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
YouTube TV has seen a number of price hikes over the years as the service has grown, and as it now serves millions of viewers, it was inevitable that another rise would be coming. That’s finally arrived this week, and it begs the question of whether or not YouTube TV will ever offer cheaper streaming packages.
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One of the sore points of early Tensor efforts for Google Pixel came from the Samsung modem used in the first few generations. It’s gotten much better over time, but both heat and signal underperform compare to other options. According to a new report, Google is switching things up for the Pixel 10 with a new modem from MediaTek.
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Days after misleadingly calling a price hike an error, YouTube TV informed customers that it would be raising prices to $82.99/month. As many try to cancel, though, YouTube TV is handing out a 6-month price lock of the current rate for some subscribers.
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Samsung is rumored to be finally adopting the Qi2 standard in its upcoming Galaxy S25 series, but a new leak revealing a “magnet case” from Samsung is causing some to believe it might not happen. Let’s talk about it.
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Google TV isn’t exactly light on homescreen ads to the point where Google has been surveying users regarding the number of ads shown, but now a new ad format is bringing even more.
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Google is rolling out a new update for the Quick Share app on Windows which improves how you can change visibility settings among other changes and fixes.
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While Hyundai and Kia plan to adopt Android Automotive in the near future, the Hyundai Motor Group has just inked a deal to bring Google Maps to its infotainment system ahead of that launch.
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Following the rest of Nothing’s lineup, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is now getting its first taste of Android 15 via a new beta program.
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One of the new changes in One UI 7 is that Samsung has added a watermark to the app drawer, an annoying piece of visual clutter. Apparently, though, this will be removed before the final release.
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After winning its battle with Google, Epic Games has announced a deal with carrier Telefónica which it says will result in the Epic Games Store being pre-loaded on “millions” of Android phones.
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Samsung started selling officially refurbished Galaxy phones several years ago and has kept up the program in the years since. Currently, the company is running a promo where you can get any “Re-Newed” Samsung Galaxy phone with at least $350 in trade-in credit for any smartphone trade-in, making for some compelling offers.
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Google’s latest Pixel update allows you to limit battery charging to 80%, and that seems to come with the side effect of being able to use “bypass” charging. Here’s what that means, and why it could be useful.
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Samsung’s foldable flip phone is reportedly gearing up for a big change, as next year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is reportedly planning to ditch Snapdragon chips for Exynos.
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Google is reportedly gearing up for an earlier Pixel 9a release in 2025 and, ahead of that, a new report reveals more details about the device including an unchanged $499 price and the full specs.
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Ahead of a fully release of Nothing OS 3.0, beta updates have been rolling out for the brand’s Android 15 update, with the latest beta now available for the CMF Phone 1.
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As OxygenOS 15 rolls out more widely, the OnePlus 11 is now starting to get its Android 15 update.
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Google Maps has a lot of data on roads across the globe, and that data comes from a variety of sources. In an effort to improve data in certain areas, Google Maps is now using footage from dash cams installed in vehicles.
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Samsung is rolling out its One UI 6 Watch update to older generations of the Galaxy Watch, with the company’s very first Wear OS smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4, now getting the update in one region.
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According to the latest leaks, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 series won’t be seeing a price hike in Europe, but that may not apply everywhere.
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Samsung is currently running a promo on the Galaxy Tab S10 series where buyers can get a free tablet for kids alongside the larger, flagship tablets.
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After months of waiting, Samsung finally released the first preview of its Android 15 update, One UI 7, last week for the Galaxy S24. A second update to Samsung’s One UI 7 is already on its way, and it may bring along a copy of Google Pixel’s “Audio Eraser” feature along with it.
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The market for Android smartwatches has never been better than it is today so, following some recent launches, let’s take a look at the best smartwatches you can buy to pair with an Android smartphone in 2024.
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The December 2024 Feature Drop for Google Pixel devices was released last week with the QPR1 Android 15 update, but for some users, it’s causing issues with Android Auto.
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After waiting just shy of a decade, Wear OS users can finally get controls for their Ford vehicle on their smartwatch with the launch of a FordPass app on the platform.
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