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.
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
While it’s heavily delayed, Samsung is working on its first beta release for One UI 7, its Android 15 update, but the word on the street is that the first release could be quite buggy.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is running a “small” test in portions of Europe which will see content from EU-based news publishers being removed from Google products including Search and News for a period of time.
Expand Expanding Close
The Google TV Streamer is getting its first update, and one of the new features allows users to manually pick audio output formats such as Dolby formats.
Expand Expanding Close
Google has started rolling out the first update to the Google TV Streamer well over a month after the device hit the market.
Expand Expanding Close
Google has made a change to its Partner Sharing feature in Google Photos, with the app no longer sharing images that originate from “other apps.”
Expand Expanding Close
According to new reports, Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S25 series on January 22, a bit later than the Galaxy S24’s launch date.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is rolling out another new Android Auto update and this one further prepares for a new form of media control, including a bunch of different radio stations.
Expand Expanding Close
Over the past few weeks, a handful of reports have surfaced regarding ads being shown for YouTube Premium subscribers, with one users sharing a support email that supposedly confirmed it was on purpose. YouTube, though, says Premium subscribers shouldn’t be seeing ads.
Expand Expanding Close
Amazon has confirmed it will shut down its ad-supported streaming service, Freevee, and fold the content into Prime Video.
Expand Expanding Close
Following its launch in early 2023, Google TV has rapidly been expanding its catalog of free channels available through the homescreen, and it now offers over 1,100.
Expand Expanding Close
Android 15 is here, but beta releases are still ongoing with the Android 15 QPR2 beta now available for Pixel – here’s how to install it.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of a bigger Black Friday sale, OnePlus has several discounts already available including a killer deal on the OnePlus Open which brings the foldable down to just $1,199.
Expand Expanding Close
After successfully launching the idea of a wireless Android Auto adapter, the original AAWireless seems to be going away as its sequel becomes more broadly available.
Expand Expanding Close
Microsoft has been… let’s say “aggressive” when it comes to trying to get Chrome users to give Microsoft Edge a shot, and its latest effort is a huge new pop-up that tries to get users to let Edge copy data, such as open tabs, from Google Chrome.
Expand Expanding Close
The Nothing Phone (2a) is getting a new Android 15 beta update that, among various fixes and improvements, also brings the launch of Nothing OS 3.0’s new “Shared Widgets.”
Expand Expanding Close
Amid Google’s ongoing pre-Black Friday deals, Best Buy has an exceptional discount on the Pixel 9, offering up to $350 off the 256GB model.
Expand Expanding Close
Google TV has always been a destination for finding content, and now there’s a ton more with the addition of free channels available directly on the homescreen. Here’s everything that’s available.
Expand Expanding Close
“Swipe up” is the new habit for users following the smash hit that has been TikTok and its clones in YouTube and Instagram. Now, the YouTube app appears to be testing a new swipe-up gesture in the standard video player that moves to a new video.
Expand Expanding Close
Following its launch, the new Google TV Streamer has lacked a key app in the UK, BBC iPlayer. But, finally, it seems that’s about to change.
Expand Expanding Close
Google has quietly launched its handy Quick Share app for Windows for ARM-powered devices such as Snapdragon X Elite laptops.
Expand Expanding Close
Following its recent launch in China, Oppo has confirmed the release date of the Oppo Find X8 series through the rest of the globe, and it’s soon.
Expand Expanding Close
Strange behavior in Android 15 leaves Material You theming color palettes being duplicated, leading to fewer options, but Google says everything is “working as intended” – then changed its mind.
Expand Expanding Close
The Pixel 9 series seems to be a massive hit for Google, and it comes at least in part from Google fixing the biggest problems with from its past smartphones.
Expand Expanding Close
The Google TV Streamer ditches the ability to sit behind your TV like the Chromecast did, but a clever case lets you change that.
Expand Expanding Close