Toniebox recently released their Toniebox 2.0. Let’s talk about what makes it different from the original Toniebox! If you’re new to Toniebox, you may want to review my original post about Tonies. I bought the boxes for my two kids when they were 2 and 5 years old, and after having them for a while and traveling with them all over, I wrote a thorough review of our experience with Tonieboxes.
What makes Toniebox 2 different from Toniebox 1?
The new Toniebox (version 2) has more features. The new Tonieplay games and quizzes add interactivity, while rounded edges and a more durable outside drop the age range to be 1+ instead of the original 3+ age rating on the Toniebox 1. The new version also includes a sleep timer with a sunrise alarm.
I don’t love that they dropped the recommended age on the new Toniebox, because I think it makes parents think they can’t use the first Toniebox for their littlest kids. My middle child got a Toniebox when he was 2, and he was able to play Tonies on it without any issues. He also dropped it a few times and it hasn’t broken yet!
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As far as convenience, the new version of the Toniebox has a USB-C charger, meaning you don’t have to bring along the Tonie-specific dock when you travel with your Toniebox. The Toniebox 2 also has bluetooth capabilities, meaning you can use bluetooth headphones and no longer have to worry about wires on your kids’ headphones.
Known issues with the Toniebox 2
I have heard from parents who own the new Toniebox 2 that there is a known issue with some Tonies not being recognized on the box, meaning they will not play. Other issues parents have reported (that they confirmed with Tonie support are known issues):
- If you leave a Tonie on the box overnight, the wake up routine will not start
- Tap to skip and tilt to rewind are not registering
- The bedtime nightlight turns off before the time set in the app
Because some of these are software related, Tonie as a company could fix them without you having to replace your Toniebox 2.
What does the new Toniebox mean for parents?
First, let’s talk about one important feature: You can still use your old Tonies on the new boxes! I’m so happy they made this work, because it could have been a huge pain (and expensive one) if parents had to purchase all new Tonies for the second version of the Toniebox.
The brand is saying that the new Toniebox is more durable, though we have never had a problem with durability with our Toniebox 1. (We have had ours for 3 years and never had a problem with a box breaking upon being dropped!)
Bluetooth headphones will make it easier for kids to move around while using their Toniebox, like in an airport (if you travel with yours like we do!) or even just at home.
The one thing I am not clear on is how to allow multiple headphones to listen to the same Tonie. In the past we used our wired headphones with our Toniebox, so our two kids could listen to the same Tonie at one time. We just purchased a splitter to make this work. TBD on how that will work with the Toniebox 2!
Toniebox 2 vs. Toniebox 1 Features
| Feature | Toniebox 2 | Toniebox 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Play | Yes, with Tonieplay games and quizzes | No |
| Sleep & Wake | Yes, with a sleep timer with light and a sunrise alarm | No |
| Design | Rounded edges, 1+ age rating, new colors, and more durable according to Toniebox brand | Original design, 3+ age rating |
| Storage | 32GB internal memory | Lower internal memory |
| Connectivity | USB-C port for charging, supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for easier setup | Charging dock, only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi |
| Audio/Accessories | No headphone jack, but Bluetooth enabled | Headphone jack Can use a splitter for 2 headphones at once |
| Other | Dynamic light ring for guidance and status indication | — |
Should you buy a Toniebox 2 if you already have Toniebox 1?
Personally, I would wait to see if they work out all of the kinks before buying a new Toniebox. October to December is a huge time for companies to sell products, so I’m sure Toniebox wanted to get their new product to the market before holiday purchasing really begins! That said, there are some bugs and known issues with the Toniebox 2 that would make me hold off on buying until those are figured out. The Toniebox 1 is still a solid option! Plus, you can now get the Toniebox 1 at a huge discount.
Not sure if the Toniebox is right for you?
You might also want to check out my post on Tonieboxes vs. Yoto Mini players
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