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
Ticketmaster, love it or hate it, is the company you’ll be dealing with for the vast majority of live events, which is why it’s great news that Ticketmaster is launching a new partnership with Google Wallet that will open the door to more detailed passes.
Oppo has just launched its new Reno 16 series which offers some solid upper-mid-range specs and a nice design, but also a neat “Bubble” screen accessory that, man, would just be so much better if this phone had Qi2 magnets inside.
Expand Expanding Close
Continued Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaks are revealing more and more about Samsung’s upcoming foldable series, this time including some pre-order perks, the on-the-shelf release date, and some initial impressions from someone who actually held the device.
Expand Expanding Close
Following earlier teasers, the Nothing Phone (4b) has officially been revealed with a design that combines elements from Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, but it’s not coming to the US at all.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27, its latest budget phone that will sell for $349 and offer up to six years of Android OS updates.
Expand Expanding Close
Amazon’s Prime Day sales holiday is delivering more than just discounts through a single retailer, with deals found throughout the web. That includes some deals on LG’s OLED TVs, with certain models up to $700 off in solid offers on its latest models.
Expand Expanding Close
The Motorola MA1 was the first wireless Android Auto adapter with Google’s stamp of approval and its had a sequel in the works for a while in the Motorola MA2, but the release date has been pushed way back to November of this year.
Expand Expanding Close
I’m a Nest Cam user every single day, and I mostly enjoy the product. But “Familar Faces” has been a sticking point for me as, frankly, it just doesn’t work very well. Finally, though, Google says it has a plan to fix “Familiar Faces” on Nest Cam, and I really hope it works.
Expand Expanding Close
There’s no one not frustrated by the cost of YouTube TV and services like it, but prices keep on going up. In a small victory, though, YouTube TV subscribers that sued Disney over its role in driving up the cost of streaming have won in court, with Disney settling for $50 million.
It just won’t change your bill.
Expand Expanding Close
Google today announced that it will open up the Play Store to external payments starting on June 30 in the US, UK, and Europe.
Expand Expanding Close
Rolling out now, the Instagram app has added support for watching Reels on your TV using Google Cast.
Expand Expanding Close
The simplicity of the Fitbit Air encourages some neat ideas for how to use it, including pairing it with a traditional watch. Some Fitbit Air buyers are taking that idea and literally cutting holes in their watch bands to house the tracker, but there’s probably a better way.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the best values in earbuds is the Nothing Ear (a) and, for Prime Day, a pair is down to just $53, and that might be the single best offer on earbuds during Amazon’s sales holiday.
Expand Expanding Close
Android 17 made its debut on Google Pixel devices this month, but Samsung is already at work bringing the update to Galaxy devices. The list of devices in preparation has been expanding, too.
Expand Expanding Close
GM says that its Google built-in vehicles are picking up support for over 200 more Android Automotive apps, including the ability to use apps on the screens in the backseat.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Play has just launched a “Mega Game Sale” that takes a handful of popular Android games and slashes their prices down to a mere $0.10 – just a dime.
Expand Expanding Close
A new leak has revealed the alleged wallpapers Samsung is bringing to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with everything lining up with leaked colors for the actual phone. I just hope the phone’s colors look even halfway as good as the wallpapers.
Expand Expanding Close
Following a Galaxy Watch 9 leak yesterday, new renders of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 have hit the web revealing a familiar design from a familiar source.
Expand Expanding Close
Robot vacuums have come a long way over the past several years, with some of the most advanced models nowadays going well and beyond anything we thought they’d be able to do. But, in a lot of cases, they’re also still an eyesore in your home. After spending a couple of months with the Narwal Flow 2, though, that’s one of the biggest things that stood out – I actually rather like how this looks, and it doesn’t give up top-tier performance to do so.
Expand Expanding Close
Effective next week, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is being added to the Dow Jones stock index.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close