Our Review of the LeapPad Ultra

The LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra is a 7″ tablet aimed at children and it is the latest in LeapFrog’s LeapPad range of educational tablets, which is the second range of products with the LeapPad name. The new range was first released in 2011. The Ultra has been extensively kid tested, which including dropping it, to make it as resistant as possible to damage, and it comes in green and pink. LeapFrog also manufacture carrying cases in green and purple to protect the tablet even more thoroughly when travelling.

The Ultra comes with 8GB of internal hard drive storage, a 7″ 1024×600 pixel backlit light touch screen, making it very sensitive so that it can easily pick up a child’s handwriting, a speaker, microphone and headphone jack enabling headphones or external speakers to be plugged in, and a stylus for writing on the screen which can be tethered to the tablet. It has two 2 MegaPixel cameras, one front facing and one rear, which can take pictures as well as 480 pixel resolution videos. The tablet can also be connected to a computer with an included USB cable, enabling various tasks to be carried out on it using LeapFrog’s free LeapFrog Connect software which can be downloaded for PC and Mac. Some content can also be transferred to and from the tablet and computer.

The LeapPad Ultra has WiFi, enabling it to connect to the internet, as well as being able to play peer-to-peer games with other children using the built-in WiFi when two Ultra tablets are close to each other. The tablet also has a cartridge slot which is compatible with cartridges for the LeapPad range, as well as some made exclusively for the Ultra, and is cross-compatible with most, if not all, of the Leapster cartridges. The Ultra can also have apps installed on it, with eleven apps included in the price of the tablet, some of which are pre-installed, the others of which can be downloaded from LeapFrog’s App Center.

Will the LeapPad Ultra Connect to the Internet?

The Ultra has WiFi which does allow internet access using LeapFrog’s LeapSearch ability. LeapSearch enables your child to search over 1,000 LeapFrog approved websites, pictures and videos on the internet, including sites such as National Geographic Kids and PBS Kids. Each site is manually selected and approved by LeapFrog to ensure that it is kid safe and can help your child in an educational manner. The LeapPad Ultra does not allow unlimited internet access; instead, it limits access to only a select handful of websites aimed to benefit your child.

Does the LeapPad Ultra Have Access to Apps?

LeapFrog have an App Center which contains a variety of apps, with a stated total of over 800, that can be installed on the LeapPad Ultra, as well as up to two more compatible LeapFrog devices on the same parental account. These apps are all approved by the LeapFrog educator, and include a number of foreign language versions, in languages such as Spanish, German, French, Italian and Chinese, as well as games, interactive storybook, music, ebooks and creative apps. The apps will automatically adjust to your child’s educational level, which is set up in their profile on the tablet (multiple profiles can be set up), ensuring that they get content relevant to their level. The apps can be purchased in reduced price bundles, and there is a different app available every week at a discount. The apps are designed to be educational and interactive, as well as fun to use.

What Are the Parental Controls Like on the LeapPad Ultra?

The controls are very strong, some of the strongest around. On the internet, your child will only have access to LeapFrog’s list of approved content using LeapSearch, and the LeapSearch can also be disabled if desired. The only apps that can be downloaded are those from LeapFrog, which have all been approved as suitable by their educator, and which do not contain in-app advertising or purchasable consent. Access to the App Center can also be locked out using the parental controls. This is all to prevent your child coming across unsuitable content on the internet, something that is far too easy to do these days.

Summing Up the LeapPad Ultra

This is an educational tablet designed to help your child to learn, whilst in the process making it as fun and enjoyable as possible, not an entertainment tablet. The parental controls on the LeapPad Ultra are very strong, and only a small number of sites (about 1,000) that have been checked by LeapFrog can be visited on the internet using the kid-safe LeapSearch, access to which can be locked out using the parental controls. only LeapFrog apps can be used, and the apps have all been approved by an educator, and access to the App Center can also be locked, so your child will not be able to access inappropriate content or be exposed to unwanted in-app advertising or even be able to buy apps without your approval once enabled. There is also no in-app purchasing to be concerned about.

The LeapPad Ultra should not be confused with a regular Android tablet designed to access the internet and all the content it holds. Many sites do have inappropriate content, even YouTube, and it can be hard limiting exposure to such. This is not something to worry about with the Ultra. Instead, it is designed to be child-safe and educational, and this is where it excels. If you are looking for a tablet to help your child’s education, the LeapPad Ultra is definitely one to take a look at.

Find out more about the LeapPad Ultra.