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
In what is now her second big partnership around Android, Google has named Paris Hilton as an “Icon in Residence” for Android, with a focus on what Android’s new AI tools can do for users.
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The Pebble Round 2 smartwatch is set to start shipping soon, not long after Pebble Time 2 has become widely available to those who ordered.
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Book-style foldables have been my daily phones for the past few years and, as we enter a new chapter, Motorola has delivered the Razr Fold as its long-awaited entry to the space. Put simply, it’s far better than I expected, but I also worry it may have arrived a bit too late.
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Years after removing “dislike” button counts, YouTube is testing another change to its feedback system with a heart now replacing the “like” button, and “dislike” disappearing entirely for some.
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Motorola’s UWB-equipped Moto Tag trackers for Android Find Hub are on sale right now, including both the first and second generation releases.
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Following Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and a select few other Android devices, AirDrop over Quick Share support now appears to be rolling out on the OnePlus 15.
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OpenAI has confirmed that it has filed for its initial public offering (IPO) just a week after Anthropic.
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Beyond music and navigation, there are a lot of apps that might be useful on Android Auto, but a PDF app is maybe the furthest thing from anyone’s mind for an app to use in their car. Yet, Adobe Acrobat is now available on Android Auto.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a great foldable, but battery life has never really been its strong suit. Making matters worse, recent updates such as One UI 8.5 seem to have had a major impact on battery life.
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Announced earlier this year, the new “Wardrobe” feature of Google Photos is starting to roll out, but only for paid subscribers and only on Android.
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A new report reveals that OpenAI is planning a major redesign to ChatGPT that focuses on AI agents and coding, rather than its roots as a chatbot.
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Google Maps is invaluable behind the wheel and one of the key reasons anyone would want to use Android Auto, but a frustrating bug has left a number of Android Auto users with their directions stuck in a blindingly bright light theme at night.
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Ever since the Pixel 10 was released last year, Qi2 magnets have been a love-hate relationship – I love using them, but I hate that, somehow, the Pixel 10 is the only Android phone that has them. It’s crazy to me that no other Android brand has taken this feature seriously, and that we still have no word of that changing.
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Ahead of its launch sometime later this year, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE has surfaced online early, showcasing a familiar, but slightly updated design.
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If you’ve spent any time behind the wheel on Android Auto in the past couple of years, you’ve probably encountered the pop-up alerts on Google Maps and realized just how distracting they can be. Now, Google is rolling out a redesign and it’s a huge improvement.
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Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand grabbed attention when the magnetic Pixel 10 series launched last year, but I was never a huge fan of using it despite liking the actual concept. That’s where the OhSnap Grip Stand steps into the picture, offering the basic functionality of Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand while offering way more functionality and solving the problems found on Google’s accessory.
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YouTube Premium’s previously-announced price hike is hitting customers this month, begging the question – will you cancel?
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I’ve had a Pixel Watch of some sort on my wrist nearly every day for the past few years, largely because I’ve come to really value the tracking I get out of what is now Google Health. But, now, there’s another option in the Fitbit Air, a screen-less tracker that, for me, has come to serve as a brilliant little companion to my Pixel Watch.
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While there’s been plenty of pushback, GM has stubbornly stuck with its decision to ditch support for phone-based Android Auto and CarPlay in its EVs from brands including Chevy and Cadillac, but a clever little adapter manages to bring it back – at least for now.
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Google is in the early days of testing a new behavior in Chrome that sends users straight to AI Mode, bypassing the standard Search experience.
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Google is shutting down its AI-powered Pixel Studio app less than two years after its debut and instead pushing users over to Gemini and Nano Banana for image generation.
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Samsung is expected to launch its new Galaxy Watch 9 next month and, ahead of that, the Samsung Health app is getting a big redesign with lots of AI.
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If you’re an NBA fan, you’re familiar with the onslaught of YouTube TV advertising that has come with Google’s service being the presenting sponsor of the NBA Finals. That’s changing this year, though.
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Digital photo frames offer a quick and easy way to display your family photos, and more in your home, and Google Photos integration is a no-brainer. However, changes from Google Photos last year resulted in Aura photo frames losing integration, but that’s now coming back.
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