Best tech gadgets to gift kids under $50: Play, learn, explore

Ask a child what they want, and the answer is usually a screen. Ask a parent what they want to give, and the answer is usually something else. Those are the gadgets which have some light, sensor, and tech but lack the tablet to dispute over before going to sleep.

Gadinsider has been analysing the extent of development in technology that the kids are using, and there is an array of options available from Amazon for kids who enjoy pressing, tilting, spinning and closely examining things.

Best tech gadgets to gift kids under $50

Some of these products test memory and reaction time, some mimic a pet or a desk toy, and some turn a garden bug into a science project. They suit birthdays, holidays and rainy afternoons, and many work for a range of ages. Here are five tech gadgets to gift kids under $50.

1. Educational insights brainbolt

BrainBolt is a handheld light-up memory game that asks players to watch a flashing pattern and repeat it. It is sold as a screen-free gift for kids, teens and adults, and fits in a bag for car journeys. Educational Insights also suggests it for classrooms.

Key features and specs

• Type: Handheld electronic memory game with LED lights
• Play: Solo or with a friend, with timed and advanced modes
• Controls: Button control
• Power: 3 AAA batteries, not included
• Skills: Memory, concentration and reaction time (per the listing)
• Screen-free: Yes
• Use: Indoor

Good memory skills will be rewarded in this game, as the length of the sequence gets longer and longer as the game progresses. The timed and advanced versions provide incentive for older children to return. It is compact and portable.

Pros

• Screen-free play for kids, teens and adults
• Timed and advanced modes

• Compact enough for travel

Cons

• Batteries are not included.
• The listing gives no dimensions, weight or warranty.
• It is listed for indoor use.

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Educational insights brainbolt — View at Amazon

2. Bitzee interactive toy and digital pet

Bitzee is a digital pet that lives in a small case and responds to touch, tilts and swipes. Children feed it, play with it and rock it to sleep so it grows from baby to adult. It is recommended for ages 5 and up and includes 3 AA batteries.

Key features and specs

• Pets: 15 collectable animals, unlocked through play (per the seller)
• Growth: Baby, adult, then Super Bitzee, with outfits and games to unlock
• Controls: Responds to swipes, tilts and touch
• Battery life: 5 to 7 hours on a single set (per the seller)
• Power: 3 AA batteries, included
• Progress: Saved when batteries are changed, as long as the case is closed
• Connectivity: Does not connect to other devices
• Age: 5 and up
• In the box: Bitzee, quick start guide, instruction sheet, 3 AA batteries

Performance

The digital pet offers an element of care that ensures continuous entertainment rather than just playing a single game. The digital pet may leave the cage if its needs are neglected, while a favourite food item will bring it back into its cage. The seller recommends tapping the flexible screen or closing the cage if the picture is not right.

Pros

• Batteries included
• 15 pets to collect and further games after the last one
• Progress is saved when batteries are changed.

Cons

• Only 5 to 7 hours of play per set of batteries
• The flexible display can stop showing an image and needs careful handling.
• It does not connect to other devices.

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Bitzee interactive toy & digital pet, ages 5+ — View at Amazon

3. Magnetic levitation floating globe

This desk globe floats in mid-air using magnets and spins slowly. The 3.5-inch (9cm) globe lights up with changing colours, and the base doubles as a night light. The seller markets it as a desk toy and a way to explore geography.

Key features and specs

• Globe size: 3.5 inches (9 cm)
• Principle: Magnetic levitation, with the globe balanced above the base
• Lighting: Built-in LEDs in the globe and frame, in white, green and red
• Controls: Tap button on the base turns the lights on or off
• Material: PVC (per the seller)
• Power: The listing says no battery is needed but also says to connect the adapter to room power.
• Setup: Needs a level surface and an auxiliary tool to place the globe the first time
• Use: Desk decoration, night light and geography toy (per the seller)

Performance

It is a decorative item placed on a bedside table. With just a little bit of rotation by the hand, the globe will continue rotating, but it should be noted that the seller mentions spinning the globe at a very high speed can make it cling to the top.

Pros

• Floats and spins, which suits curious children
• Doubles as a night light
• Links to geography and science, per the seller

Cons

• Needs a perfectly level surface to float
• The listing is unclear about power and does not say if an adapter is included.
• Setup takes several steps and an auxiliary tool.

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Magnetic levitation floating rotating world globe — View at Amazon

4. Ninja Blast rechargeable game activity cube

The Ninja Blast is a flashing cube with nine games on its faces and a space theme with voice instructions from "Mission Control". It is pitched at children aged 6 to 12. Players can go solo or in pairs.

Key features and specs

• Games: Nine, including Alien Hunt, Tic Tac Go, Cosmic Rays, Rocket Trail, Space Command, Shooting Star, Space Rock, Satellights and Colour Eclipse
• Players: One or two
• Power: Rechargeable, with a charging cable included
• Sound: Music, voice guidance, and an adjustable volume or mute option
• Skills: Brain and memory games (per the seller)
• Age: 6 to 12 (per the listing title)
• In the box: Cube, charging cable, game guide

Performance

No batteries here; it is a rechargeable cube. Having nine games in one toy is enough to keep a child occupied with everything from memorising shapes to making melodies. Mute mode is convenient for travelling by car and in a quiet place.

Pros

• Rechargeable, with a cable in the box
• Nine games in one cube
• Volume control and a mute option

Cons

• The listing gives no battery life or charging time.
• Size and weight are not stated.
• No warranty details are given

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Ninja Blast rechargeable game activity — View at Amazon

5. 4.0" handheld digital microscope for kids (100X–1600X)

This pocket microscope has a 4-inch screen and takes photos and Full HD video. The seller says it magnifies from 100X to 1600X and has eight adjustable lights. It is aimed at young scientists who want to look at leaves, insects and coins.

Key features and specs

• Display: 4.0-inch IPS screen, 1080p imaging (per the seller)
• Magnification: 100X to 1600X (per the seller)
• Sensor: 2MP CMOS, capturing photos and video at 1920 x 1080
• Lighting: Eight adjustable lights
• Sharing: Built-in hotspot for sending images to a phone
• Power: Lithium-ion battery, included
• Storage: 8GB TF card included
• Use: Indoor
• In the box: microscope, USB cable (charging adapter not included), 8GB TF card, user manual

Performance

The presence of a screen makes it easy for the kid to view the specimen without having to squint through an eyepiece. The illumination system makes viewing of various specimens possible, whether it is the wings of a bee or textile fibres, among others. The 1600X number is just a claim of the manufacture.

Pros

• Built-in screen, so no eyepiece is needed
• Photos and videos can be saved and shared.
• Battery and memory card included

Cons

• The USB charging adapter is not included.
• The listing gives no age range or weight.
• The 1600X claim is the seller's, with no optical details.

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4.0" handheld miniscope — View at Amazon