9to5Mac Reviews

Belkin’s Boost Up Special Edition Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone + Apple Watch (plus an extra USB port) is exclusively available through Apple or direct from the manufacturer. We’ve been testing out this charging solution and even if AirPower was available, it would give it a run for its money. Considering that AirPower’s future is still a mystery, follow along for why those holding out for Apple’s charging solution should consider Belkin’s take on a three-device charging station.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple made its Magic Keyboard available in space gray as a standalone purchase this past March after first coming exclusively with the iMac Pro. However, the space gray Magic Keyboard saw a price bump above the already pricey silver version.

Satechi’s Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard is a space gray alternative at $70 less than Apple’s Magic Keyboard and we’ve been testing it out over the last few weeks. Follow along for why this is a great Magic Keyboard alternative, especially for those who prefer a softer keyboard feel.

Expand
Expanding
Close

OtterBox was quick to bring versions of its Symmetry Series 360 cases for new iPad Pros to market. OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 combines a protective clear case with a leather-like Smart Cover-style jacket that protects the iPad Pro while offering a stand for typing or watching videos.

iPad Pro gets protection not offered by Apple’s Smart Cover Folio — without adding bulk — and Symmetry Series 360 even accommodates the new Apple Pencil charging and storage method.

Expand
Expanding
Close

iOttie launched its new lineup of iTap 2 magnetic iPhone car mounts last month and we’ve spent the last couple of weeks with the Air vent and Dashboard/Windshield versions. With strong rare-earth magnets and great designs, these mounts offer a solid in-car iPhone experience for any vehicle.

Expand
Expanding
Close

While no one has managed to match the magic of AirPods in the almost two-year period since they hit the market, there is one Apple-endorsed pair of wireless earbuds that arguably fits the slot where theoretical AirPods Pro could exist.

Bose SoundSport Free Wireless are truly wireless, offer 5-hour battery, and include a protective charging case like Apple AirPods. SoundSport Free Wireless also adds water resistance with an IPX4 rating, in-ear sport tips for delivering louder sound and natural noise cancellation, and a higher retail price.

Bose hasn’t quite captured the wireless-without-compromise balance that Apple struck two years ago, but SoundSport Free Wireless includes a few significant features that may be worth the trade-off with AirPods in some situations.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The Twelve South Journal for MacBook Air and Pro was launched earlier this week as a kind of updated version of the company’s much-loved BookBook case. Both models are designed for the current MacBook range with USB-C ports. The 13-inch is suitable for the MacBook Air or Pro, while the 15-inch is designed for the larger MacBook Pro.

We first looked at the BookBook case back in 2011. The one we looked at then was for the MacBook, but Twelve South offered them for all MacBook models – I even had one for my 17-inch MacBook Pro – before adding iPad and iPhone versions.

The BookBook combined three features …

Expand
Expanding
Close

AmpliFi announced its new mesh WiFi solution last month with the headline feature of a two-minute set up process. AmpliFi Instant also comes with a built-in touchscreen display like its popular predecessor, the AmpliFi HD. Read on for our full review of this great mesh router option.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Started by three former Mophie executives, Nimble is a new company taking a fresh approach on making accessories like power banks and wireless chargers. With the mantra, “Tech for Good” Nimble thinks users should know where products come from, how they are made, and the impact they have on the environment.

We recently got to test out Nimble’s full lineup of thoughtful new accessories, read on for our full review.

Expand
Expanding
Close

We’ve previously taken a look at iOttie’s iON wireless charging lineup, and now we’ve gotten a chance to test out the latest offering in the iON series. The iON Wireless Stand Charger comes with the same sharp design as its siblings and features support for wirelessly charging in both portrait and landscape mode. It’s also compatible with everything from iPhone 8 up to iPhone XS Max.

Expand
Expanding
Close

If you’re looking for a sleeve to protect your MacBook Pro inside a bag, or just when carrying it around on its own, you have plenty of options, starting from around ten bucks.

Materials include felt, neoprene and polyurethane. But if you want a real luxury look and feel, there’s no substitute for leather.

If money’s no object, you could opt for Apple’s own Leather Sleeve. But despite its $199 price-tag for the 15-inch version, our review found that it’s still not a perfect option, with two problems …

Expand
Expanding
Close

As you’d expect of an Apple-focused tech writer, I do have one or two pieces of Apple kit. The current tally comprises my 15-inch MacBook Pro, Apple Thunderbolt Display, 11-inch MacBook Air (only really kept as an emergency backup these days), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, iPhone X, Apple Watch Series 4 (as of later today) and three HomePods.

But there’s one Apple product I dismissed as soon as I tried it: AirPods. That’s not to say I hate them. I love the idea of something that portable. I adore the pairing system. The battery-life is great. There’s a lot to love about them. But not, to my ears, the audio quality …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Most MacBook stands on the market fall into one of the few aluminum-based styles that have become commonplace. That’s why we jumped at the chance to go hands-on with Yohann’s MacBook and MacBook Pro Stand that breaks the mold with both its material choice and striking design. Follow along for a closer look at this beautiful way to elevate your MacBook.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Standing desks are rapidly gaining in popularity as concern grows about the health impacts of spending long periods sitting down. Apple CEO Tim Cook has even described sitting as ‘the new cancer,’ with all Apple Park employees getting height-adjustable sit-stand desks.

We’ve reviewed a few different products, from full-on sit-stand desks to a simple conversion option for laptop users. Flexispot has gone one step further with a couple of its products, however, combining a desk with an exercise cycle …

Expand
Expanding
Close

One thing is for sure: accessory makers are pulling out all of the stops when it comes to decorative HomeKit lighting accessories. Back in May, we took a look at the Lifx Beam accessory, which offers smart lightning in a neon tube-like format.

Now, Lifx is back with its Tile accessory, which is seemingly its more direct competitor to the Nanoleaf Aurora. Unfortunately, where the Aurora excels, the Lifx Tile often seems to fail…

Expand
Expanding
Close

While the tech industry is still in the middle of a transition to USB-C, it can be easy to wind up with lots of various charging bricks and adapters. Leviton’s Type A & Type C USB Charger/Receptacle caught our eye as a way to simplify our digital lives, so we went hands-on with the handy wall outlet.

Expand
Expanding
Close

I like to keep a clean desk. That’s helped enormously by being paperless, but another key is what I refer to as my OCDesk: a custom-built desk with a rear undershelf to hold all the power-strips, power bricks, external drives and so on. That keeps all the mess out of sight. (I’ve since had a new one created, but I’ll get to that in a future Smart Home Diary.)

But if your desire for tidiness doesn’t quite extend to having a custom desk created for you, a rear shelf for an iMac or Apple Thunderbolt Display can be a good way to keep things tidy …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Wireless chargers are a dime a dozen nowadays, with a slew of companies attempting to hop on the bandwagon now that Apple has rolled out Qi support to its latest iPhone models. In the past, we’ve taken a look at options from companies like Aukey, Nomad, and many more.

Now, popular accessory maker iOttie is out with its latest products for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The company has released a pair of wireless chargers dubbed the iON. Read on for our thoughts…

Expand
Expanding
Close

I tend to like my headphone designs much like my audio quality: neutral. But if you prefer something a little more visually interesting, you will often find yourself being forced to choose between audio quality and looks. That’s a problem V-Moda set out to solve with its Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition headphones …

Expand
Expanding
Close

If you want to raise your iMac or Apple Thunderbolt Display to eye-level, there’s no shortage of ways to do it – at every price level.

Search for iMac stand on Amazon and you’ll find everything from ugly plastic ones for around 20 bucks through some nice-looking aluminum ones around the $70 mark to a clever Twelve South version for $130 (review of an earlier incarnation) …

Expand
Expanding
Close

I love music, and am perfectly happy to pay for good-quality audio – but $279 for a speaker which delivers only ok audio quality doesn’t sound like a great deal.

However, music isn’t what the Humu Augmented Audio Cushion is all about …

Expand
Expanding
Close