Reinette LeJeune

Welcome to the second edition of our new 9to5Toys Travel Kit series, and this time around, I’ll be heading down to the swamps of Virginia and North Carolina to visit family in the open window of my otherwise busy schedule (it probably doesn’t help that they are a solid 8 to 12 hours of driving away). There is one unfortunate hiccup, however…they are busy people too, and we’re visiting in the middle of the week. So, to keep our sanity amongst the sleepy quiet of those small towns, I’m going to be counting on these devices to fill the hours where there won’t be much going on – and some for when things are going on. Some of them are strictly must-haves on my trips, some have mixed uses for work and play, some are entirely for play, one is staying behind at home, and there’s even a surprise treat waiting for me at one of my destinations. Head below to learn about my favorite gear to keep sanity strong while in the monotonous swamps of Virginia and North Carolina.

Not long ago, my partner and I brought home a young cat (named Kraydor the Wizard Boy, FYI, and not by me) after he was having trouble getting adopted from our local shelter. Among these first few months, he has been having some…issues with using the litter box – primarily, he refused to use it if it was not immediately cleaned after every use. We had started him off with some pellets that had been recently introduced in our home to fight the odors that linger from typical litter while keeping our floors from being covered in scattered bits. After he instead began relieving himself in random places around the apartment, we tried clumping litter, as our other cat has always preferred it and it allowed Kraydor to better bury his business out of sight, and hopefully out of mind longer than his next visit. This did not work, however, so in a last ditch attempt to save our sanity from having to clean the box every few hours (he’s young and goes regularly), we instead decided to bite the bullet on Whisker’s Litter-Robot 3 Connect, a smart, self-cleaning litter box that manages the worst part of cat companionship.

Anyone who owns a car has likely been in the unfortunate situation of a dead battery at least once – especially when you really need to keep a schedule or make it to an important appointment. Sure, if you have a properly stocked garage you might have a bulky battery charger that you can regularly connect over night to keep levels juiced and ready to go, but for many – particularly city dwellers – living in limited apartment space poses a lot of obstacles to this method. Parking is first come, first serve – plus, running extension cords and leaving the charger out along the streets without staying out with it seems like the best way to have it stolen. That’s where the NOCO GB40 Boost Plus Jump Starter comes in – a portable, multi-capable device that has been an absolute life-saver for years now, particularly in the summer and winter seasons when batteries tend to be sapped by the extreme temperatures without warning. Continue reading to get my hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Welcome to 9to5Toys Electrified Weekly – the best place to find all of this week’s best deals and new releases to electrify your life and protect mother nature. Starting with EVs, there are a few sales/discounts in particular that stand out among the rest since Rad Power’s two models that were at $999 have officially sold out – but the other deals in that sale are still live! Specifically, there’s Aventon’s Pace 500.3 Step-Through e-bike that is down at $1,599 and comes with $700 in free gear, including an extra battery to double its travel range to 120 miles, as well as the other tried and true models under the brand getting discounts. Velotric has also increased its Summer Sale savings up to $1,100, with the T1 e-bike benefitting from the full amount and also getting the range extender battery to hit 100 miles in one go. There’s also the always-reliable Lectric e-bike bundle discounts too, as well as the new auto-shifting Blix Vika X Folding e-bike, and more.

It’s almost September, which means we have some new LEGO building sets dropping into the market within the first week. Unlike August’s massive 90-set release, this next month is seeing far fewer builds hitting the scene at only seven and there’s no more open pre-order pathways either, but the small group doesn’t arrive without excitement. Today we are bringing you another, however small, guide to browse and shop at your leisure. Head below for a look at all the new LEGO sets releasing in September 2024.

Last week brought us some big news and exciting reveals, like LEGO’s partnership with Nike, as well as the new Animal Crossing and Mario Kart sets that will be hitting shelves at the start of 2025. Today, we’re getting some more of the latest plans from the LEGO Group, as it has officially unveiled two upcoming Christmas Botanical builds – the 10340 Wreath and the 10370 Poinsettia – that will be dropping in the coming months well ahead of the winter holiday season. Head below for more info and collected images of what to expect.

Yesterday we got to take our first looks at the three new LEGO Animal Crossing sets and the six LEGO Mario Kart sets that will be releasing this coming January, 2025. Today, we’re getting some more big news concerning 2025 – coming from two sources: Billund, Denmark and Beaverton, Oregon – the HQs for both LEGO and Nike, which have just announced a multi-year international sports-themed partnership! Head below for more.

Hot on the heels of the latest LEGO Animal Crossing reveals from Gamescom, and also coinciding with last week’s Super Mario 71395 64 Question Mark Block set appearing on Amazon after being retired from its parent site in July, the LEGO Group is now giving us our first glimpses at six upcoming LEGO Mario Kart building sets that will be racing to market come January 2025. These new builds bring the high-octane excitement of Nintendo’s popular game off your screens, right into your hands for even more motor-revving fun. Head below for more.

We’ve got some big LEGO news for you today that comes in the form of some official reveals, following last week’s two big unveilings of the LEGO Ideas 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas set and the four upcoming LEGO Wicked sets. Today, we’re headed back to the world of Animal Crossing to get a first look at the newly added brick-built residents of Leif, Celeste, and one of the Able Sisters.

Segway has debuted a new Ninebot C2 Lite eKickscooter that is designed for kids who are just beginning their journey into the world of electric scooters. Now available for purchase, this new model is intended to be an introduction for kids to the world of micromobility, growing along beside them. Head below to learn about this new model.

Anker SOLIX is a favorite around here at 9to5Toys, and the brand is debuting two new personal backup power solutions that build upon the successes of its predecessors like the PowerCore Reserve. Officially arriving to market in two weeks, the new C300 DC/C300 power bank/stations are an ultra-portable unit that boasts first-time double charging, faster charging speeds, and even newly added output ports for expanded versatility. Head below to learn about these two new models.

Anker has its Fan Fest Mega Sale going through August 25 that is offering up to 50% discounts on a collection of power stations, bundles, and accessories. Those of you who are registered members (with sign-ups being free and taking seconds) will be able to benefit from the five bonus deals at the bottom of this landing page that are offering some truly massive packages and/or discounts, but only for a few days more! A notable inclusion here that is perfect for any regular campers and nomadic spirits is the SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station that is bundled with an expansion battery and a 400W solar panel for $2,699 shipped – plus, along with your purchase you’ll be getting an EverFrost 40 Portable Electric Cooler for free (valued at $849). Normally this bundle would run you $4,347 (without the cooler), but you’re looking at a massive $1,648 markdown that drops it lower than ever before, and with the cooler’s price thrown in, you’re looking at a massive $2,497 in savings too.

Just yesterday we got the official reveal of the highly anticipated LEGO Nightmare Before Christmas set that will be dropping next month, and let’s not forget the two newly revealed winners of the third 2023 Ideas Review round that will be getting builds in the future too. Well, the LEGO Ideas team are back with more big news as they’ve just announced the results of the If We Could Turn Back Time challenge – and we’re getting two nostalgia-packed sets sometime in the future from iconic films The Goonies and Gremlins. Head below for more.

Yesterday we got the official look at the four upcoming LEGO Wicked sets ahead of their October release alongside the movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande, and now one of the most highly anticipated sets of 2024 has just officially been unveiled as well. The LEGO Ideas 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas set will be bringing the popular stop-motion film to life right into your homes this September (but don’t worry about twisted presents running amuck and causing chaos). Head below to get the details and check out the photos too.

It’s been one hell of a month so far for LEGO fans – and we’re not even halfway through August yet! We kicked off the month with the massive wave of 90 new building sets that are now available for purchase, plus we’ve also gotten the announcement of the two winners of the third 2023 Ideas Review round and the official trailer for the upcoming LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special. Last week we got a sneak peek at the four upcoming LEGO Wicked sets – which the LEGO Group has officially unveiled today for pre-order! These colorful sets will be dropping in October just in time for the premiere of the movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande. Head below for more details and photos.

We’re just about a month away from the premiere of the new LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy special, and earlier today the official trailer was released, giving us a clearer look at the upcoming reimagining. The four-part event will be airing September 13 on Disney+ and will finally give us the full stories to some of the wild twists we’ve already seen in the two new building sets released earlier this month among the massive 90-set wave. Head below to view the official trailer.

Tonight Vanpowers will be launching its Ride & Share rewards program/promotion that can ultimately net you up to $900 off its two GrandTeton All-Terrain e-bikes if you’re lucky, but everyone can score hundreds in savings anyway.  No matter what you’re looking at a price on the GrandTeton-Pro e-bike for $1,699 shipped, and the GrandTeton-Ultra e-bike at $2,599 shipped, after starting from their $1,899 and $2,899 price tags. This will be the first available discounts on these new models that were first revealed at CES 2024, dropping by $200 or $300 in price as they become available for early-bird pre-orders. However, the rewards program sees to it that the savings continues to $600 more for the lucky few that can get their bids in quickest.

It’s been a busy and exciting start to August for LEGO fans, with the LEGO Group dropping 90 new building sets at the start of the month, following on its own heels by then introducing the 2024 seasonal Halloween and Christmas sets that will be dropping in September. Today we’re getting another big piece of news in the form of the two revealed Ideas sets that have been crowned winners of the third 2023 Review round and will be getting their official brick treatments in the foreseeable future. One of them jumps straight from beloved literature/film series Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while the other is a slice of life diorama straight out of the Italian Riviera.

August certainly started off with a big bang as LEGO released a massive wave of 90 new building sets – with plenty for builders of all interests. Among the excitement of open sales, the LEGO Group has officially revealed three upcoming 2024 seasonal sets – a Halloween diorama and two Christmas-themed decoration builds slated to drop at the very tail end of summer. Head below to learn more and browse through the collected photos.

The world (and life) moves fast and we humans can only do enough in our lives to keep up with it as best we can. One growing aspect that many are trying to find solutions to in the modern world is how to get to all our daily appointments – work, school, social events – in the most affordable and environmentally conscious way. While EVs are certainly the best current answer to the growing questions, they can often fall outside of reach for many due to costs. Solution: conversion kits, like the CLIP, which boasts the title of “the world’s first & only plug-and-play e-bike upgrade.” While many existing kits fall into the category of mountable hub motors, this device, on the other hand, uses inventive new ideas by building upon decades-old technology. That’s why I was absolutely giddy when I was first approached to test out the CLIP and visit the office here in NYC. You can continue reading below to get my hands-on impressions of this ingenious new device – and be sure to check out the short video of my ride too!

Well folks, August 1 is almost here, which means there’s plenty of brand new LEGO building sets poised to hit online shelves and ship out once the clock officially ticks over to Thursday on the East Coast. We’ve been buzzing here at 9to5Toys about the latest sets over the last few months, and now today we have this one-stop shopping index for all your brick-building needs. Head below for a looks at every new LEGO set releasing in August 2024.

It’s been a big day for LEGO fans, whether it’s the excitement for the latest LEGO Star Wars 75388 Jedi Bob’s Starfighter build or the next LEGO Super Mario World addition in the form of the 71438 Mario and Yoshi set (which is also now available for pre-order!), we’re getting plenty of our favorite non-fiction characters in our favorite brick-built format. Joining the illustrious lineup of upcoming kits is the long-awaited and now officially revealed LEGO Dungeons & Dragons 71047 minifigures that are slated for a September release, as well as an additional package option to collect them in. Head below to learn more.

Well folks, today is another day of big LEGO news and reveals, and coming in alongside the first leaked images of the new 71438 Super Mario World Mario & Yoshi set (pre-order now!), the LEGO Group has officially revealed its 75388 Jedi Bob’s Starfighter set that will be apart of the massive wave of releases coming next week. There’s plenty of new information and photos now available, coming in just short of pre-order availability. Head below to check out what this new build has to offer.

Update: Go, go, go! The new Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set is now up for pre-order directly from LEGO!! 

August is on the horizon and with it will be coming a wave of anticipated LEGO building sets, which we’ve been seeing leaks and official reveals for left and right for the last few months. After so many LEGO Star Wars news, we’re getting an unexpected change-up with a first look at new leaked images of the upcoming 71438 Super Mario World Mario & Yoshi set, courtesy of a Singaporean LEGO certified store, that is slated for an October release.

It’s been an exciting couple of months with all the latest LEGO news and reveals, and before next month arrives and drops several building sets that fans are already buzzing over, the LEGO Group has just unveiled the first wave of the highly desired LEGO Fortnite sets ahead of their October 2024 release date – and what’s best about this big reveal that’s been years in the making? The veil is being tossed off at the same time that pre-orders have been opened up!

I’m sure all of you, like us here at 9to5Toys, are getting more and more excited as the days get closer to August and its massive release of upcoming LEGO building sets, which we have been extensively covering for months now. The majority of these new builds set to launch are Star Wars additions, like the 75389 The Dark Falcon and 75393 TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-up sets or the LEGO 75398 C-3PO figure. Well, today, everyone’s favorite brick-building company has also officially started shipping out the The Force of Creativity coffee-table book ahead of next month’s launch extravaganza, and we’re here to bring you a quick rundown on what to expect.

With LEGO’s Insiders’ Days sale officially over, everyone’s favorite brick-building company has just temporarily brought back its popular LEGO D&D Mimic Dice Box GWP (gift with purchase) for LEGO Insiders who purchase the extensive Ideas 21348 Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set that first released back at the start of April. There’s also the added bonus of receiving an additional GWP set on top of the Mimic build too, so long as you make your purchase before the cut off date, which we detail below.

Running alongside its ongoing Insiders’ Days sale and following last week’s official reveal of the LEGO 41839 Message Board set, everyone’s favorite brick-building company has officially revealed its counterpart under the same family theme: LEGO 41838 Family Travel Moments build. We got a first look nearly two weeks ago when images leaked from Germany, but now this new set is coming in available for pre-order ahead of its newly designated August release with all the photos and information you could need.

As part of its ongoing Prime Day deals, the official Anker Amazon storefront is taking up to $2,699 off its lineup of power stations and solar generator bundles, like the SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station for $499 shipped. Regularly $999, we’ve seen steadily increasing discounts as 2024 goes on, kicking off the new year at $649, followed by a few repeating price cuts to $629, which saw things fall further to $609 by May. June saw the trend continue to $599, first hitting the $549 low back at the top of this month. Today’s deal is here to carve out a new all-time lowest price, giving you a solid chance to snag the device while getting $500 in savings. There are also two bundle options here you can take advantage of, both of which are hitting new lows as well – first, getting the power station along with a 200W solar panel for $799, down from $1,548, and second, instead getting the power station with a BP1000 Expansion Battery for $899, down from $1,798.

Courtesy of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Worx Aerocart 8-In-1 Yard Cart for $169.99 shipped. Normally going for $230, we haven’t seen discounts coming from Best Buy recently, but more often from Amazon, where it spent the first three months of 2024 riding along at its full price. It wasn’t until April that we saw the first discount drop costs to $172, followed by a slightly higher $179 rate in May, which also repeated last month. Today, we’re getting the lowest price of 2024 that gives you back $60 in savings – which also happens to be matched at Amazon too. This handy cart helps make the more enormous jobs around your yard and/or garden far more manageable, holding up to 300 pounds of debris. It’s been designed with 8-in-1 functionality, quickly transforming for your needs from a lightweight wheelbarrow to a yard cart, bag holder, dolly, extended dolly, cylinder carrier, rock/plant mover, or a trailer tote.

More and more engines seem to be rumbling in the LEGO garages, with everyone’s favorite brick-built company revealing the next upcoming Technic 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line set, which will join both the Technics 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht and 42172 McLaren P1 sets for an August release. Now available for pre-order on both LEGO’s direct site and Amazon, we’ve got plenty of info and pictures to share with you down below, so get your keys in that ignition and lets get moving!

Excitement is abuzz as always within the LEGO fandom, with plenty of reasons to look forward to the coming months – especially next month’s LEGO Star Wars releases! We’ve seen one new Technic kit so far in the August lineup, the 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht, and today, everybody’s brick-building company has revealed another that will join alongside it: the LEGO Technics 42172 McLaren P1 set. We’ve got plenty of info and pictures to share with you down below, with pre-orders not yet open.

Going right along with yesterday’s leaked photos of the new LEGO 41838 Travel Moments set, LEGO has officially revealed another new set that will be apart of the now confirmed family theme: The 41839 Message Board, which is eyeing an August release date. This new LEGO sub-theme is focused on family time – whether that is planning and taking trips across our globe or sending cute messages to each other to remind us that we love and are loved. We’ve got plenty of info and pictures to share with you down below, with pre-orders not yet open.

These last few weeks have been buys with plenty of LEGO news and reveals keeping excitement abuzz and now today we’re getting another first look at a new upcoming set for the nomadic spirits among you. Courtesy of German retailer, Alternate, we’re getting the first leaked images of the peculiar new 41838 Family Travel Moments set that is slated to release this coming October, and which seems to be part of a new LEGO sub-theme after seeing its unique packaging.

Courtesy of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Aiper Scuba N1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner for $509.99 shipped through the rest of the day. Normally going for $600, with a higher $700 MSRP direct from the manufacturer, this deal is already starting off $100 lower at Best Buy. This is only the second official discount that we have tracked since its release in March, with April seeing the first price cuts down to the former $550 low. Today’s deal comes in as a $90 markdown ($190 off its original MSRP) and carves out a new all-time low. It even currently beats Aiper’s website where it is discounted to a higher $650 rate.

LEGO is kicking off today’s holiday with a summer blockbuster throwback! The company has officially revealed the upcoming Ideas 21350 Jaws build set, with more photos and some new information, but no way to pre-order it yet. Coming right in the wake of the LEGO Technic 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht set’s unveiling, as well as the most recent first looks at the LEGO Star Wars 75388 Jedi Bob’s Starfighter set, this Jaws build is the 58th addition to the LEGO Ideas lineup that will make landfall a few days later than initially reported. Get more details alongside a closer look with more images down below.

We’re getting yet another first look at an upcoming LEGO Star Wars building set inspired by the Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special, going right along with our coverage of the 75389 The Dark Falcon and 75393 TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-up sets to be released in August. Courtesy of TidBricks, along with some deep diving into LEGO forums across the web, we have our first image of the 75388 Jedi Bob’s Starfighter set.

There’s been plenty of LEGO buzz of late that is certainly getting fans excited, with tons of LEGO Star Wars news and reveals alongside the most recent Technic 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht set unveiling. Today, we take a swim into the waters of LEGO Ideas, where both images and a very cute teaser trailer have been surfacing as first glimpses of the upcoming 21350 Jaws build set, including its pricing. This new set will be released alongside a variety of other LEGO kits this coming August. Get more details alongside a closer look with more images down below.

We’ve been giving you plenty of LEGO Star Wars excitement of late, and now we’re switching it up to shine a light on an upcoming addition to the LEGO Technic lineup, the 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht, which has been revealed by the company in celebration of the Americas Cup. This kit will be sailing right alongside its LEGO Star Wars counterparts to its August release date, letting builders and fans alike re-create the AC75 Yacht, the current holder, in scaled Technic format. Get more details alongside a closer look with more images down below.

June was quite the busy month in terms of LEGO news and releases, and today we’re bringing you an update on one of the most anticipated LEGO Star Wars sets coming onto the scene in just a month. The company has just revealed its new LEGO 75398 C-3PO figure building set, including its pricing, that will be released alongside a variety of other LEGO Star Wars kits this coming August. Get more details alongside a closer look with more images down below.

The LEGO Star Wars fandom has been quite abuzz this week, what with the many upcoming build sets being spotted abroad, giving us our first insights at what to expect come August. Today, we’re adding two more to our list of reveals, thanks to German retailer, Lucky Bricks, who has given us the chance to check out the 75385 Ahsoka Tano’s Duel on Peridea set alongside the 75396 Desert Skiff and Sarlacc Pit set. Head below to get a closer look at all these new kits have to offer.

Update: LEGO has officially revealed the 75392 Creative Play Droid Builder set for pre-order at $99.99 shipped.

The big reveals just keep on coming! Hot on the heels of our coverage of the upcoming LEGO Star Wars C-3PO figure, as well as the The Dark Falcon and TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-Up sets, we’ve got yet another first look for you. Courtesy of an Australian LEGO certified Store, these are the first insights into what to expect from the playful LEGO 75392 Creative Play Droid Builder set that is poised for official launch come August 1, 2024.

It’s been a week of LEGO Star Wars deals and reveals here, and just over a week after we shared the first looks at the upcoming Dark Falcon and TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-Up sets, we’re back with another first look at the next building set in the lineup. Courtesy of a LEGO certified Singaporean Store, we’re getting an early look at the new LEGO 75398 C-3PO figure building set that is slated to release on August 1, 2024.

LEGO has officially unveiled two of its upcoming LEGO Star Wars building sets that are inspired by the Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special. Now available for pre-order, both 75389 The Dark Falcon and 75393 TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-up sets are slated to release on August 1, 2024. Get more details alongside a closer look with clearer images down below.

Hot on the heels of our coverage of the two newly revealed LEGO Botanical sets by Fnac, we’ve gotten another new reveal from the French retailer that gives us our first look into two upcoming August 2024 LEGO Star Wars sets that are inspired by the Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special: the Dark Falcon set alongside a TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-Up set. You can get more details and a closer look at these new builds down below.