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 makes killer displays for its Galaxy phones, but for a while now they’ve been a bit behind on one lesser-known, but important metric. But, finally, on the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung has boosted the PWM refresh rate of the display.
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Over the past week or two, for some users, the YouTube app on Android has been stuck in a loop of crashing.
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Quite a bit earlier than usual, first looks at the Google Pixel 9 series are revealing the company’s plans for 2024 with a wild new design and, on the smaller phone, the use of three cameras for the first time.
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Over the past couple of years, a patent dispute between Oppo and Nokia has led to smartphones from Oppo and OnePlus leaving Europe. That may soon change, though, as a licensing deal has been reached.
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Asus was briefly rumored to be throwing in the towel on its Android smartphone, but if the company’s rebuttal wasn’t enough, a new Google Play listing has appeared to reveal the first details of the Asus Zenfone 11.
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Google has been teasing a new ‘Minty Fresh’ color lately, and just a day ahead of the formal reveal, an image of the Pixel 8 Pro in this new green shade has finally surfaced.
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As we approach the end of Nest Secure, ADT seems to be slowly ramping up towards a new system in its partnership with Google Nest which has now leaked for a second time.
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OpenAI’s ChatGPT app is adding support for a new Quick Settings shortcut on Android with a useful new UI that can be opened from any app.
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Foldable smartphones are pretty commonplace now, but they’re still very expensive. Case in point is Samsung’s $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold 5, but according to a new report, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will debut alongside a more affordable “entry-level” device.
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OnePlus has long focused on making its phones feel smooth and stay fast, and the OnePlus 12 introduces a new feature that can make any game run at 120fps.
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Satellite connectivity has turned out to be a bit of a tough issue for Android, but now Google is throwing some weight behind the effort with an investment in “AST SpaceMobile.”
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Samsung’s next big update, One UI 6.1, is already confirmed to be coming to some of the company’s newest smartphones, but beyond that, things are mostly a mystery. However, Samsung is now saying that the Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy S21 series are next in line for the update.
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While they’re not as “Pro” as we once thought, the new OnePlus Buds 3 have just been announced as a middle-ground option with some “pro” features, but a price of just $99.
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After launching in China late last year, the OnePlus 12 is now hitting the global scene and launching in the US soon for a slightly higher price than the previous model. Here’s what you should know.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra has a new display and new cover glass too, and one aspect of the new display that didn’t get as much attention as it deserved is that the new display setup is anti-reflective and, in our use so far, it’s been a major step up.
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OSOM, the company that was previously reviving the Essential Phone, has just released an updated version of its neat “Privacy Cable” that should prove a lot more useful as it now connects over USB-A.
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As Google continues to roll out more AI features, Gmail for Android appears to be close to releasing a neat option that uses voice input and AI to help you draft an email.
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Lenovo has big plans for Motorola’s future in the smartphone industry, with its eyes on a spot among Samsung and Apple in the top three, and a big part of that will come down to foldables, like the 2024 Motorola Razr which has leaked.
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Following up on its release for the Pixel 7 series last year, Carved has now released its “Live Edge” cases made from real wood for the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
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Ford is going all-in on Google’s Android Automotive, with the Detroit automaker today unveiling its new “Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience” today which starts rolling out to new vehicles starting this month.
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It’s only been a couple of weeks, but AI is absolutely the big buzzword of 2024, and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series is betting big on the tech. And, somewhat shockingly, the Galaxy AI suite is really quite good, but the problem I’m facing so far is that the Samsung apps they’re tied to are not ones I want to use.
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AI is a powerful tool for good, but it can easily be used for bad, too. As AI duplicates of articles continue to flood Google News, the company has reiterated that it doesn’t care if an article is AI-generated, as long as it still has “quality.”
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ADT is giving away a free Nest Doorbell when you purchase its Google-integrated DIY security system, but only for a limited time.
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After debuting internationally late last year, Samsung has launched the Galaxy A25 and Galaxy A15 in the United States this week starting at $199.
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