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’s all-new M2 MacBook Pro now up to $200 off starting at $1,149
• Apple’s compact iPad mini 6 return to all-time lows from $400 with $99 in savings
• Woot celebrates Apple event week with refurb Apple Watch sale: Series 6 from $230, more

Update: The new Gray Camouflage DualSense controller, 3D headset, and PS5 cover are now up for pre-order directly from Sony with free shipping for PS Plus members. 

After debuting its new pro-grade DualSense Edge recently, Sony has now announced the Gray Camouflage Collection coming to its PS5 family of accessories. Set to join the rest of the now available galaxy-inspired color lineup of standard model DualSense game pads and PlayStation 5 console covers, today Sony is showing off the new stealthy camo treatment coming to its controllers, Pulse 3D wireless headset, and covers for both the all-digital PS5 and the disc drive-equipped model. Head below for a closer look at the launch trailer for the new PS5 Gray Camouflage Collection.

Today, Anker is expanding its charging lineup with a fresh batch of new releases to coincide with this week’s Apple keynote. Arriving as its latest USB-C wall chargers, the new Nano 3 packs 30W of GaN charging into a compact build that comes joined by a new series of Anker Bio-Based Lightning cables.

Hitting September meant that it was only a matter of time until all of the frights of Halloween, and now the Pokémon Company is formally getting in on all of the spooky action. Today, we’re getting a look at the Halloween plans from Pokémon with an all-new collection of merch including clothing, plushies, collectible, and even themed trading cards to give out to trick-or-treaters on the big night.

As the mobile gaming market continues to grow, adding a controller can take the experience to the next level. We’ve tried out the Backbone One and the original Razer Kishi, but today, we have the Razer Kishi V2 for iOS. Completely redesigned, visually, the Kishi V2 looks more like a Backbone one than the Kishi V1 from Razer. Be sure to hit the video below to see all the details. 

While we last saw mention of Game Pass Friends & Family just over a month ago, the service is now live in two countries, though sadly, neither is the US. Coming in at €21.99 per month for a total of five accounts, this release finally gives us insight as to the inner workings and fine details of what Game Pass Friends & Family will consist of, including the pricing structure. What all does Game Pass Friends & Family bring with it? 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.

• Best Buy’s annual Labor Day sale takes $349 off M1 MacBook Pro, 4K TVs, much more
• Apple Pencil 2 returns to 2022 low of $99 following $30 holiday weekend discount
• Beats Fit Pro see Labor Day discount down to $180 alongside Beats Studio Buds at $120

IK Multimedia is known best due to its relatively affordable gear for music producers, beat makers, and content creators, but it’s going pro with its latest iLoud Precision studio monitors. The iLoud monitors have come a long way since we reviewed the original models way back in 2017 – fast forward through a number of iterations including the original MTM range, and now we have the much higher-end, pro-grade iLoud Precision lineup. The new studio speakers continue the brand’s work in monitor emulation and room calibration alongside a series of upgrades to deliver its most pro-grade solution yet. Head below for a closer look. 

After launching its new Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer, Ninja is now launching its first outdoor appliance, the Woodfire Outdoor Grill. Ninja is launching this portable grill just in time for football and tailgating season. It uses 100% real-wood burning pellets to give whatever you’re cooking an authentic woodfire flavor. Keep reading below to learn more about Ninja’s first outdoor grill.

The question that we’ve all been thinking since Microsoft announced its acquisition of Activision is whether or not Call of Duty would be on Game Pass, and now we have an official answer. Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, took to a blog post today to detail the plans for some of Activision’s titles should the sale go through. The biggest news is that Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo would make their way to Game Pass for sure. But Phil also gave us more insight as to what we can expect from the merger, so let’s take a closer look 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 MagSafe charger drops to $30 ahead of next week’s iPhone 14 launch
• Twelve South’s sitewide Labor Day sale offers first discounts on new Apple accessories, more
• Pre-order Sony’s all-new Xperia 5 IV Smartphone and score a free pair of XM4 ANC earbuds

September 1 has arrived and so too have a batch of new LEGO sets to highlight the new month. While this isn’t the most packed lineup of all-new creations to hit store shelves like we saw in August, there are some notable models arriving as we begin closing out the 2022 set roster. From the latest in LEGO Ideas kit to this year’s annual Advent Calendars and more, we cover what you should buy and skip for the new LEGO sets in September.

Earlier this summer, Synology launched an all-new NAS in the form of the 5-bay DS1522+. Arriving with user-upgradeable functionality to back the robust features out of the box, I’ve been spending some time with the new release and its impressive 10Gb Ethernet capabilities to see just how good Synology’s latest and greatest can perform.

Today at IFA 2022 in Berlin, Samsung is announcing its all-new Odyssey OLED G8 gaming monitor. It seems to be the month for OLED gaming monitors, as CORSAIR just entered the UltraWide OLED market last week. However, Samsung is taking a different approach and delivering a more standard 34-inch 3440x1440p experience with a 175Hz refresh rate that doesn’t flex. Either way, this monitor is sure to take your setup to the next level and deliver a premium experience. Curious what it has to offer? Let’s take a closer look below.

Update: The September PlayStation Plus FREE games detailed below are now live for all subscribers.

Sony has now revealed the September PlayStation Plus free monthly games as well as some of the new titles coming to the Extra and Premium tiers. Everything kicks off next week on September 6, 2022 with three new freebie titles for all PlayStation subscribers alongside of new AAA titles coming to its on-demand game streaming service including Deathloop and Assassin’s Creed Origins, all of which is detailed 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 iPad Pro Magic Keyboards on sale from $155 in cert. refurb sale (Orig. $299+)
• AirPods Max return to lowest price of the year with Spatial Audio at $429 (Save $120)
• Outfit your Assistant setup with a pair of Google’s latest Nest Cam Outdoor at $240 (Reg. $360)

Today, Audio-Technica is releasing its new AT-LP3XBT turntable. Old school record players have become increasingly popular over the years, whether it’s to enjoy the warm analog audio of older records, new releases coming to vinyl, or just as a notable piece of furniture in the living room. The new Audio-Technica AT-LP3XBT turntable delivers on all of that and more with a classic aesthetic and some modern-day extras like wireless Bluetooth connectivity. Head below for a closer look at the latest entry to the Audio-Technica turntable lineup. 

With the new LEGO Ideas Lighthouse just hours from hitting store shelves, today we’re taking a look at some other creations that might have the honor of becoming official sets down the road. As we do every month, for August we’re rounding up our favorite LEGO Ideas as well as all of the best creations that hit the 10,000 supporter threshold through the month. Headlined by a LEGO Parks and Recreation model, there’s plenty more highlighted below.

Drop is well-known for its custom mechanical keyboards with premium builds, and it’s been awhile since we’ve seen an in-house keyboard design from Drop. Two years, in fact. The SENSE75 from Drop is a keyboard that the company “spent years carefully curating a typing and customization experience that the community would love.” What does the SENSE75 have to offer? Let’s take a closer look.

The new 8BitDo Ultimate Controller models have arrived. 8BitDo makes some of the most popular third-party controllers out there for a broad range of platforms (just about all of them) and it is now introducing its new Ultimate pro-grade solution. The brand already makes a series of gamepads for Switch, Windows, mobile platforms, the latest Xbox variants, and more, but the new 8BitDo Ultimate Controller will support all of them alongside included charging docks, various colorways, and more. Now available for pre-order, you can 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.

• Amazon launches WD and SanDisk storage Gold Box with hard drives, SSDs, more from $17
• Sony’s new XM5 ANC Headphones fall to all-time lows starting at $255 (Reg. $398)
• Nomad takes 15% off entire selection of popular Apple accessories in annual Labor Day sale

Next year in 2023, Disney will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The year-long celebration will likely see an appropriate amount of fanfare from the company, but ahead of time we can now report that LEGO builders will have something to look forward to. Arriving as next year’s licensed collectible minifigure series, the LEGO Group and Disney will be teaming up once again for a celebratory 100-year anniversary collection (71038).

It has been busy couple of weeks in the world of PlayStation with price hikes, the new DualSense Edge controller, PS VR2 details, and now, a new PlayStation 5 model spotted down under. Sony made some minor internal adjustments to its PS5 last year, but a 2022 model has been spotted in the wild just after the company dished up some unfortunate news of global price hikes (other than in the US) to the MSRPs on its flagship consoles. Head below for more details. 

A new PowerA Nintendo Switch charger launches today. The brand is easily among the most popular officially licensed third-party Nintendo Switch gear makers, including everything from its massive range of themed wired and wireless controllers to charging gear, Joy-con grips, protection travel cases, and more. It also delivers some of the lowest prices across many of these categories with regular sales on Amazon, and today we are looking the latest edition to the collection with the new dual controller PowerA Nintendo Switch charger. Head below for more details. 

Earlier this month mophie launched its latest lineup of power and charging gear headlined by the new powerstation pro. The new high-end charging solution boasts some relatively impressive specs with the ability to carry an entire work day’s worth of extra charge for your MacBook and an additional 72 hours for an Apple handset. A notable fabric exterior is joined by a pair of USB-C ports and up to 45W of charging juice, but is it worth the $150 price of entry? Head below for our mophie powerstation pro review in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys. 

As we near September, Amazon is detailing its Free Games with Prime titles for PC players. While many of these are lesser-known titles, like The Dig, Castle on the Coast, and Defend the Rook, two are pretty big names. Those two titles are Assassin’s Creed Origins and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition. How can you claim the titles, and what is required to play? Let’s take a closer look 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 14- and 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro on sale at new lows from $1,599 (Save $400)
• 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro now starts at $999 with first discounts in months at up to $350 off
• OnePlus back to school sale delivers 10 Pro all-time lows from $720 (Save $179), much more

After bringing some of its in-house IP to PC systems, Sony is expanding to your phones and tablets with the newly created PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, it announced today. The news comes along with an acquisition of mobile development house Savage Game Studios and is pointing at Sony potentially bringing some of its major intellectual gaming properties to an iPhone, Android device or iPad near you in the future. Head below for more details. 

Yesterday, Nintendo launched its all-new limited-edition Splatoon 3 Switch OLED console. Now shipments are beginning to arrive, and we’re going hands-on with the new release to see just how everything stacks up. Listings are still in stock now too, so if you like what you see with the neon designs and Inkling glyphs, you can still lock in your order.

Definitive Technology has broken into the soundbar game with their Studio 3D Mini Soundbar and Subwoofer combo. We reviewed their BP9060 Towers and were very impressed, and this home theater setup absolutely meets the mark. It packs DTS:X and Dolby Audio into a surprisingly small form factor, but don’t let its size fool you. I could not believe the audio that came out of something just over 2 feet long and under 2 inches tall.

After launching its first Wi-Fi 6E mesh system back in April, TP-Link is now launching its professional entry, the Deco XE75 Pro. Wi-Fi 6E support is still a prominent feature here with the tri-band setup using the usual 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands in addition to the all-new 6.0GHz band. However, users will now have access to a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection allowing for greater throughput. This is a major upgrade over the normal gigabit connections in the XE75 model and is aimed at professionals dealing with large amounts of data. Keep reading below to learn more.

After seeing the new Sanctum Sanctorum drop back at the start of the month, many builders thought that this would be the largest LEGO Marvel set of the year. Now, 9to5Toys can report some more confident findings as to what to expect from one of the year’s most detailed and expensive creations. Clocking in at a massive $500 price point, the upcoming LEGO Marvel Black Panther set 76210 will surely be one of the largest MCU-themed sets to ever hit store shelves.

The Steam Deck changed the way many people enjoy PC games. It finally made PC gaming truly portable, and Valve has done an excellent job with (most) of the rollout and launch. However, one area that most complain about with the Steam Deck is its power, as it’s not quite as beefy as other handheld systems out there. But with the release of a new booklet about the Steam Deck, Valve, and Steam, the company shines a light on the fact that this is just the first version and we’re looking at a “multi-generational product” here. What does this mean? Let’s take a closer look 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.

• iPhone 12/Pro Max/mini see cert. refurb Woot discounts to second-best prices from $370
• Apple’s latest 10.2-inch iPad has never sold for less following $49 discount to $280
• OnePlus 10 Pro now up to $125 off with Hasselblad-backed photography from $800

Amazon is looking to acquire EA, according to recent reports. As part of its continued efforts to take over the world – it just recently bought iRobot for $1.7 billion as well – Amazon is rumored to have an annoucenment for later today that will detail its potential acquisition of gaming sports giant EA. While rumors of such a deal have been floating around the internet as of late with mentions of Apple and Disney on the receiving end, inside sources are claiming the online retail giant has finally put an offer on paper. More details below. 

After first being revealed back in July, you can finally buy Nintendo’s new limited-edition Splatoon 3 Switch OLED. This special console is now available for purchase via several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart, and retails for $359.99 shipped in either case. While this bundle doesn’t include the game itself, this is your chance to score an entirely unique and inked out Nintendo Switch OLED complete with plenty of Inkling iconography. It’s likely to sell out, so be sure to score one while you can. But if you’re not sold just yet, we break down exactly what to expect from the console below, as well as all the info on diving into this week’s first Splatoon 3 Splatfest event.

HyperX is diving into a new hardware category with the Armada 25 and 27 Gaming Monitors. HyperX isn’t bothering with the industry standard monitor stand and instead includes a desk mount and monitor arm right in the box. It’s also delivering solid mid-tier performance with FHD (1920×1080) at 240Hz on the 25-inch model and QHD (2560×1440) at 165Hz on the 27-inch panel. We got our hands on the 27-inch to try out. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Today, Anker is expanding its collection of Soundcore headphones with an all-new sub lineup for the series. Arriving with two new offerings, the Space collection now sports a pair of true wireless earbuds to go alongside a set of over-ear headphones and both are equipped with ANC and more budget-conscious price points. We’re going hands-on with the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 and A40 offerings to see how these new debuts stack up.

Today at Gamescom we’re getting our first look at the latest CORSAIR display, dubbed the XENEON FLEX. With a screen size of 45-inch and a resolution of 1440p with a 240Hz refresh rate and OLED panel, this flexible gaming monitor was made in partnership with LG. You read that right. Flexible. There are a few drawbacks to this high-end ultra-premium display, but they’re few and far between. So, what all does the flexibility bring to the table, and what can you expect from CORSAIR’s latest display? Let’s take a closer look below.

While rumors had surfaced previously, Sony more or less came out of just about nowhere to announce its new PlayStation DualSense Edge pro controller. Unveiled as part of the Gamescom show earlier this week, it is Sony’s first-ever pro controller designed to take on the likes of Xbox now aging Elite Pro V2 variant that has been around for years. With what appears to be deep user customization options, both in terms of software and hardware, we thought it would be a good idea to take a deep dive on everything we know so far about the upcoming PlayStation DualSense Edge pro controller 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.

• Amazon begins clearing out Apple Watch Series 7 from $290 (Save up to $150)
• Today’s the last day to pre-order Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 at up to $160 off
• Save up to $1,198 on Samsung’s latest Frame 2022 TVs at new lows from $740