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
Google Maps is invaluable behind the wheel and one of the key reasons anyone would want to use Android Auto, but a frustrating bug has left a number of Android Auto users with their directions stuck in a blindingly bright light theme at night.
Expand Expanding Close
Ever since the Pixel 10 was released last year, Qi2 magnets have been a love-hate relationship – I love using them, but I hate that, somehow, the Pixel 10 is the only Android phone that has them. It’s crazy to me that no other Android brand has taken this feature seriously, and that we still have no word of that changing.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of its launch sometime later this year, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE has surfaced online early, showcasing a familiar, but slightly updated design.
Expand Expanding Close
If you’ve spent any time behind the wheel on Android Auto in the past couple of years, you’ve probably encountered the pop-up alerts on Google Maps and realized just how distracting they can be. Now, Google is rolling out a redesign and it’s a huge improvement.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand grabbed attention when the magnetic Pixel 10 series launched last year, but I was never a huge fan of using it despite liking the actual concept. That’s where the OhSnap Grip Stand steps into the picture, offering the basic functionality of Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand while offering way more functionality and solving the problems found on Google’s accessory.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube Premium’s previously-announced price hike is hitting customers this month, begging the question – will you cancel?
Expand Expanding Close
I’ve had a Pixel Watch of some sort on my wrist nearly every day for the past few years, largely because I’ve come to really value the tracking I get out of what is now Google Health. But, now, there’s another option in the Fitbit Air, a screen-less tracker that, for me, has come to serve as a brilliant little companion to my Pixel Watch.
Expand Expanding Close
While there’s been plenty of pushback, GM has stubbornly stuck with its decision to ditch support for phone-based Android Auto and CarPlay in its EVs from brands including Chevy and Cadillac, but a clever little adapter manages to bring it back – at least for now.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is in the early days of testing a new behavior in Chrome that sends users straight to AI Mode, bypassing the standard Search experience.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is shutting down its AI-powered Pixel Studio app less than two years after its debut and instead pushing users over to Gemini and Nano Banana for image generation.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is expected to launch its new Galaxy Watch 9 next month and, ahead of that, the Samsung Health app is getting a big redesign with lots of AI.
Expand Expanding Close
If you’re an NBA fan, you’re familiar with the onslaught of YouTube TV advertising that has come with Google’s service being the presenting sponsor of the NBA Finals. That’s changing this year, though.
Expand Expanding Close
Digital photo frames offer a quick and easy way to display your family photos, and more in your home, and Google Photos integration is a no-brainer. However, changes from Google Photos last year resulted in Aura photo frames losing integration, but that’s now coming back.
Expand Expanding Close
According to a new leak, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be bringing back Snapdragon chips amid higher costs on the Exynos 2600.
Expand Expanding Close
New findings suggest that the first wave of Googlebook machines could include somewhere around eight new laptops with a variety of chipsets from Intel, MediaTek, and Snapdragon all on display.
Expand Expanding Close
The ability to take an ECG through Pixel Watch is a handy tool for keeping an eye on your health, and that app is now getting a slight revamp with a new icon and, well, the ability to actually work again.
Expand Expanding Close
Following an early unveiling three months ago, the Honor Magic V6 is finally rolling out to global markets this month.
Expand Expanding Close
In its latest “Privacy on iPhone” ad, Apple goes pretty heavy-handed in its attempt to make Android phones look ancient and ugly.
Expand Expanding Close
Amazon Music is an underrated Prime perk, offering ad-free music streaming as an alternative to Spotify and other paid services. Or, at least it was, as Amazon is now updating Amazon Prime Music to include ads unless users pay extra.
Expand Expanding Close
Movies Anywhere is getting a boost with the addition of Lionsgate titles including some popular franchises such as John Wick, The Hunger Games, Knives Out, and more.
Expand Expanding Close
AI can be useful in a lot of places, but there are many scenarios where it doesn’t make sense. Amazon, having been stuffing its app full of AI lately, is now going to use AI to generate images of fake products as you type in search terms.
Expand Expanding Close
There’s been a lot of pushback in recent months around the impact of AI data centers on local communities, with the use of water being a key issue for many. Google, in an expension of its “water stewardship” programs, is making commitments that include replenishing more water than it uses at its data center sites.
Expand Expanding Close
The new Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 5) is a hard sell at $849, but a discount to $699 makes it a lot more palatable.
Expand Expanding Close
A new leak reveals Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Pro that’s powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite and due to be released very soon.
Expand Expanding Close