News

LEGO today is announcing its latest double points promotion. Hoping to bring shoppers over from Amazon’s fall Prime Day event going live next week, the LEGO Group will be launching a sale of its own that doubles the amount of promotional Insiders points (formerly VIP points) you get on every purchase. Running from October 10 through 15, we break down the event below.

Samsung is now bringing its SmartThings smart home platform to existing devices. Retroactively revealing that many of its new releases from throughout 2023 are now able to be turned into hubs, your existing TVs, sounders, and monitors might already be equipped with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee bridge support.

Nanoleaf today is the latest company to get in on smart Christmas lights. Its new Matter-enabled string lights sport multicolor output and work with Siri and HomeKit as well as Alexa and Assistant.

Positive Grid is well known around here for its smart guitar amps that double as recording interfaces and Bluetooth speakers, but today the brand is cranking it up with the new Spark CAB. The smart Spark amps come in various sizes and shapes – we previously went hands-on with the tiny Go model as well as the Spark MINI and loved both of them – but today Positive Grid is unveiling the new Spark CAB add-on to deliver some serious power to its existing lineup (and just about anything else you plug into it). Head below for a closer look at to score a deal on your pre-order. 

Today, Sony is officially introducing Sony Pictures Core for PS4 and PS5. The new service launches on both generations of consoles starting today to deliver “exclusive benefits and early access to a host of Sony Pictures films to PlayStation gamers.” This is esentially an official rebranding of the Bravia Core app that will soon make the switch over to Sony Pictures Core sometime next year on the brand’s displays but will launch on PS4 and PS5 starting today with some special perks including access to rotating collection of movies to stream FREE for Premium and Deluxe PS Plus members. Head below for more details. 

Leica is now back with a second-generation of its instant camera. The new Sofort 2 debuts seven years after Leica launched the first version, taking all of that time to deliver a refreshed hybrid instant camera with 4.9MP sensor, Bluetooth, and the company’s signature stylish design.

Update: Most of the new colorways are now available for purchase on Amazon. 

MUJJO is delivering some of the better leather iPhone cases for this year’s models, and it has now updated its leather MagSafe wallet collection to go along with them. I enjoyed my time with the brand’s new iPhone 15 cases – they are easily in the top three best leather models this year so far – and now it’s time to detail the latest additions to its leather MagSafe wallet collection. The brand introduced some new colorways to its case lineup for 2023, and now it has done the same with the magnetic wallets. Take a closer look below.  

The rumors were true! Back in August, 9to5Toys was able to report that we’d be seeing a collection of LEGO Animal Crossing sets coming out in 2024, and today the LEGO Group is offically announcing that partnership with Nintendo.

Late last month, Bowers & Wilkins revealed a new pair of on-ear headphones with the debut of the Px7 S2e. These debut as a more marginal improvement to the standard 2S pair from last year, all while offering some worthwhile improvements along the way. Now after a recent trip and some flight time, I think I’ve found the modern replacement to AirPods Max I’ve been searching for.

Moment is getting in on the Google event day action with the reveal of its latest covers. The new Moment Pixel 8 and 8 Pro cases debut with the usual grippy, photography-focused designs we’ve come to expect, including support for the Moment smartphone lenses. Magnetic features are available for using MagSafe mounts and other accessories, and there’s also a launch discount.

SANDMARC is launching its brand iPhone magnification lens today, known as the Microscope. The brand might make my personal favorite leather iPhone cases and the most beautiful steel and titanium Apple Watch bands I’ve ever had the chance to review, but it really did cut its teeth in the iPhoneography world. It continues to ship its gorgeous metal lens connectors on the back of its pro-grade iPhone 15 cases, alongside a slew of new releases in its lens attachment lineup, with the latest coming in the form of the new Microscope Lens. The lens is said to deliver 40x magnification in the palm of your hand (or even more with iPhone 15 Max Pro); you can get a better idea of what it’s capable of and a notable exclusive deal on pre-orders down below. 

Next up in the run of 2023 official special edition Xbox controllers is the new Gold Shadow. It has been a busy year for fresh coats of paint on the current-generation wireless Xbox gamepad, last time we checked in Microsoft was unveiling the Astral Purple model after the debut special edition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles controllers and the smokey blue wireless LE Stormcloud Vapor before that, but now it’s all about the new moody gold treatment. Head below for a closer look at the now available for pre-order Gold Shadow Xbox wireless controller. 

Update 1/24/24: Nintendo has now announced it will officially shut down the Wii U and 3DS online services by 7 a.m. ET April 8, 2024. 

…as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.

Get more details right here. 

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U online support is going away for good. We previously reported on the permanent closure of the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS shops, and it looks like online services for both platforms are now on the way out as well. It’s always sad to see the end of an era and Nintendo has now officially announced that “online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software.” That means that starting in spring of next year, just about all online action on these platforms using Nintendo’s servers will be no more. Head below for more details. 

OtterBox just launched its new iPhone 15 cases like it does every year. But to pair with Apple’s latest, the company had a little something extra in store with the new watercolor-inspired series. I’ve been daily driving these new Figura iPhone 15 cases recently and have to say that these might just be some of OtterBox’s best.

Plugable today is launching a new Thunderbolt 4 dock. Sporting ten ports to expand your desktop workstation, the new release is seeing a launch discount at Amazon to make for an even more affordable upgrade. It comes complete with full USB4 compatibility, 2.5GbE, and 100W host charging.

The Samsung T-series portable SSDs are some of the most popular pieces of tech around these here parts and the new, next-generation Samsung T9 Portable SSDs have now arrived! Samsung said the new T9 models are its very first portable SSDs featuring a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface with speeds up to 2,000MB/s – that’s nearly double as fast as the T7 Shield we reviewed and still use to this day. Samsung says they feature a “stylish and portable design” built to keep data safe while on-the-go. Now already available for purchase via the official Amazon storefront in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities, you’ll find everything you need to know about the new Samsung T9 Portable SSDs below. 

After the debut of its white model noise-cancelling PlayStation and Xbox Arctis Nova headsets, SteelSeries is back again today with its brand-new microphones for gamers. Officially known as the Alias and Alias Pro streaming microphones for gamers, SteelSeries is touting a purpose-built design here specifically made to tailor to gamers that “get animated, move around their gaming setups and battlestations, shout with unbridled excitement and enthusiasm, narrate gameplay, and tell stories with style and personality.” Both the SteelSeries USB Alias and XLR Alias Pro mics for gamers are now available for purchase, and you’ll find all of the details down below. 

WarioWare is about to make its Nintendo Switch debut. It’s been quite awhile since Mario’s evil counterpart got some time in the spotlight, and now the chaotic character is bringing his unique brand of microgames to the Switch for one of the first times. Head of time, I got a chance to see what all the fuss was about for WarioWare Move It before the title arrives next month.

Today, at the Overwatch League Grand Finals 2023, we got a first official look at the new map, Samoa. Marking the latest area to join the game, Overwatch 2 will be traveling to the Polynesian island in order to deliver the latest Control map.

After a thrilling sixth season, the Overwatch League comes to a close for 2023. Today, the action ends as the playoffs transition into the Grand Finals. Taking a physical stage here in Toronto, Canada, the Overwatch League 2023 playoffs have boiled down eight teams into an epic showdown between the Florida Mayhem and Houston Outlaws.

The new Casely Beatles iPhone 15 cases launch today and we have an exclusive 30% off using the code below. The brand has become known for its official crossover designs, ranging from the Grateful Dead to models featuring famous works of classical art in tandem with The Met, but today it’s all about John, Paul, George, and Ringo with its latest iPhone 15 Beatles cases. So come together down below with a little help from our friends at Casely to scope out the new Beatles iPhone 15 cases – your guitar won’t be the only thing gently weeping if you let them sell out before you get a chance to bring one home. 

October is here and delivering a fresh batch of new LEGO sets for 2023. Ringing in the year with the largest Star Wars set, we’re seeing the launch of the all-new UCS Venator joined by some more festive creations and more.

Solé Bicycles, a prominent Venice Beach lifestyle bicycle brand, is announcing its new e-24 electric bike. Now available for pre-order, this is the company’s first venture into the realm of electric vehicles, remaining dedicated to its traditional clean and minimalist designs in order to create an environmentally-friendly transport solution that offers both style and performance.

Following the wired MMX 100 and 150 gaming headsets we reviewed last year, Beyerdynamic is now out with its first wireless gaming offering – the MMX 200. Packing many of the features of the USB MMX 150, the 200 adds Bluetooth and cuts the cord for a more convenient gaming experience. At $250, though, it’s up against some stiff competition. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

KeySmart has now unveiled its new Apple Find My wallet tracker known as the SmartCard. We have featured the brand around here several times, usually with its key organizers, some of which with built-in tracker tech, and now it’s time to bring some of that location tracking to your wallet. Already sold out on the brand’s official website, you still have a chance to bring Apple find My to your wallet via the KeySmart Amazon listing, but there’s no telling how long it might last. Head below for a closer look at the new KeySmart SmartCard Apple Find My wallet tracker. 

Shure today is launching a new addition to its portfolio of popular microphones. The new Shure SM7dB takes the same beloved design we’ve seen in the past and elevates it with a built-in preamp alongside some other notable improvements.

Sony is now announcing its new LinkBuds S x Olivia Rodrigo Truly Wireless Earbuds, alongside revealing its launch date. Now available for pre-order, these earbuds will include two custom EQ modes that are optimized for listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s albums GUTS and SOUR.

Amongst some of our favorite cases every year, Moment is back with its new iPhone 15 covers. Delivering some of the best iPhonegraphy cases on the market, the latest debuts continue to offer textured designs for added grip, four fun colors, and support for the next-generation T-Series lenses. There’s just one problem keeping these from being perfect…

Today, we’re getting a first look at two upcoming LEGO gift with purchases. The upcoming LEGO Magic Maze will be debuting on October 1, and is joined by the continuation of the popular Houses of the World theme with yet another freebie coming later this fall.

Revealed just last month, Anker launched a new collection of gear in anticipation of Apple’s switch to USB-C for iPhone 15. The new handsets have officially arrived with that universal port in tow, and today, we’re taking a hands-on look at what is now an essential part of my everyday carry. Meet the new Anker Nano USB-C Power Bank.

It is now time to take a closer look at the MUJJO leather iPhone 15 cases. The brand sat somewhere at the top of the heat in the category last year and is once again in 2023. With Apple’s leather covers going the way of the Dodo this year, brands like MUJJO offer up some of the only ways to wrap your new device in a proper leather cover. The same collection we reviewed last year is making a return for iPhone 15 alongside a new burgundy colorway and the all-new Shield model that combines leather and recycled plastic for a more protective option in the lineup. Head below for our hands-on review of the new MUJJO leather iPhone 15 case as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys. 

Adonit is known around here for delivering its own Apple Pencil alternatives, alongside options for Android and Windows machines, but today it is unveiling its latest, the Note+ 2. An upgrade and enhanced version of its Note+ digital writing utensil, it is described as an “advanced stylus” with three interchangeable tips, tilt recognition for tablet writing, sketching, note-taking, and more. Specifically geared towards iPad users, the new Adonit Note+ 2 Apple Pencil alternative is going up for purchase starting today and you can get a complete look at what it brings to your setup down below. 

Anker today is launching the newest addition to its stable of MagSafe power banks. This new release brings a 10,000mAh capacity to a more budget-friendly form-factor, that arrives with in one of four colors with a launch discount attached.

Check out the new Spigen C1 collection – a series of vintage iMac G3 iPhone 15 cases. While we have already detailed the main Spigen iPhone 15 case collection right here alongside some notable launch deals, the brand is reaching back in time to pull some late 90s’ iMac vibes for its new C1 lineup. Heavily inspired by the Jony Ive-designed iMac G3 with the tear-drop form-factor and translucent plastic case, the new Spigen iMac G3 iPhone 15 cases are now available for purchase via the official Spigen Amazon storefront with a solid 20% launch discount using code helloagain20 at checkout. More details below.

Roku today is launching a new bundle to bring some extra value to your home theater. The Roku Express 4K streaming media play will begin shipping next month with a Voice Remote Pro for a more complete TV upgrade.

Govee today is launching its most capable smart home lights yet. Very much sticking to the route we’ve seen in the past, you’ll find a modular design on the new Govee Glide Hexagon Ultra lights that gets amplified with even more light output and an added customization.

iPhone 15 is now here, and shoppers looking to pair their new handset with a leather case are going to be out of luck – at least if they plan on bringing home an official one from Apple. But why would you want to anyway, when Nomad is back with another edition of its popular leather case. Retaining its title of being 9to5Toys’ favorite leather iPhone case, we break down the experience below the fold.

SANDMARC has now unveiled its new leather MagSafe wallet. Anyone who reads my iPhone accessory coverage will know how much I love its leather cases – they were easily my favorite last year and almost certainly will be this year. They deliver wonderful quality Apple gear accessories, exemplified by gorgeous premium materials and it just brought all of that to its brand new leather MagSafe wallet. Now available for purchase with shipping beginning later this week, you can lock one in now with our exclusive discount code down below. 

Aer is out with its latest tech carriers today, headlined by the new Pro Kit tech organizer. The compact cable and accessory organizer joins the brand’s new Pro Brief tech bag for travel, everyday carry, and for heading to the office as the latest entries in Aer’s growing stable of bags to keep your gear organized wherever you might be. Both the new Pro Kit organizer pouch and the Pro Brief are now available for purchase in various colors from the brand’s official site, and you can get a closer look at both down below. 

After selling out pretty much instantly when it launched back in July, the LEGO Group is bringing back one of the year’s most popular gift with purchases. The Disney 100 Years Celebration set was a freebie over the summer, and now the company has brought it back. Right now, you can score this unique build for no extra cost on LEGO Disney orders over $100.

Captain Rex just made his live action debut in Ahsoka earlier in the month, and now Hasbro is ready to bring the fan-favorite Clone captain into their Black Series collection. Revealed as part of its Hasbro Pulse Con 2023 event, the new Captain Rex helmet is now available for pre-order ahead of shipping early next year.

Anker this week is now launching its latest Bluetooth speaker. The new Soundcore Motion 300 won’t be officially launching until next month – but we can at least showcase everything new this time around.

Microsoft just held its fall hardware event where some all-new Surface machines were revealed. Now they’re going up for pre-order ahead of shipping next month. With the new Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Surface Go 3 having just been showcased, we break down what’s new below the fold.

The next drop for the Nintendo Online game library has arrived with Kirby & The Amazing Mirror. Just after Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Stadium 2 landed on the service, Nintendo dug into the Japan-only archives to bring some previously-unreleased classics to the US alongside Kirby’s Star Stacker from the SNES catalogue. But this month it is reaching back to the Game Boy Advance library to deliver Kirby & The Amazing Mirror to Switch Online members. Head below for more details. 

The new Razer Huntsman V3 Pro gaming keyboards have arrived. Straight from RazerCon 2023, Razer has now unveiled its new esports-grade peripherals in the form of the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line that “offers an unmatched blend of innovation, precision, and durability.” Razer has been busy this year with new keyboard releases, expanding its BlackWidow lineup first with new V4 and V4 X models before it debuted the new 75% model, not to mention the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Gaming Headset and the Chroma RGB Kitsune arcade controller; but it’s not done quite yet. Head below for more details on the new Razer Huntsman V3 Pro keyboard lineup.