Reviews

It’s now time to take a hands-on look at the Peak Design Everyday iPhone 14 fabric case. We were impressed with last year’s models and have now had a chance to put the iPhone 14 variant to the test. It is once again employing the textile treatment while combining magnetic and mechanical accessory connection systems, but is it worth dropping the $40+ down over some of the more affordable options out there. Head below for all of the details in our latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

Ubisoft’s long-awaited sequel to the Mario and Rabbids franchise, Sparks of Hope, is officially launching today. Delivering a fresh take on turn-based tactics gameplay that fuses in a compelling story with open-world exploration, the Game of the Year contender arrives as one of the most enjoyable Switch titles in a long time that is easily worth your consideration.

Originally announced back toward the end of September, Intel’s latest 13th Generation processors are now officially here. We’ve spent the past few days with them, running both the i5-13600K and i9-13900K through its paces to see if they could best AMD’s Ryzen 7000 lineup to help you decide what your next system should be. While our testing is far from over, there are a lot of interesting tidbits that separate Intel and AMD this time around.

The 2022 Incipio iPhone 14 case collection arrived just hours after Apple unveiled its latest models. It features enhanced versions of its mainstay designs, including the Organicore model featured here today as well as some new entries like the more niche Forme variant with nature-inspired designs. The brand has been dishing up notable covers for Apple’s iPhones for years with a focus on an environmentally-friendly approach as of late, and now it’s time to give its Organicore iPhone 14 case a run for its money in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

Tile is best known for its Bluetooth item trackers, the Mate, wallet card-style Slim, and the Pro variant, many of which we went hands-on with previously, but the brand updated its lineup with the new Lost and Found Labels last month. These low-tech QR-coded labels are essentially custom-encoded stickers that help to track down misplaced items, and we have now had a chance to go hands-on with them for a couple of weeks to see what they are all about. Head below for our review of the new Tile Lost and Found Labels as part of our ongoing Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

In noisy gaming environments, ANC, or active noise cancellation, can help to knock out background noise and keep the focus on the game. I relied heavily on it during the heat of the past summer. And while we’ve seen plenty of high-end headsets with ANC come out this year, like Sony Inzone H9 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the Alienware AW920H offers a similar spec sheet at a lower price. At $200 is the Alienware AW920H a good option for a more affordable ANC gaming headset? Be sure to hit the video below to see our dive into the good and the bad of this gaming headset. 

While gaming headsets are getting better and more options are available, if you already have a good pair of headphones, there is another way to get clear communications with teammates. The ModMic lineup augments a pair of headphones by attaching a microphone on the earcup. We got our hands on every ModMic available. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear how they perform. 

Update: We are are now tracking a new all-time low on the OWC Envoy Pro Mini USB-C + USB-A 10Gb/s Portable SSD flash drive with the 1TB variant now at $149 shipped – the 500GB model is still at $99. Regularly $179 and $109, these prices are the lowest we have tracked.

After launching a few months back, we’ve now had a chance to get a closer look at OWC’s new Envoy Pro mini SSD. Delivering one of the more compact and high-performance models on the market, we couldn’t wait to get our hands-on the new Envoy. The brand has been well-known for creating some of the more notable storage devices out there for a while now, and the machined aluminum housing as well as the overall attention to aesthetic details on its latest miniature flash drive-sized solid-state immediately caught our eye. Head below for our hands-on Tested with 9to5Toys review for more details on the user experience. 

We are ready to weigh in on the Bellroy iPhone 14 cases. More specifically the company’s eco-tanned leather models as well as the optional modular wallet system they support. Bellroy has been landing in our roundup of the best iPhone 14 cases for a couple years now, and has once again found its way in there this year. These cases are easily among my favorites in the price range. But, do they have what it takes for you to dish out the $55 or more it’ll take to wrap your new iPhone 14 in one? Head below for a hands-on review of the new Bellroy iPhone 14 cases in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

SK hynix has been around the block for quite some time in the storage and PC hardware space. Lately, the brand has been going big on NVMe drives, and the SK hynix P41 and P31 M.2 models are among its top sellers. We’ve spent the last few weeks with SK hynix’s latest SSDs and found them have great performance for the price.

Next up in our run of reviews on covers for Apple’s latest handsets is the Pelican iPhone 14 Kevlar Shield case. Easily one of the standouts in the Pelican lineup for me, it is looking to deliver an ultra-protective solution with a unique case construction, a few interesting design details, and the included belt holster included in the package. Now available for all iPhone 14 models, we have also spotted a notable price drop on the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models. Head below for our hands-on review of the new Pelican iPhone 14 Kevlar Shield case in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

At long last, Overwatch 2 has finally arrived. After the original Blizzard team-based shooter closed its virtual doors yesterday, the sequel is officially going live today. Bringing new heroes, refreshed maps, and updated gameplay into the futuristic world, Overwatch 2 sets out in a different direction as a free to play game supported by a battle pass in order to prove itself as a worthy successor to the former Game of the Year winner.

With today’s variety of gaming platforms and locations, Astro’s goal with the new A30 was to have one headset that works with all platforms and gaming scenarios. Compatible with Xbox, Playstation, PC, mobile, Bluetooth, and even unpowered via a 3.5mm jack, the A30 is ready for pretty much anything. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the new Coach iPhone 14 cases – more specifically, its Signature C Tan leather folio model. This two-piece wallet-style case launched alongside the rest of the models in the fashion-forward Coach collection almost immediately after Apple made this year’s new handsets official and has quickly become one of my personal favorites in its category. Now that we’ve had some time to put it through its paces, we are also ready to dish up our impressions so you can see if might be for you too. Head below for the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature on the Coach iPhone 14 leather folio. 

Today we are taking a closer hands-on look at the new Magic Bullet Mini Juicer. Just recently released from NutriBullet, it delivers a casual and relatively affordable solution for folks that are just looking for a simple compact solution to pull out that doesn’t take up a massive chunk of countertop space, but still provides enough power to get the job done. The $60 machine is now even more affordable on Amazon, but let’s dive in to see if it’s worth opting for the lower price tag over the established higher-end options. 

Microsoft has released the new Elite Series 2 Core controller. Available in white, it’s a more affordable option for a “pro” Xbox controller, but it loses most of the accessories like paddles and swappable thumbsticks. Those now come in a separate optional package. After reading over the release and checking the website listing and seeing “re-engineered components,” I decided to pick one up and see how it performs. So far, for better or worse, it seems like it’s more of the same. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Totallee’s color and clear iPhone 14 cases have arrived, are already on sale for 9to5 readers, and it’s now time for our hands-on review. The brand has been a staple in our yearly best of roundups and is easily one of our favorite clear iPhone 14 cases on the market. But it’s extremely minimalist sensibilities might not be for everyone, so be sure to head below for some hands-on impressions of this year’s case lineup in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature.  

When it comes to gaming, higher performance always makes the experience more enjoyable. We got our hands on two of the latest storage offerings from WD_BLACK – Western Digital’s gaming-focused brand. The SN850X is the fastest M.2 NVMe drive WD_BLACK has ever released, and the P40 game drive expands on the general use portable SSD lineup. Check out Justin’s review of the P40, or head below to see the new WD_BLACK SN850X in all of its high-speed glory. 

Earlier this month, Anker launched an entirely new lineup of cables with a unique twist. Setting out to help tackle the growing e-waste problem, the company has tapped into a new material that trades out the typical plastic sheathing for a corn and sugarcane-based build. But is the new Anker Bio Lightning Cable actually worth the refreshed design? Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review takes a closer look.

It’s time to take a hands-on look at the new Alto wood engraved iPhone 14 cases we featured at launch a couple weeks ago now. The brand has been bringing its expertise and creativity in woodworking to a range of gear for over a decade now, but just recently caught our eye with the way it has introduced these techniques to the iPhone accessory space. Leveraging a laser engraving process with an online customizer and a range of hand-selected wood grains, Alto is looking to wrap your Apple handset in natural materials with your own touch of creativity in the process. While 9to5 readers can land an exclusive 10% off orders (details on that below), you’ll want to hit the jump for our latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature to see what the cases have to offer first.

Today, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors are officially available. Coming in with new Ryzen 75, 7, and 9 model CPUs, there’s a lot to like here. With Ryzen 7000, AMD is ditching its age-old pin-based processors and going for the more modern pad-based design, which allows them to eek out additional performance all around. We’ve been using the processors for the past week and through AMD’s improved 5nm architecture, use of DDR5 memory, and complete processor design overhaul, those hiccups are…gone. I expected Ryzen 7000 to be faster than previous generations, sure, but the performance leap here is one far beyond what I’ve expected. These all-new CPUs really do shake things up when it comes to performance, and after a week of testing, we’re excited to finally be able to share our results on how AMD’s all-new Ryzen 7000 processors perform in our hands-on review.

Yesterday, Logitech revealed several new additions to its lineup of gear for both content creators and gamers alike. Amongst them was an all-new XLR microphone in the form of the new Logitech Blue Sona that arrives with one of the more sleek designs on the market. Today, we’re taking a hands-on look at what to expect from the package and seeing just how Logitech backs the premium price tag.

The new MUJJO leather iPhone 14 cases launched almost immediately after Apple unveiled its latest handsets. The brand has made its way into our annual roundup of the best options out there, much like it did this year, for its all-leather treatment and attention to detail across nearly every aspect of the cases. But, will the features be worth the $55 price of admission for you? We have now had a chance to go hands-on with the latest from the brand to help you decide. Head below to find out more in our MUJJO leather iPhone 14 case review.

After years of being a solid choice for beginner sim racing gear, Logitech is out with the new Direct Drive Pro Racing Wheel and Pro Racing Pedals. Taking years of feedback and embracing the fact enthusiast and professional sim racers want a modular design, the Pro Racing Wheel and Pedals from Logitech are packed with features but come at the pro-level price of $999 for the Wheel and $350 for the pedals. I’ve been enjoying testing this setup out so be sure to hit the video below and see all the details. 

It’s time to take a hands-on look at the Spigen iPhone 14 case collection. While we haven’t had a chance to wrap our new iPhone around every model the brand offers, we do have a series of the most popular options in the stable and are ready to weigh in. Many of these models are already marked down in price, making them an even more enticing purchase, but most of the brand’s cases hit slightly above their pay grade, anyway. Head below for more details in our Spigen iPhone 14 case review. 

Earlier this month, Anker revealed a collection of new USB-C chargers that landed just before Apple took to the stage for its annual September event. In a near perfectly time launch to go alongside the new iPhone 14, which lacks a charger in the box, the new Anker Nano 3 GaN adapter arrived to give owners of the new handset a way to power their device with a color-matching, compact form factor.

Nomad is one of our favorite case makers at 9to5, and an undeniable winner in the world of leather covers at large. Today we’re going hands-on with four of its new iPhone 14 covers including its standard leather cases and the always-popular wallet folio. Available in the classic Horween leather and the brand’s more affordable alternative with all of the same premium looks, our thoughts on the new Nomad iPhone 14 leather cases are detailed below.

Following a slew of high-end and feature-packed gaming headsets this year, the brand new HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 might be the best budget option I’ve tried in a long time. At just $50, a simple wired design with massive drivers and frequency response makes it a great choice. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Drop’s latest collaboration brings us to Middle Earth this fall. Available for pre-order now, their Dwarvish and Elvish keyboards rival the work of the master artisans they emulate. Featuring Drop’s ENTR keyboard as a base, they include extra keycaps and the Door of Durin or Trees of Valinor designs.

Apogee, a leader in the digital audio space, is unveiling one of its most exciting and capable entry-level pieces of kit today, the Apogee BOOM audio interface. While not exactly known as the most affordable solution out there, they are best known in professional circles for its high-end consumer recording studio models; the brand has also been delivering top-notch interfaces and USB mics for content creators over the last several years now with gear like its Duet line and MiC Plus. But things are getting really interesting today with the announcement of its most affordable dual-input BOOM interface. After having a chance to go hands-on with an early production unit over the last few weeks, we are ready to dish up an in-depth look at this powerful little recording device. 

Today, GoPro is officially launching its latest flagship action camera. The new GoPro HERO11 arrives to iterate on last year’s model with plenty of updated features packed into a familiar design. So while this may look like the GoPros of old, all of the new shooting capabilities and modes deliver an experience that is anything but with the GoPro HERO 11.

Today we are taking a closer look at the new WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive. This one was unveiled back in May of this year alongside the brand’s new WD_BLACK SN850X internal NVMe SSD as the latest entries in Western Digital’s gaming focused storage lineup. This time around packing solid-state technology, WD’s P40 Game Drive sports some impressive speeds and quite a robust build alongside some additional features to make it stand out from the range of more general use portable SSDs out there. But it’s now time to dive in and see if the gaming focused solution is worth your hard-earned dollars in our Tested with 9to5Toys WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive review. 

Insta360’s latest camera, the X3, is its upgraded take on the candy bar-shaped 360 camera. A different design than the wearable Go 2 or modular One RS, the X3 features a large touch screen, a new one-half-inch sensor, new shooting modes, and a price tag of $450. Altogether, it’s an easy-to-use and ready-for-anything 360 camera that makes 360 videos a breeze to create with powerful AI app editing and stabilization. Be sure to hit the video to see it in action. 

As the mobile gaming market continues to grow, adding a controller can take the experience to the next level. We’ve tried out the Backbone One and the original Razer Kishi, but today, we have the Razer Kishi V2 for iOS. Completely redesigned, visually, the Kishi V2 looks more like a Backbone one than the Kishi V1 from Razer. Be sure to hit the video below to see all the details. 

Earlier this summer, Synology launched an all-new NAS in the form of the 5-bay DS1522+. Arriving with user-upgradeable functionality to back the robust features out of the box, I’ve been spending some time with the new release and its impressive 10Gb Ethernet capabilities to see just how good Synology’s latest and greatest can perform.

One of the biggest complaints console players have with their controllers is reliability. Stick drift is probably one of the most common grievances about controllers that have been used for a while. Thrustmaster has developed a unique way to deal with misbehaving thumbsticks by making the sticks a replaceable module on its Eswap controller. We got our hands on the latest iteration – the Thrustmaster Eswap S controller that simplifies the design from the older Eswap X and is also $30 cheaper than the older model. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Earlier this month mophie launched its latest lineup of power and charging gear headlined by the new powerstation pro. The new high-end charging solution boasts some relatively impressive specs with the ability to carry an entire work day’s worth of extra charge for your MacBook and an additional 72 hours for an Apple handset. A notable fabric exterior is joined by a pair of USB-C ports and up to 45W of charging juice, but is it worth the $150 price of entry? Head below for our mophie powerstation pro review in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys. 

Yesterday, Nintendo launched its all-new limited-edition Splatoon 3 Switch OLED console. Now shipments are beginning to arrive, and we’re going hands-on with the new release to see just how everything stacks up. Listings are still in stock now too, so if you like what you see with the neon designs and Inkling glyphs, you can still lock in your order.

Definitive Technology has broken into the soundbar game with their Studio 3D Mini Soundbar and Subwoofer combo. We reviewed their BP9060 Towers and were very impressed, and this home theater setup absolutely meets the mark. It packs DTS:X and Dolby Audio into a surprisingly small form factor, but don’t let its size fool you. I could not believe the audio that came out of something just over 2 feet long and under 2 inches tall.

HyperX is diving into a new hardware category with the Armada 25 and 27 Gaming Monitors. HyperX isn’t bothering with the industry standard monitor stand and instead includes a desk mount and monitor arm right in the box. It’s also delivering solid mid-tier performance with FHD (1920×1080) at 240Hz on the 25-inch model and QHD (2560×1440) at 165Hz on the 27-inch panel. We got our hands on the 27-inch to try out. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Today, Anker is expanding its collection of Soundcore headphones with an all-new sub lineup for the series. Arriving with two new offerings, the Space collection now sports a pair of true wireless earbuds to go alongside a set of over-ear headphones and both are equipped with ANC and more budget-conscious price points. We’re going hands-on with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 and A40 offerings to see how these new debuts stack up.

Back at the end of July, Logitech released a new collection of gaming accessories geared toward being a bit more gender-inclusive than your average RGB peripheral. And as the certified gamer girl at 9to5, I, of course, had to go hands-on with the new Logitech Aurora collection to see just what the company has cooked up for its most welcoming gaming lineup yet.

Toshiba is a name we all know from years past as a computer maker that’s quietly exited the scene … or have they? Enter Dynabook, who is, per their logo, “Formerly TOSHIBA PC Company.” That’s right, Toshiba has rebranded itself as Dynabook to deliver both entry-level and premium laptops for a wide range of use cases. We’ve spent the past few weeks using the Dynabook Portégé X40L, featuring a 14-inch 16:10 display, Windows 11 Pro, and an i7-1270P vPro processor.

The Dynabook Portégé X40L has some pretty powerful specs and a nice design, though there are a few pitfalls that might make you reconsider the over-$2,000 price tag. So, how is it? Let’s take a closer look below.

If Razer’s recent stripped-down lightweight FPS-focused gaming mice haven’t been quite your flavor, Roccat is out with a much different take on the gaming mouse – the Kone XP Air. This cord-cutting wireless variant of the Kone XP is marketed as a multi-purpose gaming mouse with up to 29 assignable functions and an RGB-infused charging dock. Coming in at $169.99, we got our hands on the latest gaming mouse from Roccat. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

While we’ve reviewed a few headphones in the past from Edifier – the budget-minded audio company also carries an extensive line of bookshelf and home theater speakers. The Edifier MS50A is a smart speaker for the connected home with AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and a clean, elegant design. Coming in at $150, it is cheaper than an alternative like the One from Sonos, but how does it perform for the price? Be sure to hit the video below to find out.