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 waiting for a good time to swap out your Nest x Yale Lock, Google’s replacement Yale Matter lock is now at the lowest price we’ve ever seen, and Google’s latest Nest Cams are also on sale too.
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On the backs of the Pixel 10 Pro XL and latest iPhones, Qi2 25W has been heralded as the “next big thing” in wireless charging. Yet, it really doesn’t feel worth the effort of seeking it out for two key reasons.
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After going dark in late September, Spanish-language channels from TelevisaUnivision are returning to YouTube TV under a new deal.
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The dust has mostly settled on the YouTube TV deal with Disney, with channels having returned to subscribers and other impacts, such as Movies Anywhere, are also returning to normal. But details continue to come out, and it seems like YouTube TV ended up conceding on some big parts of the Disney deal, namely the price.
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Nothing’s CMF sub-brand often takes the core pieces of a Nothing product and makes that more affordable and, well, colorful too. The new CMF Headphone Pro is no different, but what really stands out to me is that it doesn’t just have the good ideas from Nothing, but a few more of its own.
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Outdoor cameras are perhaps the most useful ones, but they can also be a lot of work to set up. That’s why the new Wyze Window Cam looks pretty intriguing.
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You can already get Pixel phones at a huge discount for Black Friday 2025, but Google is also offering some deep discounts on its official Pixel cases, watch bands, and some other accessories through Amazon.
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Spotify is apparently planning a price hike for its US subscribers in early 2026 following in the footsteps of international price adjustments.
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Samsung continues to run some crazy Black Friday deals, including big discounts on select flagship Galaxy phones, and a rare discount on the Galaxy Ring tracker.
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As Google prepares to introduce its new Android experience for PCs next year, a new job listing is revealing some details around Google’s efforts and how that ties back to ChromeOS.
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Waze is picking up a trick from Google Maps in allowing Android Auto users to select locations for navigation on their phone’s screen, or access other parts of the app, instead of solely relying on the car display or voice.
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While Samsung has leveraged Google’s Gemini in major ways on Galaxy devices, the company is apparently looking to Perplexity to upgrade its often-forgotten Bixby assistant.
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After launching its next-gen series, Meta is now testing out the option to trade in a previous model for a new pair of Ray-Ban or Oakley smart glasses.
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On a support page, Google is hinting that the end of Google Assistant is nearing, with the Gemini takeover apparently completing in March 2026 when Assistant will no longer be accessible… at least on Android Auto.
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If you’re looking to get a new Google Pixel on Black Friday, Verizon has a really solid deal that gives you a Pixel 10 Pro XL and a Pixel Watch 4 for free, with no trade-in even required.
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Apple has had iPhone owners trapped within its walled garden for years, with many genuinely not knowing what lies beyond that ecosystem. But Google has been working over the past few years to poke some holes in that wall, and its latest move in bringing AirDrop compatibility to Android Quick Share is just another reminder of how things are getting better. But… is anyone actually switching?
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Nothing is starting its rollout of Android 16 this week, and in the new Nothing OS 4.0 there are a bunch of updates including the ability to show Live Updates in Glyph, redesigns throughout, and more.
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After launching in October, AAWireless TWO+ is now available for purchase via Amazon.
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Pebblebee just launched its latest tracks for Android’s Find Hub network earlier this month, but they’re already discounted for Black Friday, as is Motorola’s Moto Tag and several other trackers.
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Google announced earlier this afternoon that Quick Share on Pixel 10 now works with AirDrop on iPhone, and it’s actively rolling out now. Here’s how it works, and also how to get the functionality live on your device now.
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As promised, Gemini is finally launching on Android Auto, but the rollout could take a while.
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Subaru has announced new details on its revamped in-car software experience, which is based on Google’s Android Automotive OS.
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The smart home standard Matter is introducing support for cameras, a long awaited device type for the universal standard.
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After launching in beta recently, Nothing has confirmed plans to release its Android 16 update later this week.
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