STACK #263 September 2026

FEATURE TECH

That’s great, but what’s a Toniebox 2? Aimed at kids anywhere from ages one to nine-plus, the Toniebox 2 is basically a durable, padded speaker cube – charged via an included kid-friendly 22cm-long USB cable – that tells stories – it’s an absolute dream for parents! Plus, there’s no screen, no microtransactions, and no ads! Turn it on simply by squeezing one of the delightfully squishy silicone ears, which also function as volume controls. Tilting or tapping the Toniebox 2 allows functions such as skipping chapters. Easy! There’s a massive range of Tonies available, which are special figurines that range from classic Disney characters, to superheroes, beloved literature characters, and now... Pokémon! These figurines are popped atop the Toniebox 2, which then bursts into life – complete with dynamic light ring – to deliver an array of entertainment for kids, including stories, songs, and lessons. New Tonies – such as the four Pokémon ones – are released regularly, so you’ll always have access to fresh content. Ideal for getting kids going in the morning, for quiet play during the day, and especially for helping them drift off to dreamland at night – there’s even a built-in timer and light. They’re an absolute boon for carers and parents. Is the Toniebox 2 really safe for kids? It sure is! Beyond the unit’s durable squishy, non-toxic construction with no sharp edges, plus the lack of screen and ads, it also has app enablable features including volume limiting, sleep timer control, content management, and age restrictions to protect toddlers, such as not being useable while charging to avoid potential cable mishaps. Meanwhile, the Toniebox 2 uses encrypted communication protocols and secure authentication to ensure safety, and once a Tonie’s content is downloaded to the internal 32GB of storage, it’s there on the device, so no constant internet connection is required. Around 200 Tonies can be stored on one unit – that’s a lot of story time fun!

DYK?

Pokémon first entered the world as the video

games Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green ,

which released for the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan in 1996.

Time, Sleepy Time, and Content Tonies all bring various stories, songs, and sounds based around their particular character. Then there are Creative Tonies, which work hand-in-hand with the Tonies app to let kids mine their creativity by recording their own stories or messages, ready for play through their Toniebox 2! You’ll never be short of options for new stories, as there are literally hundreds of Tonies available. Plus, Tonieplay! Now as well as conquering story time, you can turn the Toniebox 2 into a playful, screen-free games machine, letting kids dive into interactive stories, quizzes, and challenges using special Tonieplay Tonies with a controller that’s available separately. Kids can guide characters, make choices that shape stories, and test their knowledge in fun minigames, all of which are activated just like any other Tonie. Pop the controller onto the light ring, press a button, and the adventure begins! These games are great for boosting hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, confidence, and decision-making, and many of them even lets kids team up with family or friends. All sticking to the Toniebox 2 brief – no screens, ads, or in-game purchases. Play today! Ultimately, the Toniebox 2 is a captivating way for your kids to experience stories and games, to feel empowered, and to celebrate the things that they really love. It's safe, it’s fun, and it really is an excellent way for children to learn, play, relax, and be entertained.

Tell us more about Tonies… These cool, collectible characters, which power the Toniebox 2, bring their various world’s alive in assorted ways. Book Tonies bring audio books of children’s classics ranging

from wild Roald Dahl tales to Dav Pilkey’s brilliant Captain Underpants (Tra-la-laaa!), while Adventure, Story

DYK?

The first collectible Pokémon cards didn’t take long to arrive, releasing the same year as the initial video games via Japanese vending machines.

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