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
In less than a week, Google will disable Nest Secure for anyone who bought it, regardless of its still working. It’s a needless death, and one that Google needs to learn from.
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Nothing is teasing the launch of its next set of earbuds while two more phones seem to be on the docket as well.
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Our phones have the ability to make a commute or road trip better with free navigation and access to music and more, and systems like Android Auto make all of that safer and less distracting. While Android Auto is convenient in any form, it’s best when wireless. Here’s how to use wireless Android Auto.
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HP is introducing several new 2024 Chromebook models this week, with prices starting at $299.
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WhatsApp experienced a global outage today, preventing users from sending or receiving messages, while other Meta apps such as Facebook Messenger and Instagram are also experiencing issues.
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Samsung’s One UI 6.1 update rolled out quickly, but seems to have come with handful of issues for some devices. Following the One UI 6.1 update, some Galaxy S23 users are reporting issues with fingerprint sensors.
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Nearly a year ago at Google I/O, the new “Find My Device” network for trackers was announced for Android, but then delayed indefinitely for the benefit of iPhone users. Now, finally, the network is starting to roll out – sort of.
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After briefly being dropped down earlier this week, Samsung says that the Galaxy Note 20 series will continue to get monthly security updates after all, at least for now.
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Spotify is apparently set to get a price hike on certain plans, while the company is also looking at introducing new subscription options to allow for more flexibility.
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According to new leaks, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be delivering on two pain points of previous models by drastically cutting the weight and introducing a much wider display.
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Samsung’s three-variant Galaxy Watch 7 series is likely going to bring back 2022’s “Pro” model, with one variant shipping with a battery near-600 mAh battery.
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OnePlus is stepping its toes into the generative AI game, with “AI Eraser” rolling out this month to select OnePlus devices ahead of more features coming this year.
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According to user reports, One UI 6.1 appears to be slowing down the charging rate on some Samsung Galaxy devices, as well as leaving devices running a bit warm.
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Google’s Material You is a few years old at this point, but the company is apparently still working to improve it in upcoming Android releases with a new way of accessing “Color contrast” options.
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Samsung’s big Galaxy AI push this year skipped over its voice assistant, Bixby, but that might not be forever.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series is reportedly sticking with a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chips, similar to the Galaxy S24 series, instead of the expected “unique” chip exclusively for Galaxy devices.
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Google’s YouTube TV has grown massively in subscribers over the past few years and, according to a new report, it may continue to do so until it becomes the most widely used pay TV subscription in the US, even beating out Comcast and Spectrum.
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Google Maps is perhaps one of the most widely used applications on the planet and, as such, even minor changes to its design are super important. But, on Apple’s CarPlay, Google Maps is in need of a massive overhaul, because it’s a bit of a dumpster fire.
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Rumors and reports have made it all but certain that Samsung will launch two models of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 this year, and now a new leak pinpoints the model number of the “Ultra” variant.
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Infinix, a brand under Transsion’s umbrella, is reportedly looking at a US smartphone release in 2024.
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An ongoing lawsuit has questioned Google’s continued collection of browsing data from the Chrome browser’s incognito mode. Now, as part of a settlement for the case, Google has pledged to “destroy” that data.
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Android 15 is still in its early days, but it’s looking like one visual revamp in the update could be a new design for the volume panel.
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Especially in recent years, Google’s efforts in the smart home have received continued criticism, but looking at the current state of the Google Home app and Nest hardware, is that still deserved?
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Samsung is in the midst of rolling out its One UI 6.1 update to select Galaxy devices, and that update also brings back some burn-in protections for OLED displays.
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