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
While Google’s Stadia project is becoming a distant memory, cloud gaming lives on, and Sony is now embracing it further with its PlayStation Portal handheld finally adding cloud gaming for everyone.
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Fairphone has been building ultra-repairable Android smartphones for the past few years, but has yet to sell anything in the US market. That’s officially changing now, but it’s starting off with headphones instead.
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Google has released a handful of new merch ahead of the holiday season, with the latest batch including a familiar Android plushie and more.
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Samsung has reportedly been on the fence regarding the future of its super-slim smartphones after the Galaxy S25 Edge failed badly, but that hasn’t stopped the company from putting on a brave face to try and compare the Galaxy S25 Edge to the iPhone Air in a series of ads.
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According to a new report, Samsung may launch its Android XR-powered Galaxy XR headset in more countries next year including the UK, Canada, and parts of the EU.
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Google has submitted a proposal to “fix” the Play Store following its loss in the Epic Games court case, and the changes include better third-party app store support and reduced, but more complex, fees in the Play Store.
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After launching on iOS a month ago, OpenAI has finally released its Sora app on Android, granting more users the ability to generate its eerily realistic AI videos.
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Nomad is updating its signature “Stand One” lineup with Qi2 support, which means Pixel 10 and iPhone 17 owners have a new Qi2 25W option that includes a second charger for their Pixel Buds or AirPods.
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As Samsung’s Android 16 update rolls out more widely, a growing number of Android Auto users are reporting connection issues.
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Nothing’s latest smartphone introduced a number of new bloatware apps from Meta, some of which couldn’t be uninstalled, but that will change in future updates.
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Motorola is announcing its first two Moto G phones for 2026, with the latest Moto G and Moto G Play using MediaTek chips, starting under $200, and going on sale starting this month.
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Amid an ongoing feud with YouTube TV, Disney asked the streamer to temporarily revive ABC in favor of “the public interest,” to which YouTube TV has not only said no, but said that its subscribers specifically chose not to watch ABC on the past two Election Days.
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In yet another hint that the Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold may see a wider release, regulatory info suggests that more countries outside of China and Korea are possible.
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As of last month, the older Nest Thermostats have effectively died, as Google has pulled the plug on most of their features. While many will end up replacing the decade-old hardware, a clever new project hopes to give older Nest Thermostats a new lease on life.
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Ahead of the global debut of the OnePlus 15 later this month, OnePlus has unveiled its new “Gaming Technology” which uses three tentpoles to improve on Android gaming.
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Slider phones are a core memory for many, between the classic QWERTY phones of the early 2000’s to Sony’s iconic Xperia Play phone that packed a physical game controller inside of a phone. Now, that form factor is seemingly making a comeback as Ayaneo is teasing its first gaming phone.
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The fallout from YouTube TV’s deal with Disney was felt by subscribers over the weekend, but a new report citing a YouTube TV executive reveals some of the behind-the-scenes drama, suggesting that Disney has been “aggressive” in negotiations.
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YouTube TV subscribers are still largely heated over the removal of Disney-owned channels earlier this week, but while we’re still waiting on a wider credit for the lost channels, YouTube TV is giving some users an unexpected $10 credit while also calling the Disney feud “unnecessarily aggressive.”
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The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite hit the scene this week with the promise of being a much more affordable smartphone. It is that, but it’s also haunted by some of the quotes and jokes that Nothing has made over the years, and is really putting a sour tone on what should have been a great year for the growing brand.
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If you need to turn off your Nest Doorbell chime for any reason – such as trying to limit the ringing on a night full of trick or treaters – here’s how to do it.
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After their announcement earlier this month, Google has confirmed that its new Farsight Faces for the 4th-Gen Nest Learning Thermostat have widely rolled out. Here’s how to try them out.
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Google Photos is adding new video editing templates that the company says will offer “trendy” setups with “easy and automated” video creation.
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Oppo has a new book-style foldable in the works, with the alleged Oppo Find N6 ready to put up a fight against the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a huge 6,000 mAh battery.
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Google is reportedly working on a big upgrade to always-on display functionality in Android that’s called “Min Mode” and can show a limited version of supported apps.
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