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
Following the changes Google has made in Android 17, Samsung’s next major One UI update also implements much stricter lockdown restrictions, including permanently locking a Galaxy device after 13 failed unlock attempts.
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The best version of Samsung’s adorable new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the green “Pistachio” one and, fittingly, that’s the one that already appears to be selling out.
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If you had to pick one spec on Samsung’s top-end flagship that doesn’t feel all that “Ultra,” it’d probably be the 5,000 mAh battery that hasn’t changed in half a decade. Finally, though, it sounds like the Galaxy S27 Ultra will bring a battery upgrade, and a big one too.
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Following a partial unveiling at its Unpacked event last week, Samsung is teasing some further details of its upcoming Android XR glasses, including their “reasonable” price point.
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A new leak paints a picture of the OnePlus 16, which will be tantalizingly out of reach for the brand’s loyal customers from around the globe.
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One of the big updates in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is the debut of silicon-carbon batteries and, in an interview, Samsung has hinted at what might be next for the updated battery tech.
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A reliable source has just detailed Samsung’s entire 2027 lineup of flagship Galaxy phones, which includes the return of a TriFold.
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There was a bit of an undertone present in Samsung’s latest Unpacked keynote. Not one of progress or triumph, but what felt a bit like fear. After seven years, the foldable market is about to enter uncharted territory and, frankly, I’m not sure Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 series will be able to hold its ground.
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.
Google Maps appears to be opening the floodgates on the rollout of Immersive Navigation and support for a speedometer in Android Auto right now, as both features are showing up more broadly.
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Pebblebee, known for its Android Find Hub / Apple Find My trackers, has just launched some new battery-free ID tags that help you recover lost bags, as well as give your pets a means of identification.
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RAMageddon spares no one, as the best wireless Android Auto adapter, AAWireless, has been hit with a price hike in recent days.
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As with everything else, Roku is now raising prices on its streaming devices by up to $50 per device, a major increase.
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Following a report earlier today, Nothing says that it is not exiting markets, but it is making some key changes behind the scenes.
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While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series has just debuted, there are some rumblings of Samsung’s next non-folding flagships, with the Galaxy S27 series reportedly changing up the lineup and bringing camera upgrades too.
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Nothing is apparently set to stop selling phones in a swath of global markets due to declining sales, while its new Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4b) releases are struggling to find success.
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Samsung is finally switching over to silicon-carbon batteries in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series but, apparently, their lifespan is reduced by quite a bit.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is here and, obviously, the company wants you to switch to its new foldable. And yet, Samsung is putting money in all the wrong places to accomplish that goal.
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The “Google Pixel Flip” isn’t happening. That much is clear, but Samsung’s new changes to the Galaxy Z Flip 8 more or less feel like what Google would have done.
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Android is a platform of variety, and that’s even more true now with the launch of Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, which includes what Google refers to as an “ultra-wide foldable.”
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Samsung is expanding the support timeline for its latest Galaxy Watch models, with Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 getting 5 years of Wear OS updates.
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Meta has confirmed a revamped experience for WhatsApp on Android Auto and CarPlay, delivering better support for drivers behind the wheel.
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While new foldables were the focus of Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked, this week’s event also served as a soft launch for its new smart glasses being launched with the help of Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster. This includes some details on core features, as well as the camera privacy light.
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I’m on my way home from Samsung’s big Galaxy Unpacked event and I’ve moved into the new Galaxy Z Fold 8. So, ask me anything!
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If there’s one thing that annoys me about the Galaxy Z Flip series, it’s that the cover screen has been left just a notch or two above useless for years now, and for no good reason. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is finally embracing apps on the cover screen, but still not to the degree that it should.
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