News

We have seen a few new releases in the portable SSD space this year, including SanDisk’s highest-capacity external desktop model  and PNY’s  rugged 2,000MB/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2 RP60, but today we are turning our attention to the latest from Lexar. Today, the brand is debuting its new Rugged ARMOR 700 Portable SSD with top-notch USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds and a design made to take a beating. Best of all, we are also now tracking a solid launch deal on the 2TB model at $45 off the MSRP. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

Finally, the Moza R3 is officially available! At just $400, it’s the cheapest direct drive sim-racing bundle officially licensed for Xbox. I reviewed the bundle back in August of 2023, but due to licensing delays with Microsoft, it wasn’t available to the mass market until today. But have my thoughts on it changed since the review? Be sure to hit the video below to check out the latest. 

One of my favorite features of iPhone is MagSafe. The way it allows a wide variety of products to seamlessly connect with iPhone using magnets is right up my alley. I also love multipurpose products that feature a compact form factor. UGREEN’s new 2-in-1 charging station appears to nail both of these things, with photos making me an immediate fan. When not in use, it’s a lightweight and pocketable square that you can quickly expand to create a magnetic charging stand for iPhone and also reveal a Qi charging pad that’s perfect for AirPods. Continue reading for more.

Well, the day has finally arrived as Sony has officially confirmed PlayStation VR2 PC support. After leaks detailing some sort of adapter to enable the long-awaited feature surfaced, Sony has now officially unveiled a new add-on allowing gamers to “expand their game library with thousands of SteamVR titles,” albeit for an extra fee and with a limited feature set. Hit the jump for more details. 

After being (sort of) unveiled last month, the new ASUS ROG Ally X PC gaming handheld is now officially available for pre-order ahead of launch on July 22. The latest portable gaming PC from the brand is indeed not a complete redesign, or a ROG Ally 2 if you will, but the brand has made some marked improvements to its design with small enhancements all over the place, a much better battery, and double the storage capacity out of the box. It would seem ASUS’ ROG unit has attempted to take in much of the criticism the original handhelds received after launch to deliver the machine some might suggest it should have in the first place. Head below for for a closer look at the specs. 

Tis’ the season for cold smoothies for breakfast and refreshing frozen margaritas after dinner. Luckily for us, magic bullet just released its most versatile and powerful blender yet – the magic bullet Combo Blender. Designed to purée, emulsify, chop, and blend in any quantity, this Combo Blender is capable of handling a wide range of recipes and ingredients. Over the years, magic bullet has debuted a handful of personal-sized and full-sized blenders that have become fan favorites. This new Combo Blender combines those two products into one and is the ideal space-saving solution for consumers who want both. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this new blender so special. 

Update: Today’s State of Play showcase served up a new gameplay trailer for Silent Hill 2 as well as the release date: October 8, 2024.

Fans of the Silent Hill series are on for treat this evening as Konami has announced the next Silent Hill Transmission showcase. It marks the first of its kind since way back in 2022 when the Silent Hill 2 remake first made an appearance alongside some spin-off titles, but today’s show will almost certainly have at least something to say about the anticipated horror experience. In fact, we are in for quite a lengthy show tonight, albeit one split between games, the upcoming film, and some other goodies, for fans of the not-so constantly long-running series. Head below for details on tonight’s Silent Hill Transmission showcase.

Update: Today’s State of Play showcase is about to begin!

It, for some reason, felt like we were going to have to wait until the big summer PlayStation showcase for the next State of Play-like broadcast, but we are now scheduled to get one. Just after the 2024 Days of Play sale went live with up to $100 off PS VR2 hardware, $50 off PS5 consoles, and up to 30% off PS Plus membership upgrades, not to mention loads of game deals, Sony has now taken to its official PlayStation Blog to officially announce the next State of Play Showcase. Head below for more details and to watch the show.

The deals have been rolling on the new M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro configurations since before they were ever released, and following closely behind were all of the cases and covers for them. We have seen some fantastic leather options from brands like Burton Goods (exclusive 20% off for 9to5 readers right here by the way), Harber London, DODOcase, and others, all of which are rounded up in our feature piece right here. But now it’s time to look at some of the more affordable options from one of our favorite budget-friendly brands, Spigen. This is a brand that has been providing solid case options for all of Apple’s gear for years at affordable prices and with a quality that hits above their pay grade. Its new Urban Fit model for Apple’s latest tablets has caught our eye and it’s now available for purchase on Amazon at just $35 for the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro. 

Just after the debut of its new M4 iPad Pro keyboard cases, Logitech is back again today to expand its lineup of MX series and Ergo gear for Mac users. We came away impressed with its last entries to its Mac portfolio, and this time around we are getting the slick new MX Keys S for Mac alongside the first combo featuring the MX Master 3S for Mac mouse and MX Palm Rest, the new MX Keys Mini for Mac, and the latest Ergo Wave Keys for Mac. All of it is now available for purchase directly from the official Logitech site and we will detail our favorites down below. 

Update: It appears things are running slightly behind at Satechi on the purchase listings, but they should be live soon.

Just after re-stocking its popular 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless MaSafe Charging Stand, Satechi is now ready to expand its pro-level hub lineup with its new Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station. Today, the brand is announcing its new Thunderbolt 4 dock complete with cross-platform compatibility and special attention to Apple silicon users, allowing for much more extensive external/additional monitor support than its previous-generation offerings by way of DisplayLink software. The new dock is available for purchase starting today and we’ll go over the specs and details down below.

SANDMARC has becomes a popular brand around here – it makes some of the most gorgeous metal Apple Watch bands and leather iPhone cases you’ll find anywhere in my opinion, but at its core, it is an iPhoneography content creation company. It specializes in iPhone lens technology and add-ons, delivering a family of gear specifically geared towards content creators. The latest of which is its updated Film Rig 2.0 mounting system compatible with the latest iPhone 15 devices (and previous-generation models) to take your visuals, and the way you shoot them, to new heights. Head below for a closer look and our exclusive launch deal for 9to5 readers. 

Okay, thanks for knocking $100 off for a limited time Sony, but where’s the PS VR2 PC support you promised? One thing, just about everyone, feels is holding the PS VR2 platform back is its required connection to a PS5. This arguably makes for a more stable experience for all users, but it needs to get PC support and, if you ask me, it needs it soon. It has been out in the wild for well over a year now, the game library still feels a bit stunted (although it is showing off new titles tomorrow), and, at least in some ways, sales are too because of it. Sony has indeed said it would take its latest virtual reality gaming platform off the leash at some point this year, and some new evidence has surfaced that it is indeed what is still happening. Check it out below. 

Any regular reader around here knows about our affinity for 8BitDo’s special penchant for modern-retro tech, be it the new Hall Effects controllers or the epic Super Buttons on its mechanical NES keyboard, and the new Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad has arrived. The Pro 18 is essentially a standalone Numpad with two modes so it can work as both a glorious retro standard calculator by way of its onboard screen or extend your Windows setup in numpad mode. Now available for pre-order at $45 ahead of release in July, you can get a closer look and more details after the jump. 

The annual PlayStation Days of play sale has now been made official, and Sony isn’t giving us much time to prepare this year. Everything starts tomorrow with big time price drops across the PlayStation verse, including everything from PlayStation 5 hardware and games through to PS VR2 offers, PS Plus upgrades, and more. Head below for a closer look before everything goes live on May 29, 2024. 

With what feels like a never ending list of robotic vacuums on the market, it’s actually quite difficult to find something that fully automates the manual labor involved in cleaning floors. Face it, there aren’t very many physical day-to-day activities that robots can actually do for us (yet), but cleaning floors is an area where there is arguably the most hope, thanks to countless companies innovating year after year.

Having spent some time with the new ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S Combo, I am more convinced than ever that we’re headed in the right direction in this product category. ECOVACS really has thought of everything with this lineup, from a robot that can vacuum and mop, to the inclusion of a powerful handheld vacuum for one-off situations, it’s incredibly versatile and ready for just about anything. I’ve tested all sorts of settings on this vacuum, and down below I’ll detail unboxing, the setup experience, app features, and overall performance of the unit.

Just about everyone who both uses a desktop computing system, be it an all-in-one iMac or otherwise, and appreciates good audio also leverages some kind of tabletop speaker system (or gigantic studio speakers on stands like I do). Likely the same number of folks also implement some kind of sound system on their smart TV home theater or gaming rig, but what about a sound bar for the desktop? That’s where the seasoned audio vets at BlueAnt and the brand’s new Soundblade desktop sound bar come into play. Featuring a (Red Dot award-winning) design made to rest beneath your computer monitor, iMac, or otherwise, the new audio device presents an arguably more elegant audio solution for the desktop that saves space, looks super clean, and, hopefully (probably) sounds great. Head below for a closer look. 

 Next up in our coverage of Turtle Beach’s latest releases is the brand-new Stealth 500 multi-platform gaming headset. At just $80, it’s the entry-level current-generation wireless headset from Turtle Beach. It features wireless and Bluetooth, is super lightweight, and packs signature audio modes like Superhuman Hearing, and I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. Be sure to watch the video below to see all of the details. 

It’s always a fun time to see leading brands come together to create something special. Solo Stove, the outdoor lifestyle brand that pioneered smokeless fire pits, and WhistlePig Whiskey, a leading independent craft whiskey, have created a new limited-edition barrel-aged whiskey – CampStock Wheat Whiskey. To celebrate its release, special edition Solo Stove x WhistlePig Campfire Bundles are available on the SoloStove site – perfect for gifting or treating yourself this summer. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this collaboration unique. 

In our continued coverage of our (my personal) favorite AirTag accessory maker, Elevation is back again today with its latest, the new AirTag Cat Collar Mount. The brand already makes wonderful, waterproof dog collar AirTag mounts your furry friends can swim with, but this time around it is focusing on your more graceful domestic felines (and small pups too). The latest addition to the brand’s growing TagVault lineup is now available for purchase for sweet little fur babes with a sweet little launch deal to boot. Hit the jump for a closer look at latest AirTag collar mount for cats.  

We previously had a chance to go hands-on with the first iteration of Journey’s 2023 Apple Find My wallet, but the brand just launched a new one. While both remain in the lineup, the latest edition of Journey’s MagSafe Find My card holder adds some extra storage into the mix for a slight up-charge and joins the passport-ready form-factor to complete the EDC LOC8 lineup. As per usual with Journey, the brand is also offering a notable launch deal on its latest release with code LAUNCH20  at checkout. Hit the jump or more details. 

You don’t have to be a chef to know that the equipment we cook with and cook on matters. For almost 150 years since its inception, John Boos has been the go-to cutting board and butcher block brand for everyone from celebrity chefs to home chefs. Tis the season for backyard dinner parties, Father’s Day gift shopping, and more. Let’s take a closer look at the high-quality, performance-driven equipment John Boos is known for. 

Well it might not be quite as exciting as what some are calling the AirPods Max killers Sonos just officially debuted and put up for pre-order, but the lauded audio brand has now officially launched its new Roam 2 speaker as well. The new Roam 2 speaker seems to take just about everything anyone loved from the original and adds some quality of life improvements along the way – it does away with that odd Sonos app requirement of the first one apparently (more on this below). It is now available for purchase at $179, and we’ll dive into the details after the jump. 

Tarnished preparing to (die) embark on the Land of Shadow finally got a first look at the highly-anticipated new Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree expansion back in February, and they will again today. Elden Ring was a runaway hit (among gamers that love the FromSoft vibe and like to be punished around every turn….it is incredible), and the company’s long-awaited DLC expansion for the game is quickly approaching with a launch set for June 21, 2024. Today, BANDAI NAMCO is readying its YouTube channel to premiere our next good look at the expansion with the debut of the official Story Trailer. It will go live at 10:55 a.m. ET (there’s a short countdown ahead of time, so likely 11 a.m.), and you can follow along down below. 

Things are getting a little crazy in the lightweight gaming mouse market. Today, the Turtle Beach Burst II Air is officially available. Weighing in at just 47g, Burst II Air is one of if not the lightest gaming mice from a big-name brand that I can think of. With the recent Viper V3 Pro weighing in at 54g, is the $99 Burst II Air a worthwhile alternative? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

While this isn’t the first of its kind, it might be the best version of a MagSafe wallet made to look like Apple’s iconic macOS folder icon yet. Caseology, a Spigen sister brand based out of California, is now ready to unleash its new Folder Pop MagSafe wallet onto die-hard Mac users everywhere. The new Caseology Folder Pop is an animal-friendly vegan leather MagSafe wallet made to look almost exactly like those little soft blue folders we have all been staring at on our Mac displays for more years than I can count. It comes in four flavors and is now available for purchase via the brand’s official Amazon storefront starting from $24 Prime shipped. Head below for a closer look at the new macOS folder icon MagSafe wallets. 

The Mokibo Fusion Keyboard 2.0 is looking to streamline you’re on-the-go iPad typing setup with a clean third-party solution that has a very special trick up its sleeve (or beneath its keys). There are times when having to lug around a mouse to transform your iPad or tablet into more a proper workstation can be cumbersome or just overall annoying (tight spaces, small work surfaces, extra kit to carry, and so on), but the new Fusion Keyboard 2.0 delivers an all-in-on typing solution set within a folio style case that also hides a trackpad of sorts directly under the keys. Take a look below. 

ECOVACS has been a major player in the robotic cleaning game for a long while, and remains one of our favorites. I just recently had a chance to go hands-on with one of the brand’s latest flagship solutions, the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Combo – an all-in-one robotic cleaning system with auto-empty and auto mop washing, alongside an included hand vacuum, and it is simply fantastic…the best one I’ve tested out yet. But today, the brand is ready to officially unveil its next release known as the ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S Combo, a cleaning system designed to deliver much of the same amenities and technological advancements of the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Combo at a lower price point with even more power and some interesting Apple Watch and iOS integrations. Now available for purchase on Amazon with up to $150 in savings, you can get a breakdown of the DEEBOT T30S below. 

Enbrighten is setting the vibes for Eternity with the latest expansion to its smart lighting lineup. One trend we have been seeing among smart home lighting brands over the last several months is the release of smart permanent outdoor lighting – app- and voice-controlled lighting sets designed to be installed on the outside of your home or in outdoor spaces that are made to stay there, year-round. Many of which are geared towards delivering ambiance of all sorts, from soft white illumination to vibrant and colorful themed vibes for the holidays, and the latest comes by way of the new Enbrighten Eternity Lights. Now available for purchase, all of the details are waiting down below. 

Nintendo is taking it way back with its latest additions to the Switch Online game library, and I mean way back, like late ‘80s back. After seeing a slew of classic Mario titles land on the service for Mario 2024, followed by the previously unreleased in North America Wrecking Crew ’98, Nintendo is finally ready to bring the original Super Mario Game Boy experience to Switch Online members everywhere. Super Mario Land, alongside Baseball – a game so old, it’s just called Baseball – and Alleyway, are now live on Switch Online as part of Nintendo’s celebration of 35 years of Game Boy. Head below for more details. 

We have already seen some gorgeous new cases and covers for Apple’s soon-to-be unleashed M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air models, more specifically from Burton Goods and DODOcase, but we aren’t done yet. One of my personal favorite high-end leather Apple gear accessory makers is Harber London, and its collection of cases is now ready to house your new iPad. We have already started our roundup of the best M4 iPad Pro and M2 Air cases, but you can bet the latest from Harber London will be landing in there before long. Head below for a closer look at the handcrafted full-grain leather from the brand. 

Some of the best M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air cases have arrived and we are here to take a closer look. Apple’s M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air are just days away from being loaded up and shipped across the country, and now it’s time to look at some accessories for them. Pre-order deals have already arrived on both the M4 Pro and Apple’s latest-generation iPad Air, not to mention a slight price drop on its new iPad Magic Keyboard Case for the M4 pro-grade tablet, but some of our favorite brands have now unleashed their latest offerings as well. From the best leather M4 iPad Pro covers (Burton Goods we are looking at you), to the latest premium DODOcase models, keyboard models from Logitech, and the first first-party magnetic Smart Folios, some of the best cases, covers, and keyboards are here with more to come soon. Head below for our roundup of the best M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air cases. 

Update: The new Assassin’s Creed Shadows world premiere trailer is here and waiting for you below. Pre-orders are now live ahead of the November 15th release date.

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows from $70 ($80 value) with FREE lithographs
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows from $70 with Sekiryu Character Pack
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gold Edition from $110 – play 3 days early
  • Also includes Season Pass
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gold Edition $140 ($160 value) – play 3 days ear
  • Also includes Season Pass Shadows Displate Metal Poster

It won’t be long now until we get our first good look at the next major installment in the long-running Ubisoft stealth-action-RPG-parkour series (or whatever it is these days), Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to debut this week. And by debut, I mean Ubisoft has now scheduled a May 15 launch for the Official Cinematic World Premiere Trailer for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Head below for more details. 

Another one of our favorite iPad and iPhone accessory makers is now ready to serve up its new offering for Apple’s M4 iPad Pro and the M2 iPad Air. The pre-orders are now live on Apple’s latest iPad models, and if you’re looking to secure a new case to stow one in, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the DODOcase offerings. Unlike some brands, that just retrofit previous-year’s designs for the Apple releases, DODOcase has done all of that while also going back to the design table to craft up a new model, the English Bridle Leather iPad Case. Its entire lineup of new covers for the M4 iPad Pro and the next-generation iPad Air are now up for grabs, and you can get a closer look down below at its latest. 

Every once in a while (actually typically more often than that) we bump into a piece of gear or a new gadget that just catches our eye. And the new Morel BIGGIE speaker is definitely one of those things. It’s tough for Bluetooth and wireless speakers to stand out these days (or ever really) – it either has to have some cool tech, proven audio performance, or a look that just makes you click through for closer inspection. Well, I haven’t heard the new Morel BIGGIE in person (yet) and it doesn’t appear to be loaded with the latest smarts, but man does it look sweet. Head below to get a closer look for yourself alongside more details. 

I love the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – it’s absolutely packed with premium features that make it work in a wide variety of scenarios across multiple platforms. My only complaint in my original review was that the ANC nubs in the earcups were too prominent and ruined the comfort for me. Now in 2024, SteelSeries has released a white version of the $350 premium multi-platform gaming headset with much smaller ANC nubs! So it should be perfect now, right? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

The new ASUS ROG Ally second-generation handheld is imminent, and today’s is likely the day we get some hard details. The original and currently available handheld isn’t perfect, but it is pretty solid as well as being one of the more affordable models on the market (it has regularly gone on sale like it is right now at $400). After an announcement something new would hit in 2024 alongside a teaser thereafter, including what appeared to be an image of the next-generation model a couple days ago, the brand looks to be set to stream (some of) the details today! Head below to follow along. 

Apple’s new iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2 models are now up for pre-order everywhere, and that means the cases, covers, and keyboards are flooding in too. The Apple Apple iPad Magic Keyboard Case has arrived with a $300 pre-order list, but we have also featured some more affordable cases from ESR as well as the gorgeous new Burton Goods leather models at 15% off for those that don’t want the built-in typing. And now it’s time for the latest from ZAGG. A mainstay around here in the Apple gear accessory business, it has now unleashed a pair of new covers for the iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2 tablets. Scope out the details below. 

Just after taking a look at the brand’s new M3 MacBook Air cases, it’s now time to wrap your upcoming new iPad Pro M4 or M2 iPad Air is some Burton Goods full-grain leather. The brand has now unleashed its range of new cases for Apple’s latest iPads in two flavors, the Magnetic Leather Case and the Magic Keyboard Leather Case, to support a complete typing and desk-on-the-go setup. Both models are available for all sizes of the new tablets and come along with solid 15% pre-order discounts in the cart ahead of the mid-June delivery date. Head below for a closer look and to learn more about these leather iPad Pro M4 cases. 

Update: Nintendo has released a new video with a closer look at the epic Deluxe physical set, you’ll find it below.

Today, Nintendo unveiled what’s next for its World Championships and it’s all about speed. The new Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was unveiled today, delivering a collection of bite-size speed running challenges spanning some of its most classic and beloved retro titles. The new collection for Switch is looking to make you The Wizard and bring the epic Nintendo World Championships to your home console. Set for release this July in both digital and physical form (seen above) for Switch, get a closer look a the new Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition below. 

With so many air fryers on the market, major brands are stepping up with new and exciting ideas. Ninja, a household name in kitchen appliances, just released the first stacked 2-basket air fryer that can simultaneously cook up to four foods. Its space-saving design also has one of the highest capacities on the market, coming in at 10 quarts. The Ninja DoubleStack Air Fryer is the first of its kind and is sure to turn some heads. Let’s look at what sets this air fryer apart from the rest. 

Today, PreSonus is ready to unveil its next-generation audio interfaces. The new PreSonus Quantum Audio Interfaces are debuting today as the brand’s latest solution for sound makers, guitar players, and even podcasters looking to bring some solid quality audio into their system. PreSonus had a big year in 2023, releasing some of our favorite new desktop speakers and studio monitors across a spectrum of price ranges, from the wonderful entry-level Eris option right through to the pro-grade models, and we loved our hands-on time with them – they were an easy pick for our 2023 Favorite Things list. Fast forward to 2024, and now the brand is aiming its focus on the analog to digital and back again interface space. Head below for more and a closer look at the new PreSonus Quantum Audio Interfaces. 

Update: Pricing has now dropped even lower on the new vintage iMac G3-style MagSafe wallets to $26.99 Prime shipped.

Remember last year when Spigen debuted its epic vintage iMac-style cases for iPhone 15? Well it’s back with new matching MagSafe wallets for folks looking to bring the Jony Ive design-inspired translucent Apple vibes to the back of your iPhone. The new Spigen Classic C1 (MagFit) Magnetic Wallet Card Holder is now available for purchase on the brand’s official Amazon storefront with a series of perfectly matching colors at $28.99 shipped each, down for the $33 launch price. Check them out here and you’ll find more details below. 

Today, SanDisk is debuting its highest-capacity external desktop solid state drive yet. The new SanDisk Desk Drive – a sort of desktop hard drive-like product, but with a solid-state storage system on the inside. WD is marketing the new drive as such, delivering a desktop SSD that forgoes the compact form-factor of the mainstream portable SSDs for a large capacity solution that requires a power cable. Now available for purchase at select retailers, you can dive into the details down below.