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
At CES 2024 Google announced that, finally, Fast Pair is coming to Google TV next month, but the company didn’t mention that a new audio switcher is also coming to the platform for swapping between headphones and speakers.
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At CES 2024 Xgimi showed off its new IMAX Enhanced Horizon Max projector, but the one that really caught my eye was the incredibly clever ceiling-mounted “Aladdin.”
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Earlier this week, OpenAI launched the GPT Store for custom experiences built on its platform, and the ChatGPT app on Android has the useful ability to launch these custom GPTs directly from the homescreen.
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As traditional cable TV bleeds subscribers and more and more folks sign up for online streaming options, Fubo TV has announced recently that it will raise its subscription price for all subscribers very soon.
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After launching globally last year and briefly appearing in the US earlier this month, Samsung has officially, but quietly launched the Galaxy Tab A9+ in the US with a starting price of $219.
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One of the biggest selling points of a Pixel device is the (usual) cadence at which Google releases new software updates and, apparently, Tensor-powered Pixels are about to get a rare software update that updates the kernel used behind the scenes.
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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S24 series is set to launch on January 17 and we’ve already seen a lot of what the device will have to offer, including some display upgrades. Among those display tweaks, Samsung is apparently working on faster touch response too.
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Samsung has gotten way better about rolling out major Android updates, but it seems a problem is ongoing with Google Play system updates, as some Galaxy devices haven’t been updated in months.
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At CES 2024, we’ve had a quick chance to get our hands on an early model of AAWireless 2 to see how the wireless Android Auto adapter has changed since the original.
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At CES 2024 Lenovo is showing off a bunch of new hardware, but perhaps the most interesting new idea is a hybrid laptop that runs Windows when used as a laptop, but Android when you take off the display.
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Qi2 is going to bring MagSafe-style accessories to Android phones in the years to come, but we haven’t heard much about what Android phones will be adopting it. The Galaxy S24 series comes out soon, and it seems like it probably won’t have the feature, despite some speculating it will based on a recent Samsung video.
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Samsung is set to announce the Galaxy S24 series at an Unpacked event on January 17, and starting that same day you’ll be able to try the phone and its new AI features in person.
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The Beeper Mini saga resulted in the company’s promise of iMessage for Android ultimately being blocked by Apple, and now the app isn’t available through the Play Store any longer. However, Beeper isn’t done with the app.
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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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