News

After launching its Stampcard virtual scavenger hunt promo last week, Amazon is returning today with yet another early Prime Day 2022 offer. Among the cash discounts that have gone live ahead of the massive summer shopping event, today Prime members now have a chance to score a free $20 gift card to spend during the 48-hour sale – just for using Amazon Photos.

June has been jam-packed with announcements for Microsoft from their huge Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, but the company isn’t done with new releases yet. Today, we got confirmation of more games coming to Game Pass today and as we start July in a few weeks. Ranging from FIFA 22 to Far Cry 5, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and more, there’s a lot to unpack here. Oh, and those who haven’t tried Game Pass before can once again get three months of the service for just $1.

Exploding Kittens has been one of the best party card games out there for a while and is among the most popular on Amazon. A “Russian Roulette” card game for adults, teens, and kids, it’s sort of like UNO but with “goats, magical enchiladas, and kittens” that make you explode. And once they do, you’re out of the game forcing you to wait for the next round, until now. Today, the creator of the game is announcing the next addition to its lineup of hit party card games with Zombie Kittens. Head below for 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.

• New all-time low takes $49 off latest Apple TV 4K with Siri Remote at $150
• Spigen Gold Box takes up to 50% off GaN III chargers, iPhone 13 cases, more from $6
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 now starts at $594 on Amazon (Reg. $700), more

Today, V-MODA is unleashing its new headphones known as the S-80. The brand has become well known for its unique, sharp angular design approach and use of premium materials, but this time around V-MODA is issuing new headphones they say also double as a “personal speaker system.” The S-80 are not only the brand’s “first all-wireless headphones,” but they also feature a sort of flipping design that allows them to be used as a personal around the neck speaker setup. Head below for a closer look. 

Today, RiotPWR is launching the latest addition to its controller lineup in collaboration with Microsoft. Designed for Xbox Cloud Gaming, the new RiotPWR iPhone Controller sports Lightning passthrough charging to complement a refreshed color scheme and more.

Twelve South today is launching the latest addition to its charging stable. Refreshing one of its more popular lineups for Apple’s latest iPhone 13, the new Twelve South HiRise 3 takes on multi-device charging with MagSafe at the center of the experience.

Satechi recently launched its latest Mac accessory, aiming to fix the most inconvenient feature of Apple’s latest M1 iMac. Packed into an aluminum design that rests on the stand of the desktop machine, the new Satechi iMac Slim Dock brings ports to the front alongside an M.2 NVMe enclosure and more. But is it worth the premium price tag? Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review takes a closer look at what to expect.

Announced earlier this month, LG’s latest 2022 gram laptop lineup is finally available to purchase. Continuing with the same design trend that we’ve come to know with the LG gram line, these laptops deliver premium builds, a wide range of sizes, and the latest hardware all around. There are six various models to choose from with sizes ranging from 14- to 17-inches, ensuring everyone has an option to pick. Keep reading to find out if this is the laptop for your summer travels.

Moog is one of the most established synthesizer makers out there, delivering some of the best analog gear on the market for many years ranging from higher-end all-in-one machines to its stable of semi-modular synths that now includes the new Moog Mavis. Joining the Mother-32, DFAM, Subharmonicon, Grandmother, and Matriarch instruments, the Moog Mavis enters on the more entry-level side of things with a $349 price tag and a build-it-yourself experience that, after going hands-on with the powerful little semi-modular, features quite an extensive range of sound design possibilities in a tight package. Head below for our impressions of the user and building experience on the new Moog Mavis. 

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 M1 MacBook Air is an even better value following $99 discounts from $900
• Samsung’s latest Galaxy S22 256GB sees $150 discount to new Amazon low of $700
• Sony’s new LinkBuds/S see first discounts at Amazon starting from $158 (Save $20)

The LEGO Group has taken to the stage in Denmark today with its LEGO CON 2022 event. While you’ll find coverage of everything else revealed during the showcase in our live-blog coverage, today is seeing the debut of one of the year’s most eagerly-awaited sets. Arriving this summer as set number 75337, the new LEGO Star Wars AT-TE 75337 has been officially revealed with a Phase II Commander Cody and more.

LEGO CON 2022 is finally here! After being announced earlier in the spring. The LEGO Group is now returning to the virtual stage in Denmark for its second-ever showcase. With high expectations of new kits from Star Wars, Marvel, and other themes, as well as first-ever additions to the lineup from Avatar, we’ll be covering everything announced at LEGO CON 2022 as it happens.

FUJIFILM is expanding its mobile film printer collection with the new INSTAX MINI LINK 2 Smartphone Printer that allows its users to get creative with decorative frames, filters, sketches, and stickers with the INSTAX MINI LINK 2 app. This printer will come in three different colors and is launching alongside a new INSTAX MINI Spray Art instant film that features a colorful rainbow spray design. Both are expected to become available on June 22.

SANDMARC – maker of iPhoneography gear, cases, and more – is out with its new iPhone tripod. The SANDMARC Tripod Pro Edition is described as a full-sized tripod made from what the brand refers to as high-grade aluminum and a versatile ball-head to take your “iPhone content to new heights.” We were big fans of the brand’s gorgeous leather iPhone 13 case after getting a chance to go hands-on with it and its all metal camera housing, but now it’s time to take a closer look at its latest Apple handset accessory. Head below for more details and an exclusive pre-order discount. 

Today, Anker is out with the latest addition to its lineup of USB-C hubs – this time specifically targeting a single model in Apple’s stable. Designed for the latest 24-inch M1 iMac, the new Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub with a metal build brings a series of ports you’ll use every day to the front of your machine. Now available with a launch discount attached, all of the details are down below.

As is the annual tradition around here for the past few years, it’s time to take a look at the best ways to cash in on extra savings for Prime Day now that Amazon’s mid-year shopping holiday has officially been announced. While we’ll have the best Prime Day deals for you this year in our dedicated sale hub, there are other ways you can ensure that you get the best prices of the year on your favorite items. Amazon has three different in-house credit card options, all with varying features, but all delivering at least 3% cash back on your purchases. However, if you’ve never had an Amazon credit card before, there’s up to a $100 Amazon gift card and as much as 25% cash back on various purchases throughout the shopping event. Keep reading for the best Prime Day credit card offers.

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 weekend sale goes live at Amazon: M1 Pro MacBook Pro $1,799 (Save $200), more
• Apple’s latest 24-inch iMac delivers M1 to the desktop from $1,235 (Save up to $150)
• Belkin’s new Pro 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger refuels your Apple kit at $136.50 Amazon low

Recent data mining efforts and patent filings are suggesting the new Valve VR headset might very well be on the way. Back in 2019 Valve unleashed its Index headset, but rumors have been surfacing for quite some time that the company was hard at work on the next-generation Valve VR headset and recent hints seems to point at that becoming a reality sooner than later. While nothing has been confirmed in any official capacity at this point, the new Valve VR headset code-named Deckard seems to have been featured in a recently spotted patent alongside development related tools found inside the latest SteamVR beta. Head below for more details. 

The latest Final Fantasy VII news is on the way. On the heels of the big Xbox and Bethesda showcase as well as the lengthy Summer Game Fest main event, Square Enix has scheduled a special Final Fantasy presentation for this evening. While it’s rumored that Sony will potentially have another event at the end of the month, tonight’s Square Enix showcase essentially caps off the summer reveal season. It appears as though it will be a “short and sweet” broadcast centered around the Final Fantasy VII 25th anniversary, but that could mean a number of things, including part 2 of Final Fantasy VII remake. Head below to follow along with tonight’s Square Enix show. 

While neither products are brand new, EPOS is now offering the H6Pro audio bundle that combines an H6Pro premium headset and GSX 300 external soundcard. Coming in at $199, this combo kit saves $59 over purchasing both of them separately. This bundle is available for both the open-back and closed-back versions of the H6Pro headset. We are partnering with EPOS to give away two of these bundles available in either open-back or closed-back variants in the black colorway. Be sure to watch the video for all of the details on the bundle and check out the giveaway details below. 

Implementing smart home functionality into certain aspects of your house can require more modification than you’d want or could do. SwitchBot knows this and is expanding its lineup of smart home products with the SwitchBot Lock that will work with your existing door deadbolt to lock and unlock your home.

If you game on PC, then you’ve likely used the Xbox App at some point. Well, today, the Xbox App on Windows was upgraded with several new features. The headlining feature, which will be pretty important to most Game Pass users (we think), is that it now has a “Game Performance Fit Indicator.” Keep reading to find out more on the new Xbox App for PC updates, including how you can better organize your library.

Update: All 30 of the FREE Amazon Prime games are now up for the taking! 

With Amazon’s massive discount event now officially confirmed for mid-July, we will also be getting a slew of FREE games for Prime Day 2022 as well. We are expecting to see a number of notable add-on promotions surrounding the event, much like the Stampcards program that will land you a free $10 credit to use on Prime Day, and that will also be including some FREE games. Members of Amazon’s all-encompassing service will be able to land 30 FREE games ahead of Prime Day this year, and we aren’t just talking about complete throw-away titles and indie PC titles. Head below for all of the 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.

• Apple Watch Series 6 Nike+ cellular editions fall to new lows of $318 (Reg. $529)  
• AirPods 3 deliver MagSafe charging, Spatial Audio, and more from $115 (Reg. $179)
• Google Pixel 6 Pro sees unlocked Amazon discount to new low of $791.50 (Save $108)

Ahead of Prime Day 2022 (full announcement), Amazon has announced a new way for shoppers to score some extra savings for the event. Deemed Amazon Stampcard, the game-like promotion is now live to reward Amazon shoppers with an extra $10 credit.

Since Amazon noted earlier in the year that shoppers could expect to see the annual Prime Day festivities going live in July, we’ve been waiting on the official announcement. Today, the retailer is revealing not only when the yearly summer shopping event will go live, but also what to expect from the event. Slated to officially arrive on Tuesday, July 12, the Amazon Prime Day 2022 festivities will deliver 48 hours of deals spanning every category to mark the seventh consecutive year of massive member-only sales.

A PlayStation 5 pro controller might be in the works. What could be the PlayStation 5 DualSense Pro controller is apparently on the verge of being officially revealed, according to an industry insider with more than one source close to the matter. Sony never really attempted its own pro-grade, first-party gamepad for its previous-generation console the way Microsoft did with its Elite Series 2, but if these rumors ring true, we might very well be seeing a new PlayStation 5 pro controller before the month is out. Head below for more details on the alleged DualSense Pro, an upcoming showcase event, and details on the God of War Ragnarok release date. 

The internet is abuzz with details about Starfield and Fallout 5 it seems. One of the topics I expect to see a lot of buzz surrounding for the next several months – the other … not so much. Either way, Todd Howard sat down in an interview and gave us a lot of details about the upcoming new IP for Bethesda with information about Starfield‘s main quest and also hinted at a possible timeline for Fallout 5 – but you might not like it.

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 Magic Keyboards for 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros on sale from $249 (Save $50)
• Satechi annual Father’s Day sitewide sale takes 20% off GaN Chargers, Thunderbolt docks, more 
• Anker discounts MagSafe power banks, USB-C GaN II chargers, more in mid-week sale from $16

Update: LEGO’s new Ideas Jazz Quartet is now available for purchase for VIPs at $99.99.

Today, the LEGO Group is officially revealing the latest addition to its Ideas collection. Arriving next month with over 1,600 pieces, the new LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet assembles a rip-roaring band with four different members.

Update: LEGO’s new 90th anniversary Forest Hideout now available in orders over $150 on LEGO.com. Shop all of the new creations right here and pre-orders like the new Star Wars sets are eligible, too.

At the end of last month, 9to5Toys was able to report on what the LEGO Group has in store for the company’s 90th anniversary. Of the upcoming celebratory sets that pay homage to classic creations, one of those will be available for free as a gift with purchase, and today we’re getting an official look. Landing later on in the month, the new LEGO Forest Hideout stacks up to over 250 pieces and will be free on select orders.

Earlier this year, 9to5Toys first reported on what to expect from the upcoming LEGO Avatar lineup, and now today we can share a first look at the set. Showcased via an early Walmart listing, the new Toruk Makto and the Tree of Souls (75574) stacks up to over 1,200 pieces and joins the rest of the LEGO Avatar lineup on stores in October.

Accessibility in gaming has always been an important step in increasing inclusivity for this great community, and now 8BitDo is taking steps to further this. With its new Lite SE Bluetooth Controller, the user will have access to all the buttons in one place with a nonslip mat on the bottom to hold it in place while gaming, which will greatly improve gaming ability for those with limited mobility. Pre-orders are open now and will be shipping in July.

The LEGO Speed Champions lineup received a new collection of sets back in March, but since then, there hasn’t been all too much news on the brick-built supercar front. Today, we’re getting a first look at two sets that will be giving the theme some love later this fall. Channeling two iconic cars from classic and more modern pop culture, the LEGO Speed Champions garage will expand with new Aston Martin DB5 and Dom’s Charger from Fast and the Furious.

Today, Philips launched a crowdfunding campaign for its Screeneo U4, an ultra-short-throw projector that’s capable of delivering an 80-inch True Full HD picture while just being 12-inches away from the wall. This product is exclusively available on Indiegogo right now and has a starting price of $625. What features do you get with the Philips Screeneo U4? Let’s take a closer look.

Today, Moog is introducing a new budget-friendly analog semi-modular synth known as Mavis. Moog – named after the legendary synth designer Robert Moog who is largely responsible for essentially creating the analog synthesizer as we know it – still makes some of the best analog sound makers on the planet, and has now unleashed one of its more affordable points of entry to the semi-modular world. The new Mavis delivers a standalone synthesis and sound design experience that can also be integrated into larger interconnected Moog or Eurorack systems making for a notable option for modular beginners and experienced synthesists alike. Head below for a closer look at the new Moog Mavis semi-modular synthesizer. 

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 Apple’s 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro with first discount in months to $2,299
• Save $100 on Samsung’s new iMac-inspired M8 Smart AirPlay 2 Monitor at low of $600
• Greenworks pre-summer Gold Box sale takes up to 40% off electric mowers and more from $21

Combining Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, the new HyperX Cloud MIX Buds true wireless earbuds offer a different take on the gaming audio experience. Coming in at $150, are these the way to go for your next gaming audio purchase? Be sure to hit the video below to check out all of the details. 

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and if you haven’t found a gift yet, this guide will help you find a perfect option. We’ve got an array of ideas for the golfer as well as accessories to steal the show of every outfit. Be sure to head below and add these pieces to your cart so that you can give your Dad a spectacular gift this year.