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
Microsoft has been… let’s say “aggressive” when it comes to trying to get Chrome users to give Microsoft Edge a shot, and its latest effort is a huge new pop-up that tries to get users to let Edge copy data, such as open tabs, from Google Chrome.
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The Nothing Phone (2a) is getting a new Android 15 beta update that, among various fixes and improvements, also brings the launch of Nothing OS 3.0’s new “Shared Widgets.”
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Amid Google’s ongoing pre-Black Friday deals, Best Buy has an exceptional discount on the Pixel 9, offering up to $350 off the 256GB model.
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“Swipe up” is the new habit for users following the smash hit that has been TikTok and its clones in YouTube and Instagram. Now, the YouTube app appears to be testing a new swipe-up gesture in the standard video player that moves to a new video.
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Following its launch, the new Google TV Streamer has lacked a key app in the UK, BBC iPlayer. But, finally, it seems that’s about to change.
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Google has quietly launched its handy Quick Share app for Windows for ARM-powered devices such as Snapdragon X Elite laptops.
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Following its recent launch in China, Oppo has confirmed the release date of the Oppo Find X8 series through the rest of the globe, and it’s soon.
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Strange behavior in Android 15 leaves Material You theming color palettes being duplicated, leading to fewer options, but Google says everything is “working as intended” – then changed its mind.
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The Pixel 9 series seems to be a massive hit for Google, and it comes at least in part from Google fixing the biggest problems with from its past smartphones.
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The Google TV Streamer ditches the ability to sit behind your TV like the Chromecast did, but a clever case lets you change that.
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Google’s Tensor chips in Pixel phones have been getting better every year, but they still tend to run warmer than the competition. According to Google’s own data, overheating issues with Tensor have proved to be the biggest reason for Pixel returns.
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Wi-Fi routers are supposed to fade into the background, but they often can’t help but stand out with designs that don’t fit well in the home. Google’s systems have been a great option for a good-looking, but still capable mesh Wi-Fi system, but the latest Nest Wifi Pro is also pretty pricey. Over the past few months, I’ve been testing the TP-Link Deco which is a semi-stylish, very capable, and much more affordable alternative to Google’s Nest Wifi Pro.
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Google is reportedly seeing massive growth with Pixel phones in the US, but have you been seeing them in the wild more often?
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Last month Verizon announced it would kill its “Message+” app for Android phones sold on its network, transitioning users over to Google Messages. But, now, Verizon has extended the timeline a bit.
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In Q3 of this year, Samsung managed to get one of its flagship devices, the Galaxy S24, into the top 10 smartphones sold globally, a rare achievement.
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There’s a new “Performance Loop” band for the Pixel Watch in the works, but it hasn’t been released or officially announced just yet. This week, though, Google seemingly forgot about that.
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A recent update on Samsung Galaxy smartphones could prevent Android Auto from working, but it’s pretty easy to fix.
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Quick Share is the long-awaited “AirDrop for Android,” but many users have no idea it exists. To help with that, Google is apparently going to start requiring new Android devices to introduce users to Quick Share during the setup process.
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The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a stellar foldable smartphone, but getting a case for it has been difficult, especially as Google’s official case has been out of stock for weeks. Finally, though, it has returned.
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A new update to the Matter standard, version 1.4, brings support for even more new device types, as well as expanding support for thermostats in a way that would benefit the Nest Thermostat.
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Google has revealed that the memory requirements for Android TV are going down, with new devices needing just 1GB of RAM to run the platform.
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Google TV ads have been opening up to new content and product types, but a new “Dragon Age” ad is a great example of why the platform probably just should have stuck with content.
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Not long after its official announcement last month, OnePlus has just started rolling out the official, stable Android 15 for the OnePlus 12 in regions across the globe.
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Google is setting new requirements for Google TV devices to have at least 2GB of RAM, a move that might prevent some of the lackluster experiences we’ve seen in the past.
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