The Toniebox might have been around since 2016, but it only really made its way to Autralian shoes in 2024. Since then, it’s been a wildly popular device for not only entertaining younger kids, but also helping them learn while getting them away from screens.
The Toniebox 2 is a fantastic upgrade, and while it might feel as essential for current owners of the original Toniebox, it certainly does enough to warrant a purchase if you’re looking at buying one. My son Henry might only be 2 months old at the time of writing, but I couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity to test out one of the most exciting new toys on the market.
Features
So what is a Toniebox? Aside from looking like a plush speaker for kids, it’s a wonderful tool to help kids sing, dance and learn in fun and unique ways. Simply place the compatible toys called Tonies on top of the device, and you’ll get access to a range of sounds and songs related to that particular toy.
While that’s the Toniebox in a nutshell, let’s outline the new and exclusive features that the Toniebox 2 now offers:
- Works with all current Tonies, including new 3+ year-old recommended Tonies
- Sleep timer with light
- Sunrise alarm
- Bedtime mode
- Dynamic light ring
- Battery status display
- Compatible with Bluetooth headphones
- USB-C charging
- 32 GB capacity
While these might seem like light quality-of-life improvements, it does add significant value to the Toniebox 2, making it not only feel more accessible, but much more versatile for different environments and situations. It’s even geared towards two age groups now, with unique settings and Tonies for both 1+ and 3+ year olds.
Design & Setup
The first thing you’ll notice is not only how soft and plush the Toniebox 2 is, but how durable it feels too. As you can imagine, toddlers aren’t inclined to always handle things as gently as intended, and this thing really is built to take a beating. It’s also relatively straightforward in terms of its design. The top offers two different-sized, ear-shaped buttons for volume control, and a small USB-C charging port around the back.
In the box, you’ll also find a 22cm USB-C to USB-C charging cable, but sadly no adapter. I do also feel that cable is quite short, but given the original Toniebox utilised a proprietary charging station, it feels like a step in the right direction.
That being said, it’s really easy to use and set up, with the Tonies app doing most of the work in around 5-10 minutes. Simply create an account, connect the Toniebox 2 to your Wi-Fi network, and you’re off and running.
Using the Toniebox 2 is also incredibly intuitive, encouraging them to poke, tip and turn the speaker while playing. The Toniebox 2 does have various bundles starting at A$209.95, and we’re trying out the My First Tonies Farm Set in Sky Blue, priced at A$229.95. It comes with 3 farm-themed Tonies in the box, including a horse, pig and cow.
Each of the Tonies simply sits on top of the speaker within the ring, and will begin to play a range of unique sounds and songs. While pressing each of those ears near the ring will control the volume, which is also indicated by the ring itself, knocking and tipping the Toniebox 2 left and right will even cycle through all the available sounds and songs.
The only real downside here is the range of Tonies available. At $29.95 each, I can see the bill stacking up over time, especially when your kids start pointing out their favourite characters and new releases keep popping up out of nowhere, from various franchises. I’m not going to lie, though, I do want to see what those Marvel heroes Tonies are like.
I had never used the original Toniebox, but I’ve heard the speaker quality wasn’t great. That being said, I feel like the quality of the Toniebox 2 speaker is rather decent, and while it’s not that loud, it’s certainly loud enough for kids sitting in front of this while they play with it. It’s hard to judge this based on audio quality as it’s not really functioning as a traditional Bluetooth speaker anyway. The 8-hour battery life is also decent, and the USB-C charging now means you can charge this anywhere in the home and with any USB-C charger you have lying around.
Enhancing the Experience
The biggest addition and arguably enhancement to the Toniebox 2 is the introduction of Tonieplay. We were lucky enough to receive some Bluey-themed goodies to test with our Toniebox 2, but keep in mind these are additional purchases.
The games will cost A$35, and we specifically tested the Bluey: Play All Day game for this review.
You’ll also need the Tonieplay controller, which costs A$19, to play these games, but I feel it’s worth considering given how much it unlocks, particularly for older kids.
The games are actually quite fun and usually involve quiz-based mechanics where you’ll turn the Tonieplay controller, which is shaped like a dial, toward a particular answer on the Tonieplay Game card, which sits on top of the Toniebox 2. There’s even some choose-your-own-adventure stuff, and it can even include books, which allows multiple players to engage with the game at any point. I wish we got to try a couple more, but I honestly love where this addition is heading.
Software
The Tonies app is also an option, and is certainly geared towards parents, but it’s nice to know that there’s some additional stuff on offer here if you’re looking to use this as a dedicated speaker.
There is a shop which allows you to buy all of your Toniebox accessories and games, but even some free tracks that you can download over time.
It’s not really essential to the overall experience, but it’s easy enough to navigate, and does bolster the experience with free and paid content if you’re willing to explore.
Verdict & Value
Overall, the Toniebox 2 is a vast improvement over the original thanks to its new age-based Tonies, Tonieplay Game cards and list of nifty features, from the new dynamic light ring to the sunrise alarm.
While it’s not cheap, and the cost of the package will inevitably rise as you add more Tonies to the mix, it’s a bunch of fun for kids of all ages.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Plenty of variety via Tonies and free tracks; Plush and durable; Added USB-C charging
Lowlights: Cost of Tonies will stack up over time
Manufacturer: Tonies
Price: From A$209.95
Available: Now available via the official Tonies website.
Review based on unit provided by Tonies.
