KidiBuzz G2
© 2019 VTech Electronics North America
Designed to satisfy a child who wants a phone of their own, this $100 Android based touch-screen tablet comes with a dozen built-in apps, a camera, utilities like a calculator and access to a Vtech app store. Of special interest is the KidiConnect service, a built in utility that costs $.50 to start using that is designed to allow parent-approved contacts to send and receive messages, photos and voice recordings to and from the device via WiFi. Music and videos can be imported via USB as well. You start by making a VTech Learning Lodge account, which is not optional if you want access to the additional content. Features include a rotatable low res camera and microphone, and a gyroscope so you can tilt to move a marble through a maze. A micro SD card slot lets you store music, photos or videos. The design feels clunky, and the touch screen can be unresponsive. You may find yourself tapping several times on an icon. The narration is chatty, and the E-Books app makes it hard to read. The Magic Beanstalk game contains a micro transaction game mechanic with timers, premium currencies and so on. While no actual micro transactions are in the game, it's strange to see these features include in a children's product. While the KidiBuzz aims to provide a safe alternative to letting children loose with unsupervised smart device content, it sits in a limbo of being overwhelming to use, offering features that function only under specific conditions requiring setup by an adult.
$100506, Smart Toy
Teaches: communication, multimedia interaction, creativity, augmented reality
CTR Rating: 56%