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 continues its One UI 9 rollout, bringing Android 17 updates to a flurry of Galaxy devices including some of its most popular mid-rangers and last-gen flagships including Galaxy S23, Galaxy A36, and many more.
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Google is rolling out yet another update to its Nest Hub family but, as per usual, don’t expect much.
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After removing dislike counts years ago, new UI tests at YouTube are making it harder to even using the dislike button at all.
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Samsung is now rolling out its Android 17-based update, One UI 9, to its collection of supported Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Here’s the full list of devices that have been updated so far, and what you should know about the update.
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Mint Mobile has two killer offers going for cell service and/or a Google Pixel 11, both of which can save you hundreds compared to the alternatives.
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Spotify may not be a dedicated podcast platform, but it is launching a big new feature in podcast memberships that let you support your favorite shows in exchange for added perks.
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Ouch. That’s the reaction many will probably have around pricing for the Xiaomi 18 Pro series when it lands globally, with prices starting at €1,449 according to a new leak.
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As the AI industry continues to directly cause a crisis in the availability of RAM, new rumors suggest that the Galaxy S27 could downgrade to 8GB of RAM, while other Android brands could go back to 4GB for some models.
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Wyze is launching a new Solar Cam that has a camera that matches the best Google Nest has to offer, while needing just an hour of sunlight to avoid needing to manually recharge.
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Spotify is rolling out a new method of cracking down on Family plan sharing, with “QR code verification” that’s not particularly hard to work around, but has major consequences if you miss the window.
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While Android 17 is still trickling out to Android phones, Samsung is undoubtedly cooking up its Android 18-based One UI 10 update behind the scenes and, based on some early leaks, it at least sounds like it could be a reasonably big one.
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Google TV is rolling out its latest feature roundup, showcasing new features and additions that have rolled out in recent months.
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The Moto Tag 2 was always supposed to be $30, but a long-running introductory discount left the Find Hub tracker cheaper. Now, that deal has ended.
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Wyze has released a new BodyScan Plus scale that syncs with Google Health and Android Health Connect while fixing a long-running problem with scales – this one actually lets you see the display.
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Google is starting to move its support pages from detailed articles to AI summaries with a chatbot, with an added set of steps to access the full details of the any given page.
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Apple’s iPhone Duo may be thicker and heavier than most Android foldables, but it makes use of that space with a bigger battery compared to its main competitors, with a bigger battery than both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and PIxel 11 Pro Fold.
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You probably shoudn’t buy a Googlebook. That’s less of an opinion about the platform itself, but more about the bad timing that this launch has seen, and protecting your own wallet.
9to5Google Weekender by Ben Schoon is a part of our free newsletter that also includes ‘Inbox,’ a twice-weekly roundup of key stories from around the web by Daniel Bader. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every Sunday along with ‘Inbox’ on Tuesday and Thursday. You can find past issues here.
As prices skyrocket on virtually everything else, Walmart’s $60 Onn 4K Pro streamer with Google TV might be the only good deal left — if you can find it in stock.
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Following a report that Samsung might skip the latest Snapdragon flagship, Qualcomm says that rumors about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 running into overheating issues are “inaccurate.”
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HP’s first crack at a Googlebook laptop is a winner, or at least as much of one as the platform allows. While Googlebook as an operating system leaves a lot to be desired, the HP Googlebook 14 checks every single box for a fantastic laptop.
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OpenAI this week announced deeper integration between ChatGPT and Google Chrome, including the ability to hand control over your tabs to the AI assistant.
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According to a new report, Samsung’s Galaxy S27 series might not use the latest Snapdragon chipset due to overheating problems.
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The iPhone Duo is already delayed for months just hours after pre-orders have opened, leaving those interested in foldables unable to get Apple’s take anytime soon. If you’re seriously interested in a foldable, though, may I interest you in some Android alternatives?
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After weeks of back and forth, Google has officially confirmed a fix is rolling out for Android Auto’s missing signal icon.
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