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 has launched “Project Tailwind,” a new AI-first tool that is effectively a notebook of the future to help you research information as you write about it.
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During Google I/O 2023, we’re finally getting our first look at how the tech giant plans to bring AI to Google Search.
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Immersive View is a feature that allows Google Maps to give you an in-depth preview of a location you may be visiting, and now, Google is bringing Immersive View to your navigation routes.
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Ads make huge portions of the internet free to use while still letting creators be supported by those ads. However, there are ad blockers out there, and YouTube is now testing blocking users who have an ad blocker enabled.
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As Google abandons its in-house security system, more options are hitting the market. Roku today announced its $99 “Home Monitoring SE” product, which is built in collaboration with Wyze.
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We’ve known about the Pixel Tablet for almost a year, and today Google is showing off the device in full alongside its new Pixel smartphones. At the last minute, a new leaked Pixel Tablet promo video is showing off some of the features Google has in store.
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MediaTek’s Dimensity series of smartphone chips has delivered on some killer performance over the past few years, and now the company is launching the Dimensity 9200+, a faster version of its flagship chipset.
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We’re just a few hours out from the debut of Google’s new Pixel devices during I/O 2023, and in the home stretch we’re getting one more notable Pixel Fold leak with a promo that teases the phone’s hardware, and a delayed feature too.
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Motorola is preparing to launch its new Razr foldable, this time with two options to pick from. This week, the “Razr 40,” the more affordable device, has leaked showing off Motorola’s neat leather design and the smaller outer display.
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The Pixel 7a has pretty much leaked to death at this point, and we know everything there is to know about it. Now, less than a day before Google is poised to publicly announce the device, yet another Pixel 7a leak gives us one last unofficial look at the device.
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Some WhatsApp users on Android have noticed recently that the microphone seems to be in use more than it’s supposed to be, but WhatsApp claims this is a problem on Google’s end rather than its own.
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Huawei has just launched its latest flagship devices, with the Huawei P60 Pro and the foldable Mate X3 are now available in Europe.
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The Poco F5 series has been announced, with two phones packing Snapdragon chipsets and speedy charging, all with the promise of Poco’s typical affordable pricing.
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The boost of ChatGPT and other generative AI products has catapulted the technology into places that no one would have expected, and that now includes the Wendy’s drive-through, which is getting an AI makeover with the help of Google.
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Samsung has been speeding up the cadence of its Android version updates, and this week the first firm evidence of the company’s Android 14 update showed up, quite a bit ahead of schedule.
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The release of Wear OS 3 has been a bit of a confusing ride, as Google launched the platform exclusively with Samsung smartwatches first, with the vague promise of other wearables being updated in time. Now, Mobvoi is explaining why its compatible TicWatch models still haven’t been updated, while also providing an update on its progress.
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Last year Walmart shocked many with the launch of its super-affordable Onn-branded Android TV streaming devices, and now the retailer is back with a new generation. The new Walmart Onn Google TV box is insanely affordable and, like its predecessor, shockingly fantastic for its under-$20 price point.
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Following pre-orders, the OnePlus Pad is now shipping to customers, as the brand also confirms freebies with your order.
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Following the abrupt shutdown of Google Stadia, there have been a whole lot of questions and not quite enough answers regarding the future of the platform’s few exclusive games. Today, we’re getting confirmation that Google Stadia’s very first exclusive, Gylt, will be ported to other platforms next year.
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After introducing its first smartwatch last year, Google is now preparing a “Pixel Watch 2” to be unveiled later this year as we exclusively reported on Friday. What do you want to see changed?
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Following restrictions in Germany, Oppo and OnePlus have been rumored to be departing the European market, but both brands have denied as such. Now, a new report cites evidence that Oppo is at least moving toward leaving France.
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It’s been almost a month since Walmart’s new Google TV box first showed up on the web, and the time since has been a roller coaster of questions regarding the official launch. Now, Walmart’s Google TV box is officially available for purchase.
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Google Tasks is a useful way to keep track of your to-do list, and soon it might be even easier to access on Chromebooks.
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HTC is teasing a new smartphone, which feels a bit weird to say in the year 2023. Now, the company’s upcoming release has leaked, with the “HTC U23 Pro 5G” looking more like a mid-ranger than its name implies.
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