Review

It’s that time of year when the holiday parties and family gatherings seem to never end. If you are like me, the hustle and bustle can make for a stressful time, but I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t have to be that way. If you like to host parties or know someone who does, there are some simple products you can have on hand at all times or gift to your favorite party host that add fun and ease to pretty much any gathering. So head below for the best gift ideas for your favorite party host/hostess, or snag a few for yourself if that person is you! 

It’s now time to take a look at our favorite music gear for beat-makers, bedroom producers, and content creators. Our 2023 roundup of the best gifts for musicians features a number of brand new releases that hit the scene across 2023, from speakers and interfaces, to microphones, accessories, and even some wild new instruments. While something like the new Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II sampler has now sold out, there are still plenty of fantastic gifts to score that the music geeks and beat-makers in your life will actually love. Head below to scope out our picks with options starting from $20. 

Anker launched its most capable personal power banks yet earlier in the year with the new Prime lineup. These hefty portable chargers fully embraced GaN tech in order to serve as the ultimate way to refuel your entire Apple kit away from home – and yes, even your shiny new M3 MacBook Pro. I’ve been so improved by the 27,650mAh model with its 250W power output and companion charging dock.

Backbone just sent me one of its new USB-C gamepads for iPhone 15 to check out, and it happened to arrive the same week that LEGO Fortnite launched. In what has to be the perfect opportunity to try out the new gaming accessory, I’ve been trying out the new release and have to say I’m finally sold on controller grips – especially ones as good as the Backbone One.

It’s time to go hands-on with the SANDMARC leather iPhone 15 cases. The brand took home my pick for the best leather iPhone case last year and, not to completely spoil the review here, it might very well again. SANDMARC’s cases have quickly become one of the more popular options among 9to5 readers and for good reason. They deliver real genuine leather covers with metal button covers and look great doing it – not to mention the unique metal camera array cover on the back. Head below for our hands-on impressions of this year’s SANDMARC leather iPhone 15 case collection. 

From the popular R5 bundle to the powerhouse R21, Moza’s ecosystem of direct-drive sim racing gear keeps expanding at a rapid rate. Now, Moza is releasing updated versions of some of its more powerful wheelbases to align with its more modular ecosystem. We have the updated R16 here which now features all of the connection ports necessary right on the back of the wheelbase. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details on the Moza R16 and see it in use.

After almost an entire year of waiting, the LEGO Avengers Tower is finally here. I’ve been covering the set since it was just in its infancy as far as rumors go, and now it’s siting right in front of me as an assembled model. Packed with references to the first decade of MCU movies, I’m taking a closer look at how the largest LEGO Marvel set ever made stacks up – and more importantly, if it’s worth $500.

With hundreds of air fryers on the market today, it can be difficult to stand out in a saturated market. Air fryers have become a staple in most households, which motivates companies like COSORI to create premium products that are worth every penny. This fall, COSORI released the first air fryer powered by a DC motor, and I was able to get my hands on a unit to put it to the test. 

Last month, mophie refreshed one of its most popular chargers with support for some new specs. While not all too much has changed, I’ve been using the new mophie 3-in-1 MagSafe travel charger for the past few weeks and have been in love with its newfound Apple Watch fast charging and 15W tech. And with the busiest travel season of the year around the corner, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After having spent a month with the Tribit Stormbox Flow portable speaker, I have grown to appreciate some of its key features – particularly the ease and comfortability to take it with me while traveling – which I will dive more into later. While the Tribit Stormbox Flow is one of several portable bluetooth speakers in my house, for $79.99, you can’t ask for a better listening experience.

As we approach the holiday season, it’s a great time to reflect on some of the best tech we’ve covered this year and share what might be worth watching for upcoming deals. We’ll cover microphones, headphones, earbuds, and some of my favorite mice. Hit the links and pick one up if you find any of my favorite gear of 2023 interesting. 

Today we are taking a closer look at Spigen’s latest affordable MagSafe charging stand. The new Spigen ArcField Dual debuted shortly before the launch of its epic iMac-style iPhone 15 MagSafe case as another piece of notable bang for your buck tech for folks not looking to spend over $100 or more for a desktop or nightstand charging station. Ready to support your StandBy habits and daily desktop charging needs, we have been putting the new ArcField Dual through its paces over the last couple weeks to see if it was actually worth spending the $40 on it or not. Head below for the latest entry in the Tested with 9to5Toys series to find out. 

The brand new Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD has arrived. After the launch of its first USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 T9 model in October, this time it is all about capacity over speed. Offering up a far more tame solution in terms of transfer rates, the T5 EVO Portable SSD has the “largest storage capacity of any Samsung portable SSD” and is being positioned as a replacement upgrade for folks still using more economic external HDDs, but the prices are going to have to come down before that becomes a reality for most users. We received an advance unit of the new Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD ahead of today’s unveil to give it a run for its money – our hands-on impressions and all of the details are waiting down below.

After finishing a build in the NZXT H9 computer case at the beginning of 2023, I loved the look and convenience of dual-chamber designs. But the H9 is a massive case that takes up a lot of room on my desk. Enter the new NZXT H6 – a compact dual-chamber mid-tower with the conveniences of a place to tuck a PSU and cables, but it isn’t as large as the H9. And it has a handy design trick that makes it look even smaller when sitting at my desk. It might be the “just-right” case for my setup. Head below for the full video on the latest cases from NZXT.

After recently going hands-on with the brand’s gorgeous M3 MacBook-ready leather and wool felt magnetic sleeve as well as its luxurious leather backpacks, we thought it was time we gave the Harber London leather iPhone 15 sleeves a run for their money. Available in a range of styles and colors, Harber London has decided to side-step the usual case form factor altogether, instead offering up a series of premium leather sleeves for your latest Apple device to rest in. And as beautiful as they indeed are, the real question is whether or not that sleeve form factor is going to work for your needs anyway. Head below for our hands-on review of the new Harber London leather iPhone 15 sleeves. 

Last night, the LEGO Group invited me to come hang out at the flagship NYC retail store at Rockefeller Center. There was one main objective of the night, and that was to show off the shiny new Avengers Tower after it was revealed just earlier in the day. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the new set in person since we originally took a little wind out of LEGO’s sails by revealing it early, and now, I can finally report firsthand just how incredible of a model it is ahead of a full review.

Today, we are taking a closer look at the new CASETiFY Disney Villains iPhone 15 cases. The brand has quickly become one of the biggest out there, and its Co-Lab crossover collaborations with major IP, from Spider-Man and Evangelion to Star Wars: The Mandalorian and now Disney’s most wicked villains, is just one of the major reasons. The brand has been developing wonderful, if not a little bit pricey, iPhone, Samsung, and Google handset cases for years, but there’s something about its officially licensed editions that stand out from the crowd. Head below for some hands-on impressions of the new CASETiFY Disney Villains iPhone 15 cases. 

Today, we are taking a hands-on look at the new Journey NEXA MacBook sleeve with MagSafe charging. Just recently unveiled by the brand as the “world’s first 4-in-1” MacBook sleeve, it not only charges two devices at once, but it also houses your laptop and doubles as a MacBook sleeve. The question is, does anyone actually need this sort of thing? Well, the short answer is yes, some folks might. But you’ll want to read on to see if you’re one of them.

Today, we are taking a hands-on look at the new Peak Design Everyday fabric iPhone 15 cases. The brand is back again this year with an updated design of its Everyday case, this time with some new color options in the form of a nice Midnight Blue, a Sun yellow, and Redwood brown treatment. The MagSafe case also features a bonus SlimLink connector to integrate with the rest of the brand’s accessories alongside metal buttons, but you’ll most definitely want to head below for more details on those before dropping any cash down. Our hands-on review of the new Peak Design Everyday fabric iPhone 15 case awaits after the jump.

Recently, SteelSeries released its new Alias and Alias pro microphones aimed at streamers. While other companies have been quicker to put audio products on the market, SteelSeries has seemed to take its time, analyze what’s available and its downfalls, and release a product that I’m really excited about. And as good as the microphones are, one of the most exciting features is SteelSeries Sonar. It’s a powerful program for streamers and gamers that addresses some issues I’ve personally faced in the past with setting up a stream. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details of these new mics and take a look at what Sonar has to offer.

Apple is fully embracing USB-C with just about all of its latest devices and accessories, and Anker’s new Prime 240W charger has been the perfect power station to ease the transition. With dynamic power allocation and a dedicated 140W USB-C port, this is perfect for the new M3 MacBooks, iPhone 15, and any other gear you can throw at it.

Today, we are heading out into the woods for our hands-on review of the new Alto wooden iPhone 15 cases. Complete with sustainably sourced natural wood treatments, customers can also make use of the brand’s unique laser-engraving technique to customize the wooden panel with one of the preset designs or one entirely unique to them by way of the online uploader tool. After adding some new wood types this year and landing in our roundup of the best iPhone 15 cases, it’s time to serve up some hands-on impressions of the new Alto wooden iPhone 15 cases as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys. 

Twelve South launched a new mount earlier in the month that looked to solve one of the biggest issues with having a collection of Apple Watch bands – the fact that you have to keep them organized. I’ve been testing out the new TimePorter Wall Mount and really have to hand it to Twelve South for finally making it easy to tidy up my wardrobe of Watch bands.

I have a new favorite iPhone 15 charger – at least when it comes to a portable solution. Anker’s new Nano Power Bank is as compact as they come, and now is even more versatile with the adoption of USB-C.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a robotic companion roaming the halls of my abode. But when I saw the new ECOVACS X2 Omni, I knew I had to try it out. After all, there are a lot of bells and whistles to catch your eye – specs like the an included auto-empty dock, 8000Pa suction, and one of the most advanced navigation systems around are hard to ignore.

I am not the biggest Mario fan, at least not historically. I’ve enjoyed all of the classics at this point, but if you asked me what my desert island Switch game would be, the iconic red and green plumbers wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of my list. But now after a weekend with Super Mario Wonder, that might just be changing.

The next-generation Samsung T9 Portable SSD was officially unleashed on the world at the beginning of the month. The previous-generation 1,050MB/s T7 and T7 Shield were among some of the most popular options among 9to5Toys readers, and Samsung has now updated the internals and specs to deliver its very first USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and (potentially) much faster speeds. The question is, how many users out there have the gear to actually take advantage of this tech at this point? Head below for some hands-on impressions of the new Samsung T9 Portable SSD as part of our Tested with 9to5Toys series.

Not enough chargers these days have cords that give you a little extra slack away from the wall outlet. But Anker’s new Nano 67W Charging Station does, and that’s why it has earned itself a spot on my bedside table as the perfect nightstand charing solution.

We were lucky enough to go hands-on with the new PreSonus Eris Pro studio monitors over the last few weeks and we are ready to dish up our impressions. Much like the Studio and standard issue Eris lineup we featured at launch, the Eris Pro studio monitors are the flagship offering landing as part of the latest lineup of speakers from the brand. The short form version here is they are very good, should be a whole lot more expensive, and anyone looking to bring a new set of pro-grade speakers home will want to give them a closer look. All of the details are down below. 

Logitech’s new Wave Keys keyboard launches today. I’ve been using it over the past couple of weeks, really enjoying its ergonomic build and now you can bring it to your Mac workstation.

Earlier this summer, ZAGG launched its new Pro Stylus 2 for iPad. I’ve been using it for the past few months as my iPad Pro companion of choice, but today’s reveal from Apple with a new and more affordable Apple Pencil has me even more ready to share thoughts about how good the experience is.

Wanting to drive further into the competitive gaming market, today, Glorious is out with four new gaming mice. The Model O 2 and Model D 2 have been given the pro treatment in 1K versions as well as new 4/8K editions. Starting at $100, they don’t carry the “pro” price tag as mice from other brands but can they hold their own in the ring? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details.

Nomad just launched a pair of new USB-C chargers – taking a far more slimmed-down approach than most of what you’ll find elsewhere on the market. I had the chance to put them to the test over a long weekend of travel, which has earned both of the 35W and 65W chargers the title of being my new favorite wall adapters out there.

Wireless gaming earbuds have been hit or miss for me. Really, it all comes down to comfort. I loved the Logitech G Fits but couldn’t use the HyperX MIX Buds for very long. But with ANC, huge battery life, and a comfortable fit, the Sony InZone Buds are my new top recommendation for wireless gaming earbuds. And it top it all off, they come in at just $200. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Over the past two days, we’ve been scouring the far reaches of Amazon and beyond in order to showcase all the best fall Prime Day 2023 deals. While you’ll still find a collection of discounts live until the shopping event closes its virtual doors later tonight, we’ve highlighted the top 10 Big Prime Deal Days price cuts still available. Skip reading through the pages of offers we’ve already covered and just check out the best of the best below.

We are now ready to take a look at the Caseology iPhone 15 cases that launched in mid September. The brand comes under the Spigen fold to deliver some affordable alternatives for Apple’s latest handsets. We have featured Caseology for years for that very reason and its latest collection continues that trend after landing in our roundup of the best iPhone 15 cases. Now after giving a few of the models a run for their money over the last week or so, some clear standouts have emerged and we are ready to weigh in as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys feature. 

Late last month, Bowers & Wilkins revealed a new pair of on-ear headphones with the debut of the Px7 S2e. These debut as a more marginal improvement to the standard 2S pair from last year, all while offering some worthwhile improvements along the way. Now after a recent trip and some flight time, I think I’ve found the modern replacement to AirPods Max I’ve been searching for.

OtterBox just launched its new iPhone 15 cases like it does every year. But to pair with Apple’s latest, the company had a little something extra in store with the new watercolor-inspired series. I’ve been daily driving these new Figura iPhone 15 cases recently and have to say that these might just be some of OtterBox’s best.

It’s time go hands-on with SANDMARC’s beautiful titanium Apple Watch bands. After the release of its more affordable stainless steel variants and just before the launch of its amazing new iPhone 15 cases, SANDMARC unleashed a high-end take on the Apple Watch Ultra bracelet-style strap. And not to spoil this entire review, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Made from Grade 4 titanium and now joining its stainless steel models, head below for a closer look and some hands-on impressions of the SANDMARC Titanium Apple Watch Ultra Band – you’ll also find an exclusive discount. 

Spigen’s 2023 cover collection debuted shortly after the Apple handsets did, but the brand took everyone by surprise when it revived its C1 collection to deliver the epic new iMac iPhone 15 cases. Featuring a design directly inspired by Apple’s tear drop iMac circa 1998, it delivers a semi see-through approach and a heavy dose of nostalgia for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users. We have now had a chance top test it out hands-on wrapped around the iPhone 15 Pro and are ready to weigh in as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys review below. 

After a thrilling sixth season, the Overwatch League comes to a close for 2023. Today, the action ends as the playoffs transition into the Grand Finals. Taking a physical stage here in Toronto, Canada, the Overwatch League 2023 playoffs have boiled down eight teams into an epic showdown between the Florida Mayhem and Houston Outlaws.

Today, we are taking a closer look at the Oakywood 2-in-1 Headphone Charging Stand. The brand is known for its use of natural materials mixed with robust metal accents, much like the MagSafe stand collection and desk shelf we reviewed previously, and the 2-in-1 Headphone Charging Stand lands on your work surface with much the same attention to detail. I have always been a fan of office and tech accessories with this sort of design approach and thought it was time to see if Oakywood’s 2-in-1 solution is worthy of carrying my headphones of choice. Head below for some hands-on impressions.

Following the wired MMX 100 and 150 gaming headsets we reviewed last year, Beyerdynamic is now out with its first wireless gaming offering – the MMX 200. Packing many of the features of the USB MMX 150, the 200 adds Bluetooth and cuts the cord for a more convenient gaming experience. At $250, though, it’s up against some stiff competition. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Amongst some of our favorite cases every year, Moment is back with its new iPhone 15 covers. Delivering some of the best iPhonegraphy cases on the market, the latest debuts continue to offer textured designs for added grip, four fun colors, and support for the next-generation T-Series lenses. There’s just one problem keeping these from being perfect…

It is now time to take a closer look at the MUJJO leather iPhone 15 cases. The brand sat somewhere at the top of the heat in the category last year and is once again in 2023. With Apple’s leather covers going the way of the Dodo this year, brands like MUJJO offer up some of the only ways to wrap your new device in a proper leather cover. The same collection we reviewed last year is making a return for iPhone 15 alongside a new burgundy colorway and the all-new Shield model that combines leather and recycled plastic for a more protective option in the lineup. Head below for our hands-on review of the new MUJJO leather iPhone 15 case as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys. 

iPhone 15 is now here, and shoppers looking to pair their new handset with a leather case are going to be out of luck – at least if they plan on bringing home an official one from Apple. But why would you want to anyway, when Nomad is back with another edition of its popular leather case. Retaining its title of being 9to5Toys’ favorite leather iPhone case, we break down the experience below the fold.

After going hands-on with the latest PRO Plus lineup earlier this year, the brand new Samsung PRO Ultimate microSD card lineup was unveiled late last month, and it’s now time to weigh in. The new lineup enters as the brand’s fastest consumer memory cards out there, giving the best options from other storage brands a run for their money at notable price tags. We have had a chance to test out the 256GB model along with the USB card reader for a couple of weeks, and now we are ready to dish up some impressions as part of the latest Tested with 9to5Toys review. 

Shiny new iPhone 15 units are slated to begin arriving next Friday, and even before then, iOS 17 is going to be landing as an update for existing handsets. Delivering a fun new smart display mode known as StandBy, the latest update means you’ll be searching for the perfect stand or dock to display your iPhone – and we just so happen to have a breakdown of the best StandBy MagSafe chargers for iPhone 15 below the fold.