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
Nothing makes some of the best earbuds out there, and the company appears to be working to add to its lineup with the “Ear Open” surfacing this week.
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Google appears to be working on a new “Wallpaper & style” page for Pixel phones and tablets which reorganizes existing options for a streamlined UI.
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As Summer break comes to an end for many students across the US, Samsung has announced new discounts available for students as well as improved trade-in offers towards Galaxy Watch.
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Through a new software option on the Pixel 9 series, you might find it easier to use Google’s smartphones while the touchscreen is wet, has a screen protector on, or has other hurdles in place that might impact the functionality.
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If you just purchased a new Pixel 9 Pro XL from Google and have run into strange issues while wireless charging, you’re not alone.
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I’ve still not found myself using generative AI regularly, even as Gemini takes over any and every Google product as of late. With the Pixel 9 series, AI is more important than ever, but I find myself frustrated by the same fundamental flaw in generative AI that even the Pixel 9 can’t escape.
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Google’s Android Auto platform is incredibly useful, but it relies heavily on voice commands to safely assist you on the road, and for the past few weeks, key voice commands for calls and texts have been broken.
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After adding a batch of new channels a couple of months ago, we’ve spotted that Google TV’s lineup of free channels have added a few more options recently.
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Samsung is rolling out its August 2024 update widely to Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Here’s what’s new and what devices have received the update.
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For the past couple of years the Pixel lineup has gotten cases from Carved, a brand producing works of art through phone cases made from real wood. This year, Carved is back for the Pixel 9 series both with its Live Edge cases and, finally, its more affordable standard cases.
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Quickly after its launch, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold went out of stock. That’s since returned, but you’ll be waiting a while if you missed that initial window.
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After being tested for the past few months, Google Keep is now widely rolling out support for a new “Help me create a list” AI feature on Android.
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One of the long-time benefits of Wear OS has been the multitude of hardware options and, in turn, more options available at every price point. But with so many Wear OS options now missing, it’s a little harder to pick the best deal. At $99, though, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 Classic remains the best bang for your buck.
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Samsung’s upcoming “Slim” version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might be arriving sooner than expected, and with a couple of extra upgrades when its release date rolls around.
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After launching on just a handful of devices earlier this year, Google’s Circle to Search is now coming to several more Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets through recent updates.
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Android is making notetaking apps a more central part of the experience, and now Microsoft OneNote is preparing support for the new functionality.
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After initially being put on hold, Microsoft today announced that Recall, an AI feature that takes screenshots of everything you do in Windows, will launch in October.
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Amazon’s Ring today announced its new Battery Doorbell, a $100 option that works without wires and has the same big upgrade Google made in its latest generation.
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The Pixel 9 Pro XL is not Google’s highest-end device, nor its most exciting in the 2024 lineup. But after a week using it, I’m convinced it might be the best Pixel of the Tensor era, and that’s just based on first impressions.
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A neat new trick debuting on the Google Pixel 9 series is the ability to restore data from another Android device after setup has been completed.
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One of the new AI-powered launch features on the Pixel 9 series is Pixel Studio, an app that takes text prompts and turns them into images. It might end up being a fun little tool, but it can also go off the rails pretty easily in our experience.
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New images of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra have leaked, showing off what appears to be the same tablet that we’ve already seen twice before.
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After missing its original planned release date, Samsung is now rumored to launch its One UI 7 beta program with Android 15 in September, but there’s reason to be hesitant.
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In a somewhat unexpected move, Google has stopped selling a lot of color options for the Active Band that’s available for the Pixel Watch series.
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