From the Sennheiser Momentum 5 to LEGO Smart Play and Magic: The Gathering, here’s some gear worth splurging on with your 2026 tax return.

Expecting a killer 2026 tax return but don’t know what to treat yourself to after another hard year? We may have a few suggestions…

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones

Price: $749 via JB Hi-Fi

If you’re looking for a well-earned splurge for your 2026 tax return, you needn’t look further than the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones, a confident step forward for the long-running headphone series.

The Momentum 5 packs an incredibly sleek formfactor that thankfully doesn’t stray too far from the design language you’d expect from modern over-ear headphones, but they are relatively unassuming, compact and not too heavy on the head. They also neatly store away into the provided carrying case that is lower profile than most.

With all that in mind, I’m not sure about the Momentum 5’s choice of material headband. It looks great but is unproven as to how durable it will be in the long run, especially when it comes to potential grim and stains (or those with children).

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Sound performance is what really matters though, so as you would expect from Sennheiser, the Momentum 5 delivers thanks to a high-fidelity 42mm HD-600-inspired dynamic driver. The soundstage is wide and well-balanced but may be a little heavy on the bass for some. Dolby Atmos Mode also works great for supported content – the headphones capably handling the range of music tracks and films I threw at them. There’s even a gaming mode planned to round out the total offering.

As you might expect, the ANC offering is pretty efficient at blocking out a great deal of background noise like public transport whirls and chitter-chatter (Sennheiser claiming 3 times the strength), but does fall behind class leaders like Sony and Apple. That said, you can score an impressive 50 hours of audio with ANC turned on. Even better is that unlike most of the big shots, the battery of the Momentum 5 is actually replaceable, easily accessible by removing a few screws.

The biggest hurdle with the Momentum 5 is its premium $740 asking price. It’s mostly in line with some of the unit’s biggest competitors, but still may prove to be too rich for some. If you do have the tax return cash though, this may very well be your top pick.

Magic: The Gathering – Marvel Super Heroes

Price: From $9.95 via The Gamesmen

Magic the Gathering has been enjoying a hell of a lot of momentum lately, but that’s about to hit new grounds with this new Marvel set. From the movie mainstays to more classic chracters, there’s plenty of limelight to share here, and it’s easy to imagine this becoming a collector’s nirvana.

Much like the Spider-Man set before it, the art in Marvel Super Heroes is both fun and creative, taking plenty of lineage from the Marvel’s rich comic history. The Classic Comic styled cards are a truly spectacular highlight of the set, and to a regular punter could easily be mistaken for real-life historic covers. Magic collaborations are always at their best when the art team is given free reign and that seems to be the case here.

Likewise, Wizards of the Coast have also been smart enough to yet again smartly play with the source material as inspiration for its new mechanics.

Power-up is a great example – an ability that can be triggered once a creature has entered the fray. It can only be used once but Power-Up not only strengthens your creature, but can trigger a devesating ability like Thanos wiping out all creautres with a particular mana cost. Brutal.

Commander Decks are also smartly varied, ranging from the Fantsatic 4 to classic villainous, leaving a little bit for every fan. Magic: The Gathering die-hards might not be loving the constant collaborations, but when it’s done this lovingly it’s difficult to complain. A worthy tax return purchase.

LEGO SMART Play

Price: From $55 via Target

The humble LEGO brick has been a staple of children’s and adults play spaces for decades at this point, but with LEGO Smart Play, the company has tried to evolve for a new generation and the end result is pretty impressive without detracting from the fundamental play that it has centred around.

It all stems from the u2x4 SMART Brick which looks unassuming but somehow has been jammed full of potential. There are responsive lights, a colour-recognition scanner to pick up surroundings, a sound synthesizer and a built-in accelerometer.

The SMART Brick is designed to pair with both SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures and will react based on a whole range of circumstances. In the Star Wars set we got to test, it allowed a TIE Fighter to make all sorts of whirls when moved around. While in another, it may lead Darth Vader to utter various villainous threats.

It’s incredibly fun to experiment with all the options and opportunities, and it’s easy to imagine how wide it will open the door for creative play. The biggest challenge with the new setup is for more casual fans to work which set gives you all the required bits and pieces. Only a handful of sets will provide you with the all-important SMART Brick and it’s necessary SMART Charger, while many other ‘compatible’ sets will only provide additional Tags or Minifigures.

At the moment this functionality is limited to only a handful of sets in the Star Wars range, but LEGO is steadily working to expand its reach. Upcoming Pokémon sets for example, are another perfect inclusion for the technology and should help expand the potential of play.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKD7NC Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones

Price: $129

Audio-Technica is certainly no stranger to the headphone game but the ATH-CKD7NC switches things up by switching out it’s typically flashy over-ear headphones with a simple in-ear headphone solution that’s completely wired.

Available in both classic black and beige gold, the ATH-CKD7NC follows Audio-Technica’s simple aesthetic while still following the typical formula – complete with in-line controller to manage modes, music and volume. What’s not typical though is both environmental noise cancellation for cleared calls and hybrid noise cancellation that does well to settle down the outside world, even though the latter is never particularly class leading.

All these features make it perfect for use with mobile devices and laptops, especially as a more portable workplace solution. That said, it also works surprisingly well on gaming hardware as well, and my testing on the Nintendo Switch 2 was equally exceptional. For $129, it’s hard to complain with this easy, fuss-free solution, and it makes them easy to recommend.

Belkin Grip for Nintendo Switch 2

Price: $49.95 via Belkin store

Belkin has been steadily making some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 gear around since the system launched last year (including the recent Belkin Charging Case Pro), and now the company is extending itself even further with the Belkin Grip.

A modular case solution, it operates in two potential parts. The first is the grip itself which covers the entire system. Much like big competitors like the D-Brand KillSwitch, Belkin’s most noticeable addition is to the Joy-Cons which see a bit of extra heft to hold onto. It instantly makes the default controllers comfier to hold for prolonged periods, while also adding a nice nonslip texture.

For those wanting to add a little bit of juice to their system, that’s where the second half of the modular solution comes into play. That’s because at the rear of the main console shell sits 4 core magnets that allow you to snap a compatible 30W power bank that’s capable of recharging the system up to 1.5 times, while still being able to play on the move. Just be aware that if you do it’s going to add some significant weight to balance.

We only had the grip itself to play around with and were impressed with the easy install and the better ergonomics it allowed. It was also nice to see the add-on play nice with the Switch 2 dock, which has proved troublesome for some competitors. An effective quick fix if you don’t want to stray away from the core Switch 2 Joy-Cons.

Logitech Mobi Fold Mouse + Logitech Signature Comfort Plus M850 L

Price: $129 (Mobi Fold) via JB Hi-Fi/$86.87 (M850) via Dick Smith

Just because you’re trying to second your EOFY tax return doesn’t mean you can’t keep things practical, and what’s more practical than a brand-new mouse? Especially if it’s one of Logitech’s new Mobi Fold or Comfort Plus.

First up is the Mobi fold, which sets its focus on portability. Thats because when it’s not in use the Mobi fold can shrink down to  66 mm in height and 21 mm in depth. That makes it instantly pocketable and great for those constantly on the move, easily allowing it to slot into all sorts of travel bags.

That flexibility does mean you lose a bit in the comfort department, and utilising the touch-sensitive scroller may take a bit of getting used to. They’re likely to also be recognised trade-off considering Logitech never designed it as a permanent solution.

What’s even more impressive is that Logitech premises around 15 heard of daily use with the Fold – translating to nearly 50,000 folds.

If you are seeking a more pleasurable experience for your hands, that’s where the signature comfort plus comes into action. It’s Logitech’s first mouse with a palm cushion and the result is instantly noticeable. Don’t go expecting a pillowy soft finish, but it’s certainly nicer to the palm and it pairs nicely with the extra grip wrapping around the side of the unit. I felt no discomfort after days of testing, and having quiet clicks plus plenty of additional buttons makes it great for the office or home life.

Even the SmartWheel is an excellent touch – intuitively changing between two scroll modes to help reduce finger strain. Yes you’ll have to content with physical batteries, but priced under $100 on its own or $169.95 for the keyboard combo, both options are great tax return purchases that’ll likely boost productivity.

Mobapad M12 S

Price: $79.99 USD via Mobapad

Another way to spruce up your Switch 2, the Mobapad M12 S adds greater control and comfort to Nintendo’s relatively compact wonder. We already covered Mobapad’s M12 HD and were thoroughly impressed, so what’s the difference with the S?

Well, unlike its sibling, this unit utilises the Switch 2 protocol, granting access to both 9-axis gyro control (for greater finesse) and, more importantly, is actually recognised as a Joy-Con alternative. Critically that means they will charge even when the system is asleep or docked, which is the major downfall of the M12 HD. That said, unlike the HD variant, this unit lacks proper HD rumble, meaning you will be stuck with a more rattly approach to vibration. The S also comes with a specific chat button as well as native wake-to-sleep functionality.

Outside of these changes though it’s by and large the same design and functionality as the M12 HD, meaning it’s truly excellent. The egronomics are far superior to Nintendo’s offering, the mechanical switches are satisfying to press and the TMR joysticks have more range and no potential for drift that makes them a dream to use.

If you can live a handful of minor niggles, Mobapad M12 S is the perfect addition to your Switch 2.