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
According to a new leak, the upcoming Nothing Phone (4a) series might add some new colors to the lineup, while debuting alongside some more affordable headphones.
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After announcing its US debut earlier this year, Fairphone is releasing an updated version of its Fairbuds XL over-ear headphones.
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After kicking off the rollout a few weeks ago, Google says the Gemini for Home replacement of Assistant on smart speakers is now available within a day of opting in, at least for those in the US who can access it.
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While a camera upgrade will be missing, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series is seemingly getting a big upgrade in the form of Qi2 support, and a new leak details the company’s plans for magnetic accessories, but no clever name to go with it.
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According to a new report, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series will forgo a long overdue camera upgrade in the name of cutting costs.
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A new version of the Moto Tag is on the horizon, and that news comes as Motorola is pretty heavily discounting the existing version.
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An issue affecting YouTube TV subscribers today is leaving recorded content inaccessible, but YouTube TV has confirmed it is aware of the problem and working to fix it.
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The new Android Auto & CarPlay adapter, AAWireless TWO+, has gone out of stock not long after its launch on Amazon, but the Android Auto-only model is still discounted in the meantime.
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Samsung’s “budget” Galaxy Z Flip FE remains pointless, as a new deal offers a brand-new Galaxy Z Flip 6 for just $550.
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Spotify has announced that it will start showing music videos more widely for users in the US and Canada.
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IKEA has announced over 20 new Matter-connected smart home products coming to market soon.
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Google’s various AI tools have been proving their worth as of late, but a common criticism is how Google has built these tools by scraping the work of publishers and creators across the web without explicit permission or compensation, and now the EU is launching an investigation into the matter.
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Nothing’s latest release is the Phone (3a) Community Edition, a limited release of its excellent budget phone that packs some hardware and software tweaks created by fans, but this is also the first Nothing Phone with frosted glass on the back.
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Google Maps has recently rolled out a change where, at least on iOS, the app will automatically detect that you’ve parked your vehicle and save that location, and it will also now show it with a custom icon.
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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta is here and, with it, a look at Samsung’s updated design language. But there are some changes that feel eerily familiar, probably because Samsung is bringing a lot of Liquid Glass-like UI tweaks to Galaxy phones with its next big One UI update.
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Google has today announced a repair program for the Pixel 9 Pro series around display issues, while also giving the Pixel 9 Pro Fold an extended 3-year warranty.
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A recent report claims that Google is preparing to inject its ever-more-popular Gemini AI tools with advertisements, but Google is adamant that there are “no plans” for ads in Gemini.
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In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, Google’s big Gemini for Home voice assistant update doesn’t just work on Nest devices, but several third-party Google Assistant speakers too!
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Android’s Find Hub network has just one tracker equipped with the UWB capability found in Apple’s AirTag, and now it’s getting a sequel in the just-leaked “Moto Tag 2.”
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Samsung’s latest major Galaxy update, One UI 8.5, has just debuted in beta. While the full rollout won’t take place until sometime in 2026, we can take a look through everything that’s new in this update.
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It continues to be clear that Samsung is fully introducing Qi2 on the Galaxy S26 series, with a new “Magnet Wireless Battery Pack” surfacing on a certification page.
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Google’s Pixel 10 phones, based on the company’s Tensor chips, simply do not have the same raw performance as some other Android flagships. Yet, recent updates to the Pixel 10 series appear to have made some improvements to performance, at least on benchmarking tests.
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Samsung has just launched its One UI 8.5 update in beta after what feels like months of the next big Galaxy update leaking. The beta is available starting on the Galaxy S25 series, and Samsung’s announcement reveals a few features the leaks didn’t spoil.
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Over the past few months, especially, Gemini has taken over everything Google, with Assistant having largely vanished. Yet, in most cases, the biggest upgrade I’ve felt from Gemini is just the lack of Assistant being so awful. But there is one big exception, and that’s with Gemini on Android Auto.
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