Our Review of the InnoTab MAX

The InnoTab MAX is the latest in the InnoTab range of educational tablets from VTech. It is a 7″ tablet that runs on Android 4.2.2. The case of the tablet is designed for children, rather than it simply being a regular tablet with a protective bumper added. Built into the tablet case are the following buttons: Volume increase/decrease, menu, help, back, home and D-pad. These buttons allow many basic tasks to be performed by simply pressing the appropriate button on the tablet. The InnoTab MAX also has a cover, which can be used to protect the screen, as a stand for the tablet, or it can be removed completely. There is also a stylus, which is attached by a string to the case, and which has a housing to fasten it into on the rear of the tablet. The MAX comes in two colours, blue and pink.

It has 8 gigabytes (GB) of internal memory, which can be expanded to a total of 40GB by using memory cards of up to 32GB in the memory card slot. The tablet has a 1.4GHz Dual Core processor and it has a 1024×600 pixels multi-touch colour screen. The tablet has only one camera, whose resolution is 2.0 megapixels (MP), but this camera is swivel mounted and rotates through 180 degrees, so that it is both front and rear facing – or any direction between. For sound, the tablet has a speaker, as well as a headphone jack for plugging in headphones, as well as a built-in microphone.

The InnoTab MAX comes with WiFi connectivity, but it does not have Bluetooth. Other features are a micro-USB port, for charging the tablet and connecting it to other devices, such as desktop and laptop computers, a micro-HDMI port, which can be used to connect it to a television, and a cartridge slot. The cartridge slot is used for cartridges in the InnoTab Cartridge Library. It is possible to watch streaming videos, as long as these are on sites that have been approved by parents or VTech.

The InnoTab MAX comes with 18 apps, which includes two free apps that can be downloaded from the VTech Learning Lodge, as well as the sixteen standard apps. Registering the tablet will get you another free app, either Toca Lab or Toca Pet Doctor. The tablet is intended for children aged 3-9 years; older children may well prefer a more standard Android tablet designed for children.

The quality of the camera resolution is pretty standard, and is certainly adequate for most photographic and video uses a child will have. The tablet will also play music and videos. Adding a memory card will greatly increase the amount of storage available for these.

Will the InnoTab MAX take Older InnoTab Cartridges?

As well as newer ones designed for the tablet, the MAX will take most cartridges available for previous models in the InnoTab range, , although these will require a software update first, which is simply done by inserting the cartridge whilst the tablet is connected to the internet, selecting the cartridge icon from the screen, and downloading the updated program when prompted. The InnoTab MAX has a much higher resolution than previous InnoTab models, which is why they need updating. Not every cartridge is compatible, but most are. Only the updates for three cartridges can be stored on the MAX; updating more than that will overwrite older updates, although there is nothing to stop you from updating again, and overwriting other updates.

Does the InnoTab MAX Have Any Parental Controls?

There are a number of features that the MAX has to limit what your children can and cannot see or do on the tablet. The web sites they can visit are limited; children can only visit sites that are on the approved list. The basic list of approved site is determined by VTech; parents can add or remove sites from this list from the parental dashboard. With the only apps available being those from the VTech Learning Lodge, this is another level of control, as children do not have access to the full range of Android apps. Parents can also limit the amount of time that children spend on their tablet.

What Apps are Available for the InnoTab MAX?

Although the MAX is an Android tablet, it does not have access to the full range of Android apps around. Instead, there are over 650 age-appropriate apps available in the InnoTab library. These are handpicked and have been chosen for their educational value. These are divided into ages and learning levels, and include music, videos and books, as well as some content that is intended to personalise the appearance of the tablet.

What Are Kid Connect and Family Bulletin?

These are two communication apps for the MAX. Kid Connect, which requires a yearly subscription – one year is included in the tablet’s initial price – is a messaging app whereby children can communicate with other, approved, users. New friends and family can be invited to join, and the parent can manage what contacts the child is permitted. Smartphone apps for both Android and iOS allow a child to message family members, who probably don’t have an InnoTab MAX, making this work like other messaging apps, but only for approved users. There are group chat and multi-player game features in Kid Connect.

Family Bulletin is a group message board where family members can connect and share posts, such as photographs, greeting cards and messages. These two apps provide a social aspect without the worries of social media.

What Educational Uses does the MAX Have?

This is an educational tablet, with the available InnoTab cartridges and games designed for educational uses, rather than entertainment – although many can also be entertaining. Parents can monitor their child’s educational progress on the InnoTab cartridges, and there are a variety of educational Android apps available too. The educational content shows the recommended age range and grade for children. There are other uses that seem more entertainment oriented that also help improve a child’s education, such as the E-Reader, which comes with a dictionary, Art Studio and Movie Maker.

Summing Up the InnoTab MAX

The InnoTab MAX is an educational tablet, rather than a regular Android tablet. There are some entertainment facilities available, and more can be had by adding approved websites to the list of sites that can be visited, but it does not have the full range of access to apps of a regular Android tablet. Some of the content may be fun, as well as educational, but this is not a gaming tablet.

The tablet is more expensive than some similar, general purpose, children’s tablets, but the power of the processor is not bad, nor is the memory capacity. The lack of a second camera is made up for by the fact that the single camera does pivot, which, when it is used as a front facing camera, makes it higher resolution than that of many other tablets. The ability to increase the memory is useful, too.

The tablet is better designed from a hardware point of view when it comes to protecting it from damage, as it is built as a children’s tablet, not adapted from an adult’s tablet. The Android version is slightly higher than the average although, as it does not have access to normal Android apps, this is less of a benefit than it might be on another tablet.

The InnoTab MAX should only be purchased as an educational tablet, as it really isn’t suitable for other uses. It is also best for younger children, rather than older ones.

Learn more about the InnoTab MAX.