Review

Ever since I initially covered the debut of HORI Split Pad Pro, I’ve been anxious to take it for a spin. While my PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch both take up a bit of my time, the portable option has made the latter my go-to console more often than not. One gripe that I have had is that when in portable mode, Nintendo Switch can become uncomfortable to use over time. On top of that, I find Joy-Con joysticks to be very stiff, making any sort of aiming maneuver difficult. This is why I bought HORI Split Pad Pro. I’ve spent more than three weeks with it, continue reading to see what I think.

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Now in its second generation, the Elite controller for Xbox has been refined and touts even more customizability. The $180 Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 features more options for thumbstick performance, hair-triggers, and has additional quick-swappable button mapping profiles. It’s also packed with some nice updates to make the controller more current. Check out the video below to see more.
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Razer has been coming out with a ton of new technology for mice. We started seeing it in the Viper, and the Basilisk Ultimate, but now Razer has brought new life to two of it’s most popular mice with the $70 DeathAdder V2 and the $80 Basilisk V2. These wired variants sport Razer’s top of the line sensor, the 20,000 dpi Focus+ and Razer optical switches. Head below to see more in our hands-on video.
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Today we are taking a closer look at the Alexa keyboard from Roland. The latest entry in its hobbyist GO:PIANO lineup brings Amazon’s wildly popular virtual assistant to the experience along with wireless Bluetooth transmission and integration with the company’s learning platform. But does the Alexa integration amount to a gimmicky experience that unjustifiably increases the price of entry or not? Read on for all the details.
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Language can be a considerable barrier to travel, medical attention, or conducting business. But technology keeps making that barrier easer to get over. The Jarvisen translator is marketed as the fastest handheld translator available, but at the starting price of $429, that comes at a premium price. Check out the video below to see what else it has to offer.
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In our recent coverage of the Hi-Fi headphone line from Focal, we also mentioned that we had the Focal Arche amp/DAC. Just like the Hi-Fi headphones, the $2,500 Arche is aimed at producing a clean and accurate audio signal. That may sound like a lot, and it is. Still, if you’re invested in the Focal audio ecosystem, you’re probably well accustomed to those numbers, and this is the perfect accompaniment to a pair of Focal Hi-Fi headphones. Check out the video below for more details.
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Anker recently introduced its new PowerPort Atom PD 4, its latest desktop charger that pushes 100W of power across two USB-C and two USB-A ports. Just a few years ago, this type of power supply was mostly uncalled for, but throughout 2019, it became apparent that more juice was required for most modern setups. Apple, in particular, sets this standard by shipping a 96W USB-C wall charger with its 16-inch MacBook Pro. I’ll dive into the value proposition later, but it’s clear that Anker’s new PowerPort Atom PD 4 deserves your attention if you need a secondary charging solution. Full hands-on details below.

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Having an external monitor is great when you’re shooting video – especially when your camera doesn’t have a screen that flips to be visible from the front. I had been looking for a monitor to supplement my Sony a7sII and thought I would share my experience thus far with this budget option I found on Amazon for $160 – the Feelworld F5 4K monitor. Check out the video below for more thoughts.
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With the resurgence of vinyl, Fluance has been introducing some record players that have been receiving high marks with audiophiles. The reference line-up from Fluance is meant to give the pure analog sound. We’re checking out the RT82 – the entry point into Fluance’s reference turntable collection. Check out the video for more on the RT82.

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With the final installment of the Skywalker Saga opening in theaters tonight, we decided to take a hands-on look at one of the latest LEGO kits from the Star Wars theme. Stacking up to two new BrickHeadz models, the Kylo Ren and Sith Trooper creations are ripe with unique techniques, printed elements, and more. Head below for a closer look at the two new BrickHeadz figures and all the details from our most recent review.

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We’ve covered quite a few USB mics this year like the HyperX Quadcast, Blue Yeti X and the Razer Seiren Emote, but the $100 Samson Satellite offers some unique features that sets it apart from these other microphones. Designed to be used on the go, the Satellite can be plugged into an iOS or USB device and has legs that fold out to be ready anywhere. Check out the video below to hear how it sounds.
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Starting with loudspeakers, professional reference audio, and even car audio, Focal has built a reputation on hi-fidelity audio. One line of hi-fidelity headphones has been making huge waves since 2012. We were sent samples of their entire hi-fi line, which isn’t all they offer for headphones and are excited to share some thoughts on the collection with you. Be sure to check out the video below for more details.
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When I was asked in July if I wanted to check out the budget minded Momentum Meri smart thermostat, I didn’t think that it would almost five months until I posted the review. But, because of some issues with the original firmware and a new update that I wanted to test before posting, here we are. Check out the video for more on my time with this $100 budget-minded smart thermostat.
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Razer’s latest additions to their line-up of popular mice are wireless variants of the FPS focused Basilisk. The Basilisk X Hyperspeed features wireless functionality with a long battery life while the Basilisk Ultimate packs all of Razer’s latest tech along with Chroma and a charging dock into an ergonomic gaming mouse. Head below for more details on the latest from Razer.
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Most of what you see is shot here in my studio where I don’t need to carry anything around. But I do a fair bit of other freelance shooting and travel with equipment for events, so I wanted to take you through what’s in my camera backpack on some of these trips. Head below and check out the video for even more details.  
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I have pretty fond memories of playing shooter games at the Arcade. House of the Dead was one of my favorites, and I even had it for my Xbox. So when PDP reached out about checking out their new Mars Lightcon Starter Pack for Xbox One and PS4, I was excited to see how they perform. Check out the video below to see some more of my thoughts.
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When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was announced earlier this year, I have to say…I was extremely excited. Surely, you were too, which is why we’re giving away a few copies of the game, so keep scrolling to find out how to enter. The Modern Warfare series was a favorite of mine many years ago, and to see it brought back in its former glory made me super excited. Through many hours of gameplay over the past few weeks, I’ve dove deep into the campaign and online game modes. In our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare review that you’ll find below, there are some huge wins in my book, but also…a few ways that Activision and Infinity Ward need to improve if they want to see the player base for this game continue to grow instead of shrink.

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Today we are taking a closer look at the new iRig Keys 2 from IK Multimedia. Known for its affordable music production gear, its recently released controller works with all of your favorite devices and has a few interesting tricks up its sleeve. Head below for our full iRig Keys 2 review.

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Recently we took a look at the Mini Soccer and Mini Activity Kit from Sphero. These fun programmable robots are a lot of fun and open a secure door to get into coding. So when Sphero reached out about taking a look at the larger, more capable and expandable robot, the RVR, we were excited to take it for a spin. Check out the video to see how easy it is to make a block program.
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Just recently announced, we had the opportunity to go hands-on with the Razer Kraken Ultimate. This addition to the high-performing and affordable Kraken line delivers THX Spatial Audio, an active noise-canceling microphone, and an extremely customizable sound profile. Check out the video below for our hands-on review and more.
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Last Friday, Sword and Shield launched as the eighth generation title to the widely popular Pokémon franchise. Marking the first mainstream debut for the series on Nintendo Switch, the two new games have been some of the more controversial releases from Game Freak. So over the weekend, we dove into Pokémon Sword and Shield to review in order to see how the new titles stack up. Packed with enhancements that longterm fans will enjoy, some missteps and more, you’ll want to head below for all of the details.

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Like many others, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x has been my go-to pair of headphones for years. Add a mod mic, and you have a great, if not slightly cumbersome, gaming headset. So when Audio-Technica announced the ATH-G1WL, a wireless gaming headset that looks similar to the M50x with a detachable microphone, I was excited to check it out and see how it compares to my old trusty standard. Check out the video below for more and to hear how the mic sounds.
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Getting a good shot of espresso often requires large machines with perfectly ground coffee. So how does the Amazon bestseller for manual espresso machine perform? The $65 Wacaco Nanopresso aims to be an excellent on-the-go solution for espresso when larger machines aren’t an option. Check out the video below.
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Now that we’ve had some hands-on time with the Razer Seiren Emote, we figured it’d be a good time to do a full review of this brand new microphone from Razer and see what all we can do inside the Razer Companion App. Be sure to check out the video below to hear how the mic sounds on video.
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Having a portable power station around for emergencies or adventures is always a good idea. With the variety of devices and plugs these days, having a wide array of ports on the power station is even better. The Ecoflow River 370 is an easy to use power station that can charge up to nine devices simultaneously thanks to its assortment of ports. Check out the video for more.
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Detailed fitness tracking and GPS enabled smart wearables often require frequent charging. Having GPS turned on can be a big hit to battery life. But the new PowerWatch Series 2 offers something new – a smartwatch that never needs to be recharged. It generates its juice from two sources – solar and your body heat. Check out the video below for more details. 
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Razer’s line of Blade laptop have been becoming more and more powerful without sacrificing their small and clean design. The new Razer Blade Stealth 13 can be spec’d out with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, or you can opt for a different color scheme like this Mercury White edition. Either way you still get the 0.6-inch height and clean lines. Check out the video below for more.
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It’s hard to think about Network-Attached Storage (NAS) systems these days without thinking about Synology, especially with the rate that they are rolling out new products. Today we’re checking out the company’s latest addition to its slim line of NAS systems: The Synology DS620slim.

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Making its frightening debut on Halloween yesterday, Nintendo’s latest first-party title has finally arrived. Luigi’s Mansion 3 enters with so many things to write home about, including gorgeous graphics, delightfully-designed levels, a satisfying combat system, and much more. Head below for our first impressions on Nintendo’s newest release as we go hands-on with Luigi’s Mansion 3 for our latest review.

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A legendary name in audio, Marshall’s line of speakers and headphones keep the classic look while delivering some incredible audio. The $170 Major III Voice variant takes the high-quality build and sound of the Major III and adds Google Assistant to the headset. Check out the video for more details.
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Bluetooth speakers are all over the place these days, but often they’re uninspired and very utilitarian. Fluance, based in Canada, is offering something different with their Fi20 Bluetooth Speaker. This 360 degree speaker packs a beautiful design with up to 24 hours of playback. Check out the video below for more details.
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Digital photo frames aren’t anything new, especially for Nixplay. They have quite a few digital display options. The new Smart Photo Frame from Nixplay is an elegant and easy-to-use addition to their line-up. With the Nixplay app or by logging into nixplay.com, users can display photos and videos without the need to plug any media into it like an SD card or flash drive. You can even invite other people to submit pictures to your playlist to display on a smart frame. This makes it an excellent gift for parents or grandparents who are always requesting the latest photos.  Check out the video below for some more details.
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Retro gaming has been on the rise lately. Nostalgia has been in full force with consoles like the Sega Genesis Mini that we recently looked at. New Wave Toys has been making some unique offerings for the retro gaming world. Their line of RepliCade mini arcade cabinets look like the real deal, but are a 12-inches tall and enter at ⅙ scale replica. Today we’re taking a look at the $120 limited edition Street Fighter II: Champion Edition X RepliCade. Check out the video below for some more details.
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With the rise of Wii Fit in the late 2000’s, Nintendo was able to dethrone predecessors like Dance Dance Revolution in order to be crowned king of the workout video game genre. Helmed by a plethora of motion-centric experiences, the Wii’s initial success allowed the console to become synonymous with fitness games as a whole. Now over a decade later, Nintendo is trying its hand at yet another title to help get its console owners in shape. Enter Ring Fit Adventure, a unique narrative-driven fitness experience that we’ll be taking a hands-on look in our latest review. Hit the jump for all of the details.

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When it comes to audio, both recording and playback, Sennheiser is probably one of the most well-known names. Its line of high fidelity headphones has been a favorite of audiophiles all over the world. We went hands-on with Sennheiser’s latest gaming headset, the $200 GSP 370. This lightweight headset cuts the cord and delivers up to 100 hours of life without recharging. Check out the video below for more details.
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Autonomous has long been is a well-known name in office furniture. Their adjustable standing desks have been popular, affordable staples in homes and offices, and we’ve even reviewed a couple of them here on 9to5Toys. Autonomous has recently added more to their line up of ergonomic chairs. The Kinn comes in many different color options and gives excellent support when you spend a lot of time in a chair. Check out the video below for more details.
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If you haven’t noticed yet, we’re big fans of coffee around here. So when Breville reached out about looking at the Barista Pro, a part of the new Luxe Collection, we jumped at the opportunity. The Barista Pro has been out for a little while sitting between the beloved Barista Express and the Barista Touch. It’s intuitive controls make it a quick and easy way to get professional quality espresso and now it comes in five beautiful colors. Check out the video below.
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With a fun new way to get started in robots and coding, the new Sphero Mini Soccer and Sphero Mini Activity Kit are a great way to get a grasp on coding fundamentals. The Mini Soccer adds a fun shell and some cones, while the Mini Activity Kit includes barriers, arches, cones, and pins with 15 activity sheets to get you up and running. Check out the video below for some more details.
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LEGO’s Star Wars sets are undoubtedly one of the most highly-anticipated collections of new creations this year. And with the Force Friday festivities now underway, the entire lot is now available for purchase. Today we’ll be turning our attention to one of these new builds, opting to take a look a the A-Wing Starfighter. This nearly 270-piece kit brings the ship from to brick-form for the first time and includes two exclusive new minifigures. How solid of a value is it, and is this release worth a spot in your collection? All that and more in our LEGO Resistance A-Wing review after the jump.

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Update: You can now pick up Suaoki’s S200 for just $184.03 when promo code FZ2RHZYB and the on-page $12 coupon are applied. 

No stranger to portable power and life off the grid with solar panels, the Suaoki’s S200 power station offers a lot of features for just $230. The variety of input cables and options for output make the S200 extraordinarily versatile, and it comes in a uniquely designed package compared to most power stations of this capacity. Check out the video below.

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With Amazon’s home robot in the works and now the release of Boston Dynamics’ Spot, the writing is on the wall that voice assistant-enabled robots will soon be entering our homes. Sony may not initially come to mind, but they’ve been a player in the home robotics field for decades now thanks to the company’s lovable aibo. After spending some time with the latest generation of robot dogs, it’s easy to see how Sony and aibo have set the stage for what’s to come in the world of voice assistants and robots. Head below for my full hands-on review.

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We’ve been reviewing quite a few microphones this year and one thing that I thought would make my process easier for testing and voiceovers would be a microphone arm. While looking around on Amazon, I came across a good candidate for another video in our Amazon best seller series – the Innogear Heavy Duty Microphone Stand. Check out the video below.
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After first getting a glimpse at Nintendo’s official SNES controller for Switch back in August, the much-anticipated controller is now rolling out to the masses. You initially needed a Nintendo Online membership to order, but that requirement is going away in due time. The $30 controller certainly delivers a heavy dose of vintage vibes, but questions have remained about build quality and how it relates to the Nintendo Switch’s current lineup of games. With the introduction of new SNES virtual titles, this has come into focus further in recent weeks. Head below for a quick unboxing and look at everything you can expect with the latest retro rerelease from Nintendo.

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Before Apple’s keynote event this month, there was a lot of anticipation building around whether or not a new USB-C wall charger would ship with the latest iPhones. Well, it came and went, and only select models scored an upgraded wall charger. iPhone 11 remains stuck in the past with a slow 5W USB-A charger, while higher-end Pro models shipped with a faster and modern USB-C power block. That leaves us with the Anker PowerPort III Nano. Described as the “world’s smallest USB-C wall charger” it packs more value and importance than ever before. I’ve been checking it out for a few weeks now following its announcement earlier this month. Head below for some quick thoughts and comparisons with Apple’s own first-party offerings.

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Nintendo’s Switch Lite has been on the mind of Nintendo fans for nearly a year now, long before it was adorned with its current miniature namesake. Since its official debut back in July, the console has drummed up quite a bit of fuss. Posits swirled on whether or not Switch Lite would live in its hybrid predecessor’s shadow, or if it’d shine as a standalone, even more portable alternative.

As for my take on the matter, several days of enjoying Nintendo’s latest release has left a great first impression. Switch Lite delivers a value proposition that’s hard to pass up on for first-time Switch adopters or on-the-go-focused gamers. Head below for a closer look.

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With the growing success of emulators and miniature remakes of classic consoles, Sega has come out with their own official scaled down version of their popular system: the Sega Genesis Mini. With a beautifully-detailed miniature console, two full size three-button controllers, 42 pre-loaded titles and everything needed to plug and play in the box, the Sega Genesis Mini is a great deal at just $80. Check out the video below.
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If you can’t get enough MARVEL or are a collector looking for it all, Lenovo has come out with a new AR experience. Similar to their older Jedi Challenges, the Mirage AR with MARVEL Dimension of heroes is an immersive experience that lets you dive back into the MARVEL universe and play as Thor, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America or Star-Lord. Check out the video below.
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Already a well-known brand for high-quality audio, Blue Microphone has announced the new Yeti X – a mid-range powerhouse in their line-up. Sitting between the $130 Yeti and the $250 Yeti Pro, the Yeti X is priced at $170. With Blue’s legendary audio quality, the Yeti X adds some great features like a four-capsule condenser array, an LED ring for monitoring input levels and adjusting inputs and output levels and Blue VOICE support to dial in a professional sound quickly. Check out the video below.
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