After months of daily use, the Nothing Ear (3a) left me wondering why most people need pricier wireless earbuds. Its punchy, balanced sound, impressive noise cancellation, adjustable EQ, and dependable battery life outweigh a slightly loose charging case, unremarkable Spatial Audio, and a maximum volume that could be louder.
Getting comfortable with a book shouldn’t mean negotiating which hand has to leave the blanket. Amazon’s Kindle Click remote handles page turns while you stay tucked in. It joins a redesigned Kindle family, but owners of models from 2024 onward can enjoy the same small luxury without replacing their reader.
Buying better clubs is easier than fixing a golf swing, and McLaren has given equipment enthusiasts a tempting new distraction. Its debut irons put precision molding and carefully positioned weight to work, with one model focused on shot control and the other offering extra distance and forgiveness. The swing remains your department.
If your idea of a slingshot still involves a Y-shaped frame and a dangling pouch, these folding designs may come as a surprise. Sold through Edcerss, they unfold into pistol-like shapes with triggers, while some card-style models even have built-in magazines. The rubber band has acquired quite a supporting cast.
For anyone who remembers Celine Dion performing “My Heart Will Go On,” the necklace needs little introduction. Her new Barbie pairs a replica Heart of the Ocean with the sleek dress from her award-show appearance, celebrating the singer and the Titanic ballad that became inseparable from her career.
Owning Lamborghini’s off-road supercar is a fairly exclusive affair. Building one at home is another matter. Mattel Brick Shop shrinks the Huracán Sterrato into a customizable model with opening doors and interchangeable wheel covers, then includes a matching Hot Wheels metal car. That’s two Lamborghinis without having to clear the garage.
The Joker isn’t the obvious choice for calming home decor, especially when his head appears to dissolve into bats. LEGO recreates that unsettling comic cover in three dimensions, with facial features pushing outward and scattered shapes escaping the frame. Even contained in bricks, he refuses to stay neatly within the lines.
Batman’s Arkham ride looks built to drive through trouble, and LEGO gives its miniature version working suspension to help with the journey. The armored Batmobile also follows the Batman Returns set in offering a video game bonus, letting owners take a little of their building experience into LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
LEGO’s Wednesday sets have been giving fans mini-dolls, but the Nevermore Academy changes that with her first classic minifigure. The school itself takes the opposite approach, shrinking into a microscale build with tiny Wednesday and Enid figures. There’s even a secret drawer beneath the academy to stash them away.
A gondola and canal-side buildings are expected in a LEGO Venice. A street piano that plays real notes is a lovely surprise. The Venetian Neighborhood fills its waterfront with glassblowing, carnival costumes, and a moving astronomical calendar, while early buyers can add a water taxi to the scene as a gift.
Leaving your keys behind sounds convenient until your smart lock runs out of battery. Ring’s first smart lock gives you a way back in without finding a spare key or charging cable: turn its built-in power dial a few times. Your hand supplies the electricity needed to get the lock working again.
A smart home shouldn’t need a different app for every room. Apple’s Home Collection brings cameras, a door lock, and climate controls into the Home app. Among the more appealing touches: a lock that recognizes your approach and an indoor camera that looks away when someone gets home.