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
2020’s Galaxy S20 Ultra was a huge leap forward for Samsung’s flagship lineup and while each generation since has improved, Samsung hasn’t changed the battery or charging specs since, and it seems that will be the case yet again on next year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra.
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Samsung’s Android 15 update is just around the corner and, from the looks of it, it’s going to be a big one. According to leaked details, one of the most significant changes Samsung will make with its take on Android 15 is splitting the notifications and quick settings, a change that’s becoming increasing common in Android skins.
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Google has a new set of requirements in place for running Android Auto, with users now required to be using smartphones running Android 9.0 or higher.
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OpenAI has today, as a prototype, launched its long-rumored AI-powered search engine competitor to Google, “SearchGPT.”
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Disney and Warner Bros Discovery have launched a bundle deal that gives users Disney+, Hulu, and Max (still better known as HBO Max) from $16.99/month, a massive discount from the usual rates.
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Reddit can be a valuable source for information from real people, which is why Google is spending millions on a deal with the platform. But, now, Reddit has started to block many of its results from showing in other search engines properly.
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Google has announced a few new features for Maps that are specific to India, including support for incident reports on Android Auto, something we’ve been asking about for years.
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Google Pixel 9 leaks are coming en masse lately, and now we’ve got a good look at the Pixel 9 Pro XL in all four of its color variants.
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The Qi2 standard was announced the better part of two years ago and, until now, we’ve yet to see a single Android phone with the standard. But, now, that’s finally changing.
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One of the most compelling, but criminally underused features Apple has introduced on the iPhone in recent years is the Dynamic Island and its Live Activities and, soon, Samsung is apparently going to introduce its own version of the feature.
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Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 series isn’t expected to be a major leap for the company’s Tensor chipset, but leaked specs have revealed that the whole lineup will include a lot more RAM.
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Ahead of its launch event in a couple of weeks, Google can’t seem to stop Pixel 9 leaks from hitting the web. Today, we’re getting a full collection of marketing materials that detail the Pixel 9 series design, AI features, and more.
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Following a ton of details leaking over the past few days, a reliable source claims that Samsung’s first Android 15 beta will see a release date early next week.
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Following Pixel 9 Pro Fold display specs leaking earlier today, another report is offering what claims to be a detailed overview of displays on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
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The upcoming Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (what we expected to be called the Pixel Fold 2) is a drastically different device from its predecessor, and now we’re getting a closer look at its display specs.
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Google is set to launch the Pixel 9 series on August 13 and, as that date approaches, the leaks keep on coming. Today, we’ve got a new quick look at the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL showing off the displays and the bezels.
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Samsung’s One UI has always been a pretty heavy skin on top of Android, but it sounds like the upcoming One UI 7 update on top of Android 15 will take a lot more… “inspiration” from iOS 18 than from Android itself.
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Like Google Search itself, Circle to Search is getting its first Easter egg in the form of Deadpool and Wolverine.
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Google announced this week that, effective immediately, Google TV will no longer allow users to buy new TV shows through the platform or the app on mobile, instead shifting that over to YouTube going forward. It’s a bizarre move but, in my eyes, Google has always been an awful place to buy TV shows anyway, so it’s probably not the worst idea to do away with it altogether.
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One big appeal of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 is that it supports the same S Pen features the iconic Galaxy Note series, but you do need to buy an S Pen to go with it. Usually, that’s a $100 expense, but Samsung is currently selling the S Pen case for its latest foldable for 50% off.
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Samsung is enforcing a new “Auto Blocker” on new Galaxy smartphones, which, among other protections, blocks users from sideloading Android apps on their device.
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The Google Pixel 9 series is quickly approaching its debut and, as is traditional, the faucet on leaks continues to move from a drip to a steady stream. Today, we’re getting a first look at the Pixel 9 Pro XL alongside the Pixel 8 Pro it will be replacing next month, showcasing the drastic design changes and the size.
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As with everywhere else, AI is taking a big role in the smartphone market. And, apparently, Samsung has plans to make dedicated “AI phones” that are “radically different” from the Galaxy phones we see today.
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ADT is launching a new security system, its second with with Google Nest integration, which revives a couple of Nest Secure hardware features, starts at $269, and sets the stage for some big new features to come.
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