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In pictures: The best tech toys from London Toy Fair 2016

By Simon Crisp
January 28, 2016
In pictures: The best tech toys from London Toy Fair 2016
Gizmag recently visited Toy Fair in London to find the latest tech toys
Gizmag recently visited Toy Fair in London to find the latest tech toys
View 71 Images
Nocto is a pet bat for kids which will stand up, or hang upside down in their bedroom, and respond to music and play games with them
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Nocto is a pet bat for kids which will stand up, or hang upside down in their bedroom, and respond to music and play games with them
Children can play a variety of games with the Nocto bat via its light-up eyes, the bat will be available later this year priced at £50 (around $70)
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Children can play a variety of games with the Nocto bat via its light-up eyes, the bat will be available later this year priced at £50 (around $70)
My Buddy Tag is a Bluetooth wearable designed to ensure children do not get separated from their parents
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My Buddy Tag is a Bluetooth wearable designed to ensure children do not get separated from their parents
The tracker inside My Buddy Tag connects to smartphones and sends alerts if it moves too far away
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The tracker inside My Buddy Tag connects to smartphones and sends alerts if it moves too far away
The £45 (around $65) My Buddy Tag also features a panic button and a water alarm should it be submerged in water
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The £45 (around $65) My Buddy Tag also features a panic button and a water alarm should it be submerged in water
It wasn't all tech at the London Toy Fair, there were one or two familiar faces there too
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It wasn't all tech at the London Toy Fair, there were one or two familiar faces there too
Even Danger Mouse needed to take a break from checking out the latest toys at the London Toy Fair
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Even Danger Mouse needed to take a break from checking out the latest toys at the London Toy Fair
The Razor Crazy Cart Shift will launch later this year making cart drifting easier for younger drivers
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The Razor Crazy Cart Shift will launch later this year making cart drifting easier for younger drivers
4M’s Dino Digging Kits can now come with AR (augmented reality) cards which bring the dinosaur to life on a smartphone or tablet screen
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4M’s Dino Digging Kits can now come with AR (augmented reality) cards which bring the dinosaur to life on a smartphone or tablet screen
Dino Digging Kits are getting a 2016 makeover with the addition of an iOS or Android augmented reality app
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Dino Digging Kits are getting a 2016 makeover with the addition of an iOS or Android augmented reality app
After excavating dinosaur bones in their £15 ($21) Dino Digging Kit, children complete a DNA board with stickers, which can be read by the free app
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After excavating dinosaur bones in their £15 ($21) Dino Digging Kit, children complete a DNA board with stickers, which can be read by the free app
The 4M Dino Digging Kits will come with DNA stickers to bring dinosaurs including a T-Rex, Triceratops and Stegosaurus to life
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The 4M Dino Digging Kits will come with DNA stickers to bring dinosaurs including a T-Rex, Triceratops and Stegosaurus to life
The iLoom from Style Me Up brings an interactive element to making bracelets
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The iLoom from Style Me Up brings an interactive element to making bracelets
Users place an iPad running the iLoom app into the device and follow on-screen instructions
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Users place an iPad running the iLoom app into the device and follow on-screen instructions
The iLoom will cost £40 ($50), but will also need users to have an iPad to get the most out of it
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The iLoom will cost £40 ($50), but will also need users to have an iPad to get the most out of it
MagFormers are magnetic building block kits which can teach pre-schoolers about engineering
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MagFormers are magnetic building block kits which can teach pre-schoolers about engineering
Children can use MagFormers kits to convert 2D plans into 3D structures and objects
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Children can use MagFormers kits to convert 2D plans into 3D structures and objects
Meccano has updated its Meccanoid range of learning robots with the G16 and G16 KS which will cost $180 and $400
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Meccano has updated its Meccanoid range of learning robots with the G16 and G16 KS which will cost $180 and $400
The interactive and programmable Meccano Meccanoid G16 and G16 KS have twice the memory of last years models, and faster voice recognition
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The interactive and programmable Meccano Meccanoid G16 and G16 KS have twice the memory of last years models, and faster voice recognition
For those with smaller robot ambitions and budgets, Meccano is introducing the $40 Micronoids which can be programmed to dance, sing, navigate obstacle courses and interact with each other
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For those with smaller robot ambitions and budgets, Meccano is introducing the $40 Micronoids which can be programmed to dance, sing, navigate obstacle courses and interact with each other
We got the chance to spend some time with the impressive Micro Drone 3.0 flying over London toy Fair
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We got the chance to spend some time with the impressive Micro Drone 3.0 flying over London toy Fair
The Micro Drone 3.0 is small but powerful drone which was crowdfunded on Indiegogo
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The Micro Drone 3.0 is small but powerful drone which was crowdfunded on Indiegogo
The $175 Micro Drone 3.0 can be controlled with a dedicated remote or a smartphone app
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The $175 Micro Drone 3.0 can be controlled with a dedicated remote or a smartphone app
There were cuddly toy Minions, full-sized Minions, and inflatable remote control Minions at the London Toy Fair
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There were cuddly toy Minions, full-sized Minions, and inflatable remote control Minions at the London Toy Fair
Pebli is an interactive play-set for pre-schoolers which works with Android and iOS apps
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Pebli is an interactive play-set for pre-schoolers which works with Android and iOS apps
Phonotonic is an smart object which connects to an iOS or Android app to turn movements into music
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Phonotonic is an smart object which connects to an iOS or Android app to turn movements into music
Users can also remove the sensor from the Phonotonic housing and attach it to other objects to control beats, melody, and sounds effects
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Users can also remove the sensor from the Phonotonic housing and attach it to other objects to control beats, melody, and sounds effects
The Phonotonic connects to a smart device via Bluetooth and sells for £60 ($100)
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The Phonotonic connects to a smart device via Bluetooth and sells for £60 ($100)
Kids can use an app to create their own pixel designs for their PIXL toy to display and share
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Kids can use an app to create their own pixel designs for their PIXL toy to display and share
Each PIXL will cost £10 ($14) when they go on sale later this yeer
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Each PIXL will cost £10 ($14) when they go on sale later this yeer
PIXL figures come with one of three games installed, including Rock, Paper, Scissors, Yes, No, Maybe and the Emoji Mood Game
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PIXL figures come with one of three games installed, including Rock, Paper, Scissors, Yes, No, Maybe and the Emoji Mood Game
PIXL are little pixel based characters which come pre-loaded with emojis and animations which can be shared with friends by clicking them together
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PIXL are little pixel based characters which come pre-loaded with emojis and animations which can be shared with friends by clicking them together
The Paper Plane Shooter is a toy gun which is used to launch paper planes
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The Paper Plane Shooter is a toy gun which is used to launch paper planes
We used the Paper Plane Shooter to fire paper planes much farther than we could have thrown them
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We used the Paper Plane Shooter to fire paper planes much farther than we could have thrown them
The £15 ($21) Paper Plane Shooter can fire a series of planes in quick succession
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The £15 ($21) Paper Plane Shooter can fire a series of planes in quick succession
Launching later this year, the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam is a entry-level drone which features a built-in HD camera
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Launching later this year, the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam is a entry-level drone which features a built-in HD camera
An altitude control assistant makes flying the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam easier, and gives more stable footage
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An altitude control assistant makes flying the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam easier, and gives more stable footage
The Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam comes with a 4-channel remote control and can run for seven minutes on a full charge
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The Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam comes with a 4-channel remote control and can run for seven minutes on a full charge
Razor has created an electric version of its popular RipStik caster board with the RipStik Electric
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Razor has created an electric version of its popular RipStik caster board with the RipStik Electric
The Razor RipStik Electric can travel up to 10 mph (16 km/h) thanks to an in-wheel hub motor
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The Razor RipStik Electric can travel up to 10 mph (16 km/h) thanks to an in-wheel hub motor
The power of the Razor RipStik Electric is controlled via a wireless remote control
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The power of the Razor RipStik Electric is controlled via a wireless remote control
Sam Labs offer impressive Internet of Things electronics kits priced from £70 to £550 ($100 to $780)
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Sam Labs offer impressive Internet of Things electronics kits priced from £70 to £550 ($100 to $780)
The wireless blocks in the kits from SAM Labs can be used to make connected devices from robots to cat feeders
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The wireless blocks in the kits from SAM Labs can be used to make connected devices from robots to cat feeders
The SAM Labs Internet of Things electronics kits connect to Mac and Windows computers and are very easy to use
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The SAM Labs Internet of Things electronics kits connect to Mac and Windows computers and are very easy to use
There are a number of optional modules for the SAM Labs Internet of Things electronics kits to let you create whatever devices you can imagine
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There are a number of optional modules for the SAM Labs Internet of Things electronics kits to let you create whatever devices you can imagine
The app-enhanced makeover of Scalextric continued with a new ARC AIR system which uses a smartphone or tablet app to log lap times
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The app-enhanced makeover of Scalextric continued with a new ARC AIR system which uses a smartphone or tablet app to log lap times
The £80 ($115) Scalextric ARC AIR powerbase cuts the cables with a move to wireless controllers
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The £80 ($115) Scalextric ARC AIR powerbase cuts the cables with a move to wireless controllers
Racers with the Scalextric ARC AIR can share their lap and race times with other users via the app
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Racers with the Scalextric ARC AIR can share their lap and race times with other users via the app
The Scalextric ARC AIR powerbase is compatible with all your old analog Scalextric tracks
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The Scalextric ARC AIR powerbase is compatible with all your old analog Scalextric tracks
The app needed to play Space Hawk will be available for iOS and Android
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The app needed to play Space Hawk will be available for iOS and Android
StikBots are little figures with suction cups on their hands and feet, and are used with an Android or iOS app to create stop motion animations
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StikBots are little figures with suction cups on their hands and feet, and are used with an Android or iOS app to create stop motion animations
The StikBot app lets children film their own stop motion animations and add voice overs and sound effects before sharing them online
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The StikBot app lets children film their own stop motion animations and add voice overs and sound effects before sharing them online
The StikBots cost either £5 ($7) each, or £13 ($18) for a set of two with a mini smartphone tripod
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The StikBots cost either £5 ($7) each, or £13 ($18) for a set of two with a mini smartphone tripod
Tiggly are $30 sets of shapes, letters and counting blocks which are use with iPad apps to help teach children
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Tiggly are $30 sets of shapes, letters and counting blocks which are use with iPad apps to help teach children
When Tiggly pieces are placed on the iPad screen they are instantly recognized thanks to a pattern of dots on the back
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When Tiggly pieces are placed on the iPad screen they are instantly recognized thanks to a pattern of dots on the back
Tiggly pieces can be used with a selection of apps including the popular Sesame Street Alphabet Kitchen
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Tiggly pieces can be used with a selection of apps including the popular Sesame Street Alphabet Kitchen
Following in the footsteps of the Teksta Puppy, the Teksta Toucan is the latest robotic pet for kids and connects wirelessly to a companion app
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Following in the footsteps of the Teksta Puppy, the Teksta Toucan is the latest robotic pet for kids and connects wirelessly to a companion app
The Teksta Toucan, via a smart device, features voice recognition and will respond to your questions and instructions
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The Teksta Toucan, via a smart device, features voice recognition and will respond to your questions and instructions
During our time with the Teksta Toucan, it told a number of jokes and chatted about our day
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During our time with the Teksta Toucan, it told a number of jokes and chatted about our day
Stacker Track is a storage system and play ramp for toy cars which uses repeating identical levels that each hold five vehicles
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Stacker Track is a storage system and play ramp for toy cars which uses repeating identical levels that each hold five vehicles
Creator Carl Tatum says he would not have been able to develop Stacker Track if it had not been for a 3D printer
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Creator Carl Tatum says he would not have been able to develop Stacker Track if it had not been for a 3D printer
Stacker Track can be used as storage for toy cars, and also as a ramps thanks to its repeating pattern.
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Stacker Track can be used as storage for toy cars, and also as a ramps thanks to its repeating pattern.
The X-Water Drone is a quadcopter that can take to the water, film under the H2O, then take-off again
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The X-Water Drone is a quadcopter that can take to the water, film under the H2O, then take-off again
The X-Water Drone is as happy in water as it is in the air
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The X-Water Drone is as happy in water as it is in the air
The X-Water Drone from Flying Gadgets will sell for £50 ($70) when it launches later this year
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The X-Water Drone from Flying Gadgets will sell for £50 ($70) when it launches later this year
Gizmag recently visited Toy Fair in London to find the latest tech toys
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Gizmag recently visited Toy Fair in London to find the latest tech toys
Mardles are packs of stickers which come to life via augmented reality when viewed by a smartphone or tablet
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Mardles are packs of stickers which come to life via augmented reality when viewed by a smartphone or tablet
After viewing the Mardles stickers with a smartphone, users can then interact with the virtual toy
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After viewing the Mardles stickers with a smartphone, users can then interact with the virtual toy
Mardles stickers include dinosaurs, racing cars and unicorns, and cost £5 ($7) for a pack of 12
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Mardles stickers include dinosaurs, racing cars and unicorns, and cost £5 ($7) for a pack of 12
Space Hawk is a smartphone game from Ravensburger which is played by putting the phone into a physical spaceship
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Space Hawk is a smartphone game from Ravensburger which is played by putting the phone into a physical spaceship
Playing Space Hawk sees children moving the spaceship and phone around rather than playing by touching the screen
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Playing Space Hawk sees children moving the spaceship and phone around rather than playing by touching the screen
View gallery - 71 images

We recently spent some time professionally testing (okay, playing with) the latest toys at the Toy Fair in London. This being 2016 many of those toys had a significant technological element, making them more interesting than your average cuddly bear. Join us as we revisit some of the best drones, internet-connected toys, AR games and STEM kits that we saw.

We've already featured a few of the toys which took our fancy at the show, like the Razor RipStik Electic and the Micro Drone 3.0, but the Toy Fair in London had so much more on display.

Over the past few years we've seen more toys require a smartphone or tablet if you want to get the most out of them, or in some cases even use them at all. Looking at the toys on show in London that's still the case. Classics like Scalextric got more tech upgrades, while there were more robot pets, like the Teksta Toucan, which need an internet-connected tablet. There was even a toy loom which uses an iPad to give young users instructions on how to make bracelets.

The app-enhanced makeover of Scalextric continued with a new ARC AIR system which uses a smartphone or tablet app to log lap times
The app-enhanced makeover of Scalextric continued with a new ARC AIR system which uses a smartphone or tablet app to log lap times

Drones once again provided a constant buzzing soundtrack to the show as they hummed overhead, and there were new models for all budgets and aviation abilities. While the Micro Drone 3.0 was our pick, there were also interesting entry level models from Revell, and one which can film underwater.

An altitude control assistant makes flying the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam easier, and gives more stable footage
An altitude control assistant makes flying the Revell Quadrocopter Steady Quad Cam easier, and gives more stable footage

Other common trends were previously manual ride-ons getting juiced with electricity (luckily there were fewer hover-boards this time) and Augmented Reality toys with stickers and collecting cards all bringing virtual toys to life.

4M’s Dino Digging Kits can now come with AR (augmented reality) cards which bring the dinosaur to life on a smartphone or tablet screen
4M’s Dino Digging Kits can now come with AR (augmented reality) cards which bring the dinosaur to life on a smartphone or tablet screen

Finally, there were more toys designed to help kids understand technology and learn coding. The latest Meccano Meccanoid robots, which featured in our roundup of the best toys from 2015, look a solid upgrade, and we had great fun playing with the SAM Labs Internet of Things learning kits.

Sam Labs offer impressive Internet of Things electronics kits priced from £70 to £550 ($100 to $780)
Sam Labs offer impressive Internet of Things electronics kits priced from £70 to £550 ($100 to $780)

View gallery - 71 images

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ChildrenToysKidsSTEMChildrenLondon Toy Fair 2016
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Simon Crisp
Simon is a journalist and photographer who has spent the last ten years working for national UK newspapers - but has never hacked a mobile phone - and specializes in writing about weird products and photography technology. When not writing for New Atlas, Simon is often found playing with LEGO and drinking far too much coffee.

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