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
The Google Home Speaker is set to start shipping very soon but, ahead of that, one user was able to buy one from a retail store early. They’ve since shared their first impressions, which unfortunately confirm that the speaker has a fixed power cable that’s also pretty short.
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Amazon’s Prime Day is hyped up as this huge event where you can save money but, often, you’re either buying things you don’t need or disappointed by the deals. But, if nothing else, the one thing you should buy on Prime Day is a dash cam for your car.
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While wired audio is certainly trying to make a comeback, wireless earbuds and headphones are more prevalent today than ever before, and that’s why it’s pretty good news that Google Pixel phones now support LHDCv5 in Android 17, a codec that supports better audio quality.
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The updates keep on coming, with Google Home now rolling out yet another big update that improves on not only the app itself, but also Gemini voice commands and camera features too.
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An upgrade to Google Meet for web has delivered support for iPhone users to join meetings directly through their web browser, no app downloads required.
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Samsung has announced a new UFS 5.0 storage solution that’s twice as fast as existing options, and coming to future “flagship smartphones.”
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The tiny Android tablet market is getting its second wave, with the Redmagic Astra sequel officially set to launch next week.
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Beeper, the app that famously figured out a back way into iMessage for Android, is still around and now rolling out a slew of new updates including support for Line messages.
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There are a ton of reasons why a smartwatch can be useful, but one option that’s proven very handy is the ability to pair your earbuds directly to your watch and use music apps while exercising, no phone needed. YouTube Music for Apple Watch seems to finally be ready for that functionality, as new code findings suggest support is right around the corner.
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More leaks of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 have landed, revealing new features for the upcoming smartwatch series, as well as the first leaked images of the updated design.
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It’s been relatively clear that Samsung is slowly trying to phase out the S Pen in its smartphones and, recently, the company took another small step towards that end by ending sales of the stylus for the few foldables that support it.
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Nothing just announced that it would be, at least for this year, killing off its bargain CMF Phone due to the increasing cost of components but, somehow, “Nothing Phone (4b)” is about to debut as a more affordable release.
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As the smart glasses era gets its proper start, Meta is expanding on its offering with a new lineup of “Meta Glasses” that ditch Ray-Ban branding and designs in pursuit of a more affordable price tag.
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If you’ve been wanting to get an AAWireless TWO adapter for Android Auto and/or CarPlay, Prime Day is here with a discount on both.
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I get to try out a lot of crazy smart home gear and, usually, my favorites are the ones that blend into my home without standing out. Dreame’s futuristic-looking bladeless fan and air purifier do not fit that description and, yet, I’ve been pretty impressed by both. With Dreame’s heavily discounted Prime Day deals going right now, these should both have your attention.
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Wyze is today launching a new scale that tracks more than just your weight while also being affordable, with the Wyze Scale BodyScan costing under $80.
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The Google Home Speaker finally has a release date and, with it, Google has also ended its long-running and mega-hit Nest Mini speaker. It leaves the lineup in a weird place, as Google has a product that doesn’t replace anything it had before, and might not be everyone’s cup of tea either.
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Ahead of Samsung’s July event, new leaks are revealing a few more details about Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
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Philips Hue is expanding on its smart lighting catalog even further with new table and floor lamps, as well as improved candle bulbs that are now available to customers.
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Nothing’s CMF Phone series has released two models thus far and, at least for now, won’t be getting a third, as the rising cost of materials has essentially left the series dead in the water.
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Widgets have long been a useful part of the Android homescreen and, for many, they’ve solidified their spot and functionality for years. That’s why it’s pretty frustrating that, for some Google Pixel owners that have upgraded to Android 17, homescreen widgets haven’t just been removed from the homescreen, but they’re not even available to come back.
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A bug in Gmail affecting Google Pixel owners is making it difficult to reply to emails, as the AI-powered “Help me write” is getting in the way.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series has a decent slice of the overall smartphone market, but it’s off to a rough start for 2026.
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VP of engineering at Google and the co-lead of Gemini, Noam Shazeer, has announced he is departing his role to work at OpenAI.
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