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
Nvidia revealed recently that the company has no plans to end support for the Shield TV and, as if to put a cherry on top, a new update is now rolling out.
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Motorola has done well with its flip phone Razr series in recent years, but the company revealed at CES 2026 last month that it would enter the book-style category with the Razr Fold due out later this year. It looks promising, and apparently we’ll be getting more details at MWC 2026 next week.
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The overall design of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is mostly familiar, but some subtle tweaks such as rounding the corners really make for a nice hardware upgrade.
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Starting on Google Pixel and extending to Samsung Galaxy with last year’s Galaxy S25 series, “Audio Eraser” features have proven pretty handy for recording videos. Starting with the Galaxy S26, Samsung is expanding Audio Eraser beyond recording, and applying it in real-time to videos from YouTube and other apps on your smartphone.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series has arrived and, as per usual, the pre-order period is the best time to buy these phones.
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Smartphones have felt somewhat stagnant over the past several years, with truly “new” features being fairly rare. There’s plenty of innovation in software, but on the hardware front, you’re largely just looking at refinement and improvement of what’s been around for ages. While Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series might be one of the biggest offenders ever of leaning on refinement, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers one of the first truly new smartphone features in years with its new “Privacy Display,” and I think it’s awesome.
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Samsung’s earbud lineup has, for years, been very solid. Clean hardware, useful software, and an affordable price. Plus, they long had their own identity in a market dominated by AirPods. Samsung tried something “new” in the Galaxy Buds 3 series a couple of years ago, and by that I mean, they basically just copied the AirPods. Still a solid product, but not what I’d come to like about past generations. Over the past few days, I’ve been trying the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and I think Samsung has something special here.
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Samsung has confirmed that, yes, the Galaxy S26 series is getting faster charging rates both wired and wireless, but skipping out on Qi2 magnets yet again.
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Following an initial debut on Amazon Fire TV, Instagram has just launched an app focused on Reels for Google TV users.
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Following its design reveal earlier this week, Nothing today showed off its new pink color for Nothing Phone (4a), and it looks really nice.
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Wix today announced a partnership with Google that will see Wix websites get native bookings through Google Search, Maps, and even Google’s AI search modes too.
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A bug with Android Auto is causing users to be unable to use voice commands, with a prominent “voice commands aren’t available right now” notice appearing.
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Google Maps is more than just a navigation app, as it contains a treasure trove of data about locations across the globe. But, suddenly, Google Maps appears to be changing how it functions for users who are signed out, including hiding reviews and images.
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If there’s one thing we all agree on, it’s that weather apps almost universally kind of suck. You’re often stuck choosing between a nice design and an accurate forecast. Now, “Acme Weather” is confirmed for a launch on Android, and it’s a reboot of the popular Dark Sky app that embraces the inherent uncertainty of forecasting.
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The biggest feature being announced on the Galaxy S26 Ultra this year is Samsung’s new Privacy Display, and it looks pretty great in early leaks. And, apparently, other Android flagships will adopt the same tech as soon as later this year.
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As MWC 2026 approaches, Honor is teasing what it will be showing off, including a surprisingly early Magic V6 launch and a big focus on robotics.
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Ahead of its March 5 launch event, Nothing has just revealed the first official image of the Nothing Phone (4a), and it looks surprisingly, refreshingly normal.
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Voice-to-text on Android is really good if you’re using a Pixel, and pretty hit or miss everywhere else. But the new “Wispr Flow” app promises some big improvements to voice-to-text on Android, all without replacing your keyboard of choice.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch is just days away but, somehow, one YouTuber managed to buy a Galaxy S26 Ultra early and has shown off the Privacy Display, design, and basically everything else.
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This week saw the debut of the Google Pixel 10a which, frankly, feels like a mostly recycled Pixel 9a. As we approach the launch of another barely-changed release, the Galaxy S26, it’s a good time to take a step back and remember that, while these phones aren’t all that new, that’s in part because they’re not for you.
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The “phone look” for smartphone photography is a well-known thing and, while it’s not always bad, it’s not always what you want. Zerocam launched on Android in 2024 as a way to do away with AI overprocessing, and it’s now getting a major 2.0 update that includes new photographic color profiles.
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Samsung has confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series will support a new Perplexity hotword – “Hey Plex” – as part of an “open and inclusive integrated AI ecosystem” that also includes Google and Bixby, which have their own hotwords.
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In the lead-up to Samsung’s Unpacked event next week, a major leak of promo materials confirms a few key details such as faster charging, while also showing the Privacy Display in better detail than we’ve seen.
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US courts have charged three individuals, including two ex-Google employees, regarding the theft of trade secrets in regards to Google’s efforts with Tensor chips in Pixel phones.
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