News

It has become an annual tradition around here to look back across the year and reminisce on our personal favorite releases, the best gear we had a chance to go hands-on with for review, and share some of the gear we purchased for ourselves. Head below for a closer look at the staff’s favorite gear of 2024 – Find My gear, pizza ovens, pool robots, Bose headphones, smart home upgrades, our favorite e-bike release, battlestation gear, and more.

Welcome to the 2024 9to5Toys iPhone 16 case awards. We have gone hands-on with a massive selection of new cases for Apple’s iPhone 16 and, as is tradition around here, now that we have had a chance to truly test them out for a good four months, we are here to weigh in before the year ends on our absolute favorites across various categories.

The latest Target clearance sale rolls on with deals starting from $2.50, but we now have a look at its 28-page New Year’s Eve ad. Loaded with deals and promotions set to kick off early tomorrow morning, you can get a good look at the price drops that will be at the ready both online and in-store starting tomorrow down below. 

Time is winding down to secure everything you need for your work from home setup and still write it all off against your 2024 return. With so many folks permanently transitioned to a WFH situation of some kind or other, be it everyday or just some of the time, even more of the gear you need to make this happen is tax deductible and you only have five days left. 

We’re back with another tech review of vital office components. Today’s Toys Tested subject is the ProtoArc KM100-A keyboard and mouse combo. This Apple-friendly desktop combo is slim and sleek and compatible with several different devices, whether you’re working at home or in an office.

Over the fall, I was invited to attend a media preview where I got my first chance to see the Easy SideCar 3 e-bike from MOD Bikes in person. After a night of browsing some of the hottest new tech to grace the market, I was offered the chance to take the e-bike home to get a first-hand experience of what this model could do. Of course, I gladly accepted, as I’ve been in love with it since I first started covering the brand’s sales long before – captivated by its unique motorcycle-inspired design and its quality parts. I was a little worried upon first hopping aboard the saddle that my hopes for this e-bike might be in for some surprise and rude awakenings, but it’s quickly turned into my favorite way to cruise around NYC during my days off, even if it isn’t necessarily built for the congestion of the Big Apple. Continue reading below to get my hands-on impressions of this e-bike and its capabilities.

We’re back with another product review to help you create an ideal workspace that meets all your comfort and utility needs. This time, we tested the EC100 ergonomic desk chair from ProtoArc. This chair combines ample seating space with stable support.

A dependable and durable keyboard is important when configuring your workspace. But what about those instances where you want to continue your work on the go and only want to bring your phone or tablet? The ProtoArc XK01 TP foldable keyboard is a perfect combination of form and function, whether it’s in your home office or traveling with you on the road.

We have featured a number of interesting AirTag accessories over the year, many of which from Elevation Lab, but I’m not sure we have seen anything quite like this one. The Elevation Lab TimeCapsule is just that, an ultra-rugged housing that effectively allows you to use a pair of AA batteries to power AirTag instead of its internal battery to increase its operational lifespan tenfold. Head below for a closer look at the new Elevation Lab TimeCapsule AirTag 10-year battery case. 

Still on the hunt for a sweet gift they will actually like? Forget to score something awesome for a colleague or your cousin you didn’t know was going to show up for the big day? We have put together some last minute gift ideas to get your creative juices flowing and maybe even save the day. All of the items you’ll find below are shipping in time for the big day at the time of writing, but you’ll want to jump in ASAP to ensure everything arrives in time. From amazing LEGO sets and miniature board games everyone will love right through to desktop accessories for the techie in your life, some fashionable wardrobe add-ons, smart lighting and speakers, charging gear, and more, head below for the best last minute gifts you can pickup right now.

With just eight more days until Christmas, it’s now game time to finish your holiday shopping lists. Throughout this gift guide you will score ideas for every type of man in your life. Today you can find ideas for men that they’re sure to love including gifts for the outdoorsmen, golfer, or sneaker fanatic, we have a gift idea for everyone on your list including budget friendly options. We also put together a guide for the best stocking stuffers you will want to check out here.

If you have a child on your list this year and are still looking for the perfect present, look no further than right here. We’ve done the shopping for you and found the perfect gifts for kids that still have shipping to arrive in time for Christmas as well. Whether you’re looking to splurge or still grabbing a stocking stuffer, this guide will be sure to help navigate your Christmas shopping. Find all of our top picks this year below and be sure to check out our latest guide to thoughtful and useful presents to treat mom and dad this holiday season from $15.

As expected, Best Buy is now serving up a sneak peek previews of this week’s final set of Doorbuster deals before Christmas 2024…and it very much looks like it’s going to be a big one folks. The retailer has now transitioned the holiday savings landing page on its site we have seen live all month long since Cyber Monday ended to a Last Minute savings event with a series of new deals, but it is also giving us a look at the Doorbusters set to go live later this week as well. 

Welcome to 9to5Toys News Weekly – your go-to spot to catch up on the latest new product releases, features, and hands-on reviews. This weekly roundup collects all of the coolest new gadgets, the most interesting updates in the world of tech, and more from the past week, and organizes it into a single handy reading list for you to sift through every Sunday morning. This week, in the lead up to the holidays, you’ll find a series of our latest gift guides as well as some exclusive offers just for 9to5 readers alongside some hands-on looks at a 4K laser projector, a sweet standing desk upgrade, Twelve South’s Find My travel charger package, the latest from TP-Link’s smart home stable, the all-new Nomad Leather Folio for M4 iPad Pro, and much more. 

9to5Toys’ holiday coverage is brought to you by Dreame. Get up to 57% off cleaning devices ranging from AI-powered robots to wet/dry vacuums with an extra 5% using code DM9to5XM for a limited time. Shop now.

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and expressing gratitude to the people we cherish most. For many of us, our parents are at the top of that list. As we prepare to celebrate the holidays, it’s the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation with thoughtful and meaningful gifts. Whether your parents are tech-savvy, outdoorsy, or simply enjoy the finer things in life, you’ll find plenty of items here that would bring a smile to their faces. From practical gifts like a user-friendly streaming device to simplify their entertainment experience to a more personalized and thoughtful item like a cocktail smoker to elevate their annual New Year’s Eve gatherings, you’ll find a crafty curation of thoughtful gifts here that are sure to please your parents.

9to5Toys’ holiday coverage is brought to you by Dreame. Get up to 57% off cleaning devices ranging from AI-powered robots to wet/dry vacuums with an extra 5% using code DM9to5XM for a limited time. Shop now.

If you’re still looking for practical gifts for your loved ones this holiday season and are still unsure how you can go about crossing those final names off your list, today we’ve put together this collection of some of our favorite home goods that would make excellent Christmas gifts. Whether you may have noticed a need for a multi-purpose cleaner to tackle the unexpected messes from pets and children, a cordless screwdriver for everyday DIY projects, or even some added décor to bring some new life to staled ambiances, you’ll find a variety of devices here that will refresh anyone’s home life. Head below to check out a few of our favorite picks for practical gifts to upgrade your loved one’s lives this holiday season.

While the massive Countdown Holiday sale at Target is still live through tomorrow, we now have a look at what’s to come courtesy of its latest 48-page holiday deal ad. The retailer is going toe-to-toe with the likes of Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon this year, and we now have a look at the latest batch of deals set to go live this Sunday. Check out the 48-page down below. 

We have already reviewed the new 4th Gen Scarlett lineup’s smaller and more entry-level models, so we just wanted to touch down here today with some thoughts on the pro-grade and more mid-range home studio variants that debuted earlier this year. Scope out our hands-on impressions down below.

It’s that time of year again folks, and the 2024 Game Awards are set to go live very shortly. This year’s show is set to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, once again hosted by internet-famous gaming personality Geoff Keighley. Keighley’s “The Game Awards” have become the annual game awards for the industry, getting bigger and more impressive as each year goes by and it’s all set to kick off shortly. Follow along with all of the awards, musical performances, and, the thing we are really all tuning in for, the world premieres, game announcements, and release dates for the most exciting upcoming titles. This is the 10th anniversary of Keighley’s Game Awards and here’s to hoping we are in for a real show!

Here are some of our favorite stocking stuffers to check out this year. I’m not sure very many people still stuff actual stockings anymore, but some do and either way, you can just think of these as some relatively affordable, thoughtful, useful, and compact gift ideas to spark some creativity. We have showcased gear we use ourselves, feature around here on a regular basis, and would love to see stuffed inside of an oversized sock on Christmas morning (or whatever you celebrate) at our houses.

When it comes to home entertainment, the XGIMI Aura 2 ultra short throw projector is one of those gadgets that makes you rethink what a home theater can be. I’ve spent the last two weeks with this powerhouse, and spoiler alert: it’s been an incredible experience. Whether you’re a movie buff, a sports fan, or just love having friends over for Netflix nights, the Aura 2 is something special. Let’s dive into why this might just be the next big thing for your living room.

This week’s Best Buy Doorbusters are now live in early access. Just like we reported previously, the next batch of ongoing holiday Doorbusters leading up to Christmas 2024 are now live in early access for Plus and Total members. Smart TV deals, laptops, Ninja cookers, Apple’s AirPods Max, and more are now up for grabs right here. Head below for a closer look. 

I recently had the opportunity to test out the P7 Plus Standing Desk from Flexispot. I have been working from a stranding desk setup for years now and prefer it, so I was excited for the opportunity to set up my new office with a shiny new desk and see what Flexispot brings in terms of function and utility. As one of Fleixspot’s top-tier standing desks currently offered, the P7 Plus is rock solid and versatile, with a few added bonuses I haven’t had in the past. I just had some trouble putting it all together and have shared my thoughts below.

Back in early September Twelve South introduced what can only be described as one of the more impressive and exciting wall chargers with its new PlugBug. Wall chargers are inherently about as useful and necessary as they are the exact opposite of exciting. But with built-in Apple Find My action…now we are talking. I have since had a chance to love every second of this thing after going hands-on and subsequently finding a permanent place for it in my Travel Kit, but there’s a new, slightly more capable version on the block now. And by on the block, I mean exclusively at Apple Stores. 

The Tapo lineup from TP-Link has really turned some heads here at 9to5Toys with an expanding selection of smart home accessories that won’t break the bank. This rings more true than ever with the new release TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart In-Wall Outlet. This functions as a standard wall outlet, but ratchets things up by being not only smart, but outfitted with Matter support as well. This means it will work with all the major smart home ecosystems, including Apple Home. Continue reading to find out more.

This is one we have been waiting for ever since the new M4 iPad Pro debuted back in May folks. Nomad is now ready to unveil the next-generation of its Leather Folio covers for Apple’s latest pro-grade iPads, and they are scheduled to go up for purchase starting today (any time now). Head below for a closer look and some clearance pricing on the previous-generation models.

PNY just unleashed a new M.2 NVMe SSD that joins its ever-growing lineup of internal drives. The brand has debuted the new CS2150 M.2 Gen 5 SSD, which is now available to purchase from Amazon in 1TB and 2TB capacities. This high-performance unit is among the fastest M.2 drives out there on the market, and you can grab one for your PC starting at $99.99 shipped. Head below for a closer look and more details.

The holiday season is fast approaching, meaning it’s that time of the year when we put together some gift guides to help you pick the best for your friends and family. We already have a few guides in place for Apple lovers, musicians, and the like, and today, we’re looking at some of our favorite PC gaming upgrades to enhance your battlestation. From must-have accessories to deck out someone’s existing gaming setup to new gaming PCs and laptops to help set up a new battlestation this holiday season, we got you covered with recommendations and deals for all the PC gamers in your life. Head below to find a curated list of the absolute best gifts for those who enjoy playing video games.

From a simple smart magnetic folio desk mat to metal MagSafe holders, elago has a long-list of unique and surprisingly useful products in its lineup. Now, the brand has debuted a new 15W wireless charging pad which is unlike anything we’ve seen before. You’re looking at a simple wireless charging pad that can deliver 15W charging speed to your iPhone wirelessly. What makes this model different from other options on the market is that it has magnets on both front and back, with which you can attach it to things like a refrigerator, a metal wall, and more. You can get this from elago’s official Amazon storefront in Black and Stone colorways, and it’s priced at $23.99 shipped. Head below for more details and a closer look.

As the Best Buy holiday deal season rolls on, it has once again landed with a sneak peek at this week’s upcoming Doorbusters. Starting this Thursday for early access members and on Friday for everyone (although not all deals will be locked behind the paid membership come Thursday), Best Buy will launch its next batch of holiday Doorbusters and we now have some details on what’s to come. Head below for the details. 

Nimble, a tech accessory brand we have featured in the past that is specifically focused on creating carbon neutral, environmentally-conscious gear, has recently launched its latest slate of charging gear for Apple’s latest tech. Now available exclusively in Apple retail locations and on the official Apple online storefront, the lineup delivers on the popular Qi2 15W power trend with a new 3-in-1 PODIUM charger, a FOLD(able) variant, a dedicated Apple Watch stand, and the one that really caught our eye, the new VALET 3-in-1 Wireless Charger. Scope them all out down below. 

We all know how difficult it can be to reliably tackle last-minute Christmas shopping, so here at 9to5Toys we are kicking off our first list of recommended gifts roughly one month in advance. Instead of going after big-ticket items, this selection is focused on affordable items that folks can benefit from each and every day. If this type of product is right up your alley, you should swing by our new Steals page and subscribe to our daily newsletter. In many regards, you can think of Steals as already-affordable everyday gear that’s now discounted even further. But enough about Steals, let’s dive in to our gift guide of everyday essentials priced from $7.

Intel has introduced a new lineup of B-series gaming graphics cards that will replace the older A-series models. The company just took the wraps off its new Arc B580 and Arc B570, both of which are based on the same Xe2 ‘Battlemage’ GPU architecture you’ll find in Intel’s Lunar Lake laptop chips. The brand’s new Arc B580 GPU carries a $249 price tag and it starts shipping on December 13, whereas the Arc 570 model is priced at $219 and will ship starting early next year on January 16. Both of these GPUs will hit Amazon and other retailers like Newegg soon, and you can learn more about them below.

If you’re looking for some unique gifts for the special people in your life and unsure how to cross those names off your holiday shopping list, today we’ve got some of our favorite smart lighting gear that make perfect Christmas gifts. Nothing sets a mood like smart lights that can switch between a massive multitude of colors and effects, and with this lineup from popular brands like Philips Hue, Govee, Nanoleaf, and more – the enjoyment has near limitless possibilities for year-round usage. Head below to see some of our favorite picks and recommendations on how to upgrade your loved one’s lives with quality ambient smart lighting.

Target is keeping the big-time deals rolling for December and we now have a look at its 44-page holiday deal ad. While much of the Black Friday offers are no more, Target will be keeping some of the notable deals alive for at least another week, according to the holiday ad, and we also know the retailer has a another big-time 3-day holiday sale inbound starting next week. Head below to browse through the 44-page, week 2 Target holiday ad and for additional details on the upcoming 3-day event. 

We are well into the Black Friday savings season, with Cyber Monday looming on the horizon, which means it’s time to round up our favorite picks for under $25 here at 9to5Toys. This year’s event has not just been confined to one day, so there’s plenty more deals you can explore at your own pace. If you’re still crossing off names from your holiday shopping list, these deals will likely make excellent gifts, even if as stocking stuffers too. You’ll find everything from insulated tumblers to compact tools, MagSafe charging pads, trackers and wallet cards, speakers, and more. You won’t want to miss out on this curated collection of our top picks, so head below and make your purchases before they’ve sold out.

Best Buy is now once again serving up a sneak peek at its next Black Friday Doorbusters set to go live later this week, and it’s another notable batch folks. We will take a look at all of the previous doorbuster deals that are still live in its Black Friday sale, as well as take a sneak peek at the eight new Black Friday Doorbusters on tap for later this week down below. 

With Black Friday officially a week away, we just got in the full ad of what we can expect during the 2024 savings season coming from Walmart. The spread includes 37 full pages of deals that will be going live in just a few more days – even cutting prices further on the already live early access savings – with massive markdowns up to 70% on an even more massive array of items like vacuums, kitchenware, cookware, laptops, kids playsets, jewelry, furniture, gaming equipment (including consoles), and so much more. For Black Friday this year, Walmart will be launching its deals ahead of the official November 29 date, with the savings carrying through to December. You can get all the details about Walmart’s upcoming event below, including important dates and the complete 37 pages of its ad scan – perfect for planning out just what you’ll be grabbing so that you’re ready to pounce once things get underway.

Okay, this is it folks, we now officially have a look at the complete 85-page Target Black Friday ad. This is indeed the main event flyer, containing all of the deals that will be live for the retailer’s official Black Friday sale. We have seen a couple early fliers from Target with a look at the early Black Friday deals, but today’s is the full thing…and it’s a massive one. 

While we are still one week out from Thanksgiving 2024 and Black Friday proper, Amazon and other major retailers have jumped well ahead of schedule to launch massive Black Friday sales starting today. From new all-time lows across the latest lineup of M4 Macs, Apple Watch models, and AirPods, to thousands in savings on power stations, deals on the best e-bikes brands, the now live Anker Black Friday sale, and some of the most sought-after smart gear out there, the early Black Friday are now flying and you’ll find running list of favorites across all of these product categories and more waiting down below.

Target is now ready to officially announced its now live and upcoming main event Black Friday deals. While we already got a look at the official Target pre-Black Friday ad scan as well as the initial details on the retailer’s multi-phase Black Friday plans this year, Target has now issued a press release with loads of additional details on its upcoming main event for shoppers, including the special three-day Black Friday event that kicks off on Thanksgiving Day, its Black Friday store hours, and even a sneak peek at some upcoming deals. 

This is it folks, the official 2024 Amazon Black Friday Week deals are going live today. This year Amazon has decided it is kicking things off well ahead of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday proper to launch a massive selection of price drops starting today, just as we previously reported – all of the deals will be live at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:00 a.m. ET on November 21 (today). It looks like this year we will be working around the clock for over a full week to ensure the best deals are front and center for everyone leading up to what, at least used to be, the main event. 

Amazon just unleashed two new devices to update its wall-mounted smart display lineup – Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21. The Echo Show 15, which is the smaller of the two new smart displays, is an updated model of the Echo Show 15 that debuted in 2022. The Echo Show 21 is essentially the star of the show here, sporting a 21-inch 1080p screen. Both models are said to have improved audio, camera, and a built-in smart home hub, and they are now available to purchase on Amazon for $299.99 and $399.99 shipped, respectively. Head below for a closer look and more details.

The official details on the 2024 PlayStation Black Friday deals are now finally here folks! While Nintendo and Xbox have already shown their hands, Sony has now finally taken to the official PlayStation Blog to detail its 2024 Black Friday deals. Everything will be kicking of this week across all major retailers, the official PlayStation Store, direct.playstation.com, and the PlayStation Gear store. Head below for a closer look at this year’s 2024 PlayStation Black Friday deals. 

As we get deeper into November, we’re getting more and more LEGO news and reveals, mostly on upcoming building sets that will be released in the coming year, like the 77037 Aloy and Varl vs Shell-walker and Sawtooth set or the four new Botanical builds. We’ve also seen some pre-Black Friday deals over at Amazon coming in and taking up to 40% off a massive list of LEGO sets – both new, older, and retired – which is still going. The LEGO Group has also officially unveiled the details of the upcoming Insiders Weekend 2024, which will be kicking off in a few days and offering some offers and GWP during the scheduled period. We’ve also got some answers to your LEGO Black Friday and Cyber Monday questions, which you can head below to learn more on.

Walmart is now giving up the details for its official 2024 Black Friday sale. While we already featured the massive 40-page ad for the early sale event that has now come and gone, as we previously reported the Walmart sale will come in two phases and we now have the official details on the second and final half of the event. We now have the official start time for Walmart’s Black Friday Deals sale as well as more information on its Cyber Monday event and even a sneak peek at pricing on a host of products that will be on sale come next week. Head below to scope out the official details on the 2024 Walmart Black Friday sale. 

As we have already been extensively reporting on this year, Best Buy has decided to run a series of major early Black Friday events leading right up to the main event all month-long. Alongside the “Black Friday Deals Right Now” sale that is loaded with price drops on headphones, small kitchen appliances, action cameras, Apple gear, Chromebooks, gaming controllers, smart home products, and more, Best Buy is launching a batch of Black Friday Doorbusters every week and has now once again served up a look at what is going to be on tap for this week.