17 answers

Which One?? Vtech V.Smile or Fisher Price Smart Cycle or Handheld Leapster

My girlfriend is looking at getting her son (he turns 4 in December) some kind of video game/toy. She is currently looking at the VTech V.Smile, the Fisher Price Smart Cycle, or the Handheld Leapster. Does anyone have any experience with any of these gaming systems? Any good/bad features for any of them?
We really just want to know which one her son would get the most use out of...
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?™

Thank you all so much for your responses! I LOVE this site. My girlfriend decided to get her son the Leapster and have her parents get him the Smart Cycle. With so many great responses I've decided to get my 4 year old daughter the Leapster for Christmas as well :)
Thank you again!!
D.

Featured Answers

I would avoid the Smart Cycle. The concept is good, but a Wii would be more entertaining. My son received his as a present and it just took up too much space for the little time he used it. He much prefers his Nintendo DS which he can take anywhere, but based the comments on a similar thread, I think I'm going to request a Leapster for Christmas for him.

Personally I have gone through 4 Vtech V smiles in a 6 month span. (They replaced them free haha) I don't know why they kept going out I have the game system up where my kids can't get it but they stopped working. This last one has since gone out to and I gave up so if she does get the vsmile tell me and she can have the games for free I am SICK of this game system and its problesm.

More Answers

My son really wants the Smart Cycle, and loves the Leapster.

I can not recommend the Vtech Vsmile. We are now on our 4th Unit. This is the last one I am returning for an exchange, because you pay to ship the item back plus insurance which costs $15. The first I was able to exchange at the store, but after that, about a month into use it would either quit working... or short out. The company immediately would just tell me to send it back and tell me they have made improvements. We have had our current unit 2 weeks, and already we have had to resest the unit, and have had problems with games playing. 3 friends that I have had similar problems.

Good luck!

My son who is just 5 loves his VTech and I do as well

I have both the V.Smile an the handheld leapster and my son only plays with the V.Smile. I'll ask him to play leapster with me and he'll say no thanks.

How old is her son? The smart cycle would be the way to go for me since it keeps them active, however, we have both the v-smile and the leapster and if I had to pick only one it would be the leapster but thats jmo. My kids seem to like it better.

We bought our daugter a Leapster for her 4th birthday and she still plays with it some even today, (she is now 8). It is very well made and has a wide variety of games to keep thier attention and has games for all ages. Now our almost 3 year old son plays with it also. Would def. make this purchase again.
We also have the original v-smile and it has never held her attention. It has been played maybe 20 times and now is not working. Would not reccomend this one unless some major changes have been made.

Hope this helps,
P.

I would avoid the Smart Cycle. The concept is good, but a Wii would be more entertaining. My son received his as a present and it just took up too much space for the little time he used it. He much prefers his Nintendo DS which he can take anywhere, but based the comments on a similar thread, I think I'm going to request a Leapster for Christmas for him.

Hi D.,
My son is now 5 yrs old. When he turned 4 we bought the Leapster and love it! It is very educational and will grow with him, up to I think about grade 5. The leapster LMAX seems to have more games. We bought the plain old leapster and it is great. Good luck!
K.

~I don't know about the others but we got our son the Vsmile for his 3rd birthday. He just turned 4 and loves to play.
He is still learning the different things it does and he is learning as he goes. He tells me different words and what are some of the different objects. So for Christmas we are going to get him a new game for it so he can have new challenges.

He loved the movie Disney Cars and he doesn't know it is educational. He is happy to play with the CARS and he also has Nemo and loves it too.

I would definately reccommend it.But you do have to show them how to do the game.

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