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
Following the wide rollout of a headline-focused Google Discover redesign in May, a new tweak brings article previews to the surface.
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Ahead of its debut next month, we finally have a probable first look at the Nothing Phone (3) with an updated design language, three cameras, and no visible lighting hardware.
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Samsung just dropped another Galaxy Z Fold 7 teaser, this time calling the foldable its “thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet,” which certainly seems true if its teaser image is anything to go by.
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Apple today unveiled its new design language, “Liquid Glass,” which will be a core part of the upcoming iOS 26 update, and Samsung didn’t waste a second in poking fun at the changes.
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Foldables are absolutely a niche within the smartphone market, but some brands are starting to see a bit of success with it, including Google which is not only seeing sales of Pixel Fold devices, but is one of the fastest-growing foldable makers Europe right now.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is right around the corner, and now a device has popped up on eBay to show off its new design and a key spec change.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, but it’s missing some apps, including a YouTube app. That will be fixed “soon” though, Google says.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 is here and, despite most of my time on it spent playing MarioKart, the thing I can’t get out of my head so far is how many of the delightful little animations and sounds remind me of Google’s best designs, especially those scattered throughout Pixel.
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Small Android tablets are getting a revival, as Redmagic has just started officially teasing its “Gaming Tablet 3 Pro” which is said to have a 9-inch OLED display and, now, has a launch date of June 11.
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Pixel owners are getting quick access to AI Mode via the Google Search bar that’s built into the Pixel Launcher.
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Google is preparing a couple of new Pixel Watch features, including the ability to lock your phone when you leave it behind, as well as stopping accidental touches in the water.
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We all know that Samsung has new foldables in the pipeline, but the company just confirmed the branding of Galaxy Z “Fold 7” and “Flip 7” in one of the strangest ways.
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If you use a Galaxy Watch, you might want to check your settings as a new software update is rolling out for select models.
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YouTube is in a war against ad blockers, with its latest move seemingly closing a loophole in Firefox, and people just keep complaining about it.
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OnePlus phones have had a Gemini shortcut on the lockscreen for a while now, something devices from Google and Samsung still lack, as highlighted by the company’s latest launch.
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It’s not hard to find a Wear OS watch for a good price, but to have any lasting power, it’s usually smart to hand over a few more dollars. With a sale on the Galaxy Watch 7, though, you don’t have to choose, nor do you have to settle for the company’s upcoming new design.
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Open Canvas is perhaps the biggest and most impressive upgrade to smartphone multitasking we’ve ever seen, and Google is gearing up to launch similar functionality in Android 16. While Google didn’t directly copy the split-screen feature, even Oppo thinks it’s close enough and commends Google for implementing it in Android 16.
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Nothing CEO Carl Pei has just confirmed that the company’s first pair of over-ear headphones, “Nothing Headphone (1),” will be launching next month.
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The biggest downside of the Galaxy S25 Edge is its tiny battery, but Samsung still thinks it was “the right move.”
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Walmart just launched its latest Google TV device, the Onn 4K Plus, but appears to be keeping the devices it launched back in 2023 for a little while longer as a new branding refresh arrives.
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OnePlus has just launched its new OnePlus Pad 3 with a new chipset, bigger display, and a higher price.
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Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S25 series and likely the Galaxy Z Fold 7 too, Samsung appears to be preparing Qi2 support for the Galaxy Z Flip 7.
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Galaxy Watch 8 Classic appears to only be coming in one size option, as a new leak details the colors and variants of Samsung’s new smartwatches and foldables.
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We’ve only seen a couple of devices get the Android 14 update for TVs and, so far, they’ve all been for Google TV. Now, though, Walmart has rolled out one of the first Android 14 updates for Android TV.
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