Toniebox Single Product Review

Is the Toniebox worth it?

Technology is a valuable asset in the world we live in, and it’s essential for kids to learn how to function with the new advances that will continue to evolve for the rest of their lives. However, spending time without screens, flashing lights and overstimulating devices is equally important. 

The Toniebox was created for that exact purpose by parents, which is why it contains no screens or bright lights. The cuddly yet durable box that calls itself “your lovable story time friend” claims to inspire your kids' imagination in ways that tablets, phones and popular television shows do not. 

So, if you’re searching for an educational and fun device audio player to engage your child’s mind without screens, you may want to consider the Toniebox.

Testing the Toniebox 

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim the brand makes about a product. To determine whether the Toniebox lives up to its claims, the testing lab reviewed every aspect, including setup, performance and battery life. 

What is the Toniebox?

The Toniebox is comparable to other Bluetooth speakers or audio systems in that it plays music. However, this speaker is designed specifically for children, adding in safe settings and custom kid-friendly content. Most importantly, you’ll see no screens or overstimulating flashing lights, which is intentional by the creators who wanted to find an educational toy for their kids with a low-tech feel.

The cuddly, cube-shaped audio player features water-repellent fabric coloring and a ton of recognizable characters. You can find a variety of Toniebox sets that suit your child’s interests or purchase individual characters from beloved shows and movies, including “Toy Story,” “Paw Patrol,” “Lightning McQueen” and your favorite Disney princesses. The content is determined entirely by the characters and may include themed stories or songs that average between 15 and 50 minutes of content. 

Toniebox price and where to buy

The Toniebox retails for $171.95 on Amazon. However, the cost varies from one set to the next and varies based on the number of characters included. Individual Tonie characters cost around $14.99. 

How to use Toniebox

With a unique design and feel, the Toniebox is aesthetically pleasing for both parents and kids. The cube-shaped speaker is slightly soft to allow kids to cuddle or play with and is simple for kids to operate. Setting up the Toniebox was easy and involved connecting it to Wi-Fi and downloading the compatible app. Once you have the app that walks you through the entire process, it only took about 10 minutes. 

Toniebox claims that you only need Wi-Fi for the first connection, after which it is entirely usable on the go. This claim is accurate, and the Toniebox quickly became a portable toy that was brought along on every task, from eating breakfast to driving to school to playing outside. It’s also very durable and sustained no damage after taking an accidental roll through the yard.

Thanks to the tactile controls, kids will quickly learn to operate the Toniebox independently. The volume is controlled by pinching the two ears on the top of the cube. The shorter ear turns the volume down, while the taller ear increases the volume. Tapping on the right side of the box will change to the next track, and tapping on the left side will return to the previous story or song. Kids can also fast-forward or rewind a track by tilting the Toniebox to the left or right.

To choose the content, place the hand-painted character on the magnetic base at the top of the Toniebox. Audio will immediately start playing when the character is secured and will stop if it's removed. Children will love that the character will continue to play from where it left off. Each Toniebox set comes with several characters from your child’s favorite movie or TV show, as well as a puppy. While the content of most characters are themed, the puppy plays 52 minutes of well-known stories and songs, including The Wheels On The Bus and The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Whether you’re on the go or need quiet time, the Toniebox has a headphone jack located on the top of the box. Another great feature is the creative Tonie that allows you or a loved one to create up to 90 minutes of content, from singing to reading your little one their favorite bedtime story. Plus, you don’t have to be near to send a message as long as you have the app. Other free digital content is available on the app to download onto your creative Tonie.

Toniebox benefits

The Toniebox is an excellent audio player for a wide array of ages, from toddlers to preschoolers to early elementary kids. The figures play popular stories and music, and the variety of characters appeals to kids with all interests. Since the tactile controls are basic for all ages to use, the Toniebox encourages independence and builds confidence. Portability is a huge benefit, allowing kids to take in on vacation or to a friend's house. Plus, it lasted the entire seven hours of battery life, as the company promised.

Toniebox drawbacks

While there are a wide array of figures to choose from, each has less than an hour of content, and some have less than 30 minutes. Additionally, the testing lab would have liked each set to come with a creative Tonie, since a ton of fun features can’t be unlocked without that character. As far as sound, the Toniebox has good enough sound for a child who is close to the speakers, but the sound could be louder and clearer.

Should you get the Toniebox?

Overall, the Toniebox is an educational, screen-free audio player with adorable characters that children of all ages will love. It’s not only light and portable but durable enough to withstand accidental spills or drops. With a wide variety of characters to choose from, it appeals to kids of all ages and interests. If you have a child who appreciates their independence and wants a screen-free, educational and fun toy, the Toniebox is an excellent choice.