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
After first debuting on Galaxy S24, Samsung has officially confirmed that One UI 6.1 is set to roll out to select Galaxy devices on March 28. Here’s what you should know.
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Android Automotive is set to play a huge role in vehicles and a big part of its appeal is that, generally speaking, apps and the OS as a whole feel and look better than traditional in-car software. Now, “SnappOS” is showing off a take on Android Automotive that’s not only good-looking, but has very slick theming.
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Google has brought Street View on Maps to Kazakhstan in its latest expansion.
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Four years after its initial debut, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is getting a 2024 refresh that’s set to go on sale later this week.
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Wyze, the company best known for selling security cameras at too-good-to-be-true prices is today launching its latest model, the Wyze Cam V4, just two months after a major security error.
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2024 foldable smartphones are starting off with a bang, as the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro not only brings Qualcomm’s latest chipset, but also a massive 5,700 mAh battery.
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After rumors and leaks have been floating around for the past several weeks, Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) in one region.
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The OnePlus Photos app is getting a useful new trick, with support now available to integrate Google Photos with the app for backup and showing your library.
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Android Auto and CarPlay have become invaluable tools in the car, but the features and tools, and how you are able to use them, have changed over time. How are you using Android Auto today?
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Samsung announced its AI-packed software update, One UI 6.1, back in February for older devices such as Galaxy S23. Now, it seems we’re finally approaching the rollout.
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Google first announced its AI-powered makeover for Search, the “Search Generative Experience” (SGE), last year and let users start testing it, but now Google seems to be moving things up as users who didn’t sign up for SGE are being given AI-enhanced results.
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Samsung is reportedly preparing to outfit its Galaxy foldables with titanium, but the Galaxy Z Flip 6 may also be moving to an Exynos chipset in some variants.
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With the upcoming release of Android 15, Google will make it virtually impossible to install some Android apps as a new minimum requirement is coming.
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Following up on the Digital Markets Act, the European Union is launching a “non-compliance investigation” into Alphabet, specifically centered around Google Search and specific rules in the Play Store.
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According to a new report, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 will bring at least one notable upgrade with support for a bunch of additional storage.
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This week the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company has built and maintains an illegal monopoly. Whether or not Apple actually has a monopoly over Android in the smartphone market is up for the courts to decide, but what’s clear is that Apple really wants one.
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The Google Pixel Fold is picking up some new tricks with Android 15, with the second developer preview adding an option to continue running apps on the outer display when the device is closed.
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After the iMessage for Android dream was stomped into the ground, Beeper released a revamped Android app which is available now, and already getting its first update.
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Google has announced that, in a few months, third-party apps and watch faces will be removed from all Fitbit smartwatches used in the European Union.
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The S Pen is one of Samsung’s most iconic smartphone features, but it’s also one that’s change a lot over the years. Nowadays, the legacy of the Galaxy Note’s S Pen lives on through the Galaxy S Ultra series, but the new S Pen’s kinda stink – no, literally.
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Android 15’s second developer preview is here, and while there’s not a ton new, those using their Pixel as a webcam are in for a treat, as the quality has been improved.
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It’s taken way too long, but after the better part of eight years now, Samsung has finally adopted Android’s Seamless Updates on its latest Galaxy devices.
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Another year, another Android version. The second Android 15 Developer Preview is now available for Google Pixel devices. Here’s how to install it, and why you might want to wait a little while.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features are supposed to be coming to 2023 devices as soon as this week, but they also may end up arriving on the Galaxy S22 series as well.
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