News

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 are available.

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 lands at new all-time low of $749 for fall Prime Day (Save $50)
• Beats Studio Pro headphones fall to new $180 low (Reg. $350), plus earbuds from $90
• Google Pixel Watch clearance delivers a new all-time low at $210 (Reg. $350)

Just after reporting on the set names yesterday, we can now share the first images of the new LEGO Animal Crossing sets. Launching next year on March 1, there are five upcoming creations that come packed with exclusive minifigures and all of the vibes you’d expect from the iconic Nintendo game.

Update: We now have an official look at all five LEGO Animal Crossing sets.

We finally know the set names for the upcoming LEGO Animal Crossing sets. With five different sets from the popular Nintendo franchise, we’ll be seeing some iconic locations like Nook’s Cranny and more get the brick-built treatment come next year.

Today, Logitech has revealed a new gaming mouse with a bit of inspiration from a galaxy far, far away. The new Logitech G502 X PLUS Millenium Falcon Mouse arrives with a design that turns one of the more popular peripherals on the market into the fastest hunk of junk in the Star Wars universe. Except, this mouse is hardly a junker like its sci-fi inspiration, sporting all the bells and whistles to make it a worthy battlestation upgrade.

Walmart isn’t going to let Amazon hog the spotlight this week, and today is launching its new Deals Holiday Kickoff event. This sale arrives with online-only deals on just about every product category, delivering deep discounts on gear from Apple, Nintendo, Microsoft, and so much more. We’ll be picking out some of the best offers throughout the day, and all of the other highlights are below. The savings are notably available for all, which is certainly a dig at Amazon and its Prime-only event.

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 are available.

• Apple’s 15-inch M2 MacBook Air starts at new $1,049 all-time low (Save $250)
• Apple’s all-new USB-C AirPods Pro 2 return to all-time low with only second discount at $49 off
• Google Pixel Watch clearance delivers a new all-time low at $280 (Reg. $350)

Govee is now completing the Holy Trinity of smart Christmas lights. We’ve already seen Philips Hue and Nanoleaf get in on the festive action, and now Govee is decking the halls with its own set. These deliver a more affordable take on the decorative lights and are now shipping ahead of the holidays.

2024 will be the 25th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars theme, and the company plans to celebrate. Next year’s creations will be branded around the occasion, with a few frills that turn some already exciting models into even more unique additions to the collection. From themed box art and printed anniversary bricks to extra minifigures like a LEGO Darth Malak and ARC Trooper Fives, we break down what to expect below the fold.

Update: We just got a first-look at the upcoming LEGO Natural History Museum ahead of its debut next year.

Hold onto your hats history fans, the LEGO Group is slated to be releasing a new addition to its Modular Building series in 2024 that is sure to excite. Today, 9to5Toys can report that next year’s release in the theme will be a massive LEGO History Museum comprised of over 4,000 bricks as set number 10326.

We are now ready to take a look at the Caseology iPhone 15 cases that launched in mid September. The brand comes under the Spigen fold to deliver some affordable alternatives for Apple’s latest handsets. We have featured Caseology for years for that very reason and its latest collection continues that trend after landing in our roundup of the best iPhone 15 cases. Now after giving a few of the models a run for their money over the last week or so, some clear standouts have emerged and we are ready to weigh in as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

mophie today is out with an all-new MagSafe charging station, and it’s taking an entirely different approach to powering your iPhone 15. The refreshed 3-in-1 design takes a far more vertical approach with a telescoping mount that that can extend out of the base.

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 are available.

• Save $300 on Apple’s cellular 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro at new $999 all-time low
• Apple’s latest AirPods 3 now on sale from $120 (Reg. $169)
• New all-time low takes $200 off Samsung’s latest 32-inch M80C AirPlay 2 monitor at $500

Looking to rent or buy the Super Mario Bros. Movie? If you have been wondering when you’ll be able to stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie at home, that time has now arrived. A project that left longtime fans of the world’s most famous plumbers wondering if Nintendo could actually pull off bringing its iconic Mushroom Kingdom to the big screen has since broken box office records. It brought in over $370 million in the biggest opening weekend of 2023, and you can now finally enjoy it at home on just about all major streaming platforms. More details below.

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

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

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

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

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 are available.

• Google Pixel 8 Pro launch deal includes Pixel Watch 2 at $350 off
• Apple’s 11-inch M2 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard is down to just $142 (Refurb, Orig. $299)
• Save $730 on Super73’s iconic R electric motorbike with 75-mile range at new $2,565 low

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

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

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

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

Bellroy unleashed its 2023 leather iPhone 15 cases shortly after the latest Apple handsets debuted on stage, and now it is time to take a closer look. The latest from Bellroy offers fans of Apple’s now defunct leather solutions an option for wrapping iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max in genuine leather despite Cupertino’s move over to the divisive FineWoven treatment. New colorways and similar treatment as last year’s offering are back again for the latest Apple handsets, but are they worth the cash? Head below to find out in the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

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

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

Google took to the stage this morning to unveil its next-generation of tech, including Android 14, the Pixel Watch 2, and the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. Loaded with several new upgrades for the lineup, including the Tensor G3, a 120Hz panel, a telephoto camera, and autofocus on the ultrawide sensor, just for starters, all of this is packed into updated hardware with a matte back, rounded design and the flat glass “Super Actua” display you’ll want to keep protected. The new and affordable Spigen Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro case lineup is here to help the cause without breaking the bank. Head below for a breakdown of the new models available for Google’s latest handsets starting from $16 Prime shipped. 

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

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 are available.

• First price cuts in months take $29 off Apple Watch SE 2 styles from $220 (Second best)
• Latest Nest Hub 2nd Gen sees $40 discount for Google event day at $60
• Nomad’s Kevlar USB-C Lightning cables are now 50% off for 9to5 readers at $22.50

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

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

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

Get more details right here. 

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

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

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

It’s time go hands-on with SANDMARC’s beautiful titanium Apple Watch bands. After the release of its more affordable stainless steel variants and just before the launch of its amazing new iPhone 15 cases, SANDMARC unleashed a high-end take on the Apple Watch Ultra bracelet-style strap. And not to spoil this entire review, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Made from Grade 4 titanium and now joining its stainless steel models, head below for a closer look and some hands-on impressions of the SANDMARC Titanium Apple Watch Ultra Band – you’ll also find an exclusive discount. 

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 are available.

• Apple Watch Series 9 steel case styles fall to new $740 lows at Amazon (Reg. $799)
• Jabra’s all-new Elite 10 ANC earbuds with Dolby Atmos see first discount down to $225
• Belkin’s 15W MagSafe 3-in-1 pad with Apple Watch fast charging hits $100 (Save 33%)

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

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

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

At IFA this year, intelligent cleaning bot brand Roborock introduced a pair of new robotic vacuums and mops that offer an enhanced and simplified cleaning experience into its mid-range lineup. While the brand certainly does offer some high-end flagship machines with all of the bells and whistles you’ll find just about anywhere, it’s new high-performance Q5 Pro and Q8 Max are looking to land right in the sweet spot for folks that don’t want to get into that $800+ range, but also require something more efficient and intelligent than the basic models out there. Both options are now seeing some serious launch deals to entice early adopters with as much as $220 in savings off the regular price tags and all of the details you need are waiting down below. 

Spigen’s 2023 cover collection debuted shortly after the Apple handsets did, but the brand took everyone by surprise when it revived its C1 collection to deliver the epic new iMac iPhone 15 cases. Featuring a design directly inspired by Apple’s tear drop iMac circa 1998, it delivers a semi see-through approach and a heavy dose of nostalgia for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users. We have now had a chance top test it out hands-on wrapped around the iPhone 15 Pro and are ready to weigh in as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys review below. 

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

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

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

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

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

Today, we are taking a closer look at the Oakywood 2-in-1 Headphone Charging Stand. The brand is known for its use of natural materials mixed with robust metal accents, much like the MagSafe stand collection and desk shelf we reviewed previously, and the 2-in-1 Headphone Charging Stand lands on your work surface with much the same attention to detail. I have always been a fan of office and tech accessories with this sort of design approach and thought it was time to see if Oakywood’s 2-in-1 solution is worthy of carrying my headphones of choice. Head below for some hands-on impressions.

Spigen’s iPhone cases have been featured around for years, and for good reason. They provide good quality covers for the price and offer a ton of different style options to meet a wide range of needs without breaking the bank. The new iPhone 15 collection looked to be much of the same as year’s past at launch and, after giving a number of the cases a run since my iPhone 15 arrived, I can personally back up these initial impressions for the latest models. Head below for some more hands-on details and a look at some of our favorite options in the lineup. 

Just before pre-orders on the new PlayStation Portal player are scheduled to hit other retailers tomorrow, Sony has now announced the PlayStation Plus free games for October. While most PS gamers are (not so) patiently waiting for the release of Spider-Man 2, a fresh batch of freebies for PS Plus members will go live beforehand starting on Tuesday, October 3. The collection is headlined by some sci-fi survival horror action alongside peaceful farming simulation and a “dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West.” Head below for more details on the October PlayStation Plus free games. 

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