News

As the LEGO 2023 lineup begins coming into clearer view, we’re getting a better idea of how the summer wave of sets will look. Today we’re able to report on the names of eleven different LEGO Ninjago summer sets, all of which will be dropping in the latter half of the year.

More Xbox Oreo cookies have arrived. The sweet classic cookies and creme treats are coming to Xbox and your snack pantry. Taking to the official Xbox Wire today, Microsoft has announced a new campaign to “Unlock Playfulness” with new special edition Oreo cookies. These aren’t just the Xbox-themed sweet snacks seen above; there are fun in-game goodies that come along with the six embossed custom designs, as well as what Microsoft is describing as “real-world prizes.” Head below for more details. 

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• Apple’s beloved and compact iPad mini 6 now back in stock with $99 discount to $400
• Start the new year with Google’s Pixel 7/Pro smartphones on sale from $499 (Save $100+)
• DJI’s just-released Mini 3 quadcopter sees first discount to $499 in cert. refurb sale (Orig. $559)

Best Buy today is announcing a new change to its rewards program to help it get an edge over Amazon Prime to start 2023. Normally in order to score free shipping at Best Buy, you’ll need to exceed the $35 minimum purchase threshold to have your package arrive at no additional cost. Now the retailer is nixing the minimum all-together, offering its My Best Buy subscribers no-cost delivery on everything.

Last week, we shared a look at the upcoming LEGO Disney BrickHeadz that’ll be kicking off the 100th anniversary series when the 4-pack drops next month. But as we originally reported, it looks like the LEGO Group and Disney have plenty more in store with a lineup of new summer 2023 sets. As the official wave of the collection, we’re getting a better idea of what to expect with nine confirmed sets so far.

As more rumors come out on what to expect from the 2023 LEGO lineup at large, 9to5Toys today can confirm a report that has been circulating this week on the future of the company’s collaboration with SEGA. Come this summer, everyone’s favorite blue blur is going to be getting the brick-built treatment once again in a lineup of five LEGO Sonic sets due out in the summer of 2023.

With CES 2023 well underway, Panasonic is announcing the latest additions to the LUMIX mirrorless camera lineup, the S5II and S5IIX. This time around, Panasonic has implemented Phase Detection Auto-Focus into these cameras thanks to its newly developed 24.2MP full-frame sensor, which makes these cameras great for photos and videos. On the video side of things, the new imaging engine allows these cameras to provide 4:2:0 10-bit 6K (3:2)/5.9K (16:9) and unlimited 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K recording capability. Another unique feature here is the ability to apply a LUT in-camera which is loaded from the SD card and can apply to videos and pictures, and you can even live stream while applying the LUT in real-time. Keep reading below the fold to learn more about these new LUMIX mirrorless cameras.

Have you heard of Loona yet? She is a smart pet robot that has now garnered millions of dollars in backer funds on crowdfunding sites and has already started shipping to early investors. It seems as though tech companies have been starting to push smart home robot tech more and more over the last few years, not unlike the many learning and coding bots we have seen out there and the upcoming Amazon Astro household helper, but Loona is taking a slightly different and more adorable approach here. Coming in the form of a little robotic puppy, she is looking to become your new best friend and help out around the house too. Head below for more details. 

Ring has become something of the name in smart home security, and now for the New Year is looking to extend that reach even further. Debuting its very first dash camera, the new Ring Car Cam debuts with the same stable of features you’d expect from its at-home releases and is now available for pre-order with some savings attached.

Today, GIGABYTE officially announced its CES 2023 lineup of laptops featuring up to the 24-core 32-thread i9-13950HX processor and the 175W TGP RTX 4090 graphics card. These laptops are among the most powerful that GIGABYTE has ever made, and should allow both gamers and creators to work or play from anywhere as if they had a desktop with them. Sound intriguing? Keep reading to learn more.

Amongst all of the other reveals now that CES 2023 is officially underway, Anker is also getting in on the showcase by offering up a look at a suite of new releases. Launching all throughout the coming year, the company has a wide range of releases including everything from new workstation docking stations to chargers, microphones, and more.

Today at CES 2023, Razer is announcing a slew of new gaming-focused products. Leading the way is a new lineup of Razer Blade laptops, with refreshed sizing all around as it now sports either a 16- or 18-inch display. Plus, the Leviathan V2 Pro is the “world’s first beamforming sound bar with head tracking technology.” Having recently tried out both products at CES 2023, here’s what all you can expect from Razer’s latest gaming lineup.

After launching its Squares LED wall pixels last fall, Twinkly is attending CES 2023 and unveiling its latest addition to its application portfolio, the Twinkly Entertainment Hub. Aimed at content creators and gamers, the Entertainment Hub will allow Twinkly lights to seamlessly synchronize with audio and visual content to create an immersive experience in your home. It’s nice to have your lights making patterns on your wall, but imagine if they synced with your games and screen. Make sure you keep reading below the fold to learn more about this new application from Twinkly.

A new casino arcade machine is ready to go all-in. Arcade1Up is bringing a little piece of Vegas home from CES 2023 this year with the announcement of its new Wheel of Fortune Casinocade Deluxe. Taking on the form of the brand’s popular 3/4-scale stand-up arcade machines, the new Wheel of Fortune cabinet brings home a special spin on the classic game show alongside a host of casino experiences in one of the more unique models in the lineup. Head below for a complete breakdown of the new Wheel of Fortune Casino arcade machine. 

Back in October, the LEGO Group announced how it would be partnering with Wizards of the Coast in order to bring the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to life in brick-built form. Today we finally know just what that collaboration is going to look like, as the results of the LEGO Ideas contest have now come to a close.

As announced on the official Xbox Wire today, Microsoft has now unveiled a new Xbox Series X bundle. Available for pre-order right now, the new package is officially known as the Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle. And as the name suggests, it delivers Microsoft’s flagship home gaming console with a copy of Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition alongside the plethora of goodies that version of its impressive racing title includes. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

Rachio – a leader is smart yard care products – is introducing its new Smart Hose Timer at CES 2023. The brand is best known for its intelligent sprinkler controller systems, most recently the Rachio Smart Irrigation Controller, as well as the smart analysis and weather tech it makes use of, but it is now delivering a similar setup to a much wider potential user base. The new Rachio Smart Hose Timer allows folks without a built-in irrigation system (or something of that nature) to leverage much of the technology and convenience the brand has been developing for years now and at a much lower price point. Head below for a closer look. 

OWC is heading to Vegas for CES 2023 with its new Thunderbolt Dock. Known as the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, it is described as a first-of-its-kind solution delivering an 11-port hub to expand the I/O potential of Thunderbolt and USB-C compatible Macs, PCs, iPads, Chromebook, and even Android devices. Designed for professionals, students, and content creators alike, the Thunderbolt Go Dock is looking to streamline your setup with an integrated power supply without the limitations of a bus-powered dock alongside its usual higher-end and robust build quality. Head below for a closer look at the new OWC Thunderbolt dock. 

Update: Both of LEGO’s new Botanical Collection sets are now available for purchase. That includes the Wildflower Bouquet at $59.99 and the Dried Flower Centerpiece at $49.99.

Having quickly become one of the most popular LEGO themes for older builders, the Botanical Collection is now being expanded into 2023. Today, we’re getting a look at two new kits that join the other builds from the series and branch out into some eye-catching new directions. Both the LEGO Wildflower Bouquet and Dried Flower Centerpiece will be hitting store shelves next month as the theme’s latest kits.

The CES 2023 news continues today as Nomad, one of our favorite Apple accessories, is debuting its latest offering. Bringing the usual premium stylings that we expect to Apple Watch, the new Nomad Aluminum Band is just the latest accessory to hit the scene from the brand. Pairing the usual elegant build with an easier-to-swallow price tag.

Hisense – a brand that now claims to be the “number 2 TV shipper in the world” – has unleashed its 2023 collection at this year’s CES. Headlined by exciting new laser TV and laser cinema options, it is also enhancing its high- and mid-tier mini LED models alongside new entry-level displays and more. You’ll find enhancements across the entire lineup and “two categories of Laser products,” including what it refers to as the first-ever portable TriChroma Laser Cinema. Head below for a closer look at the latest from Hisense at CES 2023. 

After seeing the new Dell Nyx concept touch controller, it’s time for the brand-new HyperX Xbox controller and next-generation Haste 2 gaming mice. Straight from the showroom floor at CES 2023, HyperX is expanding its gaming gear lineup with the HyperX Clutch Gladiate enhanced wired controller designed for Xbox, as well as the latest additions to its HyperX Pulsefire Haste gaming mice lineup. The Clutch Gladiate marks the first Xbox-certified gamepad from the brand, while the latest Haste 2 mice delivers new designs to one of HyperX‘s most popular PC gaming products. Head below for a closer look at the HyperX Xbox Controller and more from CES 2023. 

Lockly – makers of “the world’s most advanced” smart locks and Vision video doorbell solutions – is introducing its new smart safe at CES 2023 this year. The brand is ready to evolve beyond the entry point of your home or office to help secure property and belongings with its new Lockly Smart Safe. The biometric sensor-packed home safe directly connects with your smart device for remote access, tamper notifications, and a bevy of other intelligent features. Head below for a closer look at the new Lockly Smart Safe.

With CES 2023 just around the corner, companies are now starting to unveil their latest tech, and LG is among the pack with its 2023 OLED TV lineup. Bringing in the latest image processing power, self-lit picture quality, and an enhanced webOS experience, this lineup will include LG’s most advanced range of OLED TVs to date. If you’re ready to learn what’s new and enhanced in LG’s 2023 Z3, G3, and C3 OLED TVs, make sure you keep reading below the fold.

CES 2023 is in full swing, and Dell is showing off its futuristic new gaming controller known as the Nyx gamepad. The new input device is part of a conceptual gaming platform it showed off last year, effectively allowing gamers to store titles on a central hub before picking up and playing them on various displays around the home, splitting larger TVs into dual gaming screens, and more. Fast forward to the 2023 show, and the brand has now brought the sensor-packed, pro-grade gamepad you’ll be using to control it (and other platforms presumably) out into the open. Head below for more details on the Dell Nyx gamepad. 

Today, ASUS Republic of Gamers is announcing four new products at CES 2023. Leading the way is the Azoth gaming keyboard, which packs a 75% form factor and wireless connectivity with DIY features. Then, there’s a new PC gaming controller, mouse, and even a new chair. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you’re looking for any new PC gaming gear, then keep reading to find out everything ASUS has to offer.

GE today at CES 2023 is announcing its latest collection of smart home lighting accessories, including the first additions to the lineup compatible with Matter. Also joining the new reveals are some more novel lights that take aim at the likes of Nanoleaf and Govee, delivering more vibrant colors and unique designs as part of the fittingly named Dynamic Effects lineup.

Update: The new 100th anniversary Disney BrickHeadz pack is now available for purchase for $39.99.

Late last year, 9to5Toys was first able to report that the LEGO Group would be once again teaming up with Disney to deliver some 100th anniversary fanfare. Now that 2023 has arrived, we’re getting an official first look at just how all of that will stack up. Arriving as a collection of BrickHeadz figures, four Disney icons are fittingly making their debut in the upcoming 100th anniversary set. 

A new year is now underway and with it comes an entire collection of LEGO sets. This time around for 2023, you’ll find everything from the latest Star Wars and Marvel recreations to Technic, City, Ninjago, the new LEGO Jazz Club, and many other new sets. Head below for the full scoop on all of the new LEGO sets available for January 2023, which are now available for purchase.

Throughout 2022, we’ve reviewed a collection of the latest true wireless earbuds. Including a wide range of brands, form-factors, and price points, we’ve settled on five of our favorite alternatives to first-party offerings from Apple, Google, and Samsung. Including Anker’s new Soundcore Liberty 4, the stylish Sennheiser Momentum 4s, and some utterly unique offerings from Sony, you’ll find all of the best earbuds of 2022 outlined below.

Now that the holidays are officially behind us, it’s time to continue an annual tradition here at 9to5Toys, Write-Off Week. The year is winding down and time is running out to make last-minute purchases to deduct from 2022’s taxes. Many have been on the work-from-home journey for well over a year, and some are just starting out. It doesn’t matter what camp you’re in, this week is your last chance to score some tax deductible gear that’s able to be written off in April. Keep reading for all of our favorite Write-Off Week deals.

Being I’ve been slowly building out my sim rig for racing and drifting. The latest addition is the Buttkicker Gamer Pro which does just what its name would suggest – adds haptics in your seat thanks to a large transducer attached directly to a gaming chair or cockpit and an amplifier connected to a gaming console or PC. It can even be set up in multi-unit configurations. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

While we don’t tend to feature all that many full-on drum machines around here, the Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 is just so powerful and interesting I had to give it some air time. After spending more than a few weeks hands-on with the hybrid digital-analog sound maker, it was immediately clear that it sets itself apart from much of the competition in many ways while still providing content-creators, beat-makers, and home producers with a particularly powerful workhorse that’s so much more than just a drum machine. Head below for our impressions of the Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

Another year of LEGO is now one for the history books. While we’re gearing up to start covering all of the new creations come 2023, beforehand we’re taking a retrospective look at what this year already delivered. Ranging from new creations that take the throne of largest set to authentic recreations of both historic and cinematic marvels, you’ll want to head below for our best LEGO sets of 2022.

Today we are taking a closer look at the Mous MagSafe Wallet. Mous is probably best known for its protective iPhone cases that don’t really give off that heavy-duty look and feel, but rather something of a more refined look in many cases that fall into the casual or even dressy category. While its MagSafe Card Wallet isn’t overly robust or rugged, it certainly caught our eye with its supple, tumbled leather build and slightly more unique design than many of the vertical-oriented options out there. But is it the right choice for you? Head below to find out in our hands-on review of the Mous MagSafe Card Wallet as part of our Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

Today, the LEGO Group is officially revealing the first expansion to its Art lineup for 2023. Hokusai: The Great Wave is one of the most instantly-recognizable paintings of all time, especially those of Japanese origins. Now for next year, it’s getting the brick-built treatment with a new 1,800-piece kit launching in January.

Now that the winter lineup of LEGO Star Wars sets has been solidified for at least the start of the year, 9to5Toys is now able to report on what to expect from the upcoming summer wave. Even with the spring sets that will come out before, we’re jumping ahead to some of the final kits from a galaxy far, far away to launch in 2023. With eight different Star Wars sets coming out in the summer wave, we have set numbers, price points, and part counts for the upcoming LEGO builds including unique $200 kit launching in September.

Update: While we haven’t narrowed it down to the top 5 yet for 2023, our roundup of the best iPhone 15 cases is now up.

As any avid 9to5Toys reader will know, we test and go hands-on with an inordinate amount of covers for Apple’s latest handsets every year, and it’s time to weigh in on the best iPhone 14 cases of 2022. While like most Apple gear accessory categories, the established brands and products tend to shine every year, this time around we have both a few mainstays and some new options that made their way to the top of the pack. If you’re looking to upgrade your case beyond the model you purchased at launch or just recently acquired a new iPhone 14 over the holidays, you’ll definitely want to take a closer look at our list of the best iPhone 14 cases to at least ensure your well-informed of some of our favorite options out there. 

New Star Wars PopSockets are inbound. PopSockets – a brand many would say popularized those back-mounted smartphone grips – is expanding its premium collection today with the latest from a galaxy far, far away. While there are plenty of grips out there from a plethora of different brands, not very many of them offer up the kind of selection PopSockets does, from MagSafe and spinning options to enameled treatments, slidable models that can neatly get out of the way of wireless charging gear, and even grips you can customize yourself. But it’s now time to embrace the dark side. Head below for a closer look at the new Star Wars PopSockets. 

This year is coming to a close, which has all of the writers here at 9to5Toys getting a bit retrospective on all of the gear we’ve taken a look at in 2022. Alongside all of the tech, toys, and fashion we’ve reviewed since January, there is a selection of things each of us bought for ourselves that weren’t covered. Ranging from must-have charging tech for your everyday carry to electric scooters, M1 iPads, and more, you’ll find all of 9to5Toys’ Favorite Things of 2022 down below.