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
The OnePlus 13 is here and while it doesn’t make any dumb excuses about lacking wireless charging, it does still snub Qi2. However, the OnePlus 13 does still debut “Mag,” a collection of first-party cases that add the magnetic aspect of Qi2 to the device after the fact.
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Longevity is becoming a key point for Android smartphones nowadays, with Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices offering 7 years of support, leading the industry. With its new OnePlus 13 and 13R, OnePlus is also upping its software update commitment, but not quite to the same level.
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OnePlus is starting off 2025’s collection of new Android phones on a high note, as the device is delivering a top-notch experience at a fair price with its global debut. Here’s what you need to know.
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Lenovo is launching one of the first small, yet powerful Android tablets we’ve seen in years with its new gaming-focused Lenovo Legion Tab which will be launching later this month.
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Lenovo is kicking off 2025 with the reveal of two surprisingly enticing new Android tablets which include a lot of AI and the company’s first products with Circle to Search. Beyond that, there’s also a new Lenovo gaming handheld powered by SteamOS and a lot of new laptops.
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Alongside the launch of it new “Link” lost item system, Pebblebee is also announcing plans at CES 2025 to bring Android’s Find My Device network to more items by embedding trackers directly into things such as a bike or a golf club.
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Pebblebee, known for its item trackers for Android and Apple finder networks, is kicking off 2025 with the launch of “Link,” a new item tracking system that will help you find lost items by making it easier for someone to return your lost item.
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The whole appeal of the Qi2 standard is that magnets can be added to a device in order to improve charger alignment, speeds, and open the door to a ton of additional accessories. But “Qi2 Ready” is now coming, and it may end up throwing a wrench in that.
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After plenty of leaks and rumors, we’re officially entering Samsung’s lead-up to the Galaxy S25 launch date, as the company has confirmed an event on January 22 and is opening reservations where customers can get a $50 credit and more.
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Samsung is less than a month away from launching the Galaxy S25 series, and the floodgates for leaks are opening, as new official-looking images of all three devices show off colors and the super-slim display bezels.
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Alongside their new TV announcements at CES 2025, LG and Samsung have confirmed plans to adopt Microsoft Copilot as an AI voice assistant, not long after the latter brand ditched Google Assistant support.
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Following a lawsuit filed by Fubo over Disney’s practices with Hulu + Live TV, the two services are merging into a single business, and one that may end up rivaling YouTube TV in a meaningful way.
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TCL’s NXTPAPER tech just makes tablets better in my opinion, but thus far the company has been missing the market on the form factor. With its new TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus, though, I think we might be getting just the right combination of everything.
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At CES 2025, TCL is launching its updated QD-Mini LED tech starting in the QM6K lineup which is available for pre-order starting today.
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TCL is kicking off 2025 with the launch of new Android phones a fairly exciting new tablet in the NXTPAPER 11 Plus.
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At CES 2025, two years after the standard was first announced, it’s been revealed that Qi2 is officially coming to Samsung Galaxy devices this year, and Google is leading development on faster charging speeds as well.
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The third One UI 7 beta update is now rolling out to Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series with some UI tweaks and various bug fixes.
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Smart glasses with a display have been a dream for years, but attempt after attempt has failed to deliver. Things are looking brighter, and more options are coming to market over the next year. At CES 2025, Halliday is being unveiled as a pair of smart glasses that take the approach of effectively projecting a display the size of a smartwatch to your eye.
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The Find My Device network was full of promise, but Android’s alternative to the tech behind Apple’s AirTag launched to a rough start in 2024. Over time, though, it seems to finally be getting better. Are you actually using it?
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2025 isn’t looking like a great year for Samsung’s foldables, as the company is reportedly not planning any major changes for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 despite shrinking sales.
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PayPal’s Honey has been a massively popular Chrome extension for years, promising to find coupon codes and save consumers money, all without costing a dime. However, a recent video exposed shady tactics by Honey, and has led to over 3 million Chrome users uninstalling the extension.
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Google Pixel is finally gaining traction in India’s premium smartphone market, as the brand managed to grow while OnePlus took a nosedive.
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An issue with Google Nest and Google Home speakers and smart displays is leaving some users unable to get answers for basic queries over the past few days, with commands simply not working.
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Roughly a year ago Fossil announced that it was done with Wear OS smartwatches, and to start 2025, the last remaining of the brand’s smartwatches has officially been pulled from the market.
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