News

Today we are taking a closer look at the new Smartish iPhone 14 case collection and, more specifically, the Wallet Slayer Vol. 2. The company delivers low- to mid-tier pricing on its range of iPhone covers starting from $15 with a number of unique designs, materials we don’t see very often, and the option of customizing your own. From models with built-in wallets to clear MagSafe solutions with colorful trims and the finger grip version it has been offering annually for Apple’s latest handsets, it’s time to take a hands-on look at the new Smartish iPhone 14 case collection as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature.

This week, CORSAIR is updating its KATAR lineup of gaming mice with a new Elite model that packs a 26,000 DPI optical sensor, sub-1ms Slipstream wireless connection, and up to 110 hours of battery life per charge. There are also a lot of other features that come with the latest CORSAIR KATAR Elite gaming mouse, so keep reading to find out more.

Oakywood hit our radar a couple of years ago with its handcrafted tech and desk accessories ranging from iPhone cases and iPad sleeves to full-on home office desk suites and add-ons. Since then we have come away quite impressed with products like its Desk Shelf and wooden wireless Qi charging pads – I still use much of its desktop accessories to this day – in our hands-on reviews. But this week, Oakywood relaunched its website with a new look, custom options, and a range of new all-black wood and metal gear. Head below for additional details, a closer look at its standing desks, and more. 

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 MacBook Air delivers M2 performance and MagSafe from $1,049 (Save $150)
• 11-inch M1 iPad Pro models now start from $700 at Amazon with $99 discounts
• Sonos takes up to $409 off home theater bundles: Arc AirPlay 2 soundbar, Beam, more

Update: All of the new Pokémon PopSockets gear detailed below is now seeing the first price drops as part of its Black Friday sale at 20% off.

After launching its latest models for the new iPhone 14, it’s now time for the new Pokémon PopSockets collection. The back-mounted PopSockets are a must-have for some iPhone users, but the brand also offers a range of iPhone 14 cases and wallets with the integrated grip action as well, and you can now get them covered in your favorite pocket monsters. Available for all iPhone models from series 11 right up to the latest releases, head below for a closer look at the new Pokémon PopSockets collection. 

After taking a look at Caseology’s new AirPods Pro 2 case and the latest model NanoPop MagSafe wallet, it’s time to check out the new Series 8 Caseology Apple Watch case. We have featured the brand around here for years, and it regularly lands in our annual roundup of the best iPhone cases, but did you know the company also creates protective sheaths for your Apple wearable? Its latest variant is specifically tailored for Apple’s Series 8 wrist computer and carries over much of the same design sensibilities of Caseology’s AirPods Pro 2 cover. And, it’s now available for purchase at $14. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

At the end of last month, Anker revealed its latest pair of flagship earbuds with the new Soundcore Liberty 4. Arriving as some of the brand’s most capable true wireless buds to date, the flagship experience comes centered around expected inclusions like active noise cancellation but also more novel additions like Spatial Audio and a built-in heart rate sensor. As for how all of that stacks up, we’re taking a hands-on look at what to expect over the past few weeks of daily-driving Anker’s latest.

Update 12/5/22: Xbox has now made it official – new games built for Series X|S will be seeing prices raise to $70 starting next year. Starting in 2023, titles made for Microsoft’s latest consoles, including the likes of Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield, will launch with a $70 MSRP in the US. Details on other titles and regions will presumably be coming shortly. Here’s what Microsoft had to say about the matter:

This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles…As with all games developed by our teams at Xbox, they will also be available with Game Pass the same day they launch.

It looks like Xbox price increases could be on the way. After Sony officially announced console price hikes in just about every region outside of the US this summer, many wondered whether or not Microsoft would follow suit with the Xbox ecosystem. Sony’s move marked the first time we have seen console price hikes this deep into the hardware cycle, and after recent comments made by CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spender, it looks like Microsoft might not be immune to global inflationary conditions after all. Head below for more details.

Today, UGREEN is launching an all-new 12-in-1 USB-C triple display docking station that packs 100W power display charging. This all-in-one hub can output up to 8K30 or 4K60 and even delivers Gigabit Ethernet, SD, microSD, and so much more. Not only does it pack all those features, but it’s even on sale for a launch-day discount price of $30 off. Sound intriguing? Keep reading to find out if this is the new power station your desk needs.

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 $79 on Apple’s original AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging case, now down to $170
• Rare $39 discount delivers new Apple Watch SE 2 all-time low on cellular models at $290
• Official Apple Watch Sport Bands stylize your Series 8 from $25 all-time lows (Reg. $49)

Some new Spigen Milanese Apple Watch bands have surfaced. Last month Apple unveiled its new Series 8 and Ultra flagship wearables, and we have since started to see a series of new Apple Watch bands coming out of the woodwork. Alongside some interesting new leather models as well as the higher-end titanium editions from SANDMARC, we have now spotted a pair of hybrid Milanese-style bands and metal case combos from Spigen to join the party. Just recently made available for purchase via the official Spigen Amazon storefront, they start at $25 – you’ll want to head below for a closer look and more details. 

Nomad has been expanding its lineup of popular Apple accessories into the USB-C charger space lately, and now we’re seeing one of its most unique offerings yet. The new edition of the 30W USB-C charger arrives not only as a compelling iPhone 14 companion but also with a refreshed exterior that takes on some retro stylings, thanks to its transparent plastic housing.

Coming November 1, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is gaining 30 new playable characters to the game with The Galactic Edition. This expansion delivers six new character packs to your game and offers players the choice to enjoy the game as Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, and others. On top of that, there are going to be additions to existing characters like a holiday version of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and more. Sound interesting? Keep reading for additional information.

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.

• Woot launches Apple refurb sale with iPhone 13 from $650, Apple Watch Series 7 $129 off, more
• Apple Watch Ultra returns to all-time low for second time with Ocean Loop band at $780
• New models may be coming, but Apple’s M1 Pro MacBook Pros are a better buy at $400 off

Rode is a brand best known for its audio and recording gear, but today it is launching its new dedicated gamer division known as Rode X. Looking to deliver products custom-tailored to the gaming and game streaming community, the new Rode X lineup is launching today with a pair of new USB mic models and some dedicated software to better accommodate the streaming and recording process. Head below for a closer look at the new Rode X mics and more. 

BLUETTI is celebrating raising over $9 million dollars on Indiegogo for its recently announced AC500 and B300S power stations. Announced a few months ago, these power stations deliver “mind-blowing” capacity to keep your home running even when the grid goes down. Available for purchase through Indiegogo, BLUETTI is nearing its next stretch goal with more goals in sight. What all happens when BLUETTI hits these upcoming stretch goals? Let’s take a closer look below.

After launching its truly wireless LinkBuds S Noise Canceling Earbuds back in May, Sony is now adding a new colorway to the lineup, but this one is a little different than the rest. Made from recycled water bottle materials, the Earth Blue colorway creates a unique, one-of-a-kind marble pattern and is part of the Sony Group’s “Road to Zero” initiative to reduce the environmental footprint to zero by 2050. Alongside this new colorway, Sony is also launching a Microsoft Teams-certified LinkBuds based on the first-generation set. All LinkBuds series headsets other than the Teams model will receive a software update in November that will enable multipoint connection functionality. Keep reading below the fold to learn more.

Today, the LEGO Ideas team is announcing the results of its latest review round. In what is the final chance for a fan-made kit that previously hit the 10,000-supporter milestone to be approved by the LEGO Group, the results are finally in as nearly 40 models all fought to become an official creation.

Today, NZXT is introducing two new cases as well as the brand’s first air cooler. Refreshing the H510 lineup, the newly renamed NZXT H5 Flow and H5 Elite are entering the scene with a renewed design. On top of that, NZXT is now entering the air cooling space as well, whereas the company only used to focus on all-in-one closed-loop water coolers. What do the H5 Flow, H5 Elite, and T120 bring to the table? Let’s take a closer look.

SANDMARC is unveiling its new black Titanium Apple Watch band today. The brand has quickly become one of our favorite Apple gear accessory brands – its iPhone 13 leather case was my personal favorite of 2021 – and it has more recently stepped in to the Apple Watch space with 2022 model leather strap and previously unveiled silver metal variant. Today it is launching a “timeless” and sleek new metal link-style bracelet band for Apple’s wearable with the all new black Titanium Apple Watch band. Head below for a closer look and an exclusive discount for 9to5 readers. 

MUJJO has now unleashed its new leather MagSafe wallets. The brand revealed its 2022 collection of iPhone 14 cases shortly after the new handsets were unveiled and have since become one of the more popular options in the price range among 9to5 readers. The new MUJJO leather MagSafe wallets are now available for purchase, matching the latest iPhone 14 case collection perfectly with your choice of three colorways, but are also compatible with 12 and 13 series magnet-equipped handsets as well. Head below for a closer look and more 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 are available.

• Anker’s latest sale discounts USB-C GaN chargers, MagSafe power banks, more from $11
• Second-best discount delivers Samsung’s M8 Smart AirPlay 2 Monitor at $530 (Save $170)
• Google Pixel Buds Pro land at new all-time low with ANC in tow, now $150 (Save $50)

Update: Pre-orders are now live directly from PlayStation. 

Today will mark the first chance to lock in your pre-order for the PlayStation DualSense Edge, Sony’s new pro-grade controller for PS5. First unveiled back in August, the new DualSense Edge is scheduled to go up for pre-order today at select retailers after Sony took to its official PlayStation Blog last week to finally unveil the official pricing, presale details, and release date. Considering how scarce its PlayStation 5 consoles still are, those looking to ensure they land one of the pro-grade DualSense controllers might want to lock one in as soon as possible. Head below for more details. 

After Amazon kicked off the early holiday shopping season with the fall Prime Day event earlier in the month, it’s now fair game for other retailers to start detailing their Black Friday plans. Costco is one of the first, with today seeing a first look at its Holiday Savings plans with the annual Costco Black Friday 2022 ad going live.

Today, B&H and ASUS are announcing the launch of the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED laptop. This unique laptop is “blurring the line between laptop and tablet,” according to the press release, as it’s essentially one massive 17.3-inch OLED touchscreen that folds down to 12.5-inches. So, what else does this unique laptop bring to the table beside one massive folding screen? Let’s take a closer look.

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 Pencil 2 falls to new all-time low of $89 in time for M2 iPad Pro launch day (Save $40)
• Beats Studio Buds fall to new low of $90 (Save $40) alongside best prices on Beats Fit Pro, more
• Samsung’s recently-released Galaxy Watch 5/Pro hit new all-time lows from $230 (Save $50)

We are diving into the new 10.9-inch Spigen iPad cases today. Last we heard from the brand, it was dishing out its collection of Pixel 7/Pro cases and its new AirPods Pro 2 case with the lanyard cutout and built-in MagSafe charging, but it’s time for the updated Liquid Air Folio, Rugged Armor Pro, and Ultra Hybrid Pro for Apple’s latest 10.9-inch tablet. These models are already available for purchase with a light discount live on the Air Folio model via the brand’s official Amazon storefront. Head below for more details on each of them. 

Now that iRobot has been acquired by the likes of Amazon, those looking for a smart robotic cleaning solution free of that baggage will have to shop elsewhere. A more recent brand to the scene, Narwal, is looking to apply its latest technology in order to make that happen with its new Freo robotic vacuum. Packing a robust set of autonomous cleaning features, a launch discount makes the robot even more capable.

Update: We have now launched our new 2023 edition of the best MIDI keyboards for Mac and iPad ahead of the launch of Apple’s new Logic Pro for iPad.

AKAI has just unveiled a new MPK Mini Plus. While we did see a new Mini Play model earlier this year, the AKAI MPK Mini Plus MIDI keyboard controller is the next-generation model of the standard Mini MK3 that launched back in 2020. Shedding the onboard speaker and built-in sounds found on the more portable production suite-grade Play model, the new MPK Mini Plus is the latest-generation MIDI controller from the brand designed to offer a little bit of extra finger real-estate for beat makers and musicians alongside a series of modernized controls we are used to with music controllers like this. Now available for purchase, head below for a closer look at the details. 

Wonder Tech Lab, the creators of the SwitchBot brand, which focuses on retrofitting existing hardware to add smart functionality, is now launching its latest Kickstarter campaign. The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is a retrofit device that attaches to your blinds to add smart functionality to them with a solar panel providing essentially endless power. Even though this campaign launched today, and you can back the project through November 20, the campaign goal was met within one hour. Wonder Tech Lab expects this new smart home device to begin shipping out to backers by the end of the year with general availability coming shortly thereafter. Keep reading below the fold to learn more about this retrofit device.

This week, Turtle Beach is introducing its all-new VelocityOne Flightstick, which is a joystick for air and space combat simulation games. Made to work with the Xbox One and Series X|S lineup, as well as the PC, this gaming flight stick is designed to deliver “immersive, accurate controls for navigating air and space flight sim and combat games.” There are eight total axes including a contactless hall effect sensor on the main X and Y axis, making it a solid choice for all setups. Keep reading to find out more.

While it might not be the GoldenEye 007 update you were hoping for, Nintendo has now announced Mario Party for Switch Online. Now scheduled to land on Switch Online starting early next month, Nintendo is bringing both of the original Mushroom Kingdom party games to its membership service to enjoy with friends and family over the holidays. Head below for more details.

As the holidays approach, now is the time to step up your smart home lighting game, and GE Lighting is looking to help you out with its brand-new Dynamic Effects CYNC lights. The first additions to this new line are the CYNC Dynamic Effects Light Strips. With entertainment-backed features, these light strips can be controlled without a hub and integrated with your home assistant. The strips are available now, and future products will join the lineup in Spring 2023. Keep reading below the fold to learn more.

Today, Philips is announcing a new line of accessories and monitors to “reinvent the rules of gaming” with its Evnia lineup. Ranging from brand new monitors to audio gear, peripherals, and more, there’s a lot to unpack from the Philips Evnia event where we have our very own Jordan Swartzendruber on the ground. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Philips Evnia.

It’s now time to take a hands-on look at the Peak Design Everyday iPhone 14 fabric case. We were impressed with last year’s models and have now had a chance to put the iPhone 14 variant to the test. It is once again employing the textile treatment while combining magnetic and mechanical accessory connection systems, but is it worth dropping the $40+ down over some of the more affordable options out there. Head below for all of the details in our latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

Ubisoft’s long-awaited sequel to the Mario and Rabbids franchise, Sparks of Hope, is officially launching today. Delivering a fresh take on turn-based tactics gameplay that fuses in a compelling story with open-world exploration, the Game of the Year contender arrives as one of the most enjoyable Switch titles in a long time that is easily worth your consideration.

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 $100 on stainless steel Apple Watch Series 8 with Milanese Loop at all-time low of $699
• Apple’s official MagSafe Battery Pack complements iPhone 14 at $74 (Reg. $99)
• Lenovo’s flagship Tab P12 Pro Android tablet starts at $500 with new all-time low (Save $200+)

Speck has now unveiled its next-generation magnetic iPad cases for the new 12.9- and 11-inch pro models as well as the 10.9-inch variant. Apple took to the virtual stage this week to detail its new tablets, and Speck is here to ensure they stay safe and sound with drop protection, antimicrobial treatments, interesting magnetic flaps to guard the camera lens, and more. Now available for purchase in various colorways, you can get all of the details you need down below. 

Originally announced back toward the end of September, Intel’s latest 13th Generation processors are now officially here. We’ve spent the past few days with them, running both the i5-13600K and i9-13900K through its paces to see if they could best AMD’s Ryzen 7000 lineup to help you decide what your next system should be. While our testing is far from over, there are a lot of interesting tidbits that separate Intel and AMD this time around.

After Apple unleashed its next-generation tablets yesterday, Pad & Quill is now introducing its new leather iPad cases. Its latest folio covers once again employ the boutique handcrafted leather treatment the brand is known for with new slim and “Magic” designs coming to its Oxford lineup. The brand’s covers are usually available in three leather colorways, but this time it is introducing an additional lighter tan tobacco brown option as well. Swing below for more details and a closer look as well as a promo code to knock 15% off your order. 

The 2022 Incipio iPhone 14 case collection arrived just hours after Apple unveiled its latest models. It features enhanced versions of its mainstay designs, including the Organicore model featured here today as well as some new entries like the more niche Forme variant with nature-inspired designs. The brand has been dishing up notable covers for Apple’s iPhones for years with a focus on an environmentally-friendly approach as of late, and now it’s time to give its Organicore iPhone 14 case a run for its money in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature.