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 “gaming smartphone” has become a race between a handful of brands, but it’s hard to say anyone really pulls it off better than Asus with its ROG lineup. Today, Asus has unveiled the ROG Phone 6 series, with some big spec upgrades.
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Twitter Blue brings a handful of additional features and perks to users of the social network for a monthly fee, but several of the features took some time to arrive on Android. Now, Twitter Blue is bringing its customizable navigation bar to Android.
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Samsung has been in a bit of a smartphone slump over the past few years, but it seems the company is on track for a big improvement this year. According to a projection, Samsung is on track to hit around 11 million Galaxy S22 Ultra sales this year, making it the most popular Galaxy Note device in at least five years.
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Google Stadia this week offered up a few meaningful signs of life, including an expansion to Mexico, massive increase in the number of free game demos offered on the platform, and July’s strong Pro lineup that ushered in the most new games in a single week we’ve seen so far this year.
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If your Spotify app on Android has been broken and not loading on launch, you might not be alone, as Spotify is looking into the problem.
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Google Translate makes it easier to peruse the web without running into the language barrier, but sometimes the all-or-nothing approach of Google Chrome’s built-in Translate integration can be the wrong way to handle it. Now, Google Chrome is preparing the ability to translate selected text.
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While all attention is currently on Carl Pei’s return to smartphones, it seems there may be another product coming from Nothing. A refreshed version of the Nothing Ear (1) earbuds has been spotted with a new “Stick” case.
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The Fossil Gen 6 has a new “Venture Edition” available for purchase which updates the design and included band on the Wear OS smartwatch.
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YouTube is full of great creators, but some of the most popular names on the platform often see their comments section full of comment spam where accounts are impersonating the creator to scam viewers. Now, YouTube is finally doing something about it.
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Foldable smartphones are now picking up a new split keyboard in Gboard, thanks to the latest updates.
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Chromebooks saw an explosion in 2020 amid the pandemic, but it seems that success is drying up. According to analysts, Chromebook shipments will drop by 30% by the end of 2022.
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Google Stadia is adding a new region for the first time in almost two years, with the service expanding to Mexico this year.
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Nvidia Shield TV owners are in for another update, with the Shield Experience 9.1 upgrade bringing support for an automatic low-latency mode, nighttime audio, and more.
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Earlier this year Samsung announced that it would release a “Gaming Hub” on its Tizen-based smart TVs, and now that feature is coming to life with support for cloud gaming through Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now at launch.
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Samsung’s chip business has just announced a new milestone, with production on 3nm chips starting with a big reduction on power consumption.
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Carl Pei’s Nothing Phone (1) has seen almost all of its secrets revealed in the past few days, and now a retail listing is giving us more information on the price of the upcoming mid-range device.
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Alphabet’s Waymo is about to conduct another new test with its self-driving trucks to deliver home furniture, but the company is also calling on California to end its ban on the vehicles.
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After opening up an easy way for developers to provide free game demos on the platform, Stadia is being flooded with options, with more than a dozen more new trials going live over the past day.
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Android Automotive may only be on a couple of cars on the road today, but the platform is set to be used by some major brands over the next few years. Now, BMW is officially committing to using Android Automotive, but without Google’s help.
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Snapchat has somewhat reinvented itself over the past few years, including a complete reversal on how the app works for Android users. Now, Snapchat is introducing “Snapchat Plus,” a paid subscription service.
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The Pixel lineup has long been full of inconsistent designs and, to a similar extent, inconsistent success with each model. As a result, one big problem that buyers of Google’s phones face is a lack of good accessories. But one case that steps in to fill the gap that many others leave behind is the dbrand Grip, which can outfit the Pixel 6 with the colors of your choice or a genuinely gorgeous leather finish.
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Google’s refreshed and battery-powered Nest Doorbell is getting a new trick for the Fourth of July. For a limited time, it’s getting a few new ringtones to celebrate the holiday.
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Foldable smartphones have come a long way in a very short time, but they still cost a lot. According to a new report, though, Samsung is working to release a foldable for under $800 within the next two years.
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After months of hype, Nothing has confirmed that its first device, the Nothing Phone (1), will be a mid-range device running the Snapdragon 778+, rather than the flagship many expected.
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