News

At yesterday’s Behind the Sims Summit, we got our first look at what’s to be Sims 5, dubbed “Project Rene.” In the very early look at the game, we got to see quite a bit of unique features. The upcoming title, which likely won’t be out fully for a few years, will have new creative tools, solo and collaborative play styles, and cross-device support like we’ve never seen from a Sims game before. Sound intriguing? Let’s take a closer look at what we can expect from Project Rene below.

Today we are diving into the brand-new 8Bitdo Charging Dock. After featuring the brand’s new pro-grade multi-platform Ultimate controllers with charging docks of their own and the Lite SE Bluetooth gamepad before that, it’s time for its latest charging solution. Now available for pre-order ahead of the November launch date, the new 8Bitdo Charging Dock brings a few interesting features and a unique see-through design to your Xbox setup. Head below for a closer look. 

After its inaugural debut back in 2020, Walmart is returning today in order to announce the return of its latest Deals for Days sale. The now annual sale looks to celebrate Black Friday and the holiday shopping season at large with four weeks of savings events.

Football season is in full swing and the fan gear has taken off this year. There are new trendy vendors, such as Wrangler and LuluLemon, that are in the college licensing space that fans can get their hands on now. Be sure to show your support with your favorite college teams at tailgates, in the stadium, or at home. Head below to find all of our top picks this year, and you will also want to check out the new TAG Heuer Mario Kart watches to complete your game-day outfit. 

Amazon’s New World is getting a pretty big update today called Brimstone Stands. It adds a new ancient Egyptian-themed area to the game alongside more abilities, a new weapon, expedition, and even a “revamped starting experience.” However, Amazon wants to give existing players a way to start afresh with the latest update and will be launching “Fresh Start Worlds” on November 2. What all will the worlds deliver, and how does Brimstone Sands change the New World experience? Keep reading to find out.

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 sees first discount to $780 with Alpine Loop band at Amazon
• iPhone 13/mini all-time lows emerge from $590 in Woot’s 1-day Grade A refurb sale (Save $109+)
• Google Pixel 7/Pro see pre-paid promos with $200 GC and Pixel Buds from $599 ($299 off)

Custom Elite Series 2 Controllers are now a thing after being fully integrated into Xbox Design Lab. Taking to its official Xbox Wire this morning, Microsoft has announced that its Elite Series 2 Controllers can now be customized via its online Xbox Design Lab editor – an option it says has been the number-one most popular request since the service launched. Head below for more details. 

After getting an early sneak peak last week, the LEGO Group today is officially revealing what will likely be one of the last Marvel sets of the year. Arriving as one of the largest builds from the 2022 LEGO collection, the upcoming Iron Man Hulkbuster will be getting its latest model and the most detailed version yet. Stacking up to over 4,000 pieces, the UCS-style kit is packed with some authentic details despite arriving with an overall design that leaves a bit too much up to the imagination.

The PlayStation DualSense Edge release date has now been confirmed. After being officially unveiled back in late August, Sony has now taken to its official PlayStation Blog to confirm the upcoming DualSense Edge release date alongside pre-order details and official pricing for its upcoming pro-grade controller. Head below for all of the specifics. 

Tile is best known for its Bluetooth item trackers, the Mate, wallet card-style Slim, and the Pro variant, many of which we went hands-on with previously, but the brand updated its lineup with the new Lost and Found Labels last month. These low-tech QR-coded labels are essentially custom-encoded stickers that help to track down misplaced items, and we have now had a chance to go hands-on with them for a couple of weeks to see what they are all about. Head below for our review of the new Tile Lost and Found Labels as part of our ongoing Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

While I might be new to the Minecraft realm, I’ve been readily waiting for the 1.20 update to be announced. Well, over the weekend at the 2022 Minecraft Live event, Mojang finally announced Minecraft 1.20, though it won’t officially launch until next year. The beta should be live “in the next few days,” and you’ll find that the upcoming update delivers an all-new mob, building block, and more. Sound interesting? Keep reading to find out all that we know about the Minecraft 1.20 update.

Update: Spigen’s next-generation Classic iPod Shuffle-style case for the new AirPods Pro 2nd Generation earbuds is now available for purchase. This one isn’t even available directly on the official Spigen site just yet, but you can land it via the brand’s Amazon storefront for $18.99. 

Update: Spigen’s brand new fabric-wrapped Urban Fit AirPods Pro 2nd Generation Case is now available for purchase via its official Amazon storefront at $29.99 shipped. Features include a “premium knit fabric” exterior with an included carabiner, microfiber lining, and a cut out for the new lanyard connector. 

After detailing the brand’s latest iPhone 14 case collection as well as its latest Pixel 7/Pro models, we are now taking a closer look at the recently released Spigen MagSafe AirPods Pro 2 case. Its standard edition covers for Apple’s latest earbuds arrived over the last couple weeks with the usual Rugged Armor polycarbonate treatment and the see-through clear variants, but Spigen has updated its MagFit lineup with a MagSafe AirPods Pro 2 case now as well. Head below for 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.

• Save $200 on nearly every 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro config with second-best prices from $999
• Apple’s official MagSafe charger drops to one of the best prices of the year at $29 (Reg. $39)
• All-time lows return on Apple’s latest iPad Air 5 starting at $519 (Save $80)

In noisy gaming environments, ANC, or active noise cancellation, can help to knock out background noise and keep the focus on the game. I relied heavily on it during the heat of the past summer. And while we’ve seen plenty of high-end headsets with ANC come out this year, like Sony Inzone H9 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the Alienware AW920H offers a similar spec sheet at a lower price. At $200 is the Alienware AW920H a good option for a more affordable ANC gaming headset? Be sure to hit the video below to see our dive into the good and the bad of this gaming headset. 

The 2022 LEGO lineup has all but been locked in before builders begin getting an official look at 2023 sets due out next year. Now as one of the final creations of the year, the LEGO Group will be heading back into the Marvel lineup to recreate Tony Stark’s iconic Hulkbuster out of over 4,000 pieces. Today, we’re getting a first look at set number 76210 down below, as well as a breakdown of what you can expect from the massive $550 price tag.

Totallee iPhone 14 MagSafe cases have arrived. For those unfamiliar, Totallee is a brand best known for its minimalist iPhone cases and is putting its latest design up for pre-order today. The initial collection of clear and color cases launched shortly after Apple’s latest handsets hit the scene in early September, but the new MagSafe Solid Black and Frosted Clear models have now arrived. Head below for a closer look.

This week, Microsoft announced an all-new Windows PC lineup with the Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, and Surface Studio 2+. All are available for pre-order for an October 24 release date, though the Surface Laptop 5 and Pro 9 can also be purchased at Amazon as well as Microsoft and other retailers. What do Microsoft’s latest releases bring to the table? Let’s take a closer look 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.

• Apple’s official leather MagSafe wallet complements iPhone 14 at $30 (Reg. $59)
• Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard with Touch ID falls to new all-time low with rare discount to $140
• Save $200 on Google Pixel 6 with all-time low discounts from $399 at Amazon

CORSAIR, known for its gaming gear and the internal heatsink-equipped SSDs we reviewed previously, has now unleashed its new portable SSD. The EX100U comes in at a digestible price tag considering the speeds and tech it boasts, all set in a compact form factor with compatibility across just about any device with a USB-C port. Head below for a closer look at the new portable SSD from CORSAIR. 

Over the past few months, we’ve been seeing Anker refresh its lineup of MagSafe portable chargers with some new slimmed down models. Today, we’re getting a third addition to that stable with a refreshed version of the brand’s kickstand-backed MagSafe power bank. Available in five different colors, refreshed design also changes the placement of its onboard USB-C port for more conveniently charging up two devices at once.

We’ve seen some sweet Mushroom Kingdom collectibles and cross-over projects, but you’ll definitely want to check out the new TAG Heuer Mario Kart watches. Whether you’re into Swiss timepieces or not, these new official Tag Heuer x Nintendo watches are worth a closer look. Set to arrive next week, you’re looking at proper luxury watches with gorgeous Mario Kart accents through the dial designs and weaved into the skeletonized tourbillon arrays. Folks interested in dropping $4,300 (or a whole lot more) on a sweet Swiss-made Mario Kart watch will want to head below and reserve a chance to buy one now. 

SANDMARC has quickly become one of our favorite Apple gear accessory makers, especially in the iPhoneography category, and today, its new Telephoto iPhone 14 Lens is going up for pre-order. We previously featured the brand’s iPhone 14 cases and gorgeous new Titanium Apple Watch band, but today, it’s all about its new 58mm lens that now sits alongside the previously released Cloud Diffusion iPhone filter. It’s now available for pre-order with a special exclusive 10% discount for 9to5 readers – head below for a closer look and the discount code.

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 Alpine Loop band works with Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8 with first sale to $90
• Apple’s original AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging case hit $140 in Grade A refurb sale
• Google’s popular Nest Thermostat regulates fall temps with Assistant at $100 (Save $30)

After previously featuring its iPhone 14 case collection, we are now taking a closer look at the new Journey ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat. Featuring a unique magnetic modular design, the new ALTI is looking to reduce clutter, protect your desktop, and provide some built-in charging alongside a few other interesting tricks it has tucked under the leather surface. And much like the pre-order phase of its leather iPhone 14 cases, you can now land one at 20% off the going rate. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

For some folks the regular $100 to $300 earbuds just won’t cut it, and that’s where the new high-end Beyerdynamic XELENTO audiophile earbuds come in. The brand, well known the world over for its headphone lineup, is introducing its brand new second-generation audiophile Tesla in-ear headphones known as the XELENTO remote and XELENTO wireless. These hi-res audio certified earbuds feature touches of real 24ct gold, and as you’re likely imagining, are only for serious listeners with an exorbitant price tag in tow. Head below for a closer look. 

Amazon is rolling out its Early Access Prime Day sale today ahead of the holiday season, giving you a chance to take one more chore off the list by scoring a discounted robotic vacuum. One of the more notable offers live right now has the ILIFE A4s Max and all of its autonomous cleaning prowess discounted to the lowest price of the year, delivering up to 2,000Pa of suction power, smart app control, and other ways to make cleaning a bit more convenient.

While gaming headsets are getting better and more options are available, if you already have a good pair of headphones, there is another way to get clear communications with teammates. The ModMic lineup augments a pair of headphones by attaching a microphone on the earcup. We got our hands on every ModMic available. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear how they perform. 

Over the past two days, we’ve been checking every nook and cranny across Amazon to showcase all of its best deals from the Prime Early Access event. While you’ll still find a collection of discounts live until the shopping event closes its virtual doors, we’ve highlighted the top 10 fall Prime Day deals still available to help cut to the chase. Including notable price drops on the latest from Apple and Google, to Amazon devices, storage, and TVs, these deals will likely be gone at 3:00 a.m. EST tomorrow.

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.

• M2 MacBook Air discounts land in fall Prime Day sale with $150 off from $1,049
• Rare price cut lands on new Google Pixel Buds Pro at $152 all-time low (Reg. $200), more
• Nanoleaf’s popular modular HomeKit lighting kits have never sold for less, now starting at $35

In LEGO news we honestly never thought we would be covering, today 9to5Toys can report that the LEGO Group plans on squading up with the folks over at Epic Games in order to bring one of its most iconic titles into the brick-built world. There are any number of vehicles and builds from Fortnite that would deserve the LEGO treatment, but above all of them, the Battle Bus is one of the game’s most recognizable inclusions. And in April of 2023, we’ll be seeing a massive 2,700-piece version hit LEGO store shelves.

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 just-released AirPods Pro 2 fall to new all-time low of $235 in fall Prime Day sale
• New all-time lows arrive on Apple’s latest iPad Air 5 starting at $519 (Save $80)
• Anker’s new GaNPrime chargers fall to new lows: PowerCore 24K $100 (33% off), more

Following up its original sale back over the summer, Amazon is now ringing in the start of the holiday shopping season by launching a new fall Prime Day savings event. Like always, the team at 9to5Toys will be working around the clock in order to bring you all of the best discounts over the next several days. Alongside Amazon getting in on the savings, various other retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target are also launching their own savings events to compete. Below, you’ll find all of the best fall Prime Day 2022 Early Access deals across a range of categories, like tech, home goods, fashion, and more.

Today, the LEGO Group is launching its latest double VIP points promotion on its entire catalog of sets. Giving builders a chance to score double the cash back on all-new creations from the fall waves including the latest UCS creations, display-worthy models, and more, this is a rare chance to lock-in the points ahead of the upcoming holiday shopping season. Head below for all the details on the new LEGO double points promotion and some of our top picks for getting the most out of the savings event.

Update: We are are now tracking a new all-time low on the OWC Envoy Pro Mini USB-C + USB-A 10Gb/s Portable SSD flash drive with the 1TB variant now at $149 shipped – the 500GB model is still at $99. Regularly $179 and $109, these prices are the lowest we have tracked.

After launching a few months back, we’ve now had a chance to get a closer look at OWC’s new Envoy Pro mini SSD. Delivering one of the more compact and high-performance models on the market, we couldn’t wait to get our hands-on the new Envoy. The brand has been well-known for creating some of the more notable storage devices out there for a while now, and the machined aluminum housing as well as the overall attention to aesthetic details on its latest miniature flash drive-sized solid-state immediately caught our eye. Head below for our hands-on Tested with 9to5Toys review for more details on the user experience. 

Alongside ongoing Amazon gift card offers on Google’s new handsets starting from $599, we have now spotted some notable offers on the Spigen Pixel 7 cases. Available for both the base model and the 7 Pro, the brand’s latest Pixel cases have now arrived and we are already tracking some notable price drops via its official Amazon storefront. Pricing on the Spigen Pixel 7 cases regularly ranges from $30 up to as much as $45, but you can now score some models starting as low as $15. Alongside listings far lower than the direct pricing, Amazon is also serving up on-page coupons to sweeten the deal even 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 latest 11- and 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pros fall to new all-time lows from $699 (Save $200+)
• Apple Watch Series 8 first discounts go live with all-time lows from $349 (Save $50)
• AirPods Max deliver ANC and Spatial Audio at the best price yet of $355 (Refurb, Orig. $549)

We are ready to weigh in on the Bellroy iPhone 14 cases. More specifically the company’s eco-tanned leather models as well as the optional modular wallet system they support. Bellroy has been landing in our roundup of the best iPhone 14 cases for a couple years now, and has once again found its way in there this year. These cases are easily among my favorites in the price range. But, do they have what it takes for you to dish out the $55 or more it’ll take to wrap your new iPhone 14 in one? Head below for a hands-on review of the new Bellroy iPhone 14 cases in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

If you’ve wanted to get your hands on a Steam Deck but didn’t want to wait months, now is the time to place your order. Valve has announced that you can place an order without needing a reservation alongside two other big pieces of news. These include the official docking station now becoming available for order and lots of new software features to better round out the Deck experience. Head below the fold to learn more about these recent developments.

SK hynix has been around the block for quite some time in the storage and PC hardware space. Lately, the brand has been going big on NVMe drives, and the SK hynix P41 and P31 M.2 models are among its top sellers. We’ve spent the last few weeks with SK hynix’s latest SSDs and found them have great performance for the price.