Justin is the Editor-in-Chief at 9to5Toys. For well-over a decade he has covered everything from video games and smart home devices to iPhone and MagSafe accessories, EDC gear, and just about everything in between. A professional audio engineer/producer, he also specializes in home recording, microphones, digital audio, and streaming gear. See something cool out there? Developing the next viral Apple gear accessory? Or just want to talk deals? Contact him directly at justin@9to5mac.com for tips, pitches, and more.
Sony debuted the PS5 Slim console back in October, but we might be getting that PS5 Pro after all. While all of this is to be taken with more than just a grain of salt, rumor has it some of the specs of the new pro-grade machine might have already leaked with others saying Sony is expecting a leak sometime this month. The PS5 Slim was more of cross-grade over what was the standard PS5, introducing a new attachable disc drive, a slimmer form-factor, and a marginally different design, but some of the potentially leaked details are pointing towards what could be a full-on PS5 Pro upgrade. More details below.
After a more than tumultuous ride over the last number of years, the E3 gaming conference has been officially shuttered. The folks behind the annual gaming extravaganza have been struggling to reinstate the show for several years now, but after major partners started to side step the summertime showcase, COVID taking hold of physical events everywhere, and a number of other factors, sadly, the governing body behind the event have finally decided to call it quits.
It’s now time to take a look at our favorite music gear for beat-makers, bedroom producers, and content creators. Our 2023 roundup of the best gifts for musicians features a number of brand new releases that hit the scene across 2023, from speakers and interfaces, to microphones, accessories, and even some wild new instruments. While something like the new Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II sampler has now sold out, there are still plenty of fantastic gifts to score that the music geeks and beat-makers in your life will actually love. Head below to scope out our picks with options starting from $20.
It’s time to go hands-on with the SANDMARC leather iPhone 15 cases. The brand took home my pick for the best leather iPhone case last year and, not to completely spoil the review here, it might very well again. SANDMARC’s cases have quickly become one of the more popular options among 9to5 readers and for good reason. They deliver real genuine leather covers with metal button covers and look great doing it – not to mention the unique metal camera array cover on the back. Head below for our hands-on impressions of this year’s SANDMARC leather iPhone 15 case collection.
Most of the best Black Friday Xbox console deals are set to go live today. The official Xbox Series X Black Friday deals, alongside the Series S, are scheduled to go live today. While Microsoft’s digital Xbox game sale certainly launched a bit early, all signs point to the best Black Friday Xbox console deals we have tracked going live shortly (if they aren’t already). According to the official Black Friday preview, we will be seeing straight up $50 price drops on Series X and Series S consoles alongside some bundle offers from various storefronts across the web, but some retailers are going to be sweetening the deal with bonus gift cards starting today as well. Head below for more details on best Black Friday Xbox console deals.
The annual Game Awards will be live tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET in celebration of the biggest and most exciting releases of the year. And much like year’s past, we are now starting to see some wide-ranging PlayStation and Xbox digital sales go live ahead of time. While we hit on some of these deals in this morning’s roundup alongside the day’s best physical console game deals, both the Xbox and PlayStation digital stores are now offering hundreds of price drops on PS4/5 and Series X|S titles. Head below for more the deals and to follow along with the 2023 Game Awards when they go live later tonight.
Today, OWC is launching its fastest portable SSD system yet. The launch of the new Express 1M2 also marks the first of its kind from the brand, delivering a DIY solution for USB4-equipped Macs and PCs in the form of the “fastest single blade NVMe OWC has ever offered.” Much like its solid metal 2,800MB/s OWC Envoy PRO portable SSD and its 11-port Thunderbolt 4 Go Dock that’s built like a tank, it features a solid metal design and can be loaded up with range of internal SSD solutions from the brand or to repurpose the drives you might already have laying around. Head below for more details.
Not all MIDI keyboard controllers are made equal and the new Expressive E Osmose is a great example of this. Now available stateside, the new 3D gestural music instrument and controller is ready to grace home studios, live performances, and professional sound stages everywhere. If it’s not the best MIDI keyboard controller out there, it is certainly one of the most interesting, not to mention being an incredibly compelling standalone instrument. Taking on the form of a traditional piano setup, it is anything but traditional in its execution. Head below for our hands-on impressions of the Expressive E Osmose 3D gesture-based music controller and instrument.
Christmas is right around the corner now and there’s nothing quite like finding something from the Mushroom Kingdom under the tree. Whether it’s a new console, accessories, Switch games, or otherwise, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the first party gear when it comes to gifts for Nintendo fans (or yourself for that matter). This year Nintendo launched a series of new console bundles, just about all of which are now readily available for purchase, including its headliner OLED package with a notable discount, so let’s go over some of the best gifts and new Nintendo Switch bundles up for grabs this holiday season.
Now joining the already available Hammerhead Pro set that launched earlier this year, today Razer is unveiling its new Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Earbuds for VR. These new Meta Quest buds are described as the “ultimate audio companion for the virtual realm” and are “meticulously crafted to serve as a beacon of For Gamers. By Gamers innovation for VR enthusiasts.” Now available for purchase at Amazon and elsewhere, you can get a closer look and more details on the new Razer Meta Quest wireless earbuds below.
Journey has now launched a pair of new accessories starting with its LOC8 Apple Find My MagSafe wallet. You’ll also find a new Passport variant with Apple’s location tracking to stow in your carry-on. We previously featured our hands-on impressions of the brand’s EZMO MagSafe wallet solutions, but this time around the brand is bringing Apple’s Find My tech into its latest EDC designs. Best of all, they are also available as part of its ongoing holiday sale at 20% off the launch prices. Head below for more details.
As part of its ongoing Holiday Sale event, Bose is offering up to 50% off “must-have headphones, speakers, and more.” Alongside a host of deals you’ll find below, we are tracking the flagship Bose Portable Smart Speaker for $349 shipped in both colorways via Amazon and the official site. This is $50 off the regular $399 price tag and the lowest we can find. It is also on par with this year’s Black Friday offer. More than just your average everyday Bluetooth model, this is also a home speaker, and a voice-controlled speaker with “360 degrees of deep, clear, lifelike sound and powerful bass.” You’ll find 12 hours of battery life, a water-resistant IPX4 rating, and support for both Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Head below for more Bose holiday speaker deals.
Update 05/16/24: Grand Theft Auto VI is set for release in the fall of 2025 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to latest Take-Two earnings report.
Grand Theft Auto VI is coming in 2025 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No other platforms have been mentioned at this time.
Update 3: The debut GTA 6 trailer is now breaking viewer records on YouTube. With over 78 million views now, it is reportedly the most-viewed non-music video on YouTube in 24 hours.
Update 2: We have now added the official artwork up top and some details from the press release below.
Update: After leakers got their hands on the official GTA 6 trailer this evening, Rockstar decided to jump the gun and launch the trailer early on its official channel ahead of schedule!! You can see it down below.
The first official GTA 6 trailer will go live today! This is it folks, it will only be a matter of hours now before Rockstar unveils the first official look at Grand Theft Auto 6. After years of speculation, rumors, and anticipation, Rockstar is set to give folks the very first and very much long-awaited look at what will be the next entry in its crime action open-world epic. After priming gamers for a reveal in early November with an open letter on its official site, Rockstar officially announced that “Trailer 1” for GTA 6 would debut on December 5, 2023, and that day has finally arrived. Head below for more details and to check out the trailer for yourself later today.
As promised, Rockstar will be officially unveiling the very first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 this month and we now know exactly when that will be. The developer officially announced it was working on the follow up to the record-breaking GTA 5 way back in February of 2022, but gamers will be gamers and we have really been waiting for this for a whole lot longer than that. And the wait is almost over. Last month Rockstar promised it would be showing off the first official footage of its highly-anticipated new open-world crime epic in an open letter to fans, and we now know it will be coming on Tuesday, December 5. Head below for more details.
It’s time for the new OtterBox iPhone 15 Passport cases. Alongside its current ongoing 30% off sitewide sale, OtterBox recently expanded its iPhone 15 case collection with some interesting new Passport designs. Coming alongside some new AirTag case models, the OtterBox iPhone 15 Passport cases feature topographical aerial map designs of major cities printed atop a clear and black OtterBox Lumen case. Now available at 30% off the going rate, you can get even more details and a closer look at the new OtterBox cases below.
Today’s roundup of the best iOS game and app deals is now ready to browse through down below. The App Store offers are joined by price drops on the official Milanese Loop bands as well as ongoing holiday pricing on Apple Watch Series 9, but for now it’s all about the apps. Highlights include titles like Rogue Hearts, DYSMANTLE, Chicken Police, Omega 13, and more. Hit the jump for a closer look at all of today’s best iOS game and app deals.
Update: Elevation Lab has now debuted a new version of its TagVault AirTag Surface mount with the new Milwaukee variant. The same waterproof adhesive AirTag mount we have featured around here a number of times, it now comes in Milwaukee red to deliver the “cheapest one time insurance for your tools.” Singles start at $13.95 and the 4-pack sells for $29.95, both with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25. Scope them out right here.
We have now spotted some new magnetic AirTag mounts from Elevation Lab. The brand makes some of the best AirTag mounts out there and it is now expanding its TagVault lineup with the new magnetic models. The brand creates particularly rugged and well-made mounts and cases to house Apple’s item trackers and we have now spotted its latest – and the first to feature built-in magnets. While they certainly help if someone steals your fridge, they are more specially designed to mount on your car (or anything else made of magnetic metal). Head below for a closer look at the new Elevation Lab magnetic AirTag mounts.
Cyber Monday has arrived and much of the best Black Friday Mac and iOS deals have come along with it. We have now updated our massive list of price drops across the App Stores down below with all of the latest and most notable deals. Just be sure to also check out the price drops we are tracking on Apple’s 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro, the M2 Mac mini, Apple’s 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pros, and the best price yet on Apple Pencil 2. Highlights on the app side of things include titles like Pixelmator Pro, Affinity Designer 2, Parallels Desktop 19, MEGA MAN X, Kingdom Rush titles, BATTLESHIP, Star Wars: KOTOR II, Things 3, and much more. Head below for all of today’s best Cyber Monday Mac and iOS app deals.
It is now time for our annual roundup of the best Cyber Monday smart TV deals. Many of the best scheduled smart TV deals are indeed already live, including a series of doorbuster offers on more affordable models, and we will be updating this post as more roll-in for Thanksgiving day and again for Black Friday. We are tracking hundreds and even thousands of dollars in savings on 2023 models from brands like Hisense, TCL, LG, and more alongside offers on Amazon’s range of smart Fire TV displays, Sony options with exclusive PS5 features, and special bonus offers on the latest LG OLED smart TVs with as much as $500 in Visa gift cards attached. So if you’re in the market to land a new display this year, you’ll almost certainly want to do it while we are tracking new all-time lows and deep price drops on all of the best brands. Head below for a closer look at the 2023 collection of the best Black Friday smart TV deals.
As part of its Black Friday sale, Amazon is offering loads of all-in-one gaming PCs and peripherals for your battlestation. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t loads of deals for folks looking to build their own machine or upgrade an existing setup. Featuring brands like ASUS, ZOTAC, MSI, CORSAIR, GIGABYTE, AMD, and more, we are tracking some of the best prices of the year on graphics cards, power supplies, motherboards, cooling fans, and more. If you’re looking to upgrade your setup or build a new one altogether this year, you might as well land some of the components while the PC Black Friday deals are live.
Black Friday proper has arrived and so have even more notable price drops on Mac and iOS apps. Just be sure to also head over to our master Black Friday 2023 hub for all of the most notable offers, including the likes of Apple’s 11-inch M2 iPad Pro, the 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, this $100 Apple gift card offer, and much more. As for the fresh batch of apps we are adding to the Black Friday list, we have highlights like Kingdom Rush Vengeance, Dig Deep, Afterplace, BATTLESHIP, ProShot, Jump Desktop, and much more. Hit the jump for a complete look at today’s new Mac and iOS app deals.
elago is expanding its lineup of Nintendo-inspired Apple gear accessories today with its new Game Boy MagSafe wallet. The brand’s W5 collection has been around for while, wrapping AirPods and holding up your Apple Watch in vintage Game Boy-inspired cases and stands, but elago is now ready to bring the handheld Nintendo action to your handset. It essentially comes in a similar silhouette as the standard minimalist models we featured back in July, but with a Game Boy-like design. Now available for purchase at $19, head below for a closer look.
Let’s take a super quick break to take a look at the wild new Teenage Engineering sampler, the EP–133 K.O. II. The brand is no stranger to gorgeous and quirky music gear – in fact, it might be the best to ever do it – and its latest looks just as special and inspiring as ever. Loaded with that special TE design touch and a world’s first OLED display as well as powerful sampling, sequencing, and composer tools, it is now available for purchase at $299. And you’ll definitely want to head below for a closer look at it.
Govee has now unveiled its new star projector. The brand is well known around here for its smart lighting solutions, but it’s now flying folks to the stars with its brand new Galaxy Light Projector Pro. Looking to provide users “with an out-of-this-world cosmic projection” experience, the latest from the brand is bringing the ambiance home in a way unlike any of its other smart lighting solutions before it. Now available for purchase, head below for more details on the new Govee star projector.
Joining today’s Nintendo Switch console deals, the official Nintendo Switch Black Friday game deals are set to debut shortly as well (if they aren’t already live now). Nintendo detailed a series of big-time Switch releases in this year’s sneak peek Black Friday announcement, including everything from Kirby and Donkey Kong to Zelda, Mario, and more, with deals scheduled to go live today at various retailers. You can expect much of the discounts to be available in both digital and physical form and we will breakdown all of the Nintendo Switch Black Friday game deals going live today down below.
The new Bluey Xbox console is a must-see. While it’s not a Black Friday deal, it is one of the sweetest and most adorable Xbox console designs we have seen yet. Just after getting a closer look at the first edible chocolate Xbox controller and Willy Wonka console, Xbox is back at it again with another special edition console. And this time it’s all about Bluey! But you’re going to have to head below for the details to stand a chance at actually scoring the new console for yourself.
Happy Super Mario RPG release day folks! While the Nintendo Black Friday deals are likely top priority for many gamers, we would like to take a minute to celebrate the re-release of Nintendo’s beloved RPG starring the iconic mustache’d hero and friends. The game has received rock solid praise from critics and it will soon be out in the wild for everyone (if it isn’t already) to enjoy! While the game might be one of the only Nintendo Switch titles that won’t see a deal for Black Friday (other than maybe the new Super Mario Wonder), there is still a way to grab it for less if you haven’t yet.
It’s time to take stock on the best Black Friday smart TV deals. We have already detailed the Apple, Google, PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox offers (some of which are already live), but Black Friday TV deals are always a big deal and there’s going to be tons of them this year. Featuring price drops from Samsung, LG, Hisense, Sony, Amazon’s in-house offerings, and a host of major doorbuster deals on budget-friendly solutions, the deals will be launching in staggered fashion and we have tried to make sense of the most important stuff down below – alongside some offers that are already live right now. Head below for a closer look at the best Black Friday smart TV deals that are both on the way and now available for purchase.
Today we are taking a closer look at Spigen’s latest affordable MagSafe charging stand. The new Spigen ArcField Dual debuted shortly before the launch of its epic iMac-style iPhone 15 MagSafe case as another piece of notable bang for your buck tech for folks not looking to spend over $100 or more for a desktop or nightstand charging station. Ready to support your StandBy habits and daily desktop charging needs, we have been putting the new ArcField Dual through its paces over the last couple weeks to see if it was actually worth spending the $40 on it or not. Head below for the latest entry in the Tested with 9to5Toys series to find out.
The new PowerThru 2-in-1 Charging Stand has arrived. CASETiFY might be best known for its iPhone cases, especially the crossover campaigns like the new Disney Villains and sweet Chainsaw Man models we reviewed recently, but it has now introduced its new MagSafe stand. CASETiFY says the new PowerThru 2-in-1 Charging Stand is the “first dual-charging stand that can be ordered in different designs.” While I’m not sure that’s entirely true, it is one of the only options I have seen available with all of the wild styles CASETiFY has up for grabs, from the Game Boy-like look to floral patterns, this adorable duck model, and much more. Now available for purchase directly from the official site, you can get a closer look at what the new CASETiFY MagSafe stand has to offer.
The new Petcube Cam 360 has now been unveiled. Petcube has been offering up some of the more affordable dedicated smart pet camera systems for a while and its brand new release is now available for purchase with a solid launch deal. While we are expecting to see some big-time deals on its previous-generation models for Black Friday in the coming days, the brand new Petcube Cam 360 is here and is already on sale right now at just over $40 shipped. Head below for all of the details.
Just after detailing the Microsoft Store offers, the official Xbox Black Friday deals have now been unveiled. After getting the details on the Nintendo and PlayStation offers, it’s time for the Xbox Black Friday deals. Microsoft has now taken to the official Xbox Wire to detail this year’s official offers and you’ll find all of the details waiting down below.
The Microsoft Store Black Friday deals have now been unveiled, many of which will start tomorrow. In year’s past the Microsoft Store offers have dished up some of the better deals on the latest Microsoft Surface laptops as well as a host of worthwhile deals on the Xbox console side of things (although we are still waiting on the official Xbox game offers to some degree), and 2023 is no exception. There will be up to $800 in savings going live on Surface laptops starting tomorrow alongside some notable Xbox Series X and Series S console deals, bundle offers, and Xbox controller discounts as well. Head below for a closer look at the official upcoming Microsoft Store Black Friday deals.
PNY is next out of the gate with some hyper-fast new Gen5 internal SSDs by way of today’s announcement of its new CS3150 M.2 NVMe models. While we have featured Crucial T700 Gen5 solutions a number of times around here thus far, PNY is looking to give them a run for their money with its latest heatsink-equipped solutions that deliver up to 12,000MB/s speeds and unique extreme cooling specs as well. Head below for a closer look at the new PNY CS3150 Gen5 internal SSD models.
We are now closing in on the beginning of the best Black Friday gaming deals from Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox so it’s time to take stock of what’s live and what’s to come. This year’s sales have already started on the Nintendo and PlayStation side of things, and things are scheduled to ramp up again starting this Friday in an official capacity. The Black Friday ad scans haven’t been overly helpful but we have scoured the webs, official announcements, and more to gather up some details on the best PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox offers that are set to go live in the coming days and next week. Head below for a closer look at the best Black Friday gaming deals from Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
While we await the upcoming Nintendo Black Friday deals (details on those are right here), we are taking a quick break for today’s Nintendo Switch Indie World showcase. While most folks are still exploring the Flower Kingdom in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (hands-on review right here) ahead of the launch of the Super Mario RPG remake this Friday and awaiting many of the upcoming releases featured in the last major Nintendo Direct event, it’s now time for a look at some of the major indie releases headed to the platform. Head below to follow along with today’s Nintendo Switch Indie World showcase.
After featuring and going hands-on with Samsung’s top-of-the-line 200MB/s models, today Lexar is announcing its new Professional GOLD microSDXC cards that can reach speeds up to 280MB/s. While the standard issue models ranging from around 130MB/s up to 200MB/s tend to be more than enough for most casual users, Lexar is targeting content creators, filmographers, drone pilots, and action cam enthusiasts with its new speedy Professional GOLD lineup. Now available for purchase starting from $40 shipped, you can get more details and a closer look down below.
The brand new Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD has arrived. After the launch of its first USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 T9 model in October, this time it is all about capacity over speed. Offering up a far more tame solution in terms of transfer rates, the T5 EVO Portable SSD has the “largest storage capacity of any Samsung portable SSD” and is being positioned as a replacement upgrade for folks still using more economic external HDDs, but the prices are going to have to come down before that becomes a reality for most users. We received an advance unit of the new Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD ahead of today’s unveil to give it a run for its money – our hands-on impressions and all of the details are waiting down below.
Sony has now taken to its official blog to unveil annual the PlayStation Black Friday deals preview. After getting a look at the official Nintendo Black Friday deals sneak peek last week, it’s now time for PlayStation. This morning also brought with it the 2023 PlayStation holiday gift guide, so let’s keep the ball rolling with the official details on what’s on the way for Black Friday from the PlayStation camp. Head below for the details.
Ever wanted a chocolate Xbox controller? Well you now have a chance to win an official one. Joining some early Black Friday offers on Series X with a FREE game or a $50 price drop and gift card offer, Microsoft is getting into the holiday spirit in a delicious way with the announcement of the “first ever official edible chocolate Xbox controller and Wonka-inspired console.” In partnership with the new Warner Bros. Pictures’ film “Wonka,” Xbox is looking to celebrate the return of the “world’s greatest confectioner” with a uniquely delectable gaming experience. Head below for a closer look.
While the new Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 Slim alongside the Call of Duty Modern Warfare III PS5 slim bundles are now live at $500, not to mention the live Black Friday DualSense controller deals, Sony has now unleashed its official 2023 holiday gift guide. Looking to give PlayStation gamers a good look at the entire scope of gear it has on tap this holiday, there might not be specific deals mentioned here, but it does hint at what could be on sale (that isn’t already) in the coming weeks (or sooner). Head below for a look at the 2023 PlayStation holiday gift guide.
The main event is still a couple weeks away but the PlayStation 5 Black Friday deals are kicking off today. We have already detailed the upcoming Walmart offers scheduled to go live later this month, but it will be the first out of the gate with PlayStation 5 Black Friday deals. Slated to go live today, while the PlayStation 5 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Console Bundle is already live at several retailers including Amazon, Walmart is scheduled to have the first notable deal on the console today alongside what will be the very first DualSense controller Black Friday deal with a solid $20 in savings. Head below for a closer look and more details.
Update: Alongside the new Super Mario Party bundle below, Nintendo has now also unveiled a new upcoming Super Mash Bros. console package. The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate bundle will be arriving on November 19, 2023. It includes the Nintendo Switch — OLED Model, a digital version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership at $349.99.
This bundle has everything you need to have a smashing good time on Nintendo Switch, including a Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system and two Joy-Con controllers featuring a design inspired by the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game. Plus, enjoy an added $67.98 value with a download code for the full Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership.
After recently going hands-on with the brand’s gorgeous M3 MacBook-ready leather and wool felt magnetic sleeve as well as its luxurious leather backpacks, we thought it was time we gave the Harber London leather iPhone 15 sleeves a run for their money. Available in a range of styles and colors, Harber London has decided to side-step the usual case form factor altogether, instead offering up a series of premium leather sleeves for your latest Apple device to rest in. And as beautiful as they indeed are, the real question is whether or not that sleeve form factor is going to work for your needs anyway. Head below for our hands-on review of the new Harber London leather iPhone 15 sleeves.
