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
Small Android phones are mostly dead, but Asus is keeping the dream alive with its new Zenfone 9, a reasonably priced, reasonably sized Android smartphone with top-tier specs.
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The Pixel Buds Pro arrive with easily the best hardware package we’ve seen to date on an audio product from Google, but it also makes some changes to software, removing “Adaptive Sound” and “Attention Alerts” in the process. But on the other hand, Google is also working to deliver a full EQ to Pixel Buds Pro later this year.
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Samsung and Qualcomm have just entered a multiyear partnership that will see the Galaxy smartphone maker strengthening its use of Snapdragon processors, backing up a rumor that claims the Galaxy S23 will use Snapdragon chips almost entirely.
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Pixel Buds Pro technically don’t go on sale until tomorrow, but the product is already arriving on doorsteps for some users, and the “Coral” orange color variant is sold out at some retailers, with other colors also starting to struggle.
Update: Post has been updated to reflect launch-day stock. See below.
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Having a security camera in or around your home can be both useful and a source of peace of mind, but there’s always a concern that the footage captured could end up somewhere you don’t intend it to. As it turns out, with Google’s Nest cameras, some emergency situations can result in Google handing recordings to police upon request, even without a warrant.
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Microsoft has done a great job at building out the cloud gaming aspect of Xbox Game Pass, but perhaps its biggest win yet has come from a partnership with Epic Games’ Fortnite, which has already seen over four million players.
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Spotify Car Thing launched to the public just a few months ago in February 2022, but now, it’s effectively dead as Spotify has announced it will end production on the device.
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Samsung has been preparing the next big update for its Galaxy Watch 4 series for over a month now, and the company continues to deliver on new beta updates in the lead-up to the release of One UI 4.5. This week, Samsung has released the fifth beta update for the Galaxy Watch 4.
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Pixel Buds Pro went up for pre-order on July 21, and are set to see its formal release in just a couple of days. Now, Google appears to have started shipping some of the first Pixel Buds Pro orders.
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Passwords are a necessary evil — for now – but Google Chrome looks to be making a move to help push for stronger passwords with a new indicator that shows how strong your password is.
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Samsung is merely two weeks away from the debut of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, but it sounds like the foldables might demand a slightly higher price tag according to the latest developments.
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The OnePlus 10T is right around the corner, but it seems the phone will be quite a shift for the company. This weekend, OnePlus has confirmed that after almost a decade, the OnePlus 10T will be the brand’s first flagship phone without the Alert Slider.
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Samsung generally has generous trade-in credits available with a new smartphone, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra was no exception to that rule. However, one user who took full advantage of that credit with over 100 smartphones is still owed tens of thousands of dollars, and Samsung isn’t paying out entirely.
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Magic Eraser was one of the cool new tricks that came with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but it picked up a new trick alongside the Pixel 6a in “camouflage.” Now, it’s been confirmed that Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will add the new feature in just a few days.
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Google’s Pixel Buds Pro are now available for pre-order ahead of their release on July 28, but one user has already gotten their hands on the earbuds, giving us a preview of what to expect, and showing how they compare to the A-Series.
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Google first took a chance on the mid-range smartphone market with 2019’s Google Pixel 3a, and it was a device that hit all of the right notes. But now, the Pixel 3a has reached the end of its lifespan, and that’s just in time for the Google Pixel 6a, which is a value-packed replacement with the power of a flagship.
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Big games have been what’s missing from Google Stadia so far this year, but the platform has been officially confirmed for a big one. FIFA 23 is coming to Stadia.
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Truly wireless earbuds are a great way to bring music, podcasts, and more along with you, but it can be difficult to choose which is the right one for you. In this guide, we’ll answer some of the biggest questions around Google Pixel Buds, including which model might be right for you.
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One of our favorite cases for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro so far has been Peak Design’s excellent Everyday case with its MagSafe support and stellar accessories. The case has been pretty tough to obtain ever since it debuted, but now, Peak is offering some insight as to what’s been going on.
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Google’s Pixel 6a is now less a week away from heading to customers, with pre-orders now open for both the new mid-range phone as well as the Pixel Buds Pro – did you order, and, if so, what color did you get?
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This week Google Wallet officially rolled out to Android users just a couple of months after it was announced at I/O 2022. It represents a new focus for mobile payments on Android, and it’s great, if only because it’s exactly the opposite of the “GPay” disaster that preceded it.
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One of the biggest problems with Wear OS smartwatches has always been battery life, but it seems the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is going to make a big effort to avoid that problem, with claims of three-day endurance being thrown around.
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Disney+ has quickly become a staple for many with compelling original content and a huge back catalog of Marvel, Star Wars, and of course, Disney content. With the latest updates to Disney+ on Android TV, though, the app has apparently broken Dolby Atmos support.
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After a two-year break, Google has returned its Pixel phones to India, with the Pixel 6a debuting in the country on the same date as every other region. However, Google may have ruined its own launch, with a price that’s widely considered to be far too high.
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