Amazon’s latest gadget for kids is finally available to everyone in the US

The Amazon Glow is finally available to the public

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Amazonis expanding its suite of tech products aimed at kids with a brand new smart projector called theAmazon Glow.

This device is designed to help children connect with family and friends through reading, drawing, and playing without having to be in the same physical space as each other.

Rather than projecting onto a wall, the Glow shines down onto a touch-sensitive pad that reacts to input from whoever is using the device. Kids can read their favorite books from theAmazon Kids Plusservice (the Glow comes with a one-year subscription), draw using virtual tools, and play games.

Meanwhile, a family member can appear over video call (thanks to Glow’s in-built screen) and interact with play space using the free Amazon Glow app on their smartphone or tablet.

Parental controls ensure that only pre-approved contacts can connect to the Amazon Glow, and the camera and microphones can be shut off in an instant using the privacy shutter.

If you want to try the Amazon Glow out for yourself, it’s available in the US for $300.

Amazon has yet to announce a release date for other territories, so we’ve reached out to see if we can find out more (if we hear back we’ll be sure to update this piece).

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Better than a regular video call?

We haven’t had a chance to try the Amazon Glow out for ourselves yet, but reactions to the device online have been mostly positive so far from what we can see.

There are reports that the device suffers from its fair share of glitches but kids seem to love the chance to play with their relatives, rather than just having to chat over a boring video call.

Earlier this year, we wrote about howVR gameshad a similar effect on us when catching up with friends and family. Instead of having to put up with an impersonal video call, we all had a much more enjoyable time by chatting overa round of virtual golf together.

VR isn’t for everyone, andisn’t really designed for kidsright now. The Amazon Glow seems to capture a lot of the ideas that made our virtual interactions great and packages them in a much more kid-friendly device.

We’ll have to see if reactions to the Glow remain positive, though for those looking to travel less because of ongoing health concerns or a desire to reduce your carbon footprint - Amazon’s latest gadget could be just what you’re looking for.

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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