I’ve had trouble using electric shavers; they’re prone to irritating my neck, and can uncomfortably pull at hairs. Laifen reckons its shavers do a better job than most, so I was keen to try them out.
I looked at the Laifen P3 Pro, which is like a traditional electric shaver designed for close shaves, and the T1 Pro, which has a small handle, letting you sculpt and shape your facial hair. Both are clean and modern-looking devices, apt for the task they’re built for.
From my time using both shavers, they feel smoother than most I’ve tried before. Especially the Laifen P3 Pro, which uses a sophisticated three-blade system and a dual-drive linear motor that keeps it steady in your hand.
You can see Laifen’s shavers in action via the GadgetGuy YouTube channel, including the debut of my moustache. Should I keep the mo?
In a bid to get more Australians onto a full fibre internet connection, NBN Co is scrapping the high-speed requirement for premises on Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connections.
Most existing FTTC customers are only eligible for an upgrade to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) when ordering a high-speed plan, like NBN 100 or above. From July 2026, NBN Co will remove that requirement, paving the way for more fibre connections.
According to NBN Co, roughly 600,000 homes currently serviced by FTTC connections will be eligible for an FTTP upgrade without needing to order a faster internet plan. More than five million Australians are connected to NBN services with download speeds of 50Mbps or less. Under the relaxed upgrade path from next year, they’ll be able to keep their existing, often cheaper, plan, while benefitting from full fibre connectivity.
Reliability is a main factor behind NBN Co’s decision. FTTC uses a combination of fibre and copper technologies, which is more prone to outages than solely using fibre cable. NBN Co’s announcement of the relaxed requirements cited FTTC’s “higher fault rates” compared to FTTP and Fibre to the Node (FTTN).
“A big part of our combined effort is centred on our strategy to accelerate the removal of copper from the NBN network,” said Bec Heap, Executive General Manager Products and Pricing at NBN Co. “Full fibre connections are faster, more reliable, and less susceptible to faults and outages.”
A fibre connection also provides the option of upgrading to faster internet plans. In September, NBN Co increased the wholesale speeds of multiple high-speed plans, which start from 500Mbps, without increasing the cost to retailers.
But if customers remain on their existing speeds, they should still encounter fewer outages and less downtime.
AI PCs: you’ve likely heard of the new generation of computers that have been making waves in recent years. Get ready to hear more about them because they’re only just getting started. Especially if ASUS has anything to do with it.
Even just a few short years ago, interacting with a computer meant understanding its language and adapting to a set of rigid commands. Now, with AI, PCs adapt to you, capable of responding to natural language, answering questions plainly, and automating work that previously required more of your time.
Billed as a smarter, stronger, and more efficient class of computer, AI PCs are designed to act as a companion that streamlines everyday work. Then you have Copilot+ PCs, the top-of-the-line devices that employ the best hardware and most efficient neural processing units (NPUs) that can handle even more on-device AI tasks.
Market research from Gartner claims that more than half of the PCs in the world will be AI PCs, such is the technology’s rise. Equipped with the latest chipsets from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, this modern era of computing takes on a wider variety of tasks than ever before.
Although AI PCs are only a relatively new concept, Bradley Howe, ASUS Australia’s Head of Consumer, believes the change they’ve sparked is substantial.
“If you were using a device from five years ago to today and how much it’s evolved in those five years is pretty significant,” Howe said. “And AI is a big part of how that evolution has happened.”
Explaining the AI PC phenomenon
At its heart, an AI PC is any PC that uses a dedicated NPU to power through AI-based tasks. Generally speaking, they chew through less battery by assigning background processes to the NPU, like noise cancellation and blurring your background during video calls.
Then the next step up are Copilot+ PCs, computers that meet higher performance benchmarks. This is where you benefit from more on-device AI functionality; large document summaries, image generation, and real-time captions or translations are hallmarks of the category.
But as much as the flashy AI features help users out in the day-to-day, Howe mentioned that a lot of the benefits of an AI PC fly under the radar.
Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, ASUS Australia.
“There’d be a lot of people that don’t even realise they’re actually utilising some form of AI functionality when they are probably in their daily lives, whether it be on a PC or even on their phone as well,” he said.
“And the great thing is, it’s actually just a really cool way to improve what you’re doing in terms of your daily tasks.”
Howe likens using AI PCs to having a “companion to work with”, able to answer questions, provide real-time information about what you’re working on, and as something to bounce ideas around with when needed. Even if it’s for something as small as tone-checking an email so you don’t sound too harsh.
The ASUS AI PC difference
There are a lot of AI PCs available now. Even within the Copilot+ PC category, the competition between PC brands is fierce. To stand out, ASUS leans heavily on making high-quality hardware that meets users’ needs.
Howe turns to the Zenbook A14 OLED as a prime example of the brand’s AI PC approach. It’s stylish, sporting the tough and lightweight Ceraluminum hybrid material, but is practical, too.
“We’ve always been about innovation,” Howe said. “We spend a lot of effort making sure that our devices stand out on shelves.”
Perhaps an unheralded benefit of the AI PC boom is the significant leap in battery life on Windows PCs. These devices don’t require you to anxiously eye off nearby power outlets in case the dreaded low battery indicator pops up.
Thanks to its Snapdragon X series processors, the Zenbook A14 lasts up to 32 hours on a single charge. That’s based on continuous local 1080p video playback, a common measure used by computer manufacturers around the world. No matter which way you look at it, 32 hours is massive.
You’d think with that sort of battery life, you’d have to sacrifice portability, right? Not a chance. The Zenbook A14 weighs just 980g, making it easy to carry in any situation.
Building better AI features together
AI is not the result of any one person or company working in a silo. It’s grown in scale as a result of teamwork between many people, which is also the case for ASUS. Aside from using Microsoft’s AI technology included as part of the Copilot+ PC suite, ASUS has its own tools aimed at benefitting users.
One is StoryCube, an asset management hub that uses AI to intelligently organise media files. ASUS also recently teamed up with GoPro to streamline sorting through footage and photos, saving users time and effort in the process.
Instead of sorting media files manually — a time-consuming process — StoryCube can automatically categorise clips and pictures based on their content. Then similar clips can be grouped together for more efficient editing or sharing on social media.
Text-based search is also a big benefit of StoryCube, and AI more broadly. Searching for files including ‘surfing’ sure beats struggling to remember which date you shot a video while riding a big wave.
Howe is quick to praise the “over 5,000 engineers” working for ASUS who are responsible for the company’s early efforts in the AI PC race. They work on not only the hardware, but also the software, like StoryCube, that streamlines the user experience.
That’s ultimately what ASUS is trying to achieve with its AI PCs now and into the future. It wants to make computers easier to use, while capable of doing more of what users want.
“I feel like [AI] is something that does make life a bit easier for people,” Howe said. “It is a powerful part of life now, and AI is definitely something I’ve started to use a lot more of, which has been great.”
When I reviewed the Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus at launch, it was one of the best budget robot appliances I’d used. An efficient cleaner, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better automatic cleaner for the price. Here’s what I said at the time:
“It’s suited to homes that need help keeping up with regular vacuuming. If you’re too busy or physically struggle with cleaning, this is a great little helper at an equally great price.”
This particular Deebot isn’t the strongest mopper going around; you’d need to spend a fair bit more if that’s what you’re looking for. But more than making up for it is the included auto-empty station. Only a few years ago, a docking station that removes the robot’s dustbin contents would’ve attracted a far higher price. That it comes with a sub-$400 robot is a big tick in the Deebot’s favour.
If you’ve seen any of the Aldi deals communities on social media, you’ll know that the Deebot is a hot-ticket item. It wouldn’t surprise me if it sold out quickly, especially with the sale happening in the week after Christmas.
Expect to see plenty of eager shoppers flocking to Aldi when the Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus goes on sale on 27 December.
I recently built my very first racing simulator, which was a fantastic experience. It really opened my eyes to the incredible breadth of racing sim technology on the market. It’s staggering and somewhat overwhelming to begin with. I spent countless hours researching parts and fine-tuning which products are best suited to my needs. It was a bit of a crash course into the sim racing world, but now I’m hooked.
As a result, I now have a great setup, and I am always on the lookout to test new sim gear. In steps Moza’s new wheel base: the R25 Ultra. As the name suggests, the R25 Ultra has a 25Nm torque output (while the R21 Ultra has 21Nm, etc.). That’s a staggering amount of power, but more on that later.
Image: Jay Marshall.
Setup and usability
Let’s start with the setup, which I found rather simple. There isn’t a whole lot to look through in the box; this product is strictly business. Like most wheel bases, it’s a matter of securing it to your frame with the four included socket head cap screws. The wheel base comes with four threaded holes on the bottom that line up with basically any sim mounting plate, with the standard spacing of 78.4mm wide and 66mm back. The R25 also has threaded holes on the front and sides in case an alternative mounting option better suits your setup.
For my situation, I was replacing an existing wheel base. This meant unscrewing the old one first and removing the accompanying cables. All of this, including installing the new wheel base, only took around 15 minutes, and some of that time was spent organising my cables to make sure they looked neat and tidy. From there, all that was left to do was plug in the power and USB-B cables, and I was all set. I attached my steering wheel, hit the power button, and away I went.
Images: Jay Marshall.
Design and build quality
The first thing I noticed was the weight of the R25 Ultra. It’s a heavy beast, but I guess it has to be to produce so much torque. Also, the weight doesn’t matter once it’s mounted to a racing cockpit. The R25 Ultra comes with the Moza standard aluminium housing with a somewhat plastic back cover where all of the inputs live.
Both the R21 and R25 have an updated design, featuring a new look from the pre-existing Moza wheel bases. This updated look is partly aesthetic and partly practical, giving the wheel base added structural integrity and rigidity. Probably a good idea considering the force it produces.
Images: Jay Marshall.
One of the other big differences is the new custom lighting setup, consisting of two light strips that run along the top edge of the wheel base. The beauty of these lights is they are more than just a bit of ‘flash’.
Within the Moza software, you can customise these lights to reflect real-time telemetry while you race. Anything from ABS, traction control, gear shift and flag signals. I like the flag signals the most. While deep in a competitive race, having my wheel base reflect the colour of the flags in real-time is such a cool feature that I never knew I needed. It’s the simple things that help make racing feel more immersive. Outside of that, I loved matching the lighting on the wheel base to my favourite team’s colours.
Image: Jay Marshall.
Performance and force feedback
Some of the older-style wheel bases give off the feeling that you are turning in increments, making it feel like you are jumping around, or the steering is a little jerky. With the R25 Ultra and its updated zero-cogging flat-wire motor, it’s a much smoother experience that feels more accurate.
There is also the new Moza force feedback algorithm that is claimed to help deliver lifelike immersion and razor-sharp control. Sometimes, all of these marketing terms don’t result in much of a tangible difference. But, in this case, I could really feel a distinct improvement from the zero-cogging motor. It was buttery smooth, and to my untrained hands, it felt perfect.
Now, the big item. The 25Nm of torque. To start with, I loved the feedback and the feeling of the road, along with other more subtle forces like weight transfer or tyre grip. The level of detail felt with a high-powered wheel base is remarkable.
25Nm of torque is intense when replicating collisions. Hitting a curb hard or having a high-speed crash into a wall feels brutal. I understand that this is possibly a desirable trait for people who want the most realistic experience possible. But for the more casual driver, just be aware that this wheel base packs a punch. Adding to the immersion side of things, when riding a curb or banging wheels with another car, the R25 Ultra can shake or vibrate your whole simulator. It instantly makes you feel like you are really on track.
Image: Jay Marshall.
Software
I’m always surprised by how easy setting up sim racing gear is. Every brand has its dedicated software that controls all of its branded products, and Moza is no different, with Moza Pit House. This software controls everything Moza-related, which includes a dedicated section for your wheel base.
The main feature I used was to adjust the percentage of force feedback. By default, the wheel base is set to 40%. After some tinkering, I found that somewhere between 30-40% feels about right for me. With a higher setting, it’s harder to do more than a few laps without needing a break. However, this is a tradeoff as the lower the setting, the less detail you feel. This is because lowering the force feedback tends to mute the subtle road, curb and tyre slip sensations, giving you less information to drive with.
Having previously set up my Moza R9, I already had the software installed. As expected, Moza Pit House recognised the new wheel base instantly, and I was able to start making adjustments right away.
Screenshots: Jay Marshall.
Compatibility
The Moza R25 Ultra is compatible with PC only, which is the case for most of the brand’s gear. I used the R25 Ultra with my FSR2 Formula Wheel, which worked seamlessly. I had my Simagic pedals installed, so I decided to see how they worked alongside the Moza gear, which ended up working well.
As mentioned earlier, the Moza R25 Ultra is connected to my PC via a USB cable, like a lot of sim products. The only other cable needed is for power, then it’s all set. Just like every other wheel base I have experience with, the R25 Ultra feels very complete and polished. The only real difference is the enormous power this one can output.
In terms of seat or cockpit compatibility, I tested the R25 Ultra on my Playseat Instinct, which is my main sim racing seat. For a seat like mine, I suggest the sweet spot is a wheel base with around 9-12Nm of torque. I could use the R25 Ultra without a problem, even when cranking up the power to 70% and 80% for very small stints. With that said, I recommend an 8020-style sim seat to get the most out of such a powerful wheel base. These frames provide a higher level of structural integrity and would better utilise the extreme torque of the R25 Ultra.
Images: Jay Marshall.
Value for money
Considering whether the Moza R25 is good value is tricky. Moza is well-known for its mid-range products, such as the R9 and R12 wheel bases. They also have some more entry-level products in the R3 and R5. Compared to these pre-existing products, at $1,649, the R25 Ultra is a rather expensive unit.
Yet I would argue the R25 is more of a high-end product, and is best compared to the likes of the Simucube 2 Pro. Both have identical torque outputs of 25Nm. In Australia, the Simicube 2 Pro costs around $2,200 from specialist retailers. With that in mind, I think the R25 Ultra is a good value high-end direct drive wheel base.
Who is the Moza R25 Ultra Wheel Base for?
It’s hard for me to recommend this to everyone; I still think that around the 12Nm is the best bang for buck. 12Nm is more than enough torque to mimic a realistic feeling driving experience that everyone can enjoy.
But for those who want access to seemingly unlimited power, and are used to having nothing but the best, the Moza R25 Ultra is certainly a great option. All of the feedback from the tyres and race track surface will be felt as you crank on the steering lock, holding on with everything you have. And at the end of the day, it is so easy to turn down the power if your arms get tired, so there is nothing to lose.
MOZA R25 Ultra Wheel Base
Emulating the feeling of the race track with even more intensity, the high-end Moza R25 Ultra wheel base will have you holding on for dear life.
2025 has been a great year for toys. There are so many amazing options for all age groups that there’s bound to be something for the kids in your life. Our kid testers have been playing with dozens of this year’s top toys, and these are their picks.
Special features: The train track has “smart point locations” that trigger lights and sounds. You can also turn those off.
What we like about it: I have a train-obsessed toddler, and this train is just so cute and fun. The songs are catchy, the animals are cute, and the train fits in with the rest of her VTech toys really nicely. Having the smart locations announce when the train reaches different areas, like the farm, gives her context for words, which is nice.
From a parental perspective, I continue to wish VTech would make different voice actor choices, but the toy is still fun even when “the songs are tired and need a rest” while the batteries “recharge”.
Special features: A speaker on which you place plastic toys to unlock audio books, music and games, screen-free.
What we like about it: This is hands down my toy of the year. My daughter has been able to operate the original Toniebox independently since she was 9 months old, but now that she’s 1.5 years old, she’s getting so much more out of this kid-friendly speaker. The latest Toniebox 2 has a better quality speaker, and charges with USB-C. For bigger kids, it also has Tonieplay games, which are screen-free audio games.
From a parent’s perspective, I appreciate that when she listens to a story from the Toniebox, she plays quietly long enough for me to make dinner. From her perspective, she loves being able to independently pick which music to listen to. It’s something she can do all by herself and have full control over. There aren’t many things toddlers get to control, so that’s such a gift.
My personal highlight from using the TonieBox 2 is the Ms Rachel Tonie, because the song about feelings explained happiness in a way that my daughter could grasp, unlike the many, many other books we’ve read her and conversations we’ve had. Since using the Ms Rachel Tonie, she will now turn to us and tell us whenever she’s happy, and it’s the most precious thing. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Special features: It’s Grogu. With a little hover pram.
What we like about it: This 1,048-piece Lego set is perfect for Star Wars fans, Mandalorian fans, and people who just think Baby Yoda is neat. The build itself is satisfying, and kids called out enjoying the little cogs to move Gorge’s arms up and down. It’s a toy that offers both fun, imaginative play and good displayability, while also having all the usual Lego versatility.
Special features: One of the included mini-dolls has a limb difference. Plus, there’s a slide!
What we like about it: The best Lego Friends sets are always their tree house sets, because not only are they fun to build, there’s just so many different imaginative play scenarios you can have with them. This set includes 4 mini dolls, a dog and a racoon. The dog has a little wheelchair, which is adorable. This is another set that would be fun to play with, and look good in a display, opening up different wants to enjoy it.
Special features: This pooping panda comes with bamboo, a potty, and plastic poo. Because sure.
What we like about it: Technically, Chu Chu is rated for older kids who want to do nurturing play, looking after their baby panda, feeding it, and then helping it go to the potty. However, I love it as a potty training friend for younger kids.
My daughter loves feeding Chu Chu the bamboo. Chu Chu then says yum yum, kicks its legs, farts, poos, and giggles. A delightful interaction that kids love, but also teaches them about the relationship between eating, pooing, and going to the toilet in a tangible way. Will it work? No idea, but I’ll try anything. Even if it doesn’t work, it’s a fun toy that she loves.
Special features: 93 pieces, 10 marbles, and it builds vertically.
What we like about it: Both I and all my kid testers really like Marble Rush toys, because they allow you to get creative, making tracks for marbles to travel. The only problem I have with the main range of sets is that they can take up quite a bit of floor or table space.
As a parent, what I like about the Free Fall Vertical Set is that, as the name implies, you build it vertically by sticking it to a door or wall, so the kids can have the fun of building an elaborate marble run with slides, steps and ladders, but without taking up the whole room.
As a big kid at heart, I love how satisfying it is to watch the marble drop all the way down and then go back up the lift, ready to drop again.
Special features: A book that can read different features to your kids depending on which mode it’s in.
What we like about it: I live with a dinosaur and book-obsessed toddler. You can online imagine how popular this has been in my household. I like that it’s a book and toy in one, and that the switch allows the narrator to focus on different aspects of the story (colours, numbers, songs) depending on which setting it’s on, allowing for more replay value.
Special features: Kids can record what they say and play it back with different effects.
What we like about it: Kids love to sing, or at least mine does, and so getting them a karaoke machine is only natural. This can be a good gift for your child whom you love more than life, or the child of a hated enemy, because it will get a lot of use and you will hear these songs constantly until you or it dies.
My kid testers were either a bit too old or a bit too young to fully take advantage of this Let’s Record! Learning Karaoke machine, but my daughter loved the songs, and laughed like a drain when she heard her own voice back on the recording, and so that bodes well for future use.
Special features: Bluetooth, two microphones, light-up party speaker.
What we like about it: This karaoke machine has so much going for it for older kids. You can sync your phone using Bluetooth to sing along to all your favourite songs, or sing along to the built-in songs. There are games built in for 1-2 players, including snake, and it’s small enough to pack away easily.
This would be such a fun thing to have for sleepovers and birthday parties. The only downside is that it requires 10 AA batteries, which is so many batteries.
What we like about it: This doll is so cute! Kids will love it whether or not they were fans of the brilliant Moana (2016) movie, because her long hair is fun to brush, you can take her accessories on and off, and her big eyes are so cute. It’s also just really nice to have a doll that isn’t caucasian for once. The perfect doll for kids who love to nurture, and those who want an adventuring buddy!
It’s available both on the Disney Store online, and at the Disney Store’s first-ever Australian pop-up shop located in Westfield Southland.
Special features: Spinning wheel, raven, change of outfit for Aurora, and accessories.
What we like about it: Also available from the Disney Store (online and at Westfield Southland) is this incredible Aurora Classic Doll Gift Set, which I (and the kid testers) are obsessed with. These dolls are just so beautifully detailed, and come with all the accessories you need to either recreate Sleeping Beauty, or tell your own imaginative stories.
I particularly like the miniature Flora, Fauna and Merryweather figures, but truly, this whole thing is just stunning. I’m so glad kids get toys that are this cool and detailed. What a great time to be a kid.
Special features: Light up Millennium Falcon, with Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO action figures.
What we like about it: If you’re starting your kids young on the Star Wars journey, then this is one of the best non-Lego Star Wars kits I’ve seen for littler fans. The lights are fun, the moving ramp and retractable landing gear add so many options for imaginative play, and the figures have multiple points of articulation and are easy to pose (not too stiff, not too loose).
If you’re heading to the Westfield Southland Disney Store pop-up, these are a great gift to pick up.
What we like about it: I don’t know why all the kids are obsessed with fish now, or at least all the ones I encounter. But the children just love fish now, can’t get enough. My fish-fan in residence is entranced by this toy. If you also have a fish-loving child at home, this Finding Nemo plush toy is so cute and cuddly. The medium size is so good for toddlers, because in comparison the toy is comically large, but not so large they can’t carry it everywhere with them. The embroidered eyes make it safe for younger kids, too. Plus, it’s a bit sparkly, and that’s just nice.
Special features: Interactive hamsters with customisable outfits.
What we like about it: Remember Tamagotchis? What if your Tamagotchi was more colourful and was trapped in a crystal ball? This toy is so cute and so much fun. Our kid testers loved making the hamster run on the wheel by turning the dial.
My one note of caution is that because of the design of the screen, this toy is not suitable for kids with a sensitivity to flashing lights.
Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends Amazing Flip Spidey
Special features: can say 50 sounds and phrases, 10 missions, shoots webs, does a pretty sick flip.
What we like about it: This is another one of those toys that makes you marvel about how far toys have come Since My Day. It’s just so cool.
Spidey lights up, flips, shoots webs, and is utterly charming while doing so. There’s just so much play value here, and it’s a toy that will impress the kid’s friends. Generally, it’s a good time.
Special features: eight pieces of road track, Peppa Pig car, track accessories.
What we like about it: I really like that this starter set is just a track with a car, and no complications. It’s the perfect place for easily overstimulated toddlers to start playing with cars and tracks, with a character they may be familiar with.
What’s more fun is that as the kids get older and are ready for flashing lights and sounds, these parts are all compatible with the larger sets that have sounds triggered when these cars hit certain checkpoints. It comes with options and somewhere to grow, without having to cast the original toy aside, and that’s a win for everyone.
What we like about it: This is the most huggable toy in all the land. I have Eevee, Chansey, and now Slowpoke. Squishmallow is truly the perfect word for them.
You can hug them when you feel sick, nap on them when you’re sleepy, and come up with elaborate imaginative play scenarios for them when you’re full of beans. The kids love them too.
Special features: Multiple points of articulation, accessories.
What we like about it: Wrestling action figures are a staple of a well-rounded childhood.
The Unmatched Collection includes characters such as Jay White, Willow Nightingale, Will Ospreay and Darby Allin. I have no idea who these people are, but wrestling fans do, and will also enjoy their accessories, including interchangeable hands.
Special features: Hatches a T-rex with light-up eyes that change colour based on its mood, with 100+ sounds and reactions.
What we like about it: I love this toy so much, as did my kid testers. You get to watch a small dinosaur hatch, and then do Dino training and feeding, with lights and sounds. It is such a fun toy that suits both nurturers and dinosaur lovers alike.
Using the clicker, you can train the dinosaur to be loving and friendly, or you can choose to allow it to remain a dangerous predator. Fun for the whole family!
Special features: Comes with a detailed dress, hat, grimmerie, and broom.
What we like about it: This is just such a beautiful doll; she’s so detailed, and the cape is gorgeous.
Doll-loving children will love using her for role-playing, getting her dressed up, and having her fly around. Adult collectors will enjoy marvelling at the details on her dress. There’s something for everyone!
Robosen Mini Robot Toy Story 30th Anniversary Collector’s Set
Special features: Six programmable mini robots with a base.
What we like about it: These robots are just cool. Perhaps not as robot-y as you’d expect (they don’t walk or anything like that), but kids can program them to say different things and program actions to go with those sound files.
If you want Buzz Lightyear to do an approximation of the Nutbush, you can make that happen. Want Rex to make fart noises on repeat? Your wish is his command. On the surface, it’s a fun toy that children and collectors alike will love, but deep down, it’s a trick to get kids to think about coding and animation. Just be aware that the robots are pretty fragile, and will only be suitable for gentle children.
Special features: Finally, a Wicked toy for toddlers.
What we like about it: I love that this is a Wicked doll that even babies and toddlers can enjoy. My daughter has been loving reading the Wicked Little Golden Books with us, and so having this Glinda plush was a must.
If you, and thus your kids, are into Wicked, this is a great purchase.
Special features: Includes mini dolls of Glinda, Elphaba, Fiyero, The Wizard and Madame Morrible.
What we like about it: This is such a great crossover for the Lego Friends range.
All the Wicked Lego sets have been absolutely excellent (particular shoutout to the Glinda and Elphaba Bookends and the Glinda and Elphaba Figures), but this one in particular has so much play value for kids to be able to tell their stories in and around the Wizard’s base in Oz.
The mini dolls have gorgeous detail, and the set’s 945 pieces make a richly detailed building with lots of vantage points and storytelling opportunities for imaginative play.
Special features: Lights up, challenges you to solve the puzzle without seeing the colours.
What we like about it: This is a Rubik’s Cube on steroids, upping the difficulty level to make you or your kids solve the puzzle without seeing the colours. It trains memory, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and patience.
If you have a Rubik’s Cube enthusiast in your life, this is the gift for them.
