News

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.

They might not feature the stark white minimalism of the latest Apple buds, but Audio-Technica’s new ATH-TWX9 set is clearly looking to take on the AirPods Pro 2 to some degree. After debuting back in November, AT’s latest is loaded with noise-cancellation tech, spatial audio, a similar form factor, and built-in sterilization in the wireless charging case, not to mention a somewhat lofty price to match. It’s time to take a closer look at the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

It truly is a Christmas miracle! Earlier this fall we reported that the LEGO Group would be returning to its vault in order to dish out some remakes of old school sets as new, nostalgia-fueled creations. Today we’re able to share a first look at two of the upcoming builds, including the new BIONICLE gift with purchase and the long-awaited return of LEGO Blacktron. Arriving as freebies through the month of January, the LEGO BIONICLE Tahu and Takua set joins the 2023 return of another classic theme with the Blacktron Cruiser.

A tradition of the holiday season here around 9to5Toys; each December we dive in to see what the latest LEGO Advent Calendars have in store. And for 2022, there’s so much to be excited about. With 24 days of different creations on tap, we’ll be taking a day-by-day look to highlight all of the miniature creations, minifigures, and other builds in the countdown to the end of the month. This year, we’re taking a look at what’s included with the latest LEGO Star Wars and Marvel kits. So whether you’re following along at home or just checking out the builds to get in on the festivities, be sure to head below the fold to see how the 2022 Star Wars and Marvel LEGO Advent Calendars stack up. 

Let’s take a closer look at the new Coach Wrapped AirPods Pro 2 Case. Coach might not be the first brand that comes to mind when you think of Apple gear accessories – it’s the totes, wallets, purses, and duffel bags the company is best known for. But after taking a closer look at its iPhone 14 collection this year, we were surprised at how impressive the brand’s offerings can be wrapped around Apple’s latest-generation handset. And now that the second-generation pro-grade AirPods are out in the wild (and currently on sale if you’re looking to grab a set), it’s time to dive into the latest Coach offering for Apple’s newest wireless earbuds. Head below for a closer look at the Coach Wrapped AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Case.

ElevationLab has just unveiled its new AirTag bike mount solution. Elevation Lab might be known for its under-desk Anchor headphone mount among some circles, but it also makes some of the best AirTag accessories out there – some of which were featured in our roundup of the best options on the market. Its latest, known as the TagVault: Mountain Bike, delivers a sporty and stealthy option for cyclists to effectively hide an Apple item tracker within the frame of their ride in a safe and secure manner so “thieves won’t know it’s there.” Head below for more details and a closer look. 

If you saw my review of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, you may remember that comfort was my only issue with it. As a $350 headset, it has all of the bells and whistles, but I could also feel the ANC bumps in the earcups when wearing the headset in normal, everyday use. Wicked Cushions has developed a line of aftermarket earpads for many gaming headsets. When it announced a new pair of Wicked Cushions for the Nova Pro Wireless, I immediately purchased a set to see if it worked to make the SteelSeries headset my favorite of the year. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Over the last few weeks, our team here at 9to5Toys has curated our own gift guides for just about anyone on your holiday shopping gift. But now that the window for actually securing a gift is coming to a close, shoppers hoping to score the perfect gift are still in luck. We’ve all put together a selection of last-minute gifts, all of which are ready to be delivered in time for Christmas. Hit the jump for all of our top picks and easy last-minute gifts.

Earlier this year, Marshall refreshed nearly its entire lineup of speakers from the portable offerings to models meant for rocking out at home. We already reviewed a pair of the battery-powered form-factors, and now ahead of the holidays are back to take a look at the brand’s latest at-home speakers. Wrapped in the iconic stylings you’d expect from Marshall, we’re going hands-on with its new III series speakers to see how the Acton, Stanmore, and Woburn stack up.

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.

• Here’s your last chance to score AirPods Pro 2 before Christmas with $49 discount to $200
• Apple Watch Ultra style hit second-best prices at $749 and deliver before Christmas (Save $50)
• Apple’s latest M1 Mac mini gets in on pre-holiday savings with $100 discount to $599

It’s time to go hands-on with the Teenage Engineering TX-6 mixer and interface hybrid music machine. The TX-6 is much more than just a mini mixer. It certainly does sum individual audio signals/inputs into a single stereo output, six to be exact, like any good mixer should, but it can also act as a sort of audio hub on-the-go, completely tether free, for on-site recordings, live music sets, DJing, and one of the most feature-rich portable audio interfaces out there. Connecting to your DAW over USB-C for 12-track multi-track recording – it is also MFi certified for use with iPhone – plus you’ll find a built-in, albeit relatively basic, drum machine/synthesizer and a series of both standard issue workhorse and more boutique FX that can be used on all of it. Head below for a closer look.

Last year around this time, Dell unveiled what it dubbed Concept Luna, a laptop that aimed to be more sustainable compared to others on the market. This proof-of-concept was developed in collaboration with Intel to explore ways to reduce the number of materials needed, and reuse others, in the fabrication and construction of laptops. Though it was never meant to be sold, Concept Luna would help Dell implement features found within actual products in the future. Now, Dell is providing an update to Luna, though still don’t expect to see it on store shelves. Head below the fold to learn what Concept Luna has evolved to.

Whether you’re looking to score some extra juice for your iPhone 14 on-the-go or need to lock-in a last-minute gift, Anker makes some of our favorite chargers here at 9to5Toys. Recently the company sent over its latest lineup of MagSafe power banks, and today we’re going hands-on with three different models to see how each of the new releases stack up and compare to other models on the market.

CES is just around the corner, and in under a month, the largest technology expo of the year will be underway. Well, HTC has big plans for the event, it seems, and has recently stated that they’ll be showing off a small and lightweight headset for the first time. This VR headset is said to compete with the likes of the Meta Quest line, bringing HTC into more of the budget-focused realm for virtual reality. What all do we know? 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’s latest 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro sees up to $99 off holiday discounts from $1,039
• Belkin’s latest 3-in-1 MagSafe Stands hit lows with Apple Watch fast charging from $130
• Apple’s latest iPhone SE 3 sees rare refurbished discount to lows from $300 (Orig. $429)

Nintendo took to its official Twitter feed late yesterday evening to announce the next batch of new SEGA Switch Online titles. In its efforts to continually bring additional value to the more expensive Expansion Pass Switch Online library that delivers both N64 and Genesis titles on-demand to subscribers (alongside other perks like the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe booster courses that were just expanded), some notable new Genesis classics have arrived. Head below for a closer look. 

While it may not be a major problem during the winter, pollen, dust, and other airborne particles will cause your allergies to act up. If it especially affects you, then it may be time to consider an air purifier. Dreo is now bringing its latest entry to market with the Macro Max S Smart Air Purifier which uses an integrated air quality monitoring system to detect when the air needs to be cleaned. The Macro Max S uses a three-stage H13 True HEPA+ Carbon Filter system to purify your home’s air. This new air purifier is now available, so make sure you head below to learn more.