Reviews

At the beginning of the month, Amazon announced the new $119 Fire TV Cube, a hybrid Echo device and streaming media player that promises a glimpse into the future of content consumption. As set-top boxes from Apple, Roku and now Amazon have grown in popularity over the last few years, two key issues have repeatedly popped up for viewers. How to best manage an overflowing chest of content and the headache that comes with multiple remotes.

Fire TV Cube looks to cure that with an all-in-one solution centered around its Alexa voice platform. In our hands-on testing, it delivered as a means for sorting through content but fell short as an intuitive hub for home theaters. The potential is there, but don’t count on it changing the game just yet.

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For many of us, assembling the first computers we could call our own was a right of passage to the freedoms that came with owning them. The same can’t be said for those growing up today, as often times the first device many receive is a hand-me-down smartphone, tablet and laptop.

Kano, one of the better-known companies in the STEAM and educational market, has a new kit in which kids, or really anyone for that matter, can assemble their very own portable computer and experiment with coding thanks to a variety of interactive tutorials.

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This morning, Nomad unveiled its new Battery Cable designed for iPhone. Fans of Nomad’s lineup will recognize this as an upgraded version of the original model. The new Battery Cable sports that familiar rugged design that we’ve come to love with the added bonus of an integrated 2800mAh power supply inside. iPhone X and 7/8 users will be able to fully charge their devices one time with that integrated battery pack, adding an extra level of peace of mind. More details and a quick hands-on are below.

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Audioengine has been cranking high-quality speakers and audio equipment for sometime out of its Texas-based headquarters. Recently, they introduced the new A5+ Wireless, a revamped version of the previous generation that fits between its HD3 (review) and HD6 (review) offerings.

The A5+ are touted as “an exciting evolution” to Audioengine’s lineup with eyes on bridging the ever-expanding gap between wireless convenience and sound quality. At a time when every major player in tech is introducing a new speaker, Audioengine looks to go above the fray with its $499 A5+. Full hands-on and impressions below.

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Distil Union is back with its latest Wally Case, this time for iPhone X. While there are lots of wallet-style options on the market, Wally Case and Wally Stick-On stand out as two of the most slim and refined ways to protect your iPhone and discreetly carry your wallet essentials. Follow along for a hands-on look.

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I was first introduced to the world of robotic vacuums with the ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 nearly a year and a half ago. And while it was perfect for apartment life, upon moving home I figured it was time to upgrade to something more high-tech. Don’t get me wrong, the N79 is great, but its smartphone control is more basic and seemed out-of-place amongst the other Wi-Fi-enabled devices scattered around my smart home. 

Enter the DEEBOT 901, the latest in ECOVAC’s diverse lineup of robotic vacuums. Over the past week, I’ve been putting it to the test and have been incredibly impressed how much tech has managed to be packed into a relatively small form-factor.

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Nanoleaf’s Aurora lighting panels are a fan-favorite throughout the tech community. And as they’ve grown in popularity over the past year, Nanoleaf has bolstered the unique smart home product with additional accessories. Last year they announced a new 12-sided HomeKit remote, and now we’ve gotten our hands on Nanoleaf’s latest.

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Cardboard. It keeps our purchases safe during their commutes from Amazon warehouses, and lets you turn your smartphone into an affordable VR headset, among other practical uses throughout day-to-day life. And now it lets anyone build new controllers and accessories for their gaming consoles; well, at least that’s the way Nintendo sees it. Last Friday, Nintendo finally launched its Labo cardboard construction kits, and after a weekend of building and putting them to the test, we’ll be seeing if the company’s latest is a flop or a look into the future of console accessories and STEM-oriented toys.

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eBikes seem to be taking the world by storm lately. We just recently reviewed a budget-focused eBike, and now it’s time to take a look at one that’s a little higher up on the price and feature scale. We covered the launch of Rad Power Bikes’ 2018 lineup, and have since had a chance to go hands-on with the 2018 RadCity.

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A few weeks ago, we wrote about PaMu, unique wireless earphones on Indiegogo that start at $29. Well, we were able to get our hands on a pair of PaMu’s headphones to let you know if they’re worth it, even at the $29 price point. After a week of testing, it seems PaMu could give the current truly wireless headphones out there a run for their money. Read on for our full first impressions.

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Desktop speakers are generally not thought of as a “pretty” accessory. They can look good, sure, but they’re not usually the most beautiful part of a setup. However, Razer decided to change that. At CES 2018, Razer announced its Nommo line of speakers, and we have spent some time with the Chroma version to let you know what we think.

At $150, Nommo Chroma is on the higher-end of “normal” desktop speaker pricing, but with built-in RGB lighting, unique design, and fantastic sound, I cannot recommend Nommo Chroma enough. Read on for our full review.

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Based out of Toronto, Canada, Miix is a new modular shoe brand launching today with the first in its mix-and-match lineup of sneakers now available to preorder.

Think of it sort of like NIKEiD meets LEGO. At launch, Miix will have a selection of base options that users can customize with their choice of insole/midsole components​, heel​s, tongues​, heel patches​, straps​ and laces​ in a variety of colors and styles. The company’s tagline is “one shoe. 7+ million possibilities.”

I’ve had some hands and feet-on time with the shoes for the last few weeks, read on for my full review….

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LEGO has really been pushing BrickHeadz since the series’ debut back in 2017. While the company kicked off the lineup with some popular characters at first, LEGO has begun branching out into new areas like creating their figures own for holidays. Now with the Go Brick Me kit, builders will be able to create and customize their very own BrickHeadz figures. The kit will be hitting store shelves come April 1st, but be sure to hit the jump for our first impressions and hands-on review.

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This month, I decided to finally graduate from the backpack I’ve been using since starting college. As I was considering what my needs really are now that college is mostly out of the way, I decided to look for something that would accommodate a laptop as its primary purpose. But I really didn’t need much more than that. One of a few options I landed on was the Muzetto Leather from Waterfield…

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Amazon Link/ Code: AZBF7HCC at checkout $585.19+$10 <week ground shipping

I know a high-end ebike when I see one and this Ancheer 250W is absolutely not high-end. In fact, it would probably be a bit of a stretch to call this a mid-tier electric bike. Ancheer, a Chinese company that also sells USB peripherals, Fitness equipment and other knickknacks, took a bunch of base level components and put them on a Huffy-level all aluminum bike frame and out of this concoction got a good sub-$600 ebike. So how good/bad is it? Let me tell you…

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Today, Clockwork Synergy has announced a selection of five new Apple Watch bands made of carbon fiber. Each one comes with a unique design and colorful stitching to help your Watch stand apart from the usual sport and leather bands that manufacturers are flooding the market with these days.

Made from 100% carbon fiber here in the United States, Clockwork’s latest release is set to retail for $30. Of course, with our exclusive discount you can save an extra 25% off. More details and a few hands-on thoughts below.

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Today we are taking a look at KORG Gadget for Mac, and more specifically the sizable Gadget Plug-in Collection that comes with it. The folks at KORG were nice enough to give us a complete license in order to give the full suite of instruments a run for their money inside of Logic Pro X.
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I may not have the nicest car on the block, but that doesn’t mean from time to time that I don’t worry about accidents. Even so, I’ve never been sold on dash cams and it wasn’t even until last week when I picked up an iPhone-enabled one from VAVA that I considered mounting one in my car. With a list of compelling features packed into a unique and stylish design, VAVA has made me question why I didn’t think to get one sooner.

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Well I have to admit, I’m a little late to the party when it comes to robot vacuums. My extended family and friends have been adopting them into their homes for a while now, so it’s time I did the same. My personal requirements aren’t overly exhaustive and I wanted to try something that wasn’t too expensive for my first go around. ECOVACS has been making a good name for itself in the space with its affordable products, so the new DEEBOT N79S Robot Vacuum Cleaner seemed like a great candidate.
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Over the last few weeks I’ve been testing out Lifeproof’s most robust iPhone X case, the FRĒ. With a slim and sleek design this case provides great protection without comprising the iPhone X’s form factor. Read on for our full review.

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We’re finally starting to see more and more third-party smart speakers using platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. One of those smart speakers is made by British company KitSound, called the Voice One. I’ve spent the past week or so with this premium Alexa speaker running it through its paces, so let’s dive into our full review.

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The desire to keep tabs on our homes while away seems to have been on everyone’s minds throughout last year, with DIY home monitoring and security systems growing to fill the demand. Just about all of the solutions on the market are geared towards smart home owners, tinkerers and just all-around tech-savvy folks. But as we covered at the beginning of the January, Tabs is a new security solution with simplicity at the forefront of its design.

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It’s hard to imagine how a company could bring innovation to a product like sunglasses, yet Distil Union was able to deliver just that with its new MagLock Sunglasses. As the name suggests, these shades feature magnets in the temples for a useful clipping feature to prevent drops and loss. But more than just a cool new feature, I’ve found these sunglasses to be really comfortable and functional. Read on for all the details.

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When it comes to protecting our devices, a case is generally seen as the easiest way to do so. What brand, however, is always a hard decision. I’ve used Urban Armor Gear cases for years, and even have one on my iPad Pro right now. Putting a Urban Armor Gear case on my iPhone X was a no brainer, but they offer several styles, so which should you choose?

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The Millennium Falcon may just be the most well-known vehicle in all of science fiction and beyond. Making its big-screen debut in A New Hope just over 40 years ago, the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy has solidified itself as a cultural icon. And over the past few decades, has been commemorated through tons pop-culture references, collector’s items and even LEGO kits.

In fact, just about all of LEGO’s largest and display-worthy sets have come from a galaxy far, far away. So when it came time for LEGO to pay tribute to Star War’s 40th anniversary, it only made sense to recreate the iconic starship in what is the largest kit ever produced. With over 7,500 pieces, 10 Minifigures and 4 feet of details, LEGO’s UCS Millennium Falcon stacks up to be one of the most complex, well-designed and impressive sets ever released.

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All electronics look the same. You and a friend might have the same phone, laptop, or even gaming console. Sure, there are sometimes different variations within devices, be it black or white, or maybe Xbox One X compared to the normal Xbox One S.

No matter what, though, the stylings of the units will always look the same. Similarly, gaming consoles, in particular, stand out when they are on an entertainment center, which can sometimes be the goal, and other times be the exact opposite of what you want. Head below to read our full thoughts from installation to final product on Toast for the Xbox One X.

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Apogee has been one of the top names in digital audio in the music production world for years. It successfully jumped into the mobile game with its iOS friendly interfaces among other things a few years back, and recently launched the second generation MiC+ USB/Lightning Microphone. Apogee rarely opts for affordability over quality, but we had to give it a run for its money anyway.

We have now had a chance to go hands-on with the company’s latest portable mic over the last little while. Apogee has certainly stepped its game up here, but is it still worth the world-class price tag? Head below for our full review…
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Mophie kicked off 2018 with the release of its new powerstation AC external battery pack. This on-the-go power supply caught the eye of Mac users with its impressive 22000mAh capacity, USB-C PD support and the added bonus of an AC outlet. As the ultimate review test, I took Mophie’s latest release to Las Vegas in my CES backpack as the lone power supply for my MacBook and Nintendo Switch.

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The latest installment in the Star Wars franchise has been in theaters for some time now. And while 3D and IMAX viewings have given fans an even more immersive way to experience their favorite galaxy from far, far away, they fall short of what many fans, including myself, are clamoring for. That’s where Lenovo’s latest smartphone accessory comes in, the Jedi Challenges Augmented Reality Kit.

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There are tons of Bluetooth speakers on the market. You’ve got budget options and super high-end options. There are also a few in the middle, and sometimes it’s hard to decide what speaker you should buy.

If you’re just looking to listen with a few friends, then most budget options will work great for you. Rugged? There’s an option for that as well. JBL has a speaker, the Boombox, that falls somewhere in the middle and if you’re looking for great sound, plenty of features, and a fairly decent price for it all, read on.

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Growing up, I was never a huge fan of cars or motorcycles. That carried over into the LEGO sets I longed for, with most of my collection centered around spaceships and the like. So when it came to the Technic kits, ones primarily consisting of vehicles, they never really caught my eye.

But that changed earlier this year with the release of the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure set, the first licensed motorcycle in the lineup. And after getting my hands on it, I’ve realized everything I’ve been missing out on  with the Technic series.

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Apple accessories, there are tons of them. You have Apple Watch bands, Apple Pencil, iPad chargers, iPhone and MacBook chargers, and more. Anytime you leave the house or go on vacation, if you’re anything like me, there’s a mad rush to make sure you don’t forget any cables to keep everything charged.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone on vacation only to forget my Apple Watch charger, or even worse, my MacBook Pro charger. Even if you do remember to bring all of your cables along, they always get tangled, right? Well, Bento Stack has changed how I pack for trips and has become a must-have in my gear bag when leaving the house for more than a few hours.

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There’s no doubt that if you’re reading this, you either have a Nintendo Switch or plan to get one soon. Maybe you’ve owned a Switch since release, or maybe you just opened one up on Christmas morning. Either way, you’ll want a safe and stylish way to transport your Switch around. I know I did, and the pink and neon green Splatoon case that I got with my Switch bundle grew old really fast.

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In the past decade, alarm clocks have all but faded out of existence for many thanks to the rise of smartphones. And even though smartphones have replaced just about every household item from timers to grocery lists, the introduction of the Amazon Echo and Alexa have begun yet another shift. So in a natural turn of events, Amazon has brought Alexa voice control and a 2.5-inch screen to your nightstand with the release of its latest Echo device, the Spot. After spending some time with Spot, we’ll be diving into a hands-on review and our first impressions.

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IK Multimedia has released loads of new generation products for portable and mobile musicians over the last 12 months. From the iRig HD 2 condenser mic and the sub-$100 iRig Pre guitar interface, to the new Syntronik for Mac/iOS, IK has something for everyone this holiday season. Back in August, the company debuted its latest MIDI controller product known as iRig Keys I/O. As expected with IK, this appeared to come along with everything you could want in a sub $300 controller, but this time around IK decided to take it one step further with a more all-in-one approach.

The controller keyboard-meets-audio interface brings a lot to the table for the price tag, but is it all a little too good to be true? We decided to put the company’s latest flagship driver to the test over the last couple weeks in a typical home studio environment across a number of different projects. Head below to find out more…
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When it comes to choosing the right bag to take with you on a flight, it can be challenging. Most airlines limit you to one bag below your seat and one in the overhead compartment. Normally, you can’t easily access the overhead compartment once you take off, so fitting what you’ll need for hours in a cramped space below your seat can sometimes be hard. WaterField decided to take matters into its own hands and make the Air Porter, a laptop bag designed for the world traveler.

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Pad & Quill has always made fantastic cases and holders for Apple’s expensive handheld devices. So we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the latest generation of wallet cases for Apple’s new edge-to-edge iPhone X.
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In the past year or so, collectible figures like Funko POP! have become more and more popular. Looking to jump in on the demand, LEGO has since launched its own line of figures deemed BrickHeadz. We’ve seen some pretty iconic characters join the ranks from Marvel, Disney, and DC. More recently, LEGO announced that it would be filling out the Star Wars lineup just in time for the latest addition to the film franchise. Finn and Phasma were the first two publicly released figures, follow along for our hands on.

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Over the last month or so, I’ve been pairing my new Xbox One X with VIZIO’s 2017 M-Series 4K Ultra HDTV. Specifically the 55-inch M55-E0 model that boasts integrated Chromecast features and HDR10 support.

Priced at $700, but available for around $500 during Black Friday, I was intrigued to see how VIZIO’s mid-range lineup pairs with the latest gaming technology. We already know this brand has long been a consumer favorite blending solid features and affordability. But with the market saturated with so many 4K options this holiday season, I needed to know if this model could standout from the noise.

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People are always looking for a way to take better photos or videos with their cameras or smartphones. One way to set your video apart from someone else’s is unique movement, like from a slider. Until now, sliders have either been expensive or manual, they’ve almost always been only in a straight line, and really never very portable. Trek is a slider that is motorized, very portable, can take tight turns (and even do 360-degree), can extend or shrinks as much as you need, and is quite affordable compared to the competition.

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We previously rounded up several wireless chargers for Apple’s latest iPhone Kit, including the Belkin and Mophie chargers sold in Apple Stores. Yet, Satechi’s Wireless Charger is one of the best-looking wireless chargers that we’ve seen thus far.

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With so many options on the market, ElevationLab makes the seemingly bold claim that its new ElevationDock 4 is “the best dock for iPhone.” However, it didn’t take me very long with the product to realize that the company isn’t exaggerating, it is hands down the best iPhone dock I’ve ever used. Here’s why…

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After being unveiled back in the summer, the latest ROLI Seaboard recently showed up at the office much to our delight. The Seaboard Blocks is the first time ROLI has brought its unique 5D MIDI touch technology down to an affordable price tag, so we couldn’t be more excited to get a chance to go hands-on…
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Concerns of home security are on the rise and the introduction of DIY systems have offered an interesting proposition for adopters of home automation, do-it-yourselfers and those seeking more budget-friendly options. While full security systems from companies like ADT were once the preferred means of gaining peace-of-mind when away from home, SmartThings, Wink and others have joined the ranks to offer competitively feature-packed and cost-effective solutions. Abode enters the fray with an extensive list of supported devices and flexible features at an entry-level price. Head below to see how the system stacks up.

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Today is Xbox One X day! Whether you were lucky enough to get your hands on a console, or waiting for a potential Black Friday deal, chances are your interest has been piqued. I opted for the Day One Project Scorpio Edition personally. It arrived this afternoon and I thought we’d give 9to5Toys readers a quick unboxing. Head below for a video and a few first impressions.

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