Review

Wyze is out with its latest feature-packed budget home security camera, the Wyze Cam v4. With a long list of upgrades in addition to the standard specs we’ve come to expect with Wyze cameras, it’s a welcomed update to the three-year-old Cam v3. Be sure to hit the video below and check out all the details. 

WITHit, a brand that’s new around these here parts, creates a wide range of Apple watch bands, straps, and more. But it was its metal – stainless steel and titanium – models that caught my eye a few weeks ago. Despite the inherent price tag titanium fetches in this product category (or any one for that matter), many of them looked fantastic to my eyes and, in many cases, undercut the prices on some of my favorite options out there. So, naturally, I decided to reach out and give them a run for their money and share my thoughts with the 9to5Toys crowd. Head below for my hands-on review of the WITHit Titanium Band for Apple Watch. 

Back during CES 2024, Positive Grid – makers of the fantastic smart Spark guitar amps – debuted the latest edition to its lineup with the Spark LINK wireless guitar system. After getting a chance to go hands-on with its fantastic little intelligent guitar amp-meets-Bluetooth speaker-meets audio interface devices previously, I couldn’t wait to give the new wireless guitar system a run for its money. Now finally out of the pre-order phase and available for purchase, head below for our hands-on impressions of the new Spark LINK wireless guitar system. 

The Displate wall art has indeed been around for a while, but I thought it was time to see if they are truly as good as they sound. Alongside a constantly growing collection of new designs to choose from, the Displate mounting system, at least on paper, seemed to be the easiest possible way decorate my space and home office without damaging the walls or needing to get any tools involved. The short form version of this review is that they do indeed deliver on that promise, but you can get a full rundown of what to expect down below. 

Today we are taking a closer look at Journey’s latest power bank, known as the Rapid GO 10,000mAh Wireless Kickstand. This model adds a few extra touches to your traditional power bank setup, including MagSafe connectivity, an integrated kickstand and finger loop grip, as well as the ability to charge three devices at once. The question is, does it make sense to score a new power bank without Qi2 tech just to save some cash? Head below for our hands-on impressions of Journey’s Rapid GO 10,000mAh Wireless Kickstand Power Bank. 

With more direct drive wheelbases hitting the market, the search for the best sim racing cockpit continues. We’ve tried the Playseat Trophy and the new entry-level GTRacer from Next Level Racing but now we’re taking things up a notch with the GT Omega Titan. While not the top-of-the-line cockpit that the Scottish company sells, it’s a solid choice for a sim-racing cockpit and has been a great upgrade for my live streams. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

ESR just recently launched its new 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand, and I’ve been using it with my Apple setup for the past week. It might not be the most premium option on the market, but it’s the most affordable way to enjoy 15W speeds with a desktop form-factor, AirPods power pad, and Apple Watch charger.

The Scanwatch 2 is one of Withings’ newest hybrid smartwatches, and it features more information on your health within the Withings app than my Apple Watch provides within Apple Health. Available for $349.50, the Scanwatch 2 can detect potential health problems, assess your respiratory system, and of course, provide you with health and activity metrics. I’ve had mine for about a month, and I have been impressed with everything the Scanwatch 2 has to offer. Keep reading below the fold to learn more.

Battlefield Season 7 is right around the corner, and like most updates, EA/Dice invited members of the press and creators to take a sneak peek and try out what’s coming up in a “capture event.” While we couldn’t try out everything that will be released throughout the full season, we did get to try the new maps, and most of the new weapons, and get a feel for some of the other core changes made to gameplay coming in Battlefield 2042 Season 7. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Turtle Beach is no stranger to gaming peripherals and even sim equipment with a variety of flight accessories. Now, with the VelocityOne Race, Turtle Beach is entering the racing world. Coming in at $650, VelocityOne Race works on PC and Xbox and comes with everything necessary to hit the track including a direct drive wheelbase, a wheel with paddle shifters, pedals with a load cell brake, and even a button box. But with more competition than ever in the sim racing world, is it worth the price tag? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

The affordable Blink smart home gear ecosystem is getting a brand new piece of kit today with the introduction of the next-generation Blink Mini 2 smart camera. Delivering enhancements across the board over the previous-generation model while maintaining the same simple setup and easy-to-use live monitoring experience, the Blink Mini is launching at $39.99 for indoor use-only and $49.99 for outdoor use when bundled with the Blink Weather Resistant Power Adapter. Hit the jump for more details and some hands-on impressions.

Some of you might remember our coverage of the RocketBook Sticky Notes some time ago when they first landed on Kickstarter, but they are back and officially launching everywhere starting today. Rocketbook, for those unfamiliar is a brand best known for its smart reusable writing companions – traditional-looking notebooks that deliver a real pen and paper experience, but with the ability to be wiped clean and used endlessly after you beam your handwritten notes to the cloud, email, or over Apple Messages to a friend. The company decided to take its technology and user experience to the old sticky note format, offering up an “endlessly” reusable mini sticky note with the same digitization potential as the pages of its notebook lineup. Head below for more details. 

After getting a chance to take a hands-on look at the brand’s latest LOC8 passport holder wallet, today we are turning our attention to the Journey iPhone Apple Find My MagSafe wallet. The Journey LOC8 MagSafe Finder Wallet features much of the same design approach as the passport holder, including both the material construction and the built in location tracking, but with an iPhone-ready form-factor and built-in kickstand action. Head below for our hands-on impressions as part of the latest entry to the Tested with 9to5Toys series.

NZXT is out with its 2nd generation of peripherals, the Function 2 and Function 2 MiniTKL keyboards, as well as the Lift 2 Symm and Lift 2 Ergo mice. They’ve taken feedback from the 1st generation and honed their offerings. But will they find their place in today’s highly competitive gaming peripheral market? Be sure to hit the video below to find out all about them.

Skullcandy today is launching its latest pair of earbuds. The company has been keeping things fresh in the true wireless space over the years with some unique and even ultra-affordable models. But now, it is pushing forward with a new focus – sustainability. The new Skullcandy EcoBuds focus on recycled materials but also go as far as to ditch the battery from the charging case.

Solo Stove is most known for its line of popular smokeless fire pits; however, it also has an incredible lineup of tabletop fire bowls fueled by a Smokeless Gel Fuel. Solo Stove sent me their newest creation, the Cinder Tabletop Bowl. It can be used indoors or outdoors and claims to bring elegance and ambiance to any gathering while also being a quick and easy s’more-making machine. Keep reading to hear more about my hands-on experience with the Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl! 

Update: Razer has now debuted a Quartz pink edition of it latest Seiren V3 Chroma RGB USB Microphone. It is now available for purchase at $10 more than the standard black at $139.99 shipped. 

Update: The new Razer Seiren V3 Chroma RGB USB Microphone is now available for purchase at Amazon for $129.99 shipped. 

Update: Today’s new Razer Seiren V3 Chroma mic is also launching alongside the more affordable Razer Seiren V3 Mini at $60 as well. More details below.

Today, Razer is unveiling the latest addition to its lineup of streaming mics with the new Seiren V3 Chroma. The current lineup of Seiren mics didn’t see any updates for CES this year alongside the brand’s new Blade gaming laptops, but the new model is now joining the mini entry-level model, the clip-on BT variant, the Seiren V2 X, and the flagship V2 Pro. Pulling from the look and feel of the existing lineup, the latest model features a similar, albeit modernized form-factor, with a larger capsule covered in vibrant customizable Chroma lighting. Head below for more details and some of our hands-on impressions of the new Razer Seiren V3 Chroma mic.

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the new Burton Goods leather iPhone wallet case. As some 9to5Toys readers will know, Burton Goods rose out of the ashes of the now defunct Pad & Quill brand to deliver a fresh take on beautiful, handcrafted leather Apple gear accessories. The brand launched a fresh batch of leather goods to dress up your MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and iPhones in style, and it is now time to take a closer look at the Burton Goods Modern Pocket Book Wallet Case as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys entry. 

For me, 75% layout keyboards strike the perfect balance of functionality and a small gaming-friendly footprint. While they’re still not as common as full-size, TKL, or even 60% keyboards, we are starting to see the number for 75% layouts growing from big-name brands like Razer, Glorious, and now Corsair with the K65 Plus. Wireless, hot-swap, packing multiple layers of sound dampening, and coming in at just $160, the Corsair K65 Plus has a lot going for it. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Princess Peach: Showtime isn’t slated to land on Nintendo Switch until next month, but ahead of time, I got to play it. Last week, I spent an afternoon exploring the company’s latest first-party title and Peach’s big break as she finally stares in your own game.

Today we are going hands-on with the new Journey Apple Find My Passport Wallet. The brand has found itself bringing its design approach and penchant for creating accessories for all of your Apple gear to the Find My-equipped space with its latest LOC8 lineup. Today we are taking a look at the passport wallet holder, but the family of gear also features a MagSafe wallet and item trackers, all of which with hidden internal batteries and mini speakers to support Apple’s location-tracking Find My network. Head below to dive into our impressions of the Find My passport wallet and for a notable 20% discount on it.

Last fall, mophie launched a MagSafe charger that dared to extend what’s possible from the 3-in-1 form-factor – quite literally. I’ve been using the new mophie Telescoping 15W MagSafe Stand for the past few months, and have fallen for its adjustable design and premium build.

Today we are taking a closer look at the latest leather alternative iPhone case from MUJJO. We have become huge fans of the brand over the last few years – its iPhone 15 genuine leather cases are best in class, landing atop our roundup of go-to iPhone 15 covers at the tail end of last year. The same can be said for its wonderful real-leather MagSafe wallets that match the cases perfectly – here’s our hands-on review of those. And now it’s time to see if the brand making some of our favorite real leather cases can also create the best leather alternative iPhone case as well. Our hands-on impressions of the MUJJO MaizCase are waiting below. 

Just last month, ESR announced and quickly began shipping one of the very first Qi2 car mounts. The company was quick to send one over to me, and I’ve been using it for the past few weeks. At just $36, the spoiler of this review is that Qi2 is finally getting to shine as the perfect merger of affordable pricing and high-end features.

We’ve covered many EarFun budget earbuds on 9to5Toys and typically, my take on them has been pretty positive. For an affordable price, EarFun often delivers a surprisingly comfortable earbud with an incredible feature list and good audio. But can its latest release, the$50 EarFun Air 2 carry that torch of budget greatness? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Today we are taking a closer look at Peak Design’s Everyday camera backpack. But just as the brand’s marketing would suggest, and after testing it out for myself for the last couple weeks, it’s really a great backpack for just about anyone. It has more than a few interesting elements you won’t find on a bargain bin carrier, with a price to match, so we thought we would put it to the test to see if its modular organization system was really as good as it sounded. Head below for our hands-on impressions of Peak Design’s Everyday camera backpack. 

Sonos launched the new Move 2 portable smart speaker last fall, and I’ve been putting it through the paces of everyday listening for the past several months. Winning me over with a fresh olive green colorway, there’s far more to be excited like AirPlay 2, newfound stereo playback, and 24 hours of battery life.

COSORI has created an impressive lineup of smart ovens, air fryers, dehydrators, and more. They are on a mission to create more innovative products that make life easier and better, which is why they debuted the COSORI 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven. It’s easy to cook with and easy to clean up, with an impressive range of cooking functions – 13 to be exact. These include Toast, Bagel, Pizza, Air Fry, Air Bake, Air Roast, Air Sous Vide, Proof, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate, Warm, and Reheat. This oven does way more than just air fry. I was able to get my hands on a unit and put it to the test.  

CASETIFY tonight is launching one of its most long-awaited collaborations to date. The popular manga-turned-anime series, Jujutsu Kaisen, is finally getting the case treatment with a collection of iPhone 15 covers and a themed AirPods Pro case. Ahead of launching tonight, we’re taking a hands-on look at some of these new accessories.

Anker is one of the first to the market with a Qi2 power bank, and I’ve been daily driving the new portable 15W MagSafe stand for the past few weeks. Complete with an iPhone 15-ready design and 6,600mAh battery, this new release fixes many of the issues that have plagued previous MagSafe-compatible power banks.

With the release of EA’s WRC rally game last year, more people might be dipping their toes into the wild world of driving very fast cars very fast down narrow dirt roads. One piece of hardware that can make the experience more immersive is a sequential shifter. It might be a bit of a one-trick-pony compared to some more expensive offerings from other brands, but the quality for $130 price tag, the Moza SGP Sequential Shifter seems to be a sweet spot for those looking for something specific. I’ve been slamming through the gears so be sure to hit the video below and see it in action. 

Satechi’s Stand and Hub is easily one of my favorite Mac mini accessories ever, and now it’s getting an upgrade. Earlier this year at CES, the company refreshed the aluminum-clad stand to feature improved NVMe SSD support. I’ve been putting it to the test with my Mac Studio since, and am happy to report it’s even more of a must-have than before.

For the past two months, I have been using one of the most unconventional cases on the market for my iPhone 15 Pro. Well, if you can call all of the minimalism that is the Arc Pulse a case, that is. This aluminum bumper has been one of my favorite accessories for the past few iPhone generations, and now I am putting that adoration to the test with a long-term review.

Nvidia is starting the year off with some new GPUs – the 4070 Super, 4070 Ti Super, and the 4080 Super. The first to be released is the 4070 Super, which is now available. The 4070 Ti Super comes out on January 24, and the 4080 Super will be released on January 31st. To start things off, we got our hands on the PNY 4070 Super Verto Overclocked card. How does it perform for the $599 price tag? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Anker’s first wave of new Qi2 chargers have officially begun shipping after months of waiting. I’ve been trying out a few of them for the past few weeks, and out of everything, the new MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station has been my favorite. It’s the first from the company, and has won me over by shipping all the bells and whistles like 15W MagSafe, Apple Watch fast charging, and a compact build – all for $110.

Twelve South today is launching its first product of the year today, giving you a premium place to dock your MacBook. The new BookArc Flex features a unique and elegant design that on top of celebrating the company’s 15th anniversary with a return to its original product category, delivers a one-size-fits-all approach to Clamshell Mode stands.

After getting a chance to go hands-on with the Harber London leather tech pouch, iPhone 15 sleeves, and more, we thought it would be a good idea to also check out its leather desk mats. The brand, for those unfamiliar, handcrafts gorgeous leather goods covering just about all tech accessory categories, and now it’s time to give its at-home or office space work surface accoutrement a run for its money. Head below for our hands-on impressions of the Harber London Leather Desk Mat. 

We covered one of the best budget controllers for Xbox last year with the Gamesir G7 SE but Turtle Beach has since released the Stealth Ultra which comes in on the opposite side of the spectrum. And given the state of other “premium” controllers on the market (I’m looking at you, Microsoft Elite 2 Core), it’s a welcomed addition to the line-up. Wireless with Hall Effect joysticks, mechanical buttons, and a smart, digital menu, the Stealth Ultra comes in at $200. For that price, has Turtle Beach released the new controller king? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Anker is starting off CES 2024 with some exciting updates on the availability of its first Qi2 chargers and power banks. We first got a look at the lineup last fall, and now devices with the refreshed 15W magnetic charging tech are finally here. There’s seven new debuts that all pack the recent Qi2 charging tech.

As has become a tradition around 9to5Toys as the year comes to a close, all of the writers here on the site are getting a bit retrospective on all of the gear we’ve taken a look at in 2023. Alongside all of the tech, toys, and fashion we’ve reviewed since January, there is a selection of things each of us bought for ourselves that might not have been covered – or perhaps that we just want to highlight again. You’ll find all of 9to5Toys’ Favorite Things of 2023 down below, including Fujifilm cameras, PreSonus speakers, and more.

Now that the holidays are officially behind us, it’s time to continue an annual tradition here at 9to5Toys – Write-Off Week. The year is winding down and time is running out to make last-minute purchases to deduct from 2023’s taxes. Many have been on the work-from-home journey for well over a year, and some are just starting out. It doesn’t matter what camp you’re in, this week is your last chance to score some tax deductible gear that’s able to be written off in April. Keep reading for all of our favorite Write-Off Week deals.

As more direct-drive wheelbases become available, and some of them at a more entry-level torque power, the need for an affordable sim-racing cockpit that supports direct-drive wheelbases is growing. Next Level Racing, which provides entry-level wheel stands up to robot-like robust sim racing cockpits saw the need and now has the GTRacer that we are looking at today. Coming in at $399, it’s a setup from the foldable GTLite for those who need a bit more stability for more powerful wheelbases. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Remember Apple’s MagSafe Duo? Because Twelve South sure does. The company just launched its new ButterFly portable charger earlier in the month with a design that looks and feels like the next-generation of Apple’s 2-in-1 charger. I’ve been using it the past few weeks and have to say that it really is everything I’ve wanted from a portable MagSafe and Apple Watch charger.

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

Friends and family each year always ask me what to get the techy in their lives, and like clockwork I am being summoned again to answer the call. As I do each holiday season here at 9to5Toys, I am back to write about my favorite smart home gear in this year’s gift guide.

Whether you’re shopping for a PC gamer in your life or you’re a gamer looking to upgrade to something better, there seems to be an endless amount of brands and options for PC gaming gear. It can be a daunting challenge when you first commit to upgrading your battlestation, especially if you’re new to the scene or shopping on a budget. That’s why I’ve put together this rundown of the most notable brands offering the best deals on quality gaming equipment, so that, hopefully, we can help you cast aside those worries and take your gameplay to the next level. I’ve taken great care to include plenty of budget-friendly options that still boast quality performance, so head below to check out all the top picks.

The folks at MEATER have changed the game with their line of wireless smart thermometers. MEATER thermometers use innovative wireless technology to monitor internal and external temperatures while alerting you every step of the way through their user-friendly app. They recently debuted their new MEATER 2 Plus, which features a higher temperature limit, more robust design, and longer range. Use this probe in any cooker and anywhere – grill, oven, deep fryer, air fryer, pan, smoker, or sous vide. They sent me one to try out, and I’m not going to lie, I’m incredibly impressed. 

As 2023 comes to a close and with Christmas just a couple of weeks away, there is still time to find the perfect gift for the exercise enthusiast in your life at an affordable price. While the fitness market can be overwhelming to navigate as a consumer, I have narrowed down my top five best fitness finds for under $50 that range from athletic apparel to a massage gun that helps your body recover from a hard workout. Keep reading below the fold for details on my favorite fitness finds under $50.