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
Nothing is set to launch its new Ear and Ear (a) later this week and, ahead of that, a sound analysis of the new earbuds is revealing that, yes, the audio quality is getting better.
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Google Wallet is apparently set to expand to India, with an early Play Store listing revealing local integrations and more.
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The keyboard is integral to how you use a smartphone, so when it’s not good, you notice it. Over the past few months, I’ve really been noticing just how much better the keyboard experience on Google Pixel is compared to everywhere else, and it’s a little crazy that no one else seems to measure up.
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Launching today, the new Moto Buds+ deliver Bose audio and some good battery life for $129.
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Motorola is today officially launching its Edge 50 series of flagship-tier Android phones in global markets, and also confirming that new flagships will also be coming to the US later this year.
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As the smartphone market changes, Android is reportedly set to grow significantly in 2024, at “twice the pace” of Apple’s iOS, apparently.
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Alongside removing its VPN, Google One is also removing a perk that offered free shipping for prints from Google Photos.
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Wireless charging is typically handled by the Qi standard, but it seems Android is adding overdue support for charging via NFC, but it’s unclear what it may be used for.
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In the months to come, Google will be shutting down the VPN that was available as a part of Google One. There’s been plenty of outcry surrounding the shutdown, but did you even use it?
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Meta’s Threads has proven itself to be a worthy competitor to Twitter, but the platform has long been missing support for private messages. Now, though, Threads is testing a “Message” button that appears on user profiles.
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Samsung has been the top player in the global smartphone market for a while but, recently, the company briefly lost its crown to Apple. Now, though, it seems like things are back in Samsung’s favor.
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After launching first on the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year, Samsung’s Galaxy AI features are officially expanding to older Galaxy devices including Galaxy S22, Fold 4, Flip 4, and Tab S8.
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According to a new report, Google’s upcoming Pixel hardware including the Pixel 9 series, Pixel Fold 2, and a 5G-connected Pixel Tablet will be getting a new cellular modem, an overdue upgrade.
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This week, after a massive delay, Google finally started the rollout of Android’s Find My Device network. It’s existing, but it also highlights the fact that Google, and Android as a whole, have severely neglected UWB tech.
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Location sharing can be a useful tool, but if you lose track of what you’re sharing, it can be a headache to find it all. On Android, Google is now prepping a dedicated page that will host all of your location-sharing services in one spot.
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Google this week launched the Find My Device network and, soon, that will support tracker devices. As a result, Pebblebee says it has seen its highest sales since the company’s start on the back of Find My Device.
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Ads in Windows are nothing really new, but Microsoft is now starting to push ads in the Start menu of Windows 11.
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After three years in closed testing, Beeper is now available to everyone and, with it, the company is also confirming plans to bring its big Android redesign to its desktop and iOS apps next.
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“The best phone.” It’s a tough crown to achieve, because there’s a lot to balance in terms of hardware, software, and the overall experience. Despite a hefty Android skin, though, I think the Honor Magic 6 Pro gets really close to this title, or at least it would, if its best features remembered how Android actually works.
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TCL has seen quite a bit of success from its “TCLtv+” app for Google TV, and the company is now stepping into “original” content in the most 2024 way possible with laughably bad AI in “Next Stop Paris.”
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Motorola is gearing up for a new launch this month, and the company will be equipping its next flagship with speedy 125W fast charging again.
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Nothing has announced an April 18 event to unveil Ear and Ear (a), but leaks are spoiling the surprise a bit, as new renders show off the new earbuds in more color variants.
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The battle against the email inbox is one that we all face, and subscriptions are among the most annoying things that get in the way of the infamous “inbox zero.” Now, Gmail appears to be preparing a new “Subscriptions” filter that can put those emails in one place, and also show the biggest culprits.
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Samsung’s new AI features are useful, but they’re only available to select devices. Now, though, Samsung has said that the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21, among other devices, will be getting AI features as soon as next month.
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