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
The Pixel Watch is finally coming, and it’s going to have a price tag of $349 to start in the US. With that price, Google has a high bar to clear to keep its first smartwatch competitive, but will it nail the fundamentals?
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As a formal release seems to be due in the not-too-distant future, Samsung has released a third beta of Android 13 which improves animations, adds support for themed icons, and more.
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Google hasn’t been shy showing off its new Pixel 7 smartphones, but to date, the company hasn’t officially shown off the front of the Pixel 7 Pro. Finally, an official image of the front of the device has made its way online, and it seems to confirm something from previous leaks.
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Before Android TV and Google TV were the company’s main focus, the Chromecast debuted as a super-affordable, smartphone-powered streamer for your TV that didn’t need a remote or built-in apps. Now, the Chromecast has seen its end, and the third-generation model is being discontinued.
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It’s actually happening. After nearly two years and very few updates during its lifespan, the Chromecast with Google TV is getting updated to Android 12.
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Two years after the original, the Chromecast with Google TV is getting a sequel. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) costs just $29.99, here’s what it brings to the table.
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While Samsung’s foldables have been growing in popularity, Microsoft has also been working on its dual-screen Surface Duo series. But in recent weeks, the Surface Duo 2 has been unavailable for purchase, signaling to some that Microsoft may have discontinued the product. However, that’s not the case.
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Seamless updates have been around for several years in Android, allowing smartphones and tablets to install new updates in the background and apply them on a reboot. While the update method has advantages for safety and convenience, some Android makers have refused to adopt it. With Android 13, though, Seamless Updates might finally become mandatory.
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Before LG shuttered its mobile division in 2021, the company was teasing the arrival of what would have been the first rollable smartphone to launch on the market. Alas, the “LG Rollable” never saw a formal debut, but in a new hands-on video, we get a detailed look at the device that could have been.
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Having trouble accessing Google.com this morning? Google isn’t down, but it might have to do with Malwarebytes being used on your device.
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Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro brings with it a clever new way to not only disguise the selfie camera and facial recognition cutouts, but actually make that space useful to the UI. “Dynamic Island” certainly has the attention of many, and it seems some Android manufacturers have plans to make their own version of the feature.
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For years Google was absent from the smartphone market in India, as multiple Pixel generations skipped the region entirely. That changed with the Pixel 6a earlier this year, though, and now it appears the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will also be available in India.
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Android 13 is likely a few months away from its full launch on Samsung devices, but things are chugging along. This week, the Galaxy S21 series is getting its Android 13 beta in the United States after the beta debuted in other regions recently.
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Google Stadia is picking up a new feature for its “Explore” social feed, as posts will now allow for emoji reactions.
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Android 13 is the latest version of the world’s most popular smartphone operating system, and as is the case with most new software versions, there’s always a few random scams being passed around. Over the past couple of months, “Adrod 13,” pitched as an Android 13 installer, has been making the rounds on TikTok.
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YouTube is full of millions of hours of content, and the platform’s recommendations system helps to push content you might be interested in to the home page and various recommended content areas. But according to a new study, the methods of controlling YouTube recommendations don’t really do much to influence what shows up.
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Wireless Android Auto was once a feature that required buying a high-end car or aftermarket head unit, but it’s become far more accessible over the past couple of years, thanks to adapters. AAWireless started the ball rolling, and the Motorola MA1 further pushed the idea to the mainstream. Carsifi, too, has been available for some time and shares a lot in common with those other Android Auto adapters but with one neat trick alongside it.
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Tile has made it easy to find lost items for years with its tracker tags, but the company is now revealing a new option. Tile’s “Lost and Found” labels use a simple QR code to help you track a lost item, and it requires no batteries and limits worries over privacy.
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Logitech appears to have set its sights on the mobile gaming market, with a new cloud gaming handheld on the way, and now, “G FITS,” a pair of truly wireless earbuds that pack RGB right in the eartips.
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The Nothing Phone is getting another update, with version 1.1.4 still based on Android 12, but bringing better integration with the brand’s Ear (1) earbuds, as well as more camera and software improvements.
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Google Stadia’s future has a lot of unknowns, but there were several developments around the service this week. From Space, a game that was first in testing on Stadia, has been delayed, while bug fixes and expansions missing from Stadia are starting to show up for some titles.
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If you rely on Discord for messaging, the experience is about to get a whole lot better on Android Auto.
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The experience of watching YouTube has been infiltrated by ads over the years as a means of maintaining the platform and supporting creators financially. Now, though, it really seems YouTube is pushing the boundaries with ads, showing as many as 10 unskippable ads during a single break.
Update: In a statement to 9to5Google, YouTube has provided more context around this increase in ads. See below for more.
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Windows 11 brings support for Android apps to be natively installed on PCs, and with a new update, that feature is picking up some performance improvements and more.
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