AJ's Gift Ideas & Toy Reviews: vtech innotab max

Since the first Apple iPad tablet was released back in April 2010, tablets became very popular in the years following its release. However, in recent times, the popularity and sales of tablets have declined since 2014 (source).

The above stats relates to adult tablets in general. Having said so, kids tablets still remain popular and are among the top educational toys for kids. In this article, I will focus on two very popular kids tablets from LeapFrog and VTech.

In particular, I will briefly compare the InnoTab MAX vs the LeapPad Platinum. This is more of a brief review and comparison of specs between the two tablets. Also, bear in mind that I have personally only tested the InnoTab MAX (firsthand) and have not tested the LeapPad Platinum tablet. Below is a comparison chart that gives you a snapshot of these two top educational tablets.

Let me start with the Operating System. The InnoTab MAX runs on an Android 4.2.2 platform, but you can't use regular Android apps. There are special Android apps from the InnoTab Learning Lodge. On the other hand, the LeapPad Platinum runs on LeapFrog’s own operating system and has apps that can be downloaded from the app store is the LeapFrog App Center.

Both tablets have 7-inch screens with Screen Resolution of 1024×600 pixels. The InnoTab MAX has a multi-touch screen, while the LeapPad Platinum has a capacitive touch screen. InnoTab MAX comes with a removal protective screen cover which also acts as a stand.

Both tablets come with 8 GB of Internal Memory, though the InnoTab has the capability to expand memory using a memory card up to 32GB (microSD). The InnoTab is equipped with a 1.4GHz Dual core processor, compared to the 1.0Ghz processor in the LeapPad Platinum.

Both have very strong Parental Controls, though based on what I've read, the LeapPad Platinum has stronger parental controls. Though this may also restrict parents from using this tablet from freely surfing the web using their parental control account. With the InnoTab MAX, parents logged into the parental control account can access the web freely.

Both tablets have a 2MP Camera (front and back facing). In the InnoTab MAX, there is just one camera which swivels (180 degrees) as a front and back camera. Whereas the LeapPad Platinum has two physical cameras, one front and one back.

Both kids tablets are equipped with Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. In terms of Battery Life, the LeapPad Platinum promises 5+ hours, compared to 6+ hours on the InnoTab MAX.

With the InnoTab MAX tablet you will get 18 free apps, including two free apps that can be downloaded from the VTech Learning Lodge. Also, when you register your tablet, which I would highly recommend, you will get another free app, either Toca Lab or Toca Pet Doctor. On the other hand, with the LeapPad Platinum comes with 10 free apps as well as 6 imagicards and a mini game.

Hope this brief review and comparison helps you decide which tablet is right for your kid. Based on my assessment of the overall specs, processing speed, storage memory and value of these two tablets, my preference would be the VTech InnoTab MAX.

Down below you will find several videos, including a video review of the VTech InnoTab MAX and the LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum. Additionally, you will find several InnoTab MAX tutorials that will help you set up this educational kids tablet. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

CREDITS: Vtech and InnoTab are registered trademarks. LeapFrog and Leappad Platinum are registered trademarks. Logos, images and screenshots used with permission.

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: This blog post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and buy Amazon products, I may receive commission.

Among the top educational kids’ tablets in 2014, VTech has released the InnoTab® MAX. It is VTech’s 4th generation children’s tablet with many improvements and new features.

This educational toy is sure to make learning fun and keep kids entertained for hours. I don’t have anything against regular toy gifts, but I believe educational gifts have an edge because they can keep kids entertained, while making the experience educational.

I’ve personally been able to test the InnoTab® MAX for the past few days and my overall assessment is that it makes a cool educational gift for kids. This tablet is designed for children between the ages of 3 and 9. The beauty of this learning tablet is that it’s interactive and has voice instructions to guide your child as they use the tablet.

Another thing I noticed about the tablet is that it is built tough and has rubberized edges for a better grip. This particular model has a built-in and removable protective cover which also acts as a flip-and-fold stand. If you’d prefer watching a video review of the InnoTab® MAX, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

InnoTab® MAX Specifications

So let’s get down to the hardware specifications of the InnoTab® MAX tablet. Below you will find a Specifications Comparison Chart: InnoTab® MAX vs InnoTab® 3S.

First off, the VTech InnoTab® MAX has a larger 7-inch multi-touch color screen compared to the 5-inch single-touch color screen of the InnoTab® 3S. It also has a higher screen resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels (170 ppi). The tablet screen can be used in both, portrait and landscape mode. I found the touch screen very responsive and smooth.

This new tablet is equipped with 8 GB of memory storage, expandable to 40 GB, compared to the 4 GB of its predecessor. The InnoTab® MAX is also built with a faster 1.4 GHz dual-core processor for better performance. It has a built-in Lithium rechargeable battery which takes approximately 4.5 hours to charge which can provide over 6 hours of battery life. When I first charged the battery, it took approximately 2 hours to fully charge.

The InnoTab® MAX comes with a built-in 2 MP 180 degree rotating camera. This makes it easy to switch from a front-facing to a rear-facing camera and vice versa. Kids can have fun taking pictures as well as recording short videos. This tablet also comes with a Movie Maker app which will allow your kids to explore their creativity. Similarly, the Wonder Cam Max app includes a variety of effects to turn photos into fun art.

The Learning Lodge: Age-Appropriate Educational Apps

Talking about apps, the InnoTab® MAX comes with 15 on-board apps, 2 free downloadable apps, and one Toca Boca app (requires registration). Some of the included apps are: Art Studio, Play Games, Music, Videos, Calendar, Calculator, Family Bulletin, and others. The InnoTab® MAX package includes a cartridge which preview videos.

The Learning Lodge (VTech’s app store) has over 650 apps which are conveniently categorized according to age. The age categories include 2 to 5, 3 to 6, 4 to 7, and 6 to 9 years. And includes learning categories like reading and language arts, science and social studies, creativity and problem solving, and math.

You will find a variety of popular eBooks like Disney’s Frozen, Pixar Cars, Wreck-it-Ralph, Toy Story, Tangled, and many others. These eBooks range from $2.99 to $4.99 in price. You will find many of these apps bundled together for a better deal. Apps in the Learning Lodge also include a variety of videos as well as music.

The VTech Kid Connect™ app allows the parent and child to stay connected by sending text and voice messages as well as sharing photos and drawings. This app is compatible with the iPhone and Android smartphones, and can be downloaded via the iTunes and Google Play respectively.

Parents can also keep track of their child’s progress by logging into the password-protected Parental Control section. There is also a "My Wishes" app that allows kids to choose which apps they want in the future. Parents can then access this information by logging in the Parental Control app and approving the apps for purchase, if they feel they are appropriate.

Final Thoughts and Observations

Overall, based on my experience, I found the InnoTab® MAX learning tablet a good educational gift for children. The larger screen makes it easier to navigate as well as provides a better overall experience when reading eBooks, watching videos, or just playing games.

The multi-touch color screen was very responsive and fluid. Both while using the stylus and my fingers. However, the stylus was not as responsive as the older model. Especially when using the Art Studio app, I found that I could not draw straight lines smoothly, it was better when I used my fingers to draw.

Don’t expect this tablet to be as fast as a regular adult tablet like the iPad or Samsung Galaxy. If you’re used to these adult tablets, you will find it quite slow, especially when loading apps. Also, don’t expect the quality of the pictures and videos to be HD quality – remember this is a children’s tablet.

Make sure to register the InnoTab® MAX which can be easily done when first powering up the tablet. It will prompt you to first enter the current date and time, and then give you an option to register. By registering the tablet, you will also get the additional free apps and a one year limited warranty. To get the most of this educational tablet, make sure to set up the Wi-Fi. This will enable you to download apps directly to the tablet from the Learning Lodge and also allow you to stay connected to your child via the VTech Kid Connect™ app.

Another important thing to do is set up the Parental Control because you can access to the internet using this tablet and browse websites. Of course, it will restrict the child only to the websites that you allow access to. Another advantage of setting up Parental Control is that you can keep track of your child’s progress as well as set a time limit on access to the tablet, if you wish.

Below is a Video Review of the InnoTab® MAX. Feel free to leave your thoughts, comments, or questions in the comments section below:

Image Credits: Product pictures on this web page belong the author. VTech and InnoTab® are registered trademarks, logos and images used with permission.