Review

The best fall Prime Day smart TV deals went live early today (one day before the main event) with even more to come and this is the place to find them all in one place. That includes brands like LG and Sony as well as the value-packed 2024 models from Hisense and TCL alongside Amazon and other budget-friendly solutions. More and more folks are opting for these more wallet-conscious offerings, and frankly so have we as of late. We are already tracking massive deals on the 2024 LG OLEDs – one of the more popular solutions among folks who like to go big-time – alongside as much as $1,000 in savings on the latest from Hisense and TCL. Head below for our collection of the best Prime Big Deal Days smart TV deals and be sure to check back as even more go live over the next two days. 

Today we are going hands-on with the new UAG Civilian iPhone 16 Case. The brand is well known for its ultra-protective solutions for Apple’s handsets, but it is the mid-ranger Civilian that catches my eye first, managing to both offer a notable level of protection without looking (or feeling) like there’s a gigantic chunk of plastic around my phone. Let’s dive in down below with some hands-on impressions to see how this year’s model stacks up against Apple’s latest handset design. 

It’s time for a hands-on look at what might be the only “official” third-party iPhone 16 case with Camera Control (providing you don’t count Beats). We have seen models with the conductive button cover from SUPCASE and Spigen, but OtterBox seems to have had a more official connection to Apple with its implementation considering you can buy it direct from Cupertino’s stores, so let’s dive in and see if the OtterBox Lumen Series iPhone 16 case with Camera Control is any good. 

USB-C hubs have traditionally been functional but forgettable devices with little to no innovation or evolution in their design or utility over the years. UGREEN, however, has found a way to make the mundane USB accessory more interesting by adding a touch of personality and a cheerful face. Its new Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub — just like the other accessories in its Uno series — offers a playful plugging experience with an LED panel that lights up with a smile when in use. I’ve been using the Uno 6-in-1 as my main hub over the last few weeks and I can finally report on whether this cheap and cheerful gadget is worth the cash.

Nomad’s 2024 iPhone case collection has once again been one of the more popular options among readers and staffers here at 9to5. Its full-wrap Traditional Leather iPhone 16 case is simply gorgeous, and my favorite so far. But now it’s time to look at something a little bit different, something perhaps for folks that like to live on the edge, confident they won’t bounce the edge of the iPhone 16 on the concrete, and those looking to let their new Apple handset shine in all its glorious titanium beauty…we are hands-on with the new iPhone 16 Nomad Magnetic Leather Back case today.

Today we are hands-on with the new Native Union iPhone 16 case collection, and more specifically the (RE) Classic 3.0. In my opinion, the brand has always found a way to stand out amongst the hundreds of case and accessory makers vying for your attention, but it’s now time to see how its latest iteration of the (RE) Classic holds up for iPhone 16 users in the latest entry to our Tested with 9to5Toys series.

Today, Sony is expanding its lineup of lauded audio gear with a pair of new LinkBuds Fit, the LinkBuds Open you see above we have had some early hands-on time with, and the new LinkBuds speaker. The brand has mades waves across the ultra-competitive headphones market with its XM4 and XM5 headphones and wireless earbuds, often times undercutting and, at least for some, outperforming the big-time offerings from Bose, Apple, and others, but today it is focused on the slightly more affordable LinkBuds side of its lineup. Some of the more unique in-ears on the market are getting a refresh for 2024 and are now joined by a new Bluetooth speaker with smart audio hand-off tech as well. 

Today we are serving up some hands-on impressions of the new Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 wireless earbuds. Complete with active noise cancellation and a charging case that features audio retransmission, the brand is well known for producing some of the better sounding audio gear out there, and it’s time to see if the new Pi8 buds are worth a lofty price of admission in the latest edition of https://9to5toys.com/guides/tested/.

Update: Burton Goods has now redesigned the Heritage case with a new 3/4 cutout, completely mitigating the issues I had with the original cutout. You’ll find more details here, and some additional images of the new cutout can be found below. 

Earlier this year Burton Goods made its worldwide debut with a range of absolutely gorgeous leather accessories for your Apple gear. Its leather M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro covers were among the most popular we featured among readers, and now it’s time to go hands-on with the brand’s new Heritage Leather iPhone 16 Case as the latest entry to our venerable Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

Spigen unleashed its new iPhone 16 case collection with just about all of the usual models and styles folks familiar with the brand will already know…with one exception. With the introduction of the Camera Control button on iPhone 16, Spigen is now one of only a large handful of options out there that actually have a case that forgoes the cutout in favor of a button cover that is supposed to translate the multi-gesture action through to the phone. But at under $30 Prime shipped the question is, does it?

Nomad debuted its new iPhone 16 case collection shortly after the new Apple handsets made their first official appearance, and today we are taking our first hands-on look at one of them. The brand introduced a new model this year known as the Traditional Leather Case for iPhone 16 with a complete leather wrap around the sides and I was very interested the first time I laid eyes on it. So let’s dive in and see if this thing really is one of the best leather iPhone 16 case I have seen yet as part of our hands-on Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

While the first two editions of our new 9to5Toys Travel Kit series took us to the Big Apple and the swamps of Virginia and North Carolina, today we are focused on an overnighter wedding closer to home. The bulk of the event is going to be a lightweight affair and will only require a few things – suit, watch, some extras for the groomsmen, and an iPhone for the most part. But because I’ll be checking into a hotel room on the premises, I will need to put together a small kit with some must-have gear for an overnight wedding.

DJI has just released its latest action camera, the Osmo Action 5 Pro. Besides being the next numerical number, this generation also has “Pro” in its name. What gives is that Pro designation? DJI claims 13.5 stops of dynamic range and up to four hours of battery life. Combined with 47GB of internal storage, will it be my new favorite action camera for motovlogging? Stick around and watch the video below to find out. 

Satechi debuted its new Find My passport wallet alongside the rest of the tech industry’s IFA launches, and following a string of models from other brand’s leveraging Apple’s item tracking action. But with Satechi being among our favorite accessory makers out there, and it’s latest release coming along with one very useful feature we have yet to see much from the competition, we decided to get hands-on to give it a run for its money. Head below for our hands-on impressions.

The prebuilt keyboard market is filled with a lot of compelling boards at both budget and ultra-premium price points. While the budget ones leave out a lot of features in the name of cost-cutting, the premium offerings with features like gasket mounting and hefty aluminum chassis demand a prohibitive price tag. There’s a distinct lack of reliable keyboards in the mid-range space offering a good mix of features at a palatable price point, and that’s exactly what Varmilo hopes to change with the new Muse65 Hall Effect keyboard.

Last week Twelve South unleashed what it called the “world’s firs power supply with Apple Find My” with the latest iteration of its PlugBug wall charger. I was already a fan of the now discontinued original PlugBug with its slender, hug-the-wall form-factor, so I was immediately knocking on Twelve South’s (virtual) door to get my hands-on the new Find My model, because Find My is cool and I wish everything I owned had it to be honest. Head below for our hands-in impressions of the new Twelve South PlugBug with Find My in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys. 

Welcome to the second edition of our new 9to5Toys Travel Kit series, and this time around, I’ll be heading down to the swamps of Virginia and North Carolina to visit family in the open window of my otherwise busy schedule (it probably doesn’t help that they are a solid 8 to 12 hours of driving away). There is one unfortunate hiccup, however…they are busy people too, and we’re visiting in the middle of the week. So, to keep our sanity amongst the sleepy quiet of those small towns, I’m going to be counting on these devices to fill the hours where there won’t be much going on – and some for when things are going on. Some of them are strictly must-haves on my trips, some have mixed uses for work and play, some are entirely for play, one is staying behind at home, and there’s even a surprise treat waiting for me at one of my destinations. Head below to learn about my favorite gear to keep sanity strong while in the monotonous swamps of Virginia and North Carolina.

Summer may be coming to a close, but there’s still time (depending on where you live) to get those last refreshing swims in while the hot weather makes its last stand. To truly enjoy days in the waters of your backyard, a clean and balanced pool is vital, and Beatbot has made that maintenance process easier than ever with its Aquasense Pro robot. See more in the video below.

Today, GoPro is announcing its latest flagship action camera—the GoPro Hero13 Black. With interchangeable lenses and a familiar magnetic mounting system, it’s been upgraded with some nice quality-of-life features. Under the hood, resolutions, and frame rates are all nearly identical to the older Hero12 Black. Be sure to watch the video below to see it in action. 

Not long ago, my partner and I brought home a young cat (named Kraydor the Wizard Boy, FYI, and not by me) after he was having trouble getting adopted from our local shelter. Among these first few months, he has been having some…issues with using the litter box – primarily, he refused to use it if it was not immediately cleaned after every use. We had started him off with some pellets that had been recently introduced in our home to fight the odors that linger from typical litter while keeping our floors from being covered in scattered bits. After he instead began relieving himself in random places around the apartment, we tried clumping litter, as our other cat has always preferred it and it allowed Kraydor to better bury his business out of sight, and hopefully out of mind longer than his next visit. This did not work, however, so in a last ditch attempt to save our sanity from having to clean the box every few hours (he’s young and goes regularly), we instead decided to bite the bullet on Whisker’s Litter-Robot 3 Connect, a smart, self-cleaning litter box that manages the worst part of cat companionship.

Anyone who owns a car has likely been in the unfortunate situation of a dead battery at least once – especially when you really need to keep a schedule or make it to an important appointment. Sure, if you have a properly stocked garage you might have a bulky battery charger that you can regularly connect over night to keep levels juiced and ready to go, but for many – particularly city dwellers – living in limited apartment space poses a lot of obstacles to this method. Parking is first come, first serve – plus, running extension cords and leaving the charger out along the streets without staying out with it seems like the best way to have it stolen. That’s where the NOCO GB40 Boost Plus Jump Starter comes in – a portable, multi-capable device that has been an absolute life-saver for years now, particularly in the summer and winter seasons when batteries tend to be sapped by the extreme temperatures without warning. Continue reading to get my hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Today we are taking a closer look at the new Spigen ArcField MagFit+ charging stand as part of the latest entry to our Tested with 9to5Toys series. There are loads of magnetic charging stands out there…I mean more than basically anyone can keep track of, but this one does find a way to stand out with the Apple-certified 15W iPhone power, 5W Apple Watch charging, and a bonus 3-in-1 + 1 setup. Check out our hands-on impressions below. 

The humid days and sweltering heat are coming to an end soon. For some, that’s a sad realization, but for the autumn lovers of the world, that means bonfire season is on its way. Solo Stove is a well-known and well-loved brand for all things FIRE. Their smokeless fire pits have become a cult classic, and additional accessories for these fire pits are released constantly. Ahead of bonfire season, I had the pleasure of taking the Bonfire 2.0 Smokeless Fire Pit and the Popcorn Maker accessory for a test run. Spoiler alert: I loved them both. Head below for a more detailed look at my days testing these two products. 

On our very first edition of the new 9to5Toys Travel Kit series, we are heading to the Big Apple with our favorite weekend kit. And by we, I mean me, and this is the gear I plan on bringing with me. This will be a short and sweet trip to NYC for a few days with a more pleasure over work vibe, so I won’t need my full tech kit here, but I still want to ensure my phone is charged up and ready to go, I have favorite leather bag over my shoulder, and my passport ready to go. Head below to check out my favorite gear to bring for a weekend in the big city.

The new Nomad Stand One Max Qi2 magnetic charger has arrived. Harnessing the 15W of power the Qi2 charging standard comes along with, this time around its next-generation Stand One is getting the Max treatment with a new form-factor than the original while maintaining that Nomad look and feel with a metal and glass design as well as the 3-in-1 charging setup for your entire mobile Apple kit. Now available for purchase straight from the brand’s official site, you can head below for more details and some early hands-on impressions. 

Razer is refreshing its immersive gaming headset lineup with the new Kraken V4. This means it delivers big audio and EQ customization and packs Razer’s Chroma RGB. I’ve only had it for a few days, but it is now available, so let’s get it out of the box, and I’ll give you some of my early impressions. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear it in action.

Today we are taking hands-on look at Oakywood’s latest addition to its desk organization lineup, the modular drawers. Made to perfectly tuck under its Desk Shelf-meets monitor riser, or be used on their own, they were officially unveiled to the public at the top of the month, and after giving them a test run for a few weeks, I’m ready to weigh in. Head below for my hands-on impressions of the new Oakywood desktop drawers in the latest entry to our long-running Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

Troubadour and MUJJO are well known around these parts for delivering high-quality accessories for Apple gear and other tech. The former of which debuted its new Apex Everyday Tote a couple of weeks ago and we have been lucky enough to test drive it in person to see if it deserves to carry around your precious tech cargo. Head below for our hands-on impressions of the Troubadour MacBook Apex Everyday Tote in the latest entry to our Tested with 9to5Toys series.

The world (and life) moves fast and we humans can only do enough in our lives to keep up with it as best we can. One growing aspect that many are trying to find solutions to in the modern world is how to get to all our daily appointments – work, school, social events – in the most affordable and environmentally conscious way. While EVs are certainly the best current answer to the growing questions, they can often fall outside of reach for many due to costs. Solution: conversion kits, like the CLIP, which boasts the title of “the world’s first & only plug-and-play e-bike upgrade.” While many existing kits fall into the category of mountable hub motors, this device, on the other hand, uses inventive new ideas by building upon decades-old technology. That’s why I was absolutely giddy when I was first approached to test out the CLIP and visit the office here in NYC. You can continue reading below to get my hands-on impressions of this ingenious new device – and be sure to check out the short video of my ride too!

Nomad has been on a roll this year with new tech accessory releases, but the most exciting of them, at least for me, is its new Apple Find My Tracking Card. A first for the brand, I had high hopes when I got my hands on one a couple days before the official reveal, and now it’s time to weigh-in after using it everyday for the last month or more. Head below for more details in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys. 

Moza’s latest sim racing accessory is the Vision GS Steering wheel. With a futuristic GT-centered design, the Vision GS incorporates a premium build and materials, a rotating display, and 72 programmable input signals for a genuinely immersive sim-racing experience. But it all comes at a cost. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

After getting a chance to test out the SANDMARC Telephoto zoom lens for capturing distant images recently, it’s now time to bring it up close and personal with its 100mm iPhone Macro Lens. I had a blast with the zoom lens and came away very impressed, and, maybe it’s just me, but I’m having even more fun with the Macro model. Head below for my hands-on impressions of the 100mm iPhone Macro Lens and an exclusive deal in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys.

The new Lexar ARMOR 700 is the latest in the brand’s lineup of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2-compatible, USB-C portable SSDs. It lands with a focus on content-creators, wrapped inside of a rugged shell and speeds rated up to 2,000MB/s. We were lucky enough to give the drive a go for the last couple weeks and you’ll find our hands-on impressions of the Apple ProRes-ready solution down below as part of the latest in our Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

The best Amazon Prime Day deals are already starting to land! We are now just under 12 hours away from the official start of the 2024 summer Amazon Prime Day sale, but the deals are already flying folks. While more items are surely inbound early tomorrow morning, there are already some solid price drops landing across various product categories with the official Prime Day pricing now at the ready. Plenty of Amazon’s in-house tech is already at insanely low prices, but loads of brands have jumped the line to get things kicked off well ahead of time this year. Head below for a closer look at the best Prime Day deals and be sure to head back throughout the next 48 hours and beyond as we will be updating this post constantly. 

These days the Bluetooth speaker market can feel overcrowded. This has caused many manufacturers to add lots of gimmicky features that may catch attention at first, but don’t actually matter in the long run. That’s why I was refreshed by the thought of Tribit’s latest portable Bluetooth speaker, StormBox 2. It focuses on the basics and not much else. This is what I’ve loved about the StormBox Micro that I purchased four years ago. It has delivered solid battery life and a surprising amount of power despite its compact form factor. So when Tribit offered to send a review unit of StormBox 2, I was thrilled to accept. Continue reading to get my hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Expanding its affordable, foldable sim-racing cockpits line-up, the Next Level Racing Formula Lite Pro comes in at just $300. It’s designed to pack down and be easily stored with all of the sim-racing hardware still attached. But does it provide the strength and comfort needed for long gaming sessions? Be sure to hit the video below to find out. 

Here at 9to5Toys, many of our readers as well as our writers are huge fans of innovative charging solutions. This ranges from Anker’s powerful 167.5W car charger to UGREEN’s new 2-in-1 MagSafe charging station, among a bunch of others. That’s why the recently-released Baseus detachable power strip caught my attention. I typically take an overnight trip around once a month and it’s always a bit cumbersome to pull together all of my charging gear. I thought that one of latest releases from Baseus could help alleviate this, and it turns out that my suspicions were correct. Keep on reading to get my hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the new JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds that were unveiled earlier this year. This time landing with a more AirPods Pro-like form-factor, the noise cancelling action also joins the brand’s latest iteration of its Smart Charging Case complete with an onboard touchscreen. The question is whether or not it’s just a gimmick, and if the sound experience can hold up to the $200 price tag. Head below for a closer look and some hands-on impressions.

We have been featuring the Flexispot office gear around here for years, including its ergonomic chairs and standing desks. They are a popular grab among 9to5Toys readers and staffers alike – Simon adores his new Flexispot chair – and I thought it was time to see what all the fuss was about. I had never used a Flexispot chair up until now, so when the opportunity popped up to score the brand’s flagship C7 model for review, I sat down on it immediately. And my back is very glad I did. Head below for my hands-on impressions of the Flexispot C7 office chair. 

This year, Beyerdynamic is adding to its gaming headset line-up with the brand new $330 MMX 300 Pro. We’ve gone hands-on with the MMX 100, 150, and 200 in the past, but the MMX 300 Pro utilizes the Stellar.45 driver from Beyerdynamic’s studio headphones and has been designed with long term comfort and repairability in mind. Does that make it worth the premium price tag? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Logitech expanded is lineup of dedicated peripherals for Mac users at the end of May with the new MX Keys S for Mac. Since then I have had a chance to go hands-on with it in my home office, in fact many for the articles you have been reading in that time have indeed been written on it. I like this keyboard, but does it have what it takes to dethrone my Apple Magic Keyboard and take its place  as my new daily driver? Head below for a closer look at the user experience and my hands-on impressions. 

If you have a couple of pets running around your home like I do, once you clean floors, it doesn’t take very long for hair and small messes to build back up. This is why daily robot vacuum cleanings have been a game changer for me. Rarely do I even get to see a mess appear, let alone stick around and get worse over subsequent days. After reviewing one of ECOVACS’ best robot vacuum cleaners, it was time to have a look at what its sub-brand, Yeedi, could do. Continue reading to learn about unboxing, performance, and some of the quirks I have run into while reviewing this unit.

NZXT’s latest case is a further iteration of one of its older cases – the H7 Flow. It takes design elements from dual chamber cases like the H9 and H6, and delivers a spacious area for building and ample room for fans. With a vertical PSU mount, the new H7 Flow can fit three 120mm fans on bottom, 360mm radiator up top, and a 420mm radiator in front. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

We have certainly featured SANDMARC’s leather iPhone cases around here more than once – I have raved about how great they are time and time again, but another place where the brand’s expertise really shines is in the iPhoneography space and its collection of lens attachments. I have recently had a chance to give its 2024 Telephoto 6x iPhone zoom lens a go in person for a few weeks after it debuted in February, and now it’s time to weigh in and give up some hands-on impressions in the latest edition of Tested with 9to5Toys.

There are a lot premium brands out there in the charging space. Anker and Belkin are a couple of our favorites here at 9to5Toys, for example. It’s important to remember that these brands had to start somewhere, and by churning out one great product after another, they slowly made a name for themselves. This keeps us always on the lookout for which brands could be next innovator in the space, and UGREEN keeps catching our eye. One of the most recent examples of this was the new UGREEN 2-in-1 Charging Station. It features a compact, MagSafe-ready charging design paired with an integrated pad for charging AirPods, and an addition USB-C port along the side. Keep on reading to get my hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

While wireless earbuds are increasingly popular because of their small size and affordable nature, the water gets murkier when it comes to gaming. Not only do they need to sound good and preferably be affordable, but they also need decent battery life and be comfortable for longer gaming sessions. For those reasons, I’ve only found a few wireless gaming earbuds that I’ve actually enjoyed using. I’ll mainly be talking about the recent ASUS ROG Cetra SpeedNova true wireless earbuds for this review, but I’ll also sprinkle in my experiences with other earbuds I’ve tried over years and what makes them stand out or, more often than not, what makes me put them back in the box. Be sure to hit the video below for all of the details.

Today, Satechi is debuting its new Qi2 Wireless Car Charger. Following the launch of its Qi2 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stands, Satechi is now set to bring the new 15W charging standard to your ride with its new magnetic car mount. While it’s not the first car mount of its type out of the gate with the new Qi2 charging tech, it is the brand’s first, landing with double the power of its previous-generation offering to reliably accompany travelers on road-trips, daily commutes, and just about everything in between. Now available for purchase directly on the brand’s official site and over at Amazon, be sure to head below for more details and some early hands-on impressions. 

Peak Design has made a few changes to its travel offerings, introducing some new Ultralight Packing Cubes that do more than pack, as well as adding new 50L and 80L Travel Duffel options to cover a broader need for space.