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
TCL came to CES 2024 with the reveal of a whole bunch of Android phones, a giant TV, as well as two tablets. The TCL NXTPAPER 14 Pro caught my eye on the show floor, but all I want is a tiny version of it.
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Through an upcoming update to Link to Windows, Samsung Galaxy smartphones will be able to lend their cameras to laptops and desktops in place of a traditional webcam.
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At CES 2024 Amazon is introducing “Matter Casting,” a new standard for casting content from apps on your phone to Amazon Fire TV and Amazon smart displays, similar to Google’s Chromecast and Apple’s AirPlay.
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After debuting the idea of a wireless Android Auto adapter in 2020, AAWireless is teasing its sequel at CES 2024. AAWireless 2 will deliver a new design as well as CarPlay support (in beta) out of the box.
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The Lenovo Tab M11 is coming later this year as an affordable 11-inch Android tablet with a 90Hz display and a not-awful policy for Android updates.
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Laptops and tablets can do a lot of the same things, but ultimately they each have their own strengths. With its new ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, though, Lenovo is putting together the best of both worlds by creating a machine that’s half Windows laptop and half an Android tablet.
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TCL is launching a new lineup of TVs for 2024 at CES, with many powered by Google TV including a wild new 115-inch set.
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TCL just announced a bunch of new Android phones as a part of the TCL 50 series.
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Oppo has just revealed its latest flagship Android phones in the Find X7 series, with the top-tier Find X7 Ultra being the first smartphone with two periscope zoom lenses in its camera system, but that array won’t be sold on the global stage.
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Chromecast functionality is coming to LG smart TVs starting this year, both at home and in hotels and healthcare settings, alongside support for Google Home.
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Nvidia GeForce Now is expanding its cloud gaming offering yet again, this time with new additions including a Day Pass as well as “Cloud G-Sync.”
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At CES 2024 GE Cync is announcing a suite of new Matter products coming this year alongside the new “Reveal” for easy cabinet lighting.
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OnePlus has, for years, largely positioned itself as a more affordable alternative to other flagship smartphones without sacrificing specs. With the upcoming OnePlus 12, the company will apparently see a slight price increase, but with the OnePlus 12R seemingly being a killer value.
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Google’s YouTube TV is the fastest-growing product from the company, and it continues to rack up more and more subscribers. After hitting 6 million subscribers a few months ago, YouTube TV is now estimated to have hit 6.5 million subscribers.
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Acer is rolling out new laptops based on Intel Core Ultra including the Acer Swift X 14, a powerhouse PC with Intel Core Ultra, RTX 4070, a 120Hz OLED display, and more.
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As Android TV fades away, Google TV is taking over on more form factors, including an upcoming “range” of projector products from Xgimi and MediaTek.
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As CES 2024 kicks off this week, we’re reminded of one of last year’s biggest announcements. The new Qi2 standard was announced last January with support for MagSafe as a universal standard, but we haven’t heard much about support for Qi2 in new Android phones. What will be the first one?
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Screen protectors can often be a little clunky or annoying, but they’re still a great way to keep your device safe. Google Pixel phones have had a special mode for a while to boost touch sensitivity while using a screen protector, and on the Pixel 8 series, that setting can actually apply itself automatically.
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Last year Google abruptly announced that it had sold its domain registrar business to Squarespace, and it seems things aren’t exactly going great, as new data from the months following the takeover shows that new registrations are dropping.
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The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to bring upgrades such as a flat display and a whole bunch of AI, but it’s also getting rid of the 10x optical zoom lens. Despite that, though, one reliable leaker claims that zoom photos will be better without it.
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Some YouTube TV customers are being prompted to subscribe to Max when trying to watch recordings from select channels, but it appears to just be an error.
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Samsung announced its new Galaxy Tab A9 series back in October, but it’s never made its way to the US market. It seems that may change soon, though, as a listing for the Tab A9+ briefly surfaced this week.
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Microsoft has revealed that it is about to launch support for Teams, its workplace chat app, on Google’s Android Auto in February 2024.
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Samsung SmartThings is announcing some new tricks to kick off the new year, with integration with Tesla, Hyundai, and Kia coming soon.
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