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
AI Overviews are continuing to show up less and less in Google Search, with a new report finding they’re appearing in less than 10% of search queries.
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After launching its budget-friendly CMF Phone 1 last week, Nothing has also released 3D files that can be used to create 3D printed accessories, among other things, for the device.
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Essential went under in 2020, with the company having only launched the PH-1, it’s first smartphone. But there were plans for a second device from Essential known as “Gem,” and now someone has sold a unit, offering insight on some new details about the device.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 series is on the way, and may arrive alongside the company’s mixed reality headset.
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Android has a built-in QR code scanner tool that you might not even know about, but Google is in the process of giving it a redesigned look.
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Google Wallet is preparing to launch a new feature that allows users to turn a physical document into a pass within the app after announcing the functionality earlier this year.
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Samsung has confirmed that One UI 6.1.1, the software that launched on Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, is coming to select Galaxy devices soon with a handful of new features.
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The Find My Device network had huge promise, but it’s quickly become an absolute mess. Google, though, is defending the Find My Device network for its approach to privacy, the same approach that appears to be completely ruining its functionality.
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Merely five years ago, the idea of a foldable smartphone was still one that was unbelievable to most people. But, now, we’re seeing the concept suffer from boring iteration, and that’s coming from the same brand that kickstarted the entire form factor. Samsung has lost its foldable ambition, and it’s now just putting a damper on the exciting category.
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Qualcomm has launched a lawsuit against Transsion, one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, over patents.
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Nothing is still a small smartphone and accessories brand in the bigger picture, but the company is seeing some big success in the mid-range market. Today, Nothing announced that its new CMF Phone (1), a $199 smartphone, sold over 100,000 units in just 3 hours.
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As Samsung this week launched its somewhat disappointing latest foldable generation, Honor has now unveiled its Magic V3 flagship, the new thinnest foldable smartphone.
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Samsung once dominated the foldable market, but that’s quickly changed. With its latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, Samsung doesn’t have high expectations for sales growth, and that might have something to do with who is actually buying these devices.
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Samsung skipped over Bixby with its big Galaxy AI launch, but that’s soon to change, Samsung says.
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Samsung has confirmed plans to launch the Galaxy Tab S10 series before the end of the year, as rumors swirl around the new tablets.
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Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch releases have lost support for a useful charging feature, the ability to wirelessly charge your watch with your phone.
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Since its first generation, Samsung has forced users of its Galaxy Fold series to enroll their fingerprint with the device in its opened state. Finally, that’s come to an end.
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Biometrics are a key part of any modern smartphone, and it’s typically something you turn on during the initial setup. Lately, though, Samsung has quietly stopped asking users to enroll their fingerprint during device setup for Galaxy phones such as the new Galaxy Z Fold 6.
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AI-generated wallpapers are becoming an increasingly popular way to leverage AI on a smartphone, and it’s also a core feature of Galaxy AI. With its latest One UI update, though, Samsung has added a much bigger watermark to its AI wallpapers.
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Samsung is bringing more apps to the cover display on its Galaxy Z Flip, including Google’s Gmail app.
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Samsung’s latest foldables have arrived and, as usual, the best way to get them for a reasonable price is with the company’s massive trade-in offers. Here are some of the trade-in values you can expect for Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 on Samsung.com, and how they compare to other buying options.
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Samsung just announced its new foldable duo, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6. I went hands-on with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and walked away pretty happy with Samsung’s changes, but I can’t say the same about the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has been caught in a cycle of boring iteration for the past few years as the competition has drastically improved. But, with its new Galaxy Z Fold 6, I’m optimistic that Samsung has close to breaking out of that cycle, and is delivering an actual, meaningful upgrade this time around.
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Samsung is changing up its Galaxy Buds series in a big way for the first time in years and, oh, would you look at that, they’re AirPods now. But, hear me out. That might be a good thing.
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