News

After getting a pretty good idea of what to expect from the LEGO Star Wars theme for this summer in our report last month, today, we’re getting a first look at yet another one of the upcoming creations. Delivering yet another iconic scene from the Original Trilogy as a display-worthy build, the all-new LEGO Darth Vader Meditation Chamber will be launching in the coming months. Complete with two minifigures and over 660 pieces, you’ll want to head below for all of the details.

May is now coming to a close, and after a month packed with new LEGO sets announced as we head into the summer months, we’re now turning our attention to the community-driven Ideas side of things. As we do each month, today, we’re highlighting several fan-made builds from the LEGO Ideas platform that are vying to join other official sets on store shelves. Headlined by a brick-built model of the solar system, May’s best LEGO Ideas also include a unique way to add some Middle Earth action to your library and a rendition of everyone’s favorite talking train. Head below for all of the details.

Lately, we’ve seen some great simple wired gaming headsets like the EPOS H3 and SteelSeries Arctis Prime, and now, we have a look at Turtle Beach’s latest — the Recon 500. At $80, how does this simple yet versatile headset perform? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

With less than a week remaining until Google officially closes the doors on its unlimited photo backup, those with large digital collections of pictures will likely be seeking a place to offload the data. While paying for another cloud service to host everything is certainly an option, setting up your own home photo server has plenty of perks to it. From no monthly fees to privacy benefits and more, we’re going to walk you through how to build a Google Photos replacement with a Synology NAS.

Welcome to the Jam! With the long-awaited Space Jam sequel scheduled to premiere by mid-summer, pictures are surfacing on Nike’s plan to celebrate the 25-year revival. Revamping one its most iconic sneakers, Nike is releasing Bugs and Lola Bunny themed “Hare Force 1” lows. These unique kicks have already sent a shockwave through both collectors and fans of the cult film, with plenty of details still to come. So go ahead and slam the jump to find out everything we know about how to cop a pair for yourself, before it’s too late.

Just because Apple Watch has become the world’s best-selling watch, this doesn’t mean it’s the nicest to look at. Arguably the appearance of most smartwatches currently on the market cannot hold a candle to the standout looks of traditional timepieces. This rings especially true for five new Diesel watches that are slated to ship over the next week. From Armbar to Crusher and Caged to Chopped, there’s bound to be at least one style that will catch your eye. Continue reading to see photos and learn more.

Rumors of the fabled new Nintendo Switch Pro console have been making the rounds for years now, and the latest suggests the unannounced flagship Nintendo console could hit as early as September. That, in combination with previous rumors surrounding an OLED Samsung display and 4K NVIDIA GPU, alongside a recent listing for the console on the Mexican Amazon, suggests we might actually be getting the Nintendo Switch Pro this year. Not to mention, a September/October 2021 release would fall in line perfectly with Nintendo’s typical console launch schedule. Head below for more details. 

Today, the LEGO Group is teasing its latest release, and no, it’s not another kit. After a large emphasis on the older builders among the LEGO community in recent months, it looks like the most recent additions to the lineup will be geared toward crafting even more impressive display pieces. While not confirmed, our suspicions suggest that we’ll be seeing a new lineup of LEGO lighting kits launch next month for bringing some eye-catching illumination to to existing kits. Head below for all of the details.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple’s new M1 11-inch iPad Pro sees first Amazon discount at $50 off
• Apple Watch Series 6 sees $70 Memorial Day discounts from $329
• Best Buy’s annual Memorial Day sale now live: Save on latest Macs, iPads, and more

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

Skullcandy made headlines earlier in the year by launching its latest pair of true wireless earbuds at an eye-catching $25 price tag. We were eager to get our hands on the new Skullcandy Dime to see just how they’d actually stack up, and after a week of use, we’re ready to drop some first impressions. So should you just save your money for a more expensive pair, or are these the best bang-for-your-buck earbuds on the market? That’s what our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review aims to answer.

Many have tried to compete in the E-reader space, and most have failed when going head-to-head with Kindle. While there are many reasons why the Amazon Kindle lineup continues to pull ahead of the competition, a nice level of quality, support, and variety found across the portfolio is certainly part of the equation. Since there are several models to choose from, many folks could have a hard time picking the perfect device to suit their needs. Thankfully, this guide is here to help clarify the features that distinguish each model in order to make your decision a much easier one.

June is just around the corner, and in honor of Pride month, Kate Spade is dropping a new collection that does more than slap some rainbows on a high-end handbag. For the second year in a row, the brand is partnering with The Trevor Project to put a portion of its profits towards mental health programs for LGBTQ youth. So while these polychrome pieces are certainly cute, you can also feel warm and fuzzy knowing 20% of the sale is working to help some of our most vulnerable. We’ll be covering this massively-cute collection, as well as more ways to lend a hand this Pride month, right below the jump.

Ahead of June, the LEGO Group is detailing several upcoming promotional kits and freebies for builders to add to their collections. Headlined by a limited-edition blue minifigure keychain, there’s also a 10th anniversary Ninjago BrickHeadz pack and more. Head below for a closer look at all of the LEGO freebies available in June and all of the details on adding these to your collection. 

With Memorial Day weekend upon us and the Fourth of July just a month away, top brands like Crocs, Saucony, Converse, and many more have debuted festive footwear. Sport the red, white, and blue coloring in style this Memorial Day with our top picks this season. Head below the jump to find all of the best styles.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• New Amazon lows take up to $60 off Apple Watch SE models
• ecobee SmartThermostat sees first discount of the year to $199 (Save $50), more from $80
• OnePlus 8T sees Memorial Day discount to new low of $569 (Save $180)

Joining a growing number of new cases and covers from Nomad, Elevation Lab, Belkin, and more, today we are taking a look at the new WaterField AirTag luggage tag and leather keychain. WaterField — a boutique Apple gear and leather bag accessory maker based in San Francisco —  has been featured here many times for its handcrafted gear, wallets, and more, but it’s now time to dive into its latest offerings for Apple’s new item trackers. Head below for a closer look at the new WaterField AirTag luggage tag and leather keychain. 

Well, the day has finally come for us to see some actual Horizon Forbidden West gameplay. Sony has a special State of Play event scheduled for later this afternoon focused on Aloy’s next adventure on PlayStation 5, and we will be covering the event down below, as it happens, come 5 p.m. ET. It has been nearly a year since Sony and Guerrilla Games showed off their highly-anticipated next massive open-world game, but it’s only a matter of time now before we see the new frontier region (roughly modern-day Utah and the west coast) and Aloy in action once again. Head below for more details and to watch today’s  Horizon Forbidden West gameplay presentation. 

SteelSeries’ latest lineup is aimed directly at competitive players with a simple design. The SteelSeries Prime line includes a new wired Arctis headset that borrows tech from the well-known Arctis Pro along with three brand-new mice for various budgets and needs. We got to go hands-on with the Arctis Prime headset as well as the Prime, Prime+, and Prime Wireless mice to see how they perform. Be sure to hit the video below to check out all of the details. 

After releasing the SN750 and SN850 NVMe SSDs in 2019 and 2020, respectively, WD_BLACK is back with the SN750 SE. This solid-state drive is designed for those on tighter budgets who still want the best performance their computer can muster. So the company made the SN750 SE. This drive is designed using PCIe Gen 4 technology and features up to 3.6GB/s transfer speeds. Remember how we mentioned that these were budget-focused? Well, pricing starts as low as $55, making it an easy buy for any system. So, let’s take a closer look at the SN750 SE as well as the other products that WD_BLACK is launching today.

Today we’re getting a look at the latest batch of upcoming iPhone and Android accessories from Anker. With a collection of releases to look forward to, there is notably a new MagSafe-compatible power bank on the horizon alongside a 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock designed for the latest Macs, Soundcore earbuds, solar panels, and other off-grid gear. Head below for all of the details.

Last month, Amazon first gave us a first look at its refreshed Fire HD 10 and other new tablets. With sleeker designs, improved performance, and new multitasking features, the latest releases are now shipping as of today, and we’re taking a hands-on look to see if the upgrades this time actually deliver. Head below for all of the details on if the new Fire HD 10 can live up to its promise of being a productivity powerhouse or if it’ll stay relegated to a content consumption machine. 

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Google Nest Hub Max sees first price cut of the year to $180 (Save $50)
• Nomad launches 20% off sitewide sale on all-new Apple Watch bands, latest chargers, more
• Take M1 on-the-go with Apple’s latest MacBook Air at up to $149 off

We now have the official release dates for the next open-world Pokémon games including Pokémon Legend Arceus and the upcoming remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. All three titles were announced back at the tail end of February during a special Pokémon Presents showcase where we saw more of the now released New Pokémon Snap. The Nintendo Switch exclusives will start to hit store shelves just in time for holiday 2021, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer than that for the next highly anticipated mainline Pokémon RPG. All of the details are waiting for you below. 

Recently, Sony introduced an all-new line of X-series speakers that include the SRS-XP700, SRS-XP500, and SRS-XG500. These are designed to help users “LIVE LIFE LOUD” and offer a range of sound quality, portability, durability, and lighting options. These are higher-end speakers designed to be brought to the beach, your backyard BBQ, or just used inside for karaoke nights. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Sony’s latest X-series speakers.

While ROCCAT may not be as well-known as Logitech G or Blue Microphones, the company has been cranking out reputable computer accessories since it was founded in 2006. The latest offering to join the company’s portfolio is ROCCAT Torch. It’s touted as being a studio-grade microphone with 24-bit audio that’s paired with cardioid, stereo, and whisper pick-up patterns. Users will also benefit from contactless mute, which is activated by lightly waving your hand over the top of this microphone. RGB lighting and boom arm compatibility are a couple of other notable features. Continue reading to learn more.

Today, Goal Zero is expanding its collection of portable power accessories and off-grid gear with a pair of new chargers. Arriving as the new Venture 35 and 75 Power Banks, the two latest unveilings deliver compact designs while still offering plenty of power with as much as 30W USB-C outputs. Housed within the brand’s signature rugged designs, these should appeal to outdoor adventures just as much as anyone working away from the desk. Head below for all of the details on the new Goal Zero Venture power banks.

Today, Moshi is out with the most recent accessory in its lineup of stylish Apple chargers. Arriving with much of the fabric-wrapped design that we’ve come to expect from the brand, the upcoming release delivers dual 15W charging pads in a streamlined design alongside the addition of an optional Apple Watch dock to complete the nightstand setup. Head below for all of the details on the new Moshi Sette Q charging station.

This week, Wyze is introducing another new product called the Wyze Night Light. Shipping in packs of three for $19.99 (with no-cost delivery,) you’ll be able to link up to 10 together so that way when one turns on, all will light up. Coming in at a soft 2500K light temperature, Wyze Night Light is backlit so that you can enjoy a soothing illumination on your wall. With a built-in rechargeable battery, you’ll find up to three months of use before it’s time to plug back in. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Wyze Night Light.

Steel Series — a well-known “worldwide leader in gaming and esports peripherals” — is introducing its new Prime gaming gear today. That includes three new mice models alongside the esports-grade Arctis headset that have been “co-developed in collaboration with pros, for pros, to win championships.” Although, with prices starting from $60, there’s a little bit of something for just about any PC gamer here. Head below the fold for a closer look at the new Steel Series Prime gaming gear. 

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• eufyCam 2 Pro HomeKit Secure Video systems start at $352 (Save up to 30%), more from $81
• Save up to $200 on Samsung’s unlocked Galaxy S21/+/Ultra smartphones on sale from $700
• Nanoleaf’s new Shapes HomeKit starter kits and expansions return to all-times lows from $60

Furthering their offerings for the keyboard enthusiast, Razer’s latest keyboard, the Blackwidow V3 Mini, might be my favorite from the triple-headed snake so far. After switching to the Drop ALT last year, I’ve been in love with 65% layout keyboards and Razer’s new board packs this slim yet functional layout and adds their Hyperspeed wireless for even more convenience. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Today, the LEGO Group is expanding its collection of brick-built art and home decor with its largest creation to date. And not just in the Art theme, we’re talking the most parts ever included in a set to date period. Entering with over 11,000 pieces, the new LEGO World Map arrives as a unique take on a classic piece of decor hung in offices and more. Head below for all of the details. 

Is your home theater lacking in smart abilities? Well, Amazon’s Fire TV lineup is here to help. You’ll find streaming devices that are quite affordable and on sale often, as well as those that are fully featured with 4K HDR Dolby Vision playback, depending on what your needs are. Below, we’ll be taking a closer look at the different Fire TV options available to purchase, including a brief overview of actual TV sets with the operating system built in that offer an all-in-one experience.

Today, Samsung is announcing its expanded Smart Monitor lineup including the new flagship 43-inch M7 UHD model. Positioned as the world’s first “do-it-all” screen, the Samsung Smart Monitors launched in 2020 with integrated media and productivity apps, plenty of connectivity options, and a solar cell-powered remote control, among other things. Already added to our roundup of the best Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors out there, head below for more details on the expanded Samsung Smart Monitor models and the new flagship 43-inch M7 UHD variant. 

Most of us that grew up in the ’90s remember owning a Tamagotchi or envying someone that did. Loads of kids (and adults) were quickly overtaken by these gadgets and couldn’t wait to have a virtual pet of their own. Once you got one, the work began with hatching your character and caring for it from then on. This is precisely the kind of interaction we can anticipate from two new Flower Gingham and Candy Swirl Tamagotchis. While both models have a new look, these still function just like the originals, allowing us to tap into some nostalgia and maybe even pass some of that on to the next generation. Continue reading to learn more.

Today, the Raspberry Pi foundation is launching its latest accessory for its lineup of miniature computers, a refreshed version of the PoE+ HAT. Allowing you to power a Raspberry Pi 4 over Ethernet, the new add-on arrives with a higher power output and better thermals than its predecessor, all while entering at the same price. Head below for all of the details.

Le Creuset has debuted an MLB Collection to cheer on your favorite team while cooking in the kitchen. The 7.25-quart dutch oven is a Le Creuset best-selling item, and the new collection has four styles featuring four MLB teams: the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. The dutch ovens are embossed with each team’s logo as well as the classic dutch oven features. Be sure to head below the jump for more details about Le Creuset’s new MLB Collection.

Anker first began releasing chargers equipped with GaN (Gallium Nitride) a couple years back, delivering some of the more slim designs on the market for a USB-C wall adapter. As more and more brands have adopted the technology, Anker is looking to double down on the miniature size aspect with its latest lineup of Nano II USB-C GaN chargers. With affordable prices to match the pint-sized devices, you’ll want to head below for all of the details.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple’s new M1 11-inch iPad Pro sees first Amazon discount at $50 off
• Anker’s new PowerWave MagSafe Pad Slim sees first discount to $18, more in latest sale
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20/Ultra now $200 off at the lowest prices in months

This year is proving to be an exciting one for Marvel fans in the LEGO world, as we’ve already seen quite an eye-catching collection of kits launching later year. But now it also looks like the LEGO Group will be expanding that MCU theming into yet another area of its lineup. Advent Calendars have been a stable in the LEGO world for decades now, and at long last Marvel will be joining the likes of Star Wars and Harry Potter ahead of the holiday season. With reports of the first LEGO Marvel Advent Calendar landing this fall, you’ll find all of the details on what to expect down below.

Today, Cricut is announcing its biggest update to its product lineup yet: an all-new Maker 3 and Explore 3. This time around, both machines share many similarities, but there are a few differences we’ll note. The biggest change to the lineup this time around is that both the Maker 3 and Explore 3 have the ability to cut materials without a mat, and up to twice as fast as their predecessors. So, what all can these new machines do? Let’s take a closer look. Also, be sure to stay tuned for our hands-on review, coming in the next few weeks as we get closer to the official launch on June 10.

Growing their product offerings for mobile creators, Sennheiser is out with a new lineup including the XS Lav Mobile and 400 MKE compact shotgun microphone. Great for VOs and capturing on-camera audio, there are some nice options that go up against some stiff competition from the likes of Rode. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear all the details, and how they stack up against some industry norms from Rode. 

Destiny 2 just entered its latest season, which included a little cross-play bug that allowed players on various platforms to join each other’s Fireteams before the official launch in Season 15. Well, that bug was quickly squashed, and we were back to being locked into our own platform for multiplayer. That all changes on May 25, as Bungie aims to launch an official cross-play beta that day to test out the servers in a more prepared capacity. Also, we’ll be entering the Vault of Glass tomorrow, along with other updates in the latest Bungie Destiny 2 blog.

Earlier this week was the three-year anniversary of my college graduation, and now that a new wave of students will be leaving behind their alma maters, it got me thinking about all of the gear that I wish I had been gifted. Ranging from must-haves for first-time apartment life to some ways to spruce up that new work from home setup, you’ll want to head below for all of our top graduation gift recommendations.