Product Name: LeapFrog LeapPad

Product Information:Designed to change the way kids ages 4 to 9 learn and play, LeapPad is a personalized learning tablet that makes learning fun by offering the next generation of digital reading and personal creativity.

As the leader in educational entertainment, LeapFrog has combined the latest technology, enhanced educational curriculum, and entertainment properties to fuel a child’s learning potential in a form factor that mirrors popular adult tablets. With endless ways to play and learn, this new tablet is designed just for kids – housed in a durable device, featuring built-in camera, video recorder, and child-sized stylus.

The existing library of Leapster Explorer game cartridges and apps is cross-compatible with LeapPad. Each experience offers multiple levels of play, and, unique to LeapFrog products, games auto-adjust so kids can learn at just the right pace. LeapPad even remembers progress from game to game and book to book to keep the content challenging and engaging.

Our Review…..

My girls were so excited when we received the new LeapPad for our review. It came packed with so much fun that they were besides themselves. Not to mention they also fought over who was going to play first! There is so much to talk about this awesome new product that I’m going to break it all down for you so it’s easier to follow along.

BUT the one thing I LOVED the most about the LeapPad is —-YOU CAN USE THE LEAPSTER EXPLORER GAMES WITH IT— Yes, you read that correctly. If you already own the Leapster Explorer, then you can use all your existing cartridges with the new LeapPad. That made me a very happy momma as we’ve invested in several Leapster Explorer cartridges and now we can use them with this!!! THANK YOU LeapFrog!!!!

As I said above, our LeapPad came full of some fun things, and the girls sure did have fun!! This post is going to be a review of just the LeapPad itself, but I will post about the games and learning apps we used soon.

Camera and Video Recorder

The LeapPad has a built-in camera and video recorder, unlike the Explorer which you had to buy an adapter for. The one one the LeapPad reminded me of the one I have on my iPad, the girls thought so too. It’s pretty cool because you can change the direction of the camera so you can have it take a picture of yourself as you hold it or you can change it so it works like a regular camera and it’ll take a picture of something for you. It’s a pretty cool feature. After they take pictures, they can then use the fun effects that come with it and change the picture by smudging it, stretching it, swirling it and more. Similar to the Explorer but more options. My girls love this feature because they like to take pictures of mommy and then make her look funny. Oh and it’s super easy to use and my 4 year old figured it out without me even showing her. So it’s very user friendly.

I’m impressed with the quality of the pictures it takes for a toy and also the videos. They are pretty good and I have downloaded some of them onto my computer to save because they came out pretty good. It’s sort of like an idea of how my girls see things, so I like the memories. The microphone quality is pretty good too. I’m very impressed, that’s for sure!

Size and Shape

I wasn’t sure at first if the size and shape of the LeapPad was going to work for the girls, but they have absolutely no problems holding it and keeping it in their hands. As far as I know, they haven’t dropped it yet. However, it’s possible they have and just haven’t told mommy. But it works fine so if it’s fallen, it’s proven to be tough!

It’s lightweight as well which I think is another plus.

Battery Life

I’ve been happy with the battery life of the LeapPad. We’ve been using rechargeable batteries because they currently don’t sell a recharging dock for it, but I hope they do soon. The AC adapter I had for the Explorer works so we use that occasionally to save on batteries. It does add up after a while.

Profiles

You can have up to 3 different profiles on the LeapPad which I love because the girls are both at different levels. Each time they sign in, LeapPad remembers where they left off and what level they were on so they can continue to learn, rather than starting over at step one. They love this and so do I because I know they are being challenged continually while they are having fun. They have absolutely no idea how educational this fun is for them!!!

LeapFrog Learning Path

I love how I can follow along with what the girls are learning with the LeapFrog Learning path. I made the girls promise me they’d play under their own profiles so I can see their progress and so far so good. It’s great as a parent to see what this fun game is doing for my child. I don’t feel so bad letting them play, when I see their progress.

Touch Screen

I love the touch screen and it works very well. You don’t have to push down too hard so little fingers and hands can easily control it. It has a BIG screen too!!! It’s 5″ with a 480×272 resolution. It also comes with two stylus which are magnetic so they are easy to attach to the LeapPad. It also comes with a tether so it won’t get lost as easily. If needed you can buy additional styluses on LeapFrog.com. So far we still have both of them, but I don’t expect that to last forever! My kids always lose things but with the magnetic that helps secure it in place, I think it makes a huge difference in why they haven’t lost it yet!

Included Products

Besides the Camera and Video recorder, the LeapPad comes with an Art Studio and Story Studio which can both be used with pictures you take with the camera, a My Stuff Gallery to display your art, the Ped Pad app which my girls absolutely LOVE and a free app download. Once you hook it up to the computer you’ll be able to download an app of your choice. I love how it comes with products and a free app because with the initial cost of it, it’s not always possible to immediately buy games and apps for it. This way it’s a gift in itself and nothing else is needed at first.

My overall opinion of this is I really LOVE it.  Of course the girls do, but they love anything fun.  But I think it’s a great learning system, a step up from the Leapster Explorer since it can do a little bit more.  I would recommend this to all my friends for sure!!!

Product Price: LeapPad Learning Tablet is $99.99 and is available in both green and pink. LeapFrog Explorer Cartridges Games are $24.99, LeapFrog App Center Download Cards are $19.99 and Downloadable apps are $5 and up.

Disclosure: I received the LeapPad for review. My opinions are 100% mine.