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
The Nothing Phone (2a) was one of my favorite phones of 2024, so I’ve been rather excited to take a look at its sequel. Now, the Nothing Phone (3a) series is here, and after using the Phone (3a) Pro, I’m pretty happy, but I also have a concern.
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Following its debut in China last week, the Xiaomi 15 series has officially hit the global market with a starting price of €999.
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Every year at Mobile World Congress (MWC), Google hosts “Android Avenue” as a way to showcase new features in Android and its services, as well as to highlight partner devices. And in this showcase, I just love looking at the adorable Android figures scattered throughout.
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A new “Pixel Sense” experience reportedly coming to Pixel 10 has leaked, showing an early peek at the “predictive” suggestions that come from Google apps.
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At MWC 2025, Oppo has announced that it will now deliver “an average” of monthly AI updates to its users.
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After it struck success with the Phone (2a) series, Nothing is back with more mid-range offerings. The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are built on the same formula, but with key upgrades including the missing telephoto cameras.
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Following the Galaxy S25 launch in January, Samsung also showed off the Galaxy S25 Edge and its “Project Moohan” Android XR headset in person for the first time. At MWC 2025, both devices are back, and this time we were able to get a lot closer to both.
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After announcing its new devices at CES 2025 with virtually no key details, TCL is now fully launching the NXTPAPER 11 Plus and its new 60-series smartphones at MWC with pricing and more.
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At MWC 2025, Lenovo is showing off some concept devices that try new ideas, such as adding a foldable display to a laptop, additional screens that snap on, and even a new laptop with built-in solar panels.
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Smart Connect is an app that allows users to pair their Windows machines to Motorola and Lenovo smartphones and tablets to provide integration between all of the devices and it has some clever features. Now, Smart Connect is expanding to all Android devices while also picking up some additional features.
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Alongside its “Alpha Plan,” Honor is launching its new Honor Pad V9 tablet at MWC 2025, which delivers a great device for its price point.
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The going trend for smartphones in 2025 seems to be cutting down on thickness. But, the more I think about it, the more I’m curious – who actually wants this?
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Honor’s new Watch 5 Ultra is a gorgeous piece of hardware, but various issues with the software just left me wanting to go back to Wear OS.
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Honor is now supporting its flagship phones for 7 years of Android OS updates, while also unveiling its new “Alpha Plan” AI strategy at MWC 2025.
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Amid continued delays for its One UI 7 update, Samsung is now launching three new phones that come with the update out of the box with the new Galaxy A26, A36, and A56.
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In an unexpected twist, Google has just started rolling out yet another Android Auto update in version 13.9, but don’t expect any major changes.
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It seems the trend of 2025 is going to be around slimmer smartphones, and Tecno wants to set the record with its new “Spark Slim” which, if it ships, could hold the title of “industry’s slimmest phone,” at least for a little while.
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Ahead of its upcoming launch, another set of wallpapers allegedly coming with the Pixel 9a have surfaced, this time with some more colors.
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Over 20 years after its debut, Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype, the first big video calling app.
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In a new post today, Samsung has shown off some new features coming to the Galaxy Buds 3 series with One UI 7, while completely ignoring the million questions surrounding the rollout of One UI 7.
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In an update provided via its Issue Tracker, Google says that problems with the Now Playing feature on Pixel devices is “fixed” with an update forthcoming.
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Waze is rolling out a new update on Android and iOS which brings support for showing your navigation map and other details via the heads-up display (instrument cluster) in some vehicles.
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While there are still no details on Samsung’s One UI 7 rollout, the company continues on with its monthly update schedule, with the February 2025 update now available for select Galaxy devices.
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In its latest teaser, Nothing is showing off the design and camera of its standard Nothing Phone (3a) while more leaks detail an upcoming software feature.
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