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
Amazon has confirmed that Fire TV devices will now block apps that are known to be used for piracy, even if you sideloaded them on the company’s Android-based streamers.
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Google is giving Cameyo, the software virtualization company it bought last year, a reboot to make it easier to run Windows apps on ChromeOS, but the timing is more than a little odd.
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Ahead of the holiday season, Samsung is kicking off some big discounts on smartphones, smartwatches, and much more.
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Google has announced a lawsuit in the US that aims to take down “Lighthouse,” an organization that sends scam phishing texts such as the USPS scams that everyone seems to get.
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Samsung’s interesting new Galaxy Z “TriFold” may have a release date as a new report reveals Samsung’s timeline as well as some key specs.
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The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is getting its first notable update in months with the October 2025 security patch.
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Wyze has just launched a new “Ultra Bodyscan” weight scale that works with Fitbit and Android Health Connect, but does a lot more than just take your weight.
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According to new findings, Qualcomm is preparing its Snapdragon X Elite chips for future Android PCs.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is set for its biggest wireless charging upgrade in years, and it’s also more clear than ever that the company is adopting proper Qi2 magnets.
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The YouTube TV and Disney feud continues to rage on, with the latest reporting suggesting that YouTube TV may now be the hang-up, as Disney has allegedly offered rates compared to other major TV providers, but YouTube TV still wants to pay less.
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Oppo and OnePlus are rolling out their Android 16 updates more widely right now, with several devices seeing the update go live.
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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series was expected to be quite thin compared to past generations, but new rumors are clarifying that this probably won’t be the case, while also revealing the “Plus” model that just rose from the grave.
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TCL is introducing a new lineup of Google TV sets with premium screens, but a more affordable starting price.
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One of the big bonuses of Samsung Health, the app you use for tracking workouts and data from Galaxy Watch, is that there’s no monthly cost. Samsung is now adding a subscription to the app, though, but only for new guided workouts that integrate with Galaxy Watch.
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Gemini for Google Home has arrived and, with it, a glimpse of Google’s view of the future of the smart home. But that future is still held back by the simple fact that, like anything with AI, it makes too many mistakes.
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As the YouTube TV vs Disney feud continues to roll on, a new report suggests that the $20 credit Google promised in the event of an “extended period” without the channels is apparently set to be sent to subscribers on November 9.
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Over a week after channels first vanished, there’s no sign of a deal between Disney and YouTube TV, with a “leaked” Disney memo and YouTube’s response no signaling that either side is giving in.
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Google’s home security partner, ADT, has a big discount available for anyone looking to start off a new security system, or just their smart home. The discount includes 60% off of a starter package, which means over $400 off just the bare minimum.
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YouTube looks to be in an outage for some users, but it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the platform itself, but rather a problem with ad blockers.
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A widespread issue is causing the Fitbit app’s food log to simply not function, but a fix seems to be in the pipeline.
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The ongoing battle between YouTube TV and Disney continues to be a loss for everyone, as Google has confirmed there’s been “managable” subscriber churn as some users cancel their service, while Disney is also seeing a drop in live viewers.
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Over the past several months, the Nothing Ear (Open) have quickly become my favorite pair of earbuds thanks to their comfortable fit and ability to deliver excellent audio quality without blocking out the world around me. But the problem with open-ear headphones is that they’re only ever a secondary option, so price matters. That’s why this $80 alternative – which has been on sale for far less at times – to the Nothing Ear (Open) has been so compelling.
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Spotify is rolling out a new “Listening Stats” feature that packages up your activity in the music and podcasts app with a weekly summary.
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After a lengthy wait, Google has started rolling out Gemini access on Android Auto through the latest updates.
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