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 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.
Pixel Buds are some of the best earbuds you can buy for an Android phone. The Pixel Buds Pro offer a premium, ANC-equipped experience with useful features while the Pixel Buds A-Series have excellent sound and even better value, but all models ship with the same white case. Nomad offers up leather cases for Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Buds A-Series and they just get better with time, as I’ve found over the past several months of use.
Wear OS has a lackluster past, but things are finally starting to look up with Wear OS 3. Fossil’s first smartwatch running that platform out of the box is the Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition, a $300 Wear OS 3 smartwatch that’s, well, disappointing.
Google’s Project Zero this week highlighted the “gap” in getting security patches out the door and to affected users, and in doing so also revealed that millions of Android phones are at risk of an active security vulnerability.
Zoom for Chromebooks started off without many of the features as the same experience on Windows and other platforms but finally caught up thanks to the debut of its Progressive Web App (PWA) last year. Now, Zoom finally defaults to the PWA on Chromebooks.
Managing timers on Nest Hub and other Google Assistant speakers has always been a bit inflexible, but there’s a new feature coming. For some, the At a Glance widget on Pixel phones is now rolling out the ability to control timers from Nest Hub and other Google Assistant speakers.
Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are already some of the best values in a flagship smartphone today, but their Black Friday prices just make that even better. Plus, thanks to a trade-in deal, you can upgrade from a Pixel 6 to a Pixel 7 for just $20, or even less.
Rumors and reports have given us a decent idea of what to expect with the OnePlus 11 ahead of its debut, and now a reliable tipster claims that the device will keep the same colors as the OnePlus 10 series.
The Google Home app is moving towards a brighter future, and on that path the app is now rolling out far better support for sensors and sending out more invites to the Public Preview redesign.
Android Auto just released its long-awaited redesign to beta testers, but the in-car UI isn’t the only thing getting a revamp. Hiding behind the scenes of the latest Android Auto updates is a redesigned settings menu full of Material You.
Samsung is just a few months out from debuting the Galaxy S23 series, and rumor has it the company’s next-gen flagship will take a note from the iPhone 14’s satellite connectivity, as well as upgrading its fingerprint sensor.
Android 13 is hitting a few of Samsung’s smartphones from 2020 as the rollout continues. Today, Android 13 is starting to hit the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and the Galaxy A72.
The adapter that started it all is now two years old. AAWireless is this week celebrating the two-year anniversary of its wireless Android Auto adapter with a discount and a look back at how things have changed.
Android tablets are going through a renaissance of sorts, with renewed interest on a software level and from hardware makers. If you’re looking to pick up a tablet this holiday season, these are the best Android tablets to choose from.
Netflix has been building up its gaming efforts over the past several months with a growing library of mobile games on Android, but it seems that’s about to expand. Apparently, Netflix is working its way up to building a “AAA PC game.”
The rollout of Android 13 has been pretty quick on Samsung’s part, and it’s now hitting even more devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 are now getting Android 13 while the Fold 4 and Flip 4 see wider availability.
As Google Stadia refunds continue to roll out, some players are seeing refunds for their Stadia Pro subscription. While that’s great for them, it is actually just an error.
The Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 are the first smartwatches released since Google took over, and while there’s still a lot to love, these smartwatches are major downgrades from their predecessors that are hindered by a focus on the Pixel Watch.
As Black Friday deals rain down this week, Samsung has its fair share of offers. But an offer you can stack on top of the already solid Black Friday discounts can be found in boosted trade-in credits for Samsung Galaxy devices and iPhones towards the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Flip 4, regardless of condition or when it was released.
The Google Pixel Watch has its fair share of flaws, but it’s quickly become a favorite in the market for the best Android smartwatches. If you’re using an eSIM, there’s also a neat trick in the Pixel Watch app to store multiple cellular options even though there’s no Dual SIM support.
Google Stadia will shut down fully in January, but refunds for games are rolling out to many. Have you had your Stadia refund arrive yet? How much was it?
As Samsung continues to speed through its Android 13 rollout, the brand is now bringing the latest software to the Galaxy Tab S7 series and the Galaxy A71, along with other devices.
