that shows World Cup scores as a pop-up for drivers. Great if you’re an avid fan, less so if you’re just trying to get directions home, and user reactions are pretty mixed.
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After launching in just four countries last year, Google Photos is expanding its AI-powered “Edit with Ask Photos” experience to five new regions.
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While most Android Auto users just want to use the platform for navigation and music, apps can provide extra value. Messaging apps, for instance, can be a useful way to access messages safely behind the wheel, which is why some Android Auto users are frustrated that the Facebook Messenger app has suddenly vanished.
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Coding is something that AI models have proven very useful for, but as Google shifts focus to its Antigravity tools, the company is shutting down Gemini Code Assist tools for consumer-level use.
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Honor has officially shown off its Android 17 update, MagicOS 11, which is easily the most blatant copy of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language we’ve seen to date.
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Disney+ is blocking support for Dolby Vision and 3D content on its platform in 11 countries as a result of a legal ruling.
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Google is introducing a massive upgrade to its “Android Switch” tool in Android 17, with the ability to copy more data than ever when switching from iPhone to Android, and it might be able to copy more data than you get when moving between Android phones.
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I’ve been worried about the next generation of Windows laptops, to the point where I begrudingly bought a MacBook Air earlier this year because I figured my next Windows upgrade would be a costly one. After spending some time with Lenovo’s latest batch of Snapdragon X2-powered Windows laptops, though, I wish I’d waited – despite RAMageddon, Lenovo is putting out some solid machines here at prices that make sense.
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XREAL Aura, the company’s first pair of Android XR glasses, are officially set to launch this Fall, but we don’t have a price just yet. All we know is that, according to XREAL, Aura will cost under $1,500.
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Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has just announced the long-anticipated release of its Specs AR smart glasses which will cost $2,195.
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Following a first look at Google I/O last month, XREAL has today confirmed that its Android XR glasses, Aura, will be launching this Fall with reservations open today, and a list of confirmed apps and games too.
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The transition to Gemini on Android Auto has been a bit rough for a number of reasons, but a current bug has left some users unable to make calls due to a strange error, and it’s not just an issue behind the wheel.
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