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
Samsung has been quietly working behind the scenes on its Android 15 update for Galaxy devices, One UI 7, and it sounds like we might get a first look at the update in the very near future.
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Ahead of its launch in just a few weeks, more Pixel 9 leaks are helping to confirm what Google’s latest flagship series will bring to the table. Now, some new renders of Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are offering a clear look at the two devices, including a pink color that doesn’t seem as vibrant as pictured previously.
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The OnePlus Open (otherwise known as the Oppo Find N3) is easily one of the best foldables on the market today, so we were already pretty excited for it to get a sequel. But, now, that excitement is even bigger as a new rumor hints at a massive battery in the OnePlus Open 2.
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It’s no secret that Google is working on satellite connectivity for Pixel phones, but amid rumors of the upcoming Pixel 9 series, new findings hint that older Pixel phones may also get Satellite SOS and free service for a couple of years.
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Ahead of its launch in less than a month, Google’s Pixel 9 series is being unveiled, and a new hands-on leak shows off the Pixel 9 Pro XL with its new Samsung modem as well as a heaping helping of memory.
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Google is quickly approaching the launch of its new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and continued leaks just cement that this upcoming device looks almost exactly like last year’s OnePlus Open.
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After slowly phasing the app out in some regions, Samsung has announced that it will no longer pre-install Samsung Messages on Galaxy devices in favor of Google Messages.
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AirTag-like trackers for Android have arrived, mostly, but only two brands have started selling hardware. Eufy previously said it would launch trackers for Android’s Find My Device network in June, but has now quietly delayed that to a much more vague timeline.
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I’ve been a customer of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series for a few years now, and there’s a reason I’ve chosen to continue to stick with the series, and that’s the ongoing value of Samsung’s tremendous trade-in values.
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Google’s Gemini has been available on iPhone for months now, but it’s not super easy to access since it’s hidden under a few clicks in the main Google app. Now, though, there’s a super easy way to access Gemini from your iPhone’s homescreen or using the Action Button.
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Samsung was the pioneer in the world of foldables, and the company’s Galaxy Z Fold series has marked the leader in the market ever since. But, after effectively perfecting its take on the form factor last year, Samsung has been forced by the pressure of competition to finally sit down and make some bigger changes. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, even in the broader landscape, meets all of the basic requirements of being a great foldable, but is that still enough?
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Android Auto might have suddenly started to look different in your car recently, with icons that have gone square or some other shape. Here’s why that happened.
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One of Google’s upcoming AI features is “Ask Photos” in the Google Photos app which will allow users to quickly gather information from their photo library using generative AI. The feature hasn’t started rolling out yet, but we’ve got a quick look at how the feature will look within the app.
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Ahead of new features (and hardware), ADT has updated its ADT+ app with better support for Nest camera feeds and some design upgrades.
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According to a reliable source, Samsung is set to use a flagship MediaTek chipset across its range of Galaxy Tab S10 tablets.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 are solid foldables, but when you look at the competition, it quickly becomes clear that Samsung is lagging behind. According to a new report, though, Samsung is pushing for an “extra-slim” foldable that’s just as thin as a regular smartphone.
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After the Nothing Phone (2a) turned out to be a hit, the company is now launching a “Plus” variant later this month.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Ring looks like a pretty compelling health wearable, and it also seems like customers like it. Within a couple of days of its launch, the Galaxy Ring had sold out, but Samsung has just made it available for pre-order yet again.
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Google Maps, like Waze, supports user-based reports of incidents such as crashes, road conditions, and police speed traps, and support for that functionality is finally showing up on CarPlay.
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Eve, formerly a smart home brand almost exclusively focused on HomeKit, is leveraging Matter to launch a new version of its “Smart Weather Station” which will be able to show the current temperature and other data within the Google Home app.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series was once on the bleeding edge of foldable tech, but it’s been far outpaced. As evidence of that, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still using the same battery that’s so old and small that an upcoming foldable flip phone just beat it by a healthy margin.
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One of the key points of appeal for Android Auto and CarPlay is the ability to control media from music and podcast apps, but both platforms currently ignore the car’s built-in radio. Soon, though, that may change.
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Live Activities are a really cool, but underused feature of iOS. Google Maps first announced that the app would support Live Activities back in 2023, but it’s still not arrived. However, after some tests went live earlier this year, we’re seeing more users reporting the feature is live.
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The flip phone foldable has become one of the most popular form factors for the technology, but not every brand offers an option. This week, Xiaomi is preparing to launch its first flip phone, with a teaser for the Mix Flip revealing its stunning design.
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