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
Following months of improvements in early access, Google Home is launching some massive expansions to automations this week, as well as new Nest Cam improvements, both of which are available to all users.
Expand Expanding Close
A pair of leaks has revealed the upcoming Xiaomi 17T series, which have familiar designs but shuffled specs with a starting price of €749 in Europe.
Expand Expanding Close
Lenovo has just opened up sales of its new Legion Tab (Gen 5) in the US, with the compact Android gaming tablet costing a whopping $849.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of its rumored July launch event, Samsung continues to leak its upcoming “Wide Fold” through software, with new renderings appearing in One UI 9.
Expand Expanding Close
After three generations, Google is apparently saying goodbye to its built-in temperature sensor on Pixel 11 Pro.
Expand Expanding Close
According to a Pixel 11 leak, Google’s next flagship smartphone lineup won’t be adopting the new “Project Toscana” face unlock hardware after all.
Expand Expanding Close
The Weather Channel is a staple for many, but YouTube TV almost lost it before a new deal was struck.
Expand Expanding Close
Right as it’s been revealed that Google’s upcoming Pixel 11 probably won’t have new face unlock hardware, a new name is showing off some impressive under-display face unlock tech that could start showing up in Android devices as soon as next year.
Expand Expanding Close
Following a messy launch process over the past few weeks, Walmart’s new Google TV-powered Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K streaming stick are now available online for more customers.
Expand Expanding Close
According to a new leak, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 will reportedly be a bit lighter and improve on its display crease, but it sounds like an underwhelming upgrade on the whole.
Expand Expanding Close
A major leak has just revealed virtually every important detail about the Pixel 11 series including a breakdown of Tensor G6, some hardware updates the camera, and where Google’s “Pixel Glow” feature might be shown.
Expand Expanding Close
Gemini is reviving the idea of a smart speaker for Google, with the upcoming “Google Home Speaker” being the first new hardware in years. Meanwhile, it sounds like we might also be seeing a revival of third-party smart speakers in the Gemini era, something we’ve not seen in quite a while.
Expand Expanding Close
Following an announcement in early April, Google says that Gemini for Home upgrades are set to roll out more widely in Europe and Asia-Pacific nations this coming week.
Expand Expanding Close
You can’t go anywhere on the internet today without running into AI. In some cases, that’s useful. AI can do some amazing things. On the other hand, it often feels like we’re watching someone reinvent the wheel. Now, word on the street is that OpenAI wants to build its own phone with an experience built around AI agents. Put simply, I think that sounds horrible.
Expand Expanding Close
You’ve undoubtedly heard about the rising costs of RAM and storage over the past few months, but price hikes and yearly comparisons don’t always show the impact of the ongoing shortage. But a chart we recently saw really shows just how bad things are.
Expand Expanding Close
Smartphone price hikes have been called “inevitable” amid the ongoing RAM crisis, but many devices have held firm for a while. Now, though, they’re landing, with price hikes having just hit the OnePlus 15 and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, among others, in India.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is once again offering a discount on the Galaxy Ring health tracker, cutting the price to $299, but you can save even more than that.
Expand Expanding Close
In its latest earnings call, Samsung has teased its upcoming AI glasses, but also painted a pretty bleak picture of the ongoing RAM crisis.
Expand Expanding Close
Launched in the second half of 2025, Google is now expanding its “Preferred Sources” tool in Search to all users in all languages across the globe.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung’s flagship camera setup has been due for some updates and, with Galaxy S27 Ultra, that might be coming.
Expand Expanding Close
Amid its ongoing downward spiral and merger with Realme, OnePlus is still going through its launch schedule with the debut of the new OnePlus Pad 4. It looks great, but who will be able to buy it?
Expand Expanding Close
As Google’s “Aluminium” OS slowly makes it way to launch, a new report reveals that Samsung is preparing new Galaxy Book laptops running Android, but with Samsung’s design on top.
Expand Expanding Close
Amid plenty of evidence that OnePlus is shutting down or at least limiting its global operations, the brand has apparently just been merged with Realme, including its business in China too.
Expand Expanding Close
Available this week ahead of the new Razr lineup, Moto Buds 2 Plus are coming to the US with Bose sound and a price of $149.
Expand Expanding Close