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 are no longer a “new” technology, but as they mature, one thing is still very clear. No foldable does it “right” yet as the market continues to only serve niche users, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a really good encapsulation of that.
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The Motorola MA1 is one of the best wireless Android Auto adapters, but it’s been out of stock on Amazon lately alongside some fire sales. However, the adapter isn’t being discontinued just yet.
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Samsung has kicked off its latest “Discover” event with boosted trade-in values, doubled storage, and more on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Flip 6, and Galaxy Tab S9, and other devices.
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For a long time Android Auto apps have all looked virtually the same, only seeing any substantial updates and changes thanks to recent updates. But, for those years of restriction, Google is catching a bit of regulatory pressure.
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Samsung is working on a “Special Edition” Galaxy Z Fold device based on the Fold 6, but with a thinner design. Now, we’re getting a first look at the updated hardware.
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Lenovo is showcasing a useful new trick on its latest laptops, “Smart Share,” that adds the ability to start the transfer process for photos and videos to Windows from Android and iPhone by hitting your laptop with your phone.
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The second wave of Snapdragon-powered laptops is coming, and for a more affordable cost too. Lenovo has just launched its first IdeaPad laptop with Snapdragon X Plus at IFA this week, and for hundreds less than its previous Snapdragon model.
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There’s been a lot of excitement around the mysterious mixed reality product that Google and Samsung have been working on for a while now, and it’s now been revealed that the product in question is probably a pair of smart glasses.
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After launching on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 last month, Samsung is starting the rollout of One UI 6.1.1 to select Galaxy smartphones.
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TCL is pushing forward with its NXTPAPER display tech with the launch of two new devices at IFA 2024, still ignoring a small form-factor tablet option.
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The Philips Hue Sync Box is a fun way to extend what’s on your TV to the lights in your room, but the original box has lagged behind on features for a while now. Today, Philips has announced a new Hue Sync Box that supports HDMI 2.1 and more.
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Google is giving Gboard, its Android keyboard app, a redesigned menu for emoji and stickers that works better on tablets and big-screen devices like foldables.
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What was left over from Essential turned into OSOM in 2021, with the promise of a privacy-focused smartphone with the hardware that made Essential PH-1 great. Now, OSOM is reportedly shutting down within the next week.
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According to a new rumor, the upcoming OnePlus Open sequel will somehow squeeze a massive battery into a foldable that’s even thinner than the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
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Samsung has ended software updates for a few of its older devices, including the Galaxy Tab S7 series and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
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A few months after Snapdragon X laptops hit the market, Google has confirmed plans for the Drive app to support ARM chips.
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Google has changed how Battery Share, the company’s implementation of reverse wireless charging, works on the Pixel 9, no longer allowing it to function while the phone is being charged over a wire.
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Intel has launched its latest generation of laptop chips, “Lunar Lake,” with the promise of massive performance and battery life gains.
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I’ve spent the past few days with Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is a stunning year-over-year upgrade from the company’s first foldable. Ahead of our full review, here’s what has made an impact for me after a bit of time using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – the hardware, the battery, and the software.
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Mobvoi is launching an overdue update to Wear OS 4 for its TicWatch Pro 5, right as the floodgates prepare to open on the Wear OS 5 rollout elsewhere.
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After Samsung signaled its move away from its own Messages app over to Google Messages, the company is pushing more Galaxy users to Google’s app.
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According to a new report, OnePlus could move to the release date of the OnePlus 13 to as early as October, well ahead of expectations.
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Huawei has just announced a September 10 event where the company is set to launch the world’s first tri-fold smartphone which, apparently, has a 10-inch display.
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According to a new report, Samsung might be settling on going all-in on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, a return to a trend the Galaxy S23 had started.
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