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
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is bringing more apps to the cover display on its Galaxy Z Flip, including Google’s Gmail app.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung has just revealed a new addition to its Galaxy Watch lineup, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra bringing the company’s most advanced wearable to date, and also its most expensive at $649.
Expand Expanding Close
With its new Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung is addressing one of the biggest problems with its foldable flip phone, but in what is otherwise a fairly minor upgrade.
Expand Expanding Close
At an Unpacked event today in Paris, Samsung has officially unveiled its latest book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Here’s what you need to know about the updated device.
Expand Expanding Close
The rumor mill for Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been a pretty confusing one, but it really sounds like tomorrow’s Unpacked event will only be delivering a single Fold 6 device. However, a new report claims that Samsung may still be developing a Galaxy Z Fold 6 “Ultra” after all.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the most popular uses of on-device LLMs so far has been translation, and it’s something that Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite is pretty good at. Soon, Samsung will be expanding Galaxy AI to third-party apps, and that might include WhatsApp and Google Meet.
Expand Expanding Close
The OnePlus Watch 2R is coming alongside other new devices from the brand, but with official teasers rolling and a big leak revealing the full specs, we can’t help but wonder why it exists in the first place.
Expand Expanding Close
Generative AI is everywhere now, and the entertainment industry is slowly embracing it more and more as well. After debuting a film earlier this year made using generative AI, TCL is back with another short film made with AI that’s available on its TVs.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Maps is a widely used tool for getting around, but one user spotted what was thought to be a new ad format where ads pop up during navigation to recommend a “quick detour” – thankfully that’s not the case.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of their upcoming launch, renders of the OnePlus Pad 2 and Watch 2R have hit the web, and they look familiar, just as suspected.
Expand Expanding Close
Microsoft has announced that Amazon Fire TV is getting support for an Xbox Cloud Gaming app in the first expansion in quite some time.
Expand Expanding Close
According to a new report, Samsung’s “Slim” variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will make its debut with the biggest display on one of the company’s foldables to date.
Expand Expanding Close
Honor is preparing to launch its next generation of foldables, and today has unveiled its budget-focused Magic Vs3 while leaks are offering new details on the flagship Magic V3.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is gearing up for the launch of a lot of new products later this week, and the company is today showing off its new BioActive health sensor for the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra which features a potentially useful new function.
Expand Expanding Close
When it launched its “CMF” sub-brand last year, Nothing aimed to deliver products with a sense of fit and finish, but with a focus on fitting a tight budget. I’ve spent a few days with the brand’s new CMF Watch Pro 2, and I’m having trouble finding any of that fit and finish.
Expand Expanding Close
Alongside its $199 CMF Phone 1, Nothing today launched two new wearables – the $69 CMF Watch Pro 2 and the $59 CMF Buds Pro 2.
Expand Expanding Close
Cheap Android phones nowadays are probably better than they’re given credit for, but it also feels like it’s been a while since we had a truly great value on the market. With its new CMF Phone (1), Nothing is putting out a device that’s either the best deal on an Android smartphone today, or too good to be true.
Expand Expanding Close