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
Google’s Pixel phones are, unfortunately, a bit notorious for running on the warm side. As warmer temperatures start to settle in for many, how’s your Pixel holding up in the heat?
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Back in April, it was reported that Samsung was considering switching from Google to Bing as its default search engine on Galaxy phones, but now, that appears to no longer be the case.
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As recycling becomes a bigger and bigger part of our modern world, Acer is trying to incorporate more post-consumer recycled plastics. That’s the point of its Vero line, which includes the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 – a high-end Chromebook wrapped up in recycled plastics.
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The upcoming Motorola Razr foldable is nearing, and more leaks are telling us what to expect, including a sensible rebrand in the US market and support for full apps and a keyboard on the outer display.
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Google’s Android 14 update is, so far, not all that major, but there have been quite a few nice quality-of-life tweaks. One of those is found in drag-and-drop, which in Android 14 will support moving content between apps even if they aren’t open yet.
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Earlier this month Motorola showed off its first proper flagship for the US market in a while in the Motorola Edge+ (2023). Now, that phone is available for purchase and shipping next week.
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If you turned to YouTube TV this week to watch NBA playoff games, you may have noticed some issues with ads “freezing” for an extended period of time. The issue happened twice, but Google has confirmed a fix is coming.
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“Android TV” has essentially two meanings on the market today. There’s the official Android TV OS by Google, which powers TV sets, streaming dongles, and set-top boxes, and then there’s Android, but on a TV. The difference is critical to how your experience will go, and if you care about your security at all, you should avoid the latter at all costs.
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Motorola’s upcoming Razr 40 Ultra looks like a compelling flip phone foldable, and if a new report is to be believed, it’ll also be the cheapest Razr yet at a price of $1,000.
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Ads on YouTube may be annoying at times, but they’re the lifeblood of the world’s largest video platform. But as YouTube plays with longer ads that you can’t skip and blocking users who use an ad blocker, it’s time for a discussion on a cheaper version of YouTube Premium.
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Google’s Android 14 so far seems a bit light on new features, but it seems there are a few tidbits still hiding beneath the surface. That includes a new tweak to “App Pairs,” which in Android 14 will allow you to “save” a set of apps for use later on.
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HTC isn’t a big player in smartphones anymore, but the company this week just announced a new device with the HTC U23 Pro bringing an affordable price and a pretty solid spec sheet.
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After testing a more “premium” device earlier this year, Carl Pei has confirmed that the Nothing Phone (2) will be running on last year’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, as a report details how the company is pulling talent from OnePlus to bolster the launch.
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Last week just brought us the debut of two new Pixels, but unlike the I/O before there was no tease of what’s to come. We’ve already seen Google’s upcoming Pixel 8 Pro through renders, but now the phone has leaked live with what’s claimed to be a temperature sensor built in.
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OnePlus is confirmed to be joining the foldable market later this year, but we so far haven’t heard much about what the device will bring to the table. Now, a fresh leak suggests that the “OnePlus V Fold” will share a lot in common with the upcoming Oppo Find N3, including some core specs.
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Google is offering its new Pixel 7a with a killer deal – a free pair of Pixel Buds A-Series and a free limited edition case. But that deal is set to come to an end, with Pixel 7a orders only eligible for the bonus through this weekend.
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Following its reveal this past January, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook launched in March, but quickly fell out of stock. Now, HP has the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook available, though we’re not sure how long it will be in stock.
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With its last batch of tablets, Samsung offered up a truly huge device in its Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra which offered up a screen over 14 inches in size. Now, we’re getting our first look at its successor, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, in some renders.
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MediaTek has been making a big push to make a splash in the flagship smartphone market, and it seems the next step on that journey is a new GPU from none other than Nvidia.
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The Google Pixel 7a has just been announced, and it brings some significant upgrades to Google’s most affordable smartphone. Here’s where to buy the Pixel 7a and score the best deal.
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Google’s YouTube TV is an excellent product, but for some customers, the monthly cost might be going up.
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Last month Google introduced a huge number of free streaming channels to Google TV, and now that’s coming to Android TV with a new “Live” tab.
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The Razr is coming. After a ton of leaks in recent weeks regarding Motorola’s new “Razr 40” series of foldables, the company has just posted a teaser that hints at two devices and confirms a June 1 launch.
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In a slew of new updates, Microsoft is improving the experience of using its Bing AI on Android and iOS with a new homescreen widget and more.
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