LeapPad Ultra
© 2013 LeapFrog
See also the LeapPad XDi (2014 Edition) LeapPad Ultra, as with past gadgets from Leapfrog, combines the two things parents want above good game play -- durability and security. But now, for the first time in Leapfrog history, the screen looks great, and there's no need for AA batteries. The three Ultra headlines are 1) the beautiful, clear, 7 inch touch screen; 2) the rechargeable batteries and 3) extremely locked down Wi-Fi, used primarily to download more apps and play heavily curated videos. The parental features are among the best we've tested. It is easy to setup a profile for a child by age, and many of the apps automatically adjust to this level. We also liked how a child can personalize the home screen, using the front camera for a profile photo. Weaknesses include a lack of apps, some laggy screen responsivity in some of the apps and less-than-intuitive screen rotation. Also, you can't upgrade the storage, and the speakers are OK. The main drawback, however is when compared to Android and Apple-based options, there's only a fraction of content this device can run, and it's controlled by one source: Leapfrog. Leapfrog says it has 800 songs, books and older LeapPad cartridges that run on Ultra; but just 11 are Ultra native. Apps can cost $5.00 for downloads; cartridges are as much as $25 each. Internet access is called LeapSearch by Zui, a specialized web browser with no search options, and a seven-inch screen is designed to help children learn to write using a stylus while supporting mono-touch experiences. The screen is not capable of multi-touch. Onboard features include 8 GB of storage with no expansion, easy to set up wireless and cartridge compatibility back to Leapster 2 cartridges. The screen looks like a typical 7 inch Android tablet, but it works differently, because it is non-capacitive. If you examine the screen closely you'll see it is covered by a flexible thin plastic membrane that uses light for calculating position. To learn more about this technology, investigate the Neonode zForce technology from Sweden. The screen we tested was both clear and responsive, although typing was tricky because the screen would sometimes double enter a letter. Other features include peer-to-peer play across devices using Wi-Fi, when two or more LeapPad Ultra tablets connect locally. In Pet Pad Party, one of the new apps with this feature, children can communicate and play with their friends and siblings using a rather rigid constructed chat format. For parents looking for a controllable, locked down digital backyard for their children, who are willing to pay more for the much less content, LeapPad Ultra represents a major advance over the LeapPad 2.
$150, LeapPad, LeapPad Ultra
Teaches: basic skills mostly related to math and reading
CTR Rating: 86%