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 is a platform of variety, and that’s even more true now with the launch of Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, which includes what Google refers to as an “ultra-wide foldable.”
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Samsung is expanding the support timeline for its latest Galaxy Watch models, with Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 getting 5 years of Wear OS updates.
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Meta has confirmed a revamped experience for WhatsApp on Android Auto and CarPlay, delivering better support for drivers behind the wheel.
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While new foldables were the focus of Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked, this week’s event also served as a soft launch for its new smart glasses being launched with the help of Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster. This includes some details on core features, as well as the camera privacy light.
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I’m on my way home from Samsung’s big Galaxy Unpacked event and I’ve moved into the new Galaxy Z Fold 8. So, ask me anything!
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If there’s one thing that annoys me about the Galaxy Z Flip series, it’s that the cover screen has been left just a notch or two above useless for years now, and for no good reason. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is finally embracing apps on the cover screen, but still not to the degree that it should.
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Samsung is addressing one of the key complaints about last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 on its new Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, with some small tweaks making it much easier to open up these foldables.
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Google’s Pixel 11 series has leaked pretty extensively at this point, but another new leak has just hit the web to show off some new angles to the device – you just have to look past the nonsense surrounding it.
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The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s first new foldable form factor in years and, at first glance, it seems like it’d solve a huge problem from past models, the lack of useful space for video. But, sadly, there’s technically no real improvement here.
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Looking back on the past few years of foldables, one of the biggest things I’ve felt Samsung’s entrants have been missing has been an anti-reflective display on the inside. Finally, that’s arriving with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, and the results are excellent.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is here and, after trying both, I’m pretty conflicted. These phones really ask you what you value most out of a foldable, and I’m not sure which one I want to use long-term yet.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 series brings not one, but two new book-style foldables for buyers to choose from, and refreshed trade-in deals amid RAMageddon.
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It’s happening. Samsung has officially adopted silicon-carbon batteries on its latest foldables, though you wouldn’t know that by looking at the spec sheet for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or any other new devices.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is clearly the focus of this year’s foldable launch, with the Galaxy Z Flip 8 delivering minor changes and, frankly, feeling like it’s on its way out.
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Samsung has officially unveiled its new Galaxy Z Fold 8, which goes beyond a generation refresh, delivering a completely new form factor in the company’s foldable lineup – one that might feel familiar to early entrants in the foldable space. And it starts at $1,899.
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Today’s the day! Samsung is just hours from the launch of its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, Galaxy Watch 9, and more, and you can tune in live to see the event.
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I’ve been buying Samsung foldables for years now, but the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the first one that, as a reviewer, I’ve actually managed to keep in my pocket all year long. And, after all of that time, I’ve got a lot of thoughts on where Samsung fell short, what it got right, and what I’m worried about on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
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Samsung has announced its new credit card, the “Galaxy Card,” which offers up to 5% cashback on Galaxy device purchases.
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A new report reveals Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, with the company betting big on its new wider foldable.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a complete redesign with a new, wider form factor that’s going to be fascinating to see in real life. And, would you look at that, there’s the Galaxy Z Fold 8, in real life.
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It’s anything but wide at this point, but we’re finally seeing signs of Android Auto rolling out support for a live speedometer.
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Google’s official Pixel Watch bands are expensive, but they’ve been on sale relatively frequently, this time around with select bands starting as low as around $10.
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OnePlus is dead – actually for real this time. It’s got me looking back on my experiences with the brand’s smartphones, the absolute roller coaster that it was, and how OnePlus briefly sparked joy in a way that no one else way, resulting in two of my favorite Android phones of all time. And dang it, I’m a little sad now.
9to5Google Weekender by Ben Schoon is a part of our free newsletter that also includes ‘Inbox,’ a twice-weekly roundup of key stories from around the web by Daniel Bader. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every Sunday along with ‘Inbox’ on Tuesday and Thursday. You can find past issues here.
As expected, Samsung is switching its new Galaxy Watch 9 over to a Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon Wear Elite, as some new images confirm.
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