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
Android’s Find My Device network might not be as useful as it should be, but it can still be a handy tool for tracking down lost items. If you’re looking to pick up a Find My Device tracker for your Android device, the Pebblebee Clip is seeing its biggest discount to date.
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As OnePlus rolls out its Android 15 update surprisingly quickly, the brand is now rolling out the update to its foldable, the OnePlus Open, but you’ll need to wait a bit longer for other regions.
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Google TV is picking up some new free channels and additional integrations from an unlikely place… The Roku Channel.
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Google’s Pixel Tablet is a product that’s a bit outside of the norm, probably to its detriment, but in crafting upcoming sequels, I hope Google doesn’t lose the charm of the first generation.
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The OnePlus Open was easily the best foldable released in 2023, clearing a relatively low bar left by its competition. How does it hold up a year later? I’ve spent some time with the OnePlus Open Apex Edition lately to find out, and it’s more of a mixed bag this time around.
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Google TV has introduced a new ad format that throws a gigantic QR code on top of the subject matter.
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First launched in beta in 2023, Samsung has officially launched its own cloud gaming services for Galaxy devices in the US.
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WhatsApp is updating how you see when another user is typing with a new typing indicator that’s available to more users.
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The release of One UI 7, Samsung’s Android 15 update, has been delayed time and time again, but it’s finally nearing, and new reports offer a bit of context as to when the beta might be released.
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Security systems have been around for a long time now, but for many, they’re still overly complicated, overly expensive, and not as well integrated with the new wave of smart home products. ADT, one of the biggest names in home security, has been on a mission to change that and after a false start in 2023, the new ADT+ system is a huge upgrade, especially for those in Google’s Nest ecosystem.
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As the year nears its end, Google TV is revealing the most-watched movies and TV shows on the platform for 2024. Here’s the full list.
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If you’re looking to get a wireless Android Auto adapter around Black Friday, good news, as Motorola MA1 is hitting one of its lowest prices thanks to a huge discount just as AAWireless TWO is getting a fresh restock.
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The Oppo Find X8 series is hitting the global market and after spending some time with the new hardware, we think it’s worth your consideration.
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After debuting in China, the Oppo Find X8 series is launching globally and it’s a pretty compelling offer.
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A couple of months after its launch, the Google TV Streamer is finally a quick and easy purchase as the device is now readily in stock and shipping immediately.
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The OnePlus Open is, even a year after its launch, one of the best book-style foldables on the market today, but the brand has yet to attempt the flip-style form factor. According to a new rumor, though, OnePlus may be looking to put out a “Flip” foldable device as soon as next year.
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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips have brought significantly better battery life to Windows laptops, but at a cost. Apparently, though, Qualcomm has plans for an even cheaper “entry-level” Snapdragon X chip that could be in “$600+” machines.
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RCS has been a long journey, but with Apple finally adopting the standard in its latest iOS update, messaging is genuinely improving for users. In a new campaign, Samsung and Google tout support for RCS on Galaxy devices and Android following Samsung’s full embrace of Google Messages.
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Ahead of the global launch of the Oppo Find X8 series, it’s been revealed that Oppo will be gaining support for Google’s Circle to Search feature.
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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite looks like a killer chipset, but one of its biggest benefits for future Android phones might end up being in battery life, with some major improvements showing up in early tests.
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Following the arrival of new Snapdragon-powered laptops based on ARM, the Google Drive app for Windows is gaining support for these machines via a new beta release.
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Samsung is reportedly planning to launch even more foldables in 2025, with a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip, but also a more expensive Galaxy Z Fold.
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The OnePlus Open, based on the Oppo Find N3, is perhaps one of the best foldables in recent memory even though it’s over a year old at this point. However, a rumor is circulating that Oppo and OnePlus will abandon high-end foldables, but let’s not panic just yet.
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A new update to Google Photos is making it significantly easier to share Memories by simply turning them into a video file.
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