Ben Smith-Staff Writer

Ben Smith

Staff Writer

Contributor Since June, 2024
Qualifications 5 years of experience covering consumer technology
Expertise
Laptop, Tablets, fujifilm
  • 59
    articles
  • 1
    News
  • 16
    Features
  • 14
    Lists
  • 19
    Guides
  • 9
    Reviews
Pocket-lint logo Profile

About Ben Smith

Ben Smith is a writer based in Los Angeles, California who has been covering consumer tech for at least five years. He's written thousands of articles for various sites about laptops, tablets, and photography gear. 

What was your first phone?

The Motorola Razr V3. It had a color LCD and a 0.3-megapixel camera, which at the time, I thought took amazing photos. 

When did your interest in technology begin?

My interest in technology began at a young age when my family bought our first desktop computer. From then on, I became obsessed with learning everything I could about computer hardware.

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

I love everything related to tablets, and in recent years, I've become fascinated by e-ink tablets. When I first started writing about consumer tech, I mostly covered cameras, and to this day, I love my Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. 

Latest

A photograph of Betterbird on a GIGABYTE computer monitor.
I've been looking for a killer email app, and this might be it
Apps

Say goodbye to bloated email apps and hello to a cleaner, faster, and ad-free experience.

Oct 11, 2025
Windows 11 laptop on kitchen counter.
5 forgotten Microsoft apps that I wish were still around
Apps

Here are my five favorite apps that were sacrificed on the altar of progress.

Sep 27, 2025
Google Maps
I tried to switch to Waze, but Google Maps is way better
Apps

I put Google Maps and Waze to the test, and here's why I like Google Maps more.

2
Aug 24, 2025
A photograph showing the side of the Vantrue E1 Pro and highlighting the microSD card slot.
Thanks to this 4K dash cam, I can finally drive with peace of mind
Car Tech

Driving serenity ahead.

1
Jun 15, 2025
Samsung SSDs overlayed on a Seagate HDD.
5 reasons why I'm only buying SSDs and not HDDs
Laptops

While HDDs used to be my primary drives, I've made the switch to SSDs.

May 31, 2025
Microsoft's PowerToys app and laptop.
How PowerToys streamlined my Windows experience and why it should just be built in
Laptops

PowerToys is Microsoft's best-kept secret for improving your Windows experience.

May 18, 2025
usb-stick
4 lesser-known things I do with old USB drives
Laptops

USB drives can do so much more than just store PDFs and Word docs.

5
May 3, 2025
A Roku TV UI and Samsung TV UI side-by-side on a green background.
Speeding up my smart TV was easy with these 5 steps
TVs

I eliminate lag and stuttering from my smart TV with these settings changes.

Mar 29, 2025
Two feather dusters cleaning a keyboard.
How I deep clean my grime-covered mechanical keyboard to make it look like new
Laptops

Spring is here, and it's finally time to tidy up my desk and keyboard.

Mar 15, 2025
An image of a Windows laptop on a pink, textured, background.
The 6 tools I use to power up my Windows 11 experience
Laptops

These Windows 11 productivity tools help me to make the most out of the Microsoft operating system.

2
Mar 9, 2025
Microsoft Loop with a cool emoji over it.
Looping you in: I wanted more from this Microsoft tool
Laptops

Microsoft Loop can be great if you are a dedicated Microsoft Suite user, but there's not as much functionality.

Feb 23, 2025
An image of an ASUS Windows-based mini PC in front of th Apple Mac Mini on a textured and blue background.
5 reasons Windows mini PCs are way better than Apple's Mac mini
Laptops

While the newest Mac mini continues to be a powerhouse, a Windows Mini PC has more advantages than you might realize.

1
Feb 23, 2025
A render of the Kindle Colorsoft on a textured background.
Reading in color: 6 reasons I'll never go back to grayscale e-readers
Tablets

Color e-ink screens are finally becoming popular, and this is why I like them over traditional black-and-white e-readers.

1
Feb 1, 2025
An image of the Cevaton S6 Laptop Monitor Extender on a blue and white background.
Why this portable monitor stands out from the pack
Laptops

I'm getting up to three times done with this setup.

Jan 18, 2025
SD cards in hand in front of a succulent.
Don't throw your old SD cards in the trash - do these 5 things instead
Laptops

You can do several things with that ancient, dust-covered SD card hidden in your desk.

1
Jan 13, 2025
A custom image of a note-taking app on an iPad.
This clever app unexpectedly became my note-taking default
Laptops

Craft is an intuitive note-taking app that's quickly become my favorite.

Jan 11, 2025
A MacBook Pro in front of a laptop on top of a box.
My foolproof way to set up a new MacBook
Laptops

Here's everything you should do with your MacBook the second you unbox.

Jan 4, 2025
How I transfer all my old files to a new iPhone.
How I transfer my old files over to a new iPhone
Phones

Upgrading to a new iPhone means transferring your data from your old phone.

Dec 26, 2024
A photograph of a MacBook showing the erase all contents function being used.
How to erase and factory reset your M-series Mac
Laptops

Selling or giving away your MacBook? Here's how to erase and factory reset it before handing it off.

Dec 15, 2024
A MacBook with butterfly keys and a thumbs down.
The one MacBook feature that had everyone begging for change
Laptops

The now-defunct Butterfly keyboard was the source of intense controversy and even a class-action lawsuit before it was finally replaced.

Dec 14, 2024
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