This innovative new toy is sure to get your kids thinking outside of the box (and cube)!
We were kindly gifted a Merge VR cube and goggles for purpose of review. All opinions and images are our own and completely genuine. This post contains affiliate links.
This new product is a virtual reality tool, specifically designed for kids. I was super excited to test it out as I knew it would really captivate my son's enthusiasm for technology and his natural thirst for exploration.
The Merge VR Cube is an absolute bargain in my opinion. It is currently under $15 on Amazon. It is incredibly easy and intuitive to set up. You simply have to download Cube apps onto your phone or device, point it at the Cube and watch the cube transform!
The Cube is literally like holding a hologram in your hand! It is so kid-friendly! With the apps you can learn, explore, play and interact. There are lots of free apps, with the option to choose from some paid ones too. Here are a few of my son's favorites...
Object Viewer
This was a great place to start as it helped my son to get used to controlling the phone and the cube. There are a few pre-loaded objects which will appear. My son's favorite was the cake!
Th!ngs
This one is a fun selection of mini games, letting you sample short experiences and future apps in the making. Examples include fruit slicing, watching fireworks, and flying a jet plane (the firm favorite!).
Mr. Body
Using the cube to take a closer look at the human body was a ton of fun. You can choose different parts of the body to learn more about. Great for visual learners!
HoloGLOBE
Whizz around the world with this fun globe app. My son loved finding all of the different places he has visited.
Galactic Explorer
This app lets your child hold the solar system in their hand! This certainly got the biggest 'wow' from my son!
Dig
My son really got into mining and building his own holographic 3D world. He was fascinated with being able to build on all surfaces of the cube. You can also put the flashlight on like you are actually mining in the dark!
We were super impressed with the quality of this product. I love that the Cube is made from foam and is portable- no wires or chargers necessary. This means you can take it with you to share with friends! It would also make a great addition to a classroom or media room in a school.
We were also sent a set of the VR/AR Goggles to test out. You can use the Cube without them, just from your device, but they really do add a whole new element of fun and engagement.
The goggles are easy to set up and use. Simply open up a Merge app, place your smartphone (we used an iPhone but it also supports Android) into the VR/AR Goggles and your kid is ready to be transported to virtual worlds! There are over 300 family-friendly virtual experiences to explore! There are two small buttons on the top of the goggles which act as the controls.
The headset is well-made, comfortable and can be easily cleaned and adjusted. I also like how sturdy it is, I feel like the smartphone is well protected in there! All important factors when investing in a STEM toy!
This really is a product with the wow-factor and I'm impressed at how affordable it is. It is certainly one we will use in moderation, as with any screen-based product, but the power it has to bring learning to life for kids is pretty awesome! Nothing beats those gasps and squeals as my son held the solar system in his hand!
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