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Rikka Altland

rikkaaltland

Rikka Altland is the Editor-in-Chief of 9to5Toys. Having joined the team at the beginning of 2017, over the past six years she has gone on to specialize in being a mainstay in the LEGO news and rumors scene while also reviewing the latest iPhone accessories, earbuds, and home networking gear. Contact it directly at rikka@9to5mac.com for tips and pitches.

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Microsoft’s just-released Surface Laptop Studio 2 falls to new low of $2,101 (Reg. $2,400)

Reg. $2,400/$2,101

A new all-time low is going live on the just-released Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 today. Courtesy of Amazon, the new release drops to $2,100.99 shipped. You’d more regularly pay $2,400 for this 512GB/16GB configuration, with today’s offer amounting to $299 in savings. This is only the third chance to save so far, and is now landing at the new best price. We break down just what exactly is new this time around with the second-generation laptop in our launch coverage. Then head below for the full scoop.

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Apple’s official iPhone 15 and 15 Plus silicone cases start at new $22 lows (Reg. $49)

Apple iPhone 15 cases
Reg. $49/From $22

Amazon is starting off November by rolling out new all-time lows on the new official Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Silicone cases. These MagSafe accessories all normally sell for $49, but are now dropping down to the best prices we’ve seen across several colors for each smartphone. Pricing now starts at $21.29 Prime shipped after you’ve clipped on-page coupons that can be found on each of the styles’ product pages. These are all some of the first chances to save period, while marking new all-time lows at upwards of 50% off. Head below for more.

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Belkin’s recently-released 15W BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe charger falls to new $63 low

a close up of a phone Reg. $80/$63

Amazon is now offering the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe Pad for $63.60 shipped. It normally sells for $80, and is now going on sale for one of the first times. This 20% price cut also happens to be a new all-time low at $7 below previous discounts. Belkin’s recent 2-in-1 MagSafe charger is a bit more streamlined of an addition to your nightstand, featuring a flat design that lets you top off an iPhone 15 right next to AirPods Pro 2. There’s full 15W MagSafe on the left pad, and then a 5W Qi charger on the right hand side. Our launch coverage fully breaks it down, too.

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Razer’s Kishi V2 gamepad with USB-C upgrades iPhone 15 gaming at $77 (Reg. $100)

graphical user interface Reg. $100/$77

Amazon is currently offering the Razer Kishi V2 USB-C Mobile GamePad for iPhone and Android smartphones at $76.99 shipped. This would normally set you back $100, but now sells for the lowest price we have ever seen on Amazon at $23 off. It’s an extra $3 below our previous mention, as well. Those who are rocking an older iPhone than the new 15 series will be able to save on the Lightning model at $72.22. This is also down from $100 and marking the second-best price we’ve ever seen. Head below for a full rundown on what to expect.

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Anker debuts new 20,000mAh power bank for iPhone 15 with built-in 22.5W USB-C cable [Deal]

Anker USB-C Power Bank Reg. $50/$40

Anker today is launching the newest addition to its power bank family with a new and even more capable version of an existing favorite. The new Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank packs a lot of convenient charging tech into a compact design, most notably including a built-in USB-C cable to complement the one of four different colorways. Plus, it’s on sale!

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Motorola’s latest 2023 smartphones fall to new lows: Edge+ hits $600 (Save $200), more

Reg. $800/$600

Amazon is now marking down Motorola’s latest collection of 2023 Android smartphones. There’s new all-time lows abound with free shipping across the board for the lineup, too. Our favorite of the discounts has the Motorola Edge+ now resting at $599.99. Down from $800, you’re now looking at $200 in savings alongside the third-ever chance to save. It’s a new all-time low, as well as an extra $100 below previous Prime Day mentions. Head below for a closer look at the Edge+ as well as the other smartphones on sale.

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Satechi sitewide sale takes 30% entire collection of Apple accessories with our exclusive code

Shop now/30% off

Satechi is partnering with 9to5Toys in order to help you get some holiday shopping done early. Right now, when applying our exclusive code 9to530 at checkout, you’ll be able to take 30% off a collection of the company’s latest products. It’s nearly a sitewide sale, with just a small number of exclusions – meaning you’ll be able to score one of the best prices of the year on some of our favorite companion Apple accessories for your new iPhone 15, M3 MacBooks, and iPad. You can shop the entire Satechi sale right here, or just head below the fold as we dive into some of our favorite highlights from the sale.

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LEGO’s 6,200-piece UCS Razor Crest drops down to $480 Amazon low (Save $120)

LEGO UCS Razor Crest Reg. $600/$480

Amazon is now offering another chance to score its fall Prime Day price on the LEGO UCS Razor Crest. Dropping down to $479.99 shipped, today’s offer is marking a return to the best price from the retailer, as well as the second-best price cut period. It’s still one of the first chances to save at $120 off the usual $600 going are, too.

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Amazon Black Friday 2023 deals go live early starting on November 17

amazon black friday 2023 ad November 17/Shop soon

Today, Amazon is officially announcing what’s to come from its annual Black Friday sales event as we inch closer to the 2023 shopping event. On top of just kicking off the action earlier than previous years, Amazon will be upping the ante on the savings this year with a more frequent rollout of deals while also announcing a themed Thanksgiving Day Football game.

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What’s next with Overwatch 2: Clash, new heroes, and much more transparency 

Overwatch 2 clash venture
Read now/Updates

The future of Overwatch is bright, and more transparent than ever. Today, six members of the Overwatch team took the stage at BlizzCon 2023 in order to detail what’s next with Blizzard’s hero shooter. There’s a lot to be excited about, including new gameplay footage for an upcoming hero named Venture, first looks at the new Competitive mode rework, and details on the new Overwatch 2 game mode Clash. 

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Hands-on: Pokémon Paradox Rift debuts with first-ever Paradox cards, new trainers, more [Deals]

Launch deals/From $24

The newest Pokémon TCG expansion launches today, with Paradox Rift marking quite a few firsts for the card game. I’ve had a chance to take an early look at the new set, which features the first appearance of Paradox Pokémon, as well as all-new artworks and first-ever debuts of characters like the Elite 4 member Rika. The full scoop is below the fold alongside launch day deals.

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Twelve South’s early Black Friday sale drops Curve Flex MacBook stand to $65, more

Reg. $80/$65

Twelve South is starting off November by launching a new early Black Friday sale. The company is sending some warm weather vibes up from its hometown of Charleston alongside the savings, offering just a glimpse of the discounts we’re expecting to see later on in the month. This isn’t a full sitewide sale, but instead has a more curated selection of gear. A favorite has the Twelve South Curve Flex stand at $64.99. This is down from its usual $80 going rate and marking one of the best prices we have ever seen at $15 off. It’s an extra $5 below our previous mention from back in August, and a perfect companion to your new M3 MacBook shipping next week. Head below for more.

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Save 50% on a yearly Walmart+ membership ahead of Black Friday, now down to $49

Reg. $98/$49

Walmart just announced its annual Black Friday plans today, and now it’s offering a rare chance to save on its membership subscriptions. Normally signing up for Walmart+ would run you $98, but right now you can drop the price down to $49 while taking full advantage of the membership program, Walmart’s early access discounts, and more. In what is akin to Amazon Prime, Walmart+ is the retailer’s own take on a paid shopping membership – which we break down below the fold.

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Lutron Caseta smart home starter kits with HomeKit start from $76 (Reg. $90+)

graphical user interface, application
(Reg. $90+)/From $76

Amazon is now discounting a series of Lutron Caseta smart lighting starter kits with HomeKit. Everything ships free across the board and now starts at $75.95, but our favorite bundle on sale today has this Deluxe Smart Dimmer Switch Kit taking the spotlight. It normally sells for $195, but is now marked down to $155.95. It’s not only one of the first chances to save this year, but also a match of the 2023 low. Below the fold we break down what to expect from the ecosystem, as well as detail all of the other starter kits on sale.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE smartphones see first cash discounts from $500 (Save $100)

a cellphone on a table
Reg. $600/$500

Amazon is now offering the first cash discount on the new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. This unlocked smartphone now starts at $499.99 shipped after you’ve clipped the on-page coupon for the 128GB version. It’s down from the usual $600 price tag and marking a new all-time low as the only chance to save actual cash. Today’s discount also notably follows up the original launch promotion that bundled in a $100 gift card. So now you can score the same value, just without the hassle of having to delay the savings onto a future purchase. The savings also apply to the 256GB capacity, which is now at $559.99 from its usual $660 price tag. We previously took a hands-on look in our announcement day review over at 9to5Google. Head below for a closer look.

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Tested: Anker’s Prime 240W USB-C charger should be a day-one buy for M3 MacBook owners

Anker Prime 240W USB-C Charger Buy now/$200 or less

Apple is fully embracing USB-C with just about all of its latest devices and accessories, and Anker’s new Prime 240W charger has been the perfect power station to ease the transition. With dynamic power allocation and a dedicated 140W USB-C port, this is perfect for the new M3 MacBooks, iPhone 15, and any other gear you can throw at it.

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9to5Toys Daily: October 31, 2023 – M2 iPad Pro $199 off, Apple Watch Series 9, AirPods Pro 2, more

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they are available.

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Nanoleaf Lines modular HomeKit lighting kit lands at $160 (Reg. $200), more

Reg. $200/$160

Amazon is now discounting a collection of Nanoleaf Lines modular lighting packages, all of which are headlined by the standard Lines HomeKit Starter Set. Dropping down to $159.99 shipped, you’re now looking at $40 in savings from the usual $200 going rate. This comes within $10 of the all-time low, is the lowest in nearly 2 months, and the second-best discount period. It’s also a match of last year’s Black Friday mention that arrives on sale for one of the first times in 2023. You can get a better idea of what to expect in our hands-on review, though we also take a deeper dive into the Nanoleaf Lines feature set down below while also detailing some of the other bundles on sale.

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Belkin debuts new 15W 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe stand with Apple Watch fast charging

Belkin MagSafe BoostCharge Pro Coming soon/$130

Update: Now available for pre-order ahead of shipping in December.

Belkin is launching its newest MagSafe charger. Refreshing its 2-in-1 form-factor with an even more fun and quite frankly elegant design, the new BoostCharge Pro debuts with all the bells and whistles like 15W MagSafe and Apple Watch fast charging.

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Google’s Pixel Buds Pro come in two new styles from $119 lows (Reg. $200), more

Reg. $200/$119

Amazon is now offering the best prices yet on the Google Pixel Buds Pro. These flagship earbuds now drop down to starting prices of $119 shipped and come in one of five designs – the all-new fog colorway is even getting in on the savings. Each model drops down from $200 in order to either match the best price or mark new all-time lows in their own right. You can read all about how compelling of a package that combines into in our hands-on review

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Best Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands for any style and budget

Best Apple Watch bands
Top picks/From $10

The new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have been shipping through the fall so far, delivering the latest fitness experiences for those in the iPhone ecosystem. If you’re looking to mix up the look of your new wearable or just refresh an aging wearable with some new styles, below you’ll find our favorite and the best Apple Watch band recommendations, starting at just $10.

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9to5Toys Daily: October 30, 2023 – Apple Watch SE 2 from $219, Pixel Tablet $399, more

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they are available.

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LEGO officially reveals new 4,000-piece Natural History Museum launching January 1

LEGO Natural History Museum set 10326 January 1/$300

Update: LEGO’s new Natural History Museum has been officially revealed and is now available for pre-order ahead of its January 1 launch.

We finally have a first look at the upcoming LEGO Natural History Museum. Next year’s Modular Building will be bringing a bit of a scientific vibe to the series with an over 4,000-piece build when it debuts on January 1, 2024 as LEGO set number 10326.

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elago’s magnetic aluminum iPad stand packs iMac vibes with rare discount down to $94

elago Magnetic iPad Stand
Reg. $110/$95

elago’s Magnetic iPad Stand is going on sale for one of the first times ever. The brand’s official Amazon storefront is now dropping the accessory down to $94.05 shipped after clipping the on-page coupon. It’s down from the usual $110 going rate and is marking a very rare chance to save. We first saw this iPad upgrade hit the scene nearly a year ago, and now it’s seeing one of the only price cuts so far – not to mention a new all-time low. We adored it in our Tested with 9to5Toys review, and my iPad has been practically glued to the stand since. Head below for more.

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Amazon’s just-released Echo Show 5 3rd Gen returns to all-time low of $40 (Reg. $90)

Reg. $90/$40

Amazon is now offering one of the first chances to save on the new Echo Show 5 3rd Gen. This Alexa smart display is now down to $39.99 shipped in three different colorways from its usual $90 price tag. It’s 56% off and marking only the third overall discount, let alone only the second time it has ever dropped this low. Dive into our launch coverage for the full scoop, or head below as we break down what’s new this time around.

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Pair your Mac with Logitech’s MX Master 3S mouse while it’s down to $88

Reg. $100/$88

Amazon now offers the Logitech MX Master 3S for $88.34 shipped after you’ve clipped the on-page coupon. This is down from the usual $100 price tag and marking an all-around rare chance to save at $12 off. Not only is this the second-best price of the year, it’s also the lowest since back in June. Our hands-on review details everything you need to know about the professional workstation experience, though we also break it down below the fold.

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Hands-on: Twelve South’s TimePorter Wall Mount elegantly tames your Apple Watch band collection

Twelve South launched a new mount earlier in the month that looked to solve one of the biggest issues with having a collection of Apple Watch bands – the fact that you have to keep them organized. I’ve been testing out the new TimePorter Wall Mount and really have to hand it to Twelve South for finally making it easy to tidy up my wardrobe of Watch bands.

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LEGO’s Botanical sets now 20% off: Orchid, Succulents, flower bouquets, more from $40

After just seeing the latest addition to the LEGO Botanical collection debut this morning, Amazon is marking down five of the theme’s existing sets. A favorite from the batch has  the Orchid kit at $40 shipped. Down from $50, you’re looking at 20% in savings alongside only the second discount of the year. This is within a penny of the all-time low and the second-best price to date. We also last saw it on sale back in May, for comparison. Stacking up to 608 pieces, the new LEGO Orchid joins the rest of the plant-themed creations that add some unique decor to your space. This one stands over 15 inches tall and uses some unique parts in order to pull off the expected white and pink look of Orchids. Our launch coverage offers a better look at what to expect from the new plant set, and we also breakdown some other deals on the Botanical Garden collection below.

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Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 portable Bluetooth speaker now down to $60 (Reg. $100)

Reg. $100/$60

Amazon is now offering a new all-time low on the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. This portable Bluetooth speaker now sells for $59.99 shipped after you’ve clipped the on-page coupon. That’s $40 off the usual $100 price tag, and marking the best we have ever been. Today’s new all-time low can thank the combined coupon savings with an existing cash discount that means this offer even beats our previous mention from August by an extra $10. Detailing everything that’s new this time around, our hands-on review offers a better idea of what to expect.

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Save $300 on Apple’s 15-inch M2 MacBook Air at new all-time low from $999

15-inch MacBook Air
Reg. $1,299/$999

The best price ever is now live on Apple’s 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. Easily the headliner of the member-only Best Buy Black Friday sale, you can now drop the recent release down to $999 shipped for the 256GB model. That’s down from the usual $1,299 price tag and marking a new all-time low at $300 off. It’s an extra $50 under our previous mention from the fall Prime Day sale earlier in the month – which is what Amazon has it selling for right now. So if you don’t have a Best Buy membership, you can save $250. We offer a taste of what to expect in our hands-on coverage, which is only made better by the savings today. Below the fold we offer some extra insight on the offer, too.

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Apple Pencil 2 sees first discount in months down to $89 (Second-best, save $40)

Reg. $129/$89

The first discount in months is now live on the latest Apple Pencil 2. Apple may have just revealed a new and more affordable version of its iPad stylus, but why opt for that when the higher-end model is down to $89 shipped at Amazon. It normally sells for $129, but is now seeing a $40 price cut down to its second-best price of the year. The is the first chance to save since back in August, and is the lowest since a summer discount landed in June at $4 less. If you’ve picked up an iPad over the past few months, then now is your chance to outfit it with an essential accessory.

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Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 FE begins shipping today at $600 with bonus $100 gift card

a cellphone on a table $100 off/$600

The new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE launches today. Amazon is making sure you don’t walk away empty-handed, offering up the new unlocked 128GB smartphone for $599.99 shipped while bundling in a $100 gift card. This scores you $100 back for a future Amazon purchase, while offering the best offer around right now for the just-released, mid-range handset. The savings also apply to the 256GB capacity, which is now at $659.99 with the same $100 credit. We previously took a hands-on look in our announcement day review over at 9to5Google. Head below for a closer look.

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9to5Toys Daily: October 26, 2023 – HomePod 2 $280, Galaxy Watch 6 from $235, more

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they are available.

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Logitech’s new G502 X Plus Millenium Falcon Gaming Mouse sees first discount to $149

a laptop computer sitting on top of a wooden table First deal/$149

After we just took a hands-on look at the new release, Amazon is offering the first chance to save on the Logitech G502 X Plus Millenium Falcon Mouse. This new battlestation upgrade is down to $148.87 shipped thanks to the first-ever discount from its usual $160 price tag. It may only be $11 off, but it’s a chance to bring the Star Wars-themed mouse to your setup for less. We reviewed the new release, detailing what to expect from its design inspired by Return of the Jedi. Head below for the full scoop.

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Anker’s new Prime USB-C GaN chargers and power banks on sale from $45 (Reg. $60)

Anker Prime chargers
Reg. $60+/From $45

Anker’s official Amazon storefront is now discounting nearly every release in the new Prime lineup. Complete with chargers and portable batteries, our favorite of the price cuts focuses on the latter. Right now, its new Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank is down to $110.49 shipped. Normally fetching $130, this is only the third discount to date so far since launching in August. It’s nearly $20 off, comes within $0.50 of the all-time low, and is the first chance to save in over a month. The new Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank arrives as a new iteration of last year’s PowerCore 24K. Now sporting that same form-factor with a built-in screen for monitoring charging stats, the new Prime version packs a 20,000mAh battery alongside a 200W output for its dual USB-C ports and USB-A slot. Learn more in our launch coverage and then check out all of the Anker Prime chargers below.

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Apple’s new HomePod 2 returns to all-time low for only second time at $280

All-time low/$280

B&H is now offering the first discount in over a month on Apple’s new HomePod 2. The recently-refreshed smart speaker has been quite elusive to deals, notably skipping out on the fall Prime Day savings earlier in the month. Now it’s dropping down to an all-time low of $279.99 shipped. That’s $19 off the usual $299 price tag and only the second time it has dropped this low – beating our previous mention by $5. Get the full scoop in our launch coverage on what today’s discount delivers, or just head below as we break everything down.

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Hands-on with Logitech’s new Millenium Falcon G502 X Plus mouse and Return of the Jedi mousepad

Logitech Millenium Falcon Mouse
New release/Buy now

Earlier this month, Logitech revealed a new collaboration with Star Wars to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi. With as big of a Star Wars fan as I am, the second I laid eyes on the new releases I knew I had to get a hands-on look. I’ve spent the past week with the new G502 X Plus Millenium Falcon mouse and its companion mousepad on my desk, and I absolutely adore the designs.

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