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
Foldables have matured a lot since their debut less than a decade ago, and following last year’s big leap with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, there’s now a new king in the Oppo Find N6, but I’m not sure the market will follow this lead fast enough.
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Nothing has really hit its stride with the whole budget smartphone thing, with two generations that really got the fundamentals right without breaking the bank. Throughout the company’s history, though, I’ve always felt like something was missing, and I think they’ve finally found it. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is the “something” I’ve been waiting for and, as it turns out, the formula was really quite simple.
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Item trackers are everywhere in the footsteps of the AirTag, and better options just keep appearing. Recently, a new Find Hub tracker from Nomad debuted for Android users, and I think it makes an argument for being the best option for your wallet – in more ways than one – right up against the Pebblebee Card 5 that launched last year.
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YouTube has just revealed details on how it will broadcast Coachella next week, including support for multiview, 4K streams, and even a feed shot by Google Pixel.
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Months after it was first announced, Google appears to have opened the floodgates for Gemini on Android Auto, with a number of users reporting that, suddenly, the new voice assistant has arrived in their cars.
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As the ongoing RAM/storage crisis continues to send shockwaves through the tech industry, a new report says that smartphone price hikes are “inevitable” while also further pointing out that entry-level phones are the hardest hit.
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As AI continues to find its way into every piece of technology we use nowadays, The Weather Channel is both embracing the tech with a new AI-powered forecasting app, while also giving you the exact opposite in a “retro” experience elsewhere.
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Following a rare Google Fi outage on Tuesday, Google has sent some subscribers a $20 credit.
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Google Cast is a useful feature in part because of how widely adopted it has been, but it’s never been baked into Samsung TVs. That’s finally changing on newer models but, as it turns out, the feature is also expanding to some older models too.
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ChromeOS is a very lightweight operating system and, on top of being a solid option for low-end computers, it’s also a great way to breathe new life into an older laptop or computer. A new partnership with Google will make that process even easier with an inexpensive $3 USB stick that can inject outdated machines with ChromeOS.
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The AAWireless TWO+ adapter that supports both Android Auto and CarPlay in the same dongle is seeing its first big discount, with 15% off through an Easter sale.
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Half a decade after its initial launch, Samsung is re-releasing its “Wireless Charger Trio,” ironically a product that would really benefit from Qi2 magnets.
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After a previous partnership announcement, Google has revealed new details on its Google Photos app for Samsung TVs, which is available on the latest models.
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IKEA is today officially launching new lights and sensors that work with Google Home, while the furniture giant is also launching a super-cheap $10 speaker that can form a network of audio throughout your home.
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Lenovo has ended sales of its Legion Tab (Gen 3) ahead of an upgrade and, in turn, more expensive sequel, while also issuing price hikes to its entire family of Android tablets.
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Google has announced a few more updates to Google Home including Spanish language support for Gemini and more.
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Right on schedule following yesterday’s Pixel 11 leak, the Pixel 11 Pro has shown up in leaked renders that show how, for the most part, this is the same phone for the third year in a row.
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Meta has today announced its new “Blayzer” and “Scriber” Ray-Ban styles that are designed for prescription lenses with a new slim design and more.
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Announced earlier this month alongside “Immersive Navigation,” Google Maps also added a new Gemini-powered “Ask Maps” feature which, as of this week, is widely available in the US and India to all users.
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As we await Walmart’s promising new Google TV stick, Xiaomi has just launched its second-gen option, and it begs the question, “What year is it?”
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Months after we first reported on its launch, Google has officially announced the ability to change your Gmail address while also confirming that the functionality is widely available, at least in the US.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 series launched late last year but, out of the blue, Samsung has just launched a new “Pro Keyboard” for the Ultra model, and it’s expensive.
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Following Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series, more Galaxy phones are set to add cross-compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop and new findings not only reveal a list of devices, but also a way to enable it early – maybe.
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A new listing suggests that Walmart may finally be launching a Google TV streaming stick that supports 4K video output, perhaps finally giving the market a true replacement to the Chromecast.
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