The 9 Best Electronic Toys for All Ages

Best Overall

Wonder Workshop Dash

4.9

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This cute blue robot teaches kids how to code, all while singing, dancing, playing, and having tons of fun. Dash connects to a free app where kids can teach their robot all sorts of tricks, from lighting up to avoiding obstacles and even responding to voice commands. The app includes hundreds of puzzles and projects, so you can rest assured kids won’t get tired of Dash any time soon.

If you think it sounds too complicated, don’t worry—the app includes tutorials to teach children the fundamentals of coding and how to program the robot. Dash’s educational value and limitless fun earned it the Oppenheim Best Toy Award in 2016, along with our top spot.

Price at time of publish: $180

_{Dimensions: 6.69 x 7.17 x 6.34 inches | Charge: USB | Recommended Age: 6 years and up}

Best Cars

Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

4.2

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These are just like the toy cars you used to play with—but with a lot more fancy technology. The Anki Overdrive Kit lets kids control robotic “supercars” from their phones, racing the vehicles around the track and battling each other with plasma cannons and other high-tech weapons.

The Starter Kit comes with two supercars and 12 track pieces that snap together to create a variety of race tracks. Children can battle it out with friends, each controlling a car, or play on their own, racing against an artificial intelligence–controlled vehicle. There are several different play settings, including Battle, Race, and Time Trial, and the app includes frequent software updates to keep gameplay fresh and exciting.

_{Dimensions: 44.63 x 7.88 x 4.5 inches | Charge: Charging cord | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Pet

FurReal GoGo My Dancin' Pup

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Bring home an adorable interactive pup that your child will love to dance and play with. GoGo from FurReal goes on walks with the touch of a button: Just hold onto her leash! She even bobs her head as she walks and makes over 50 puppy sounds.

Aside from walking, GoGo plays five different songs and dances on her hind legs. Kids will love showing off their moves with their new furry friend, and parents will love that their little ones has an excuse to get moving and stay active.

Price at time of publish: $57

_{Dimensions: 7.52 x 12.01 x 14.02 inches | Charge: AA Batteries | Recommended Age: 4 years and up}

Best Coding

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy

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It may just look like a happy little caterpillar, but the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy is much more. This critter is a puzzle waiting to be solved, as its nine switchable segments control the caterpillar’s movements. Want the Code-a-Pillar to go straight, then turn left? Arrange the segments in that order, then watch it come to life.

This electronic toy can help young children practice their critical thinking skills, as they can experiment with different sequences to create new paths for the Code-a-Pillar. As kids get the hang of it, they can create new games, such as drawing paths for the bug to follow or specifying an endpoint for it to reach. The possibilities are endless, which means this toy will continue challenging kids for years to come.

Price at time of publish: $120

_{Dimensions: 16.13 x 4 x 13 inches | Charge: AA Batteries | Recommended Age: 3 years and up}

Best Camera

VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix

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If your children are always borrowing your phone or camera to take pictures, this can serve as a kid-friendly alternative. The VTech Kidizoom Camera Pix is a real, durable digital camera that stores photos on an SD memory card (not included). In addition to standard features like zoom, this gadget comes with a selfie mode, collage templates, photo effects, and several built-in games. And because it’s designed for little hands, the camera is plenty durable and can withstand being dropped. 

Price at time of publish: $45

_{Dimensions: 1.97 x 5.97 x 3.36 inches | Charge: AA Batteries | Recommended Age: 3 years and up}

Best Tablet

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

5

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The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet features an 8-inch screen surrounded by a kid-proof case, and perhaps best of all, Amazon is offering a two-year guarantee on the tablet with no questions asked.

The Kids Edition Tablet is a real tablet with ten hours of battery life, but it was designed for the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of children. The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition comes loaded with one free year of Freetime Unlimited, which lets kids access age-appropriate games, apps, and videos from sites like PBS, Disney, and more. It also comes with built-in parental controls that can limit screen time and filter out inappropriate content.

Price at time of publish: $150

_{Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.0 inches | Charge: USB-C | Recommended Age: 3 years and up}

Best for Toddlers

VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck

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This adorable toy dump truck has rave reviews from users, so you know it will be a great gift for toddlers and babies. The VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck is equal parts fun and educational, and its colorful design and fun melodies will keep toddlers captivated.

The Drop and Go Dump Truck will count its three bright boulders as toddlers put each one into the toy, and it’s easy to dump them back out again with the pull of a lever. Kids can pull the truck around the house using the attached string, and there are several buttons on the vehicle that play melodies and phrases to help toddlers learn about colors and tools.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Dimensions: 7.56 x 9.9 x 5.43 inches | Charge: AAA Batteries | Recommended Age: 6 months and up}

Best Drone

GoolRC Mini RC Quadcopter

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The 3-inch Mini RC Quadcopter Drone is heralded as a great option for beginners thanks to its stable flight system, which makes it easy for kids to learn to fly.

It can be controlled from up to 30 meters away, making it a fun outdoor toy too. Fly the drone up and down, forward and back with the touch of a button, and once kids get the hang of things, they can try out some impressive tricks, such as in-air flips. One downside of this mini drone is that you only get around five minutes of flight time, so kids will have to recharge if they want to play for longer.

_{Dimensions: 5.59 x 4.41 x 3.39 inches | Charge: AAA Batteries, Charging Cable | Recommended Age: 14 months and up}