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
In my switch to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as my main phone in recent months, there’s just one thing that continues to annoy me. Samsung seemingly feels the need to ruin Android notifications, and it’s the most bizarre self-sabotage.
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Home security cameras are commonplace at this point, but there’s something to be said about the ingenuity in the space. There’s a solution for every niche, and I think there are few better examples than the Wyze Bulb Cam and Wyze Duo Cam Pan I’ve been testing out as of late. They also serve as continued reminders of how much I wish Google would branch out a bit more.
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Google keeps experimenting with new Pixel colors, but after seeing the new Nest Cam and its “Berry” color, all I can think about is a red Pixel phone.
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Tag Heuer, a long-time Wear OS partner in the luxury space, is done with Google’s platform and switching to an “in-house” platform that’s still based on Android, but better supports iPhone.
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Google’s new Nest Doorbell (wired) is here and, if you’re looking to upgrade over the existing model, the good news is that it’s a truly effortless upgrade.
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Google’s Pixel Watch series has, at first glance, only evolved slightly in its various generations. But the latest Pixel Watch 4 is a bit more than meets the eye, and it’s also the smartwatch that Google has always wanted.
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In a leaked image and a note from a trusted leaker, Samsung is allegedly going to be copying the “Cosmic Orange” color that Apple just introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro.
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In the drought of new Nest Hub updates, Google’s head of Home has confirmed that, yes, the Nest Hub is not dead, but there’s also no “explicit news” just yet.
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Just ahead of its sequel hitting the market, the Pixel Watch 3 is a simply phenomenal deal at just $170.
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Beeper, the app infamous for trying to bring iMessage to Android, is picking up some updates that include more Material 3 Expressive support on Android, as well as Google Voice integration.
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Sony has pushed an update to its latest flagship headphones, the WH-1000XM6, to deliver support for Google’s Gemini Live, and it comes right as a major sale lands.
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Just a couple of months after Google Pixel finally adopted faster UFS 4.1 storage in select Pixel 10 devices, the UFS 5.0 standard has been announced with storage that’s twice as fast, and the reason for that speed boost will hopefully catch Google’s attention a little sooner.
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Google’s efforts in the smart home have been a mixed bag, and that’s a nice way of putting it. For many users, Google’s handful of fumbles in Home, Nest, and especially Assistant, have burned trust, but Google says it is “committed” to earning that back.
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Samsung’s One UI 8 rollout that delivers Android 16 has been well ahead of schedule for a while now, and that’s continuing as older generations are getting access, and while users in the United States are also widely getting updates too.
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Google’s Pixel 10 series just effectively lost access to the popular game Genshin Impact, as a loss of support for Tensor G5’s GPU has led to the game running into issues for some users on the new phones.
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Through recent updates, Android Auto seems to be removing its “GameSnacks” collection of games that were available to play on the car’s display.
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If you’re on the hunt for an affordable new phone, you’ll be able to pick up a used device from the “Back Market” store in NYC, which is also the latest physical location in which you’ll be able to get Google Fi Wireless.
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A year after it was announced, Waze is finally rolling out support for reporting hazards using your voice in its new “Conversational Reporting” feature.
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OnePlus has announced that it will release its Android 16 update in less than two weeks on October 16, and the global launch of the OnePlus 15 is expected to arrive not too long afterwards.
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Nothing is rolling out call recording for Nothing Phone devices, but only a few select models in certain countries. Here’s what you need to know.
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It’s not hard to find a good high-end TV anymore, but to pair a good display, good software, and a good price? That’s a harder combo, but it’s exactly what I’ve been testing out in the Hisense U8QG series lately.
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Samsung has started to roll out the final major update for the Galaxy S22 series, with its Android 16-based One UI 8 now rolling out in some regions.
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Google’s latest Nest Cam model has switched over to USB-C, a minor change but one that’s appreciated for continuity’s sake.
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Following new announcements this week, the future of Google Home is brighter than ever, and that’s exciting.
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