This looks and feels pretty much like a smartphone. Since it's on the high end of budget smartphone/tablet pricing, you would hope for nothing less.
The device is quite chunky and rugged – no bad features in a kids’ wi-fi device. There is a slightly unbalanced feeling in the hand, as it’s appreciably heavier towards the bottom half of the device, but since this is the part that’s held, it’s not much of an issue. When you switch it on, you see device details appearing, much as you do when switching on a regular phone. I pictured this next to my phone (a low-mid-range Motorola One Vision that’s a couple of years old) to give an idea of its size.
This is supplied with a micro USB to mains charging cable. A little dated perhaps, now that devices for grown-ups are moving on to USB-C, but I’m always pleased to see a kids’ electronic device like this that has a standard cable type, rather than something esoteric and bespoke because it’s a toy that proves a nightmare to replace. If this cable gets damaged, lost, or forgotten, it should be easy and inexpensive enough to find a substitute.
There are no instructions at all in the box. But this is a really intuitive device, and if you’ve ever set up a mobile phone or a tablet, this is very similar. Easier than setting up a regular phone as there are no SIM cards to worry about. Required steps are flagged and explained. You need to add wi-fi details and register your device to access the full range of activities and functions. This identified our wi-fi (as well as its second channel and a Mesh wi-fi system we’re running) without problem, and connected easily.
The screen is pretty good. The quality is better than that on the budget Alcatel smartphone I bought for my Dad. It’s not HD-style super-crisp, but isn’t blurry/dotty looking either. The apps are clearly laid out in grid fashion, with 3D background wallpaper with elements that actually move when the phone is tilted. App logos are a decent size and easy to locate, and the home button has positioning that’s familiar from real phones. There’s a spoken guide/instructions for most things, which is articulated in a male voice with a Southern Standard British accent.
The camera is pretty good. This doesn’t have front- and back-facing cameras as grown-up devices do, instead there’s a tilting plastic bar at the top of the device with the camera lens built in to it. This can be tipped so that it faces front or back. In addition, the camera lens can be slid from side to side inside this bar. At 5MP, the inbuilt camera is solid for a kids’ camera.
I wasn’t quite sure how this would go down with my nephews. I was sure at least one of them would like it, because it’s tech, but wasn’t sure whether it would seem too babyish for the 8 year-old, and prove too old/hard to use for the almost 3 year-old.
In fact, it’s about right for the 8 year-old to enjoy it and the almost 3 year-old to grow in to it. The device doesn’t look too babyish. 8 gets the most out of it, because as well as the games, camera, music, and video players, he can use the messaging and calling features to talk to his cousins over wi-fi. But under supervision nearly 3 can also enjoy the audio/video players, video chats, and some of the apps.
I like the limited wi-fi features that this has: that with shared app use it allows contact between known and approved users; and that parental controls are pretty strict. I like that this allows safe browsing, and parental controls can be used to restrict access and time used. It’s a good, safe, controlled, use of phone/tablet-type technology for children.
This came in packaging that was largely made of cardboard, although inside the box and a cardboard surround this was secured in a moulded plastic tray. The way that this has been done is quite clever – as the box has an opening, book-style display front for use in bricks and mortar shops that still uses a little bit of plastic to allow the toy to be seen, but keeps this to a bare minimum.
| Product Dimensions | 1.9 x 8.6 x 17 cm; 620 Grams |
|---|---|
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 4 - 11 years |
| Item model number | 541103 |
| Language: | English |
| Assembly Required | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Batteries included? | Yes |
| Material Type(s) | Plastic |
| Color | Blue |
| Release date | 27 Sept. 2021 |
| ASIN | B095X8KB5F |
