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
Samsung has unveiled a new wireless charging chip for smartphones that includes Qi2 support and significantly faster 50W wireless charging speeds.
Expand Expanding Close
A fresh Galaxy S25 leak has just hit the web with new images of the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra focused on the new camera design, as well as a quick peek at One UI 7.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung is now rolling out the first Galaxy Watch update of 2025.
Expand Expanding Close
In a new report, Android Auto is found to be used by fewer drivers year-over-year, but Google’s YouTube Music is a hit among drivers across all platforms.
Expand Expanding Close
Following its schedule of releasing new OxygenOS updates, OnePlus is now rolling out the January 2025 update that adds a handful of new features, delivers some fixes, and more.
Expand Expanding Close
Smartphone prices have gone way up over the past few years, and it sounds like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 won’t be an exception to the rule with a price hike reportedly incoming.
Expand Expanding Close
The first Android 16 beta likely isn’t too far away, and that’s where Google’s bigger changes are expected to debut. Ahead of that, a new design for the volume slider has been discovered in Android 16, and it looks pretty nice.
Expand Expanding Close
Motorola is kicking off its 2025 with the reveal of new Moto G devices, with Moto G (2025) and Moto G Power (2025) launching with updated specs and set to go on sale starting later this month.
Expand Expanding Close
According to an alleged email from Nothing’s Carl Pei, the upcoming Nothing Phone (3) is all about building towards a new “AI-powered platform.”
Expand Expanding Close
When it launched in 2023, the OnePlus Open, based on Oppo’s Find N3, was already one of the most impressive devices in terms of being super thin, but it’s now been confirmed that the upcoming sequel will be setting a new record.
Expand Expanding Close
Ahead of schedule, Asus has just revealed that its Zenfone 12 Ultra is set to be announced on February 6.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung has confirmed that its Galaxy Ring health wearable is getting two new sizing options alongside added features and an expansion to more markets.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the OnePlus 13’s launch last week, the OnePlus 13 is getting its first software update with new fixes, features, and more.
Expand Expanding Close
When Qi2 was announced two years ago, the big focus was on bringing magnets for alignment and additional accessories to more devices. But, now, the latest changes to the standard are giving up on that promise.
Expand Expanding Close
We’ve all had that moment where our phones are dying, but we need to leave. Charging is usually too slow, and carrying around a battery bank can be annoying. That’s the problem Swippitt wants to solve with a clever phone charger that’s “instant,” but it’s probably not for you.
Expand Expanding Close
Lenovo’s small yet powerful Legion Tab looks to be an Android tablet many have been waiting for, as it sold out in barely two days. One question about the device has been whether or not it supports stylus input, and we can confirm that the Lenovo Legion Tab does support at least one stylus option.
Expand Expanding Close
At CES 2025 earlier this week, Lenovo announced a handful of new Android tablets coming out this year, and there’s something here for everyone.
Expand Expanding Close
At CES 2025, two years after Qi2 was first introduced, the first update to the standard was released. It brings “Qi2 Ready,” as well as new support for chargers that have a moving coil.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the big perks of the Fitbit app is access to a huge collection of workout plans that include videos, but recent app updates have removed the ability to cast those videos to TVs.
Expand Expanding Close
I’ve been waiting for a decently-powerful, but also small Android tablet for years now, and Lenovo finally delivered that at CES 2025 with its 8.8-inch Lenovo Legion Tab. And, seemingly proving that there’s an audience for these small yet powerful Android tablets, Lenovo has sold out of the Tab in barely two days.
Expand Expanding Close
We’re officially less than two weeks out from the launch of Galaxy S25, and the leaks are only speeding up, and rapidly at that. Today, new leaks have surfaced with dozens of images of the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra.
Expand Expanding Close
After adding support for Nest Doorbell notifications in 2024, Google TV is working on an update that will allow users to send responses through the doorbell directly from their TV.
Expand Expanding Close
“Never Settle.” That’s been the tagline of OnePlus since its inception back in 2013. The brand has put out some remarkable devices, but virtually all of them have had some aspect that “settles.” Finally, though, the OnePlus 13 feels like the device that doesn’t settle in any meaningful way, and it starts off 2025 with an absolute bang.
Expand Expanding Close
Google TV is preparing for some big updates in 2025, with Gemini in the pipeline as well as new presence sensing in certain TVs which really opens the door to a whole new way to use your TV.
Expand Expanding Close