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
Earbuds have become a dime a dozen in today’s market, and there are some really good options for not much money. So why should anyone even consider spending $230 on Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro? Let’s take a look.
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Google Stadia just released its Pro lineup for September 2022, bringing one more new title to the platform. But the bigger news was around Ubisoft, which confirmed that “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” is the next installment of the franchise.
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Samsung has been testing out a new version of Wear OS and its One UI Watch skin for the Galaxy Watch 4 over the past few months, but as of this week, the beta is over and the stable update is right around the corner.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 have been for sale for about a week, and they already seem to be a hit, with Samsung claiming sales have doubled in Europe. Plus, Samsung has good news for Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 owners…
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Apple is set to announce the iPhone 14 lineup next week, and Samsung is already taking shots at the device with a new ad that touts the innovation on Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy S22 Ultra “isn’t coming soon to an iPhone near you.”
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Samsung’s flagship-level Android phones have the best support in the business, but mid-range and budget-conscious phones often get the short end of the stick. Yesterday, Samsung announced the Galaxy A23 for the US, and we’ve been able to confirm what kind of update support Samsung will offer for the device.
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The OnePlus 10T was first announced in early August with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and some killer charging speeds, but it won’t be on sale until the end of September. Today, though, pre-orders for the OnePlus 10T are open.
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YouTube’s app for Google TV, Android TV, and other smart TV platforms is picking up a small tweak to clean up its sidebar with a “More” section.
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It’s been a trend for the past couple of years for smartphones to ship without a charging brick, only a cable. But Oppo stood opposed to that move, instead still including a charging brick – and a super-fast one at that – with its phones. But it seems that’s soon to change…
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TiVo is a name best known for its DVR back in the early 2000s, but in recent years, the company has moved on to streaming with the TiVo Stream 4K based on Google’s Android TV platform, which hit the market in 2020. Now, though, TiVo has revealed plans to move into proper smart TVs, competing with Google’s Android TV.
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It’s finally happening. After years of waiting and countless typos, Twitter is finally bringing an edit button to users starting later this month.
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After hitting other regions earlier this week, Samsung has officially announced that Android 12L is now rolling out to the Galaxy Tab S8 series in the United States. Here’s a quick look.
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Budget phones have come a long way over the years, and Samsung’s new Galaxy A23 proves that with support for a 120Hz display and more for under $300.
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Google’s Nest Doorbell is a solid option for adding a camera and smart alerts throughout your home, even if home is an apartment. Now, Google has confirmed this year’s holiday schedule for seasonal Nest Doorbell ringtones.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is one step closer to perfecting the foldable formula, and it’s a device I enjoyed enough to make it my personal smartphone. But every year, I end up switching to a Samsung phone and missing elements from my usual Google Pixel.
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Cloud gaming seems to have a dedicated handheld on the way from Logitech and Tencent, with a leak just yesterday offering a first look at the device. Now, we’re getting a bit more context around what Logitech’s cloud gaming handheld might bring to the table.
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Twitter Circles were first announced earlier this year, bringing back the name and general idea of Google+’s Circles. Now, Circles are rolling out widely to everyone.
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Foldable smartphones have come a long way since launch, but even Samsung’s latest and greatest ship with a huge list of warnings for how you should treat the device. In a torture test putting the Galaxy Z Fold 4 through the worst of the worst, it holds up well to dust and dirt, but that’s not really a surprise.
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Samsung is deep into development on Android 13, and now a second device is eligible to test out the beta software. Starting today, Samsung has launched the One UI 5.0 beta for the Galaxy S21 series, giving the 2021 release an early preview of Android 13.
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Foldables never really went “mainstream” until Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Fold 3, the devices that finally boosted sales to show there’s real interest in these devices. But a year later, how did the Galaxy Z Fold 3 hold up, and what does that tell us about what’s next?
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Google Search is testing out a new label for articles that take under five minutes to read, with “Quick Read.”
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A growing number of Android Auto users around the world are reporting that their connection has broken, leaving a “phone not compatible” error following the latest update.
Update: Google says that a fix is rolling out now.
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With its new foldables out on the market, Samsung’s schedule now has the Galaxy S23 series as its next major release. According to one source, the Galaxy S23 won’t see much of a change in design compared to the year prior, but the Ultra might see a meaningful improvement.
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Qualcomm revamped its naming scheme with this year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and slowly that new branding is expanding to other chips. Now, we’re getting a new look at Qualcomm’s next mid-range chip, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1.
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