The Sprout Channel Cubby and the iRulu BabyPad Y1 are both 7″ Android tablets designed to be used by children. Although the screens are the same size, the resolutions are different. The Cubby has a screen resolution of 1024×600 pixels, whilst the BabyPad’s resolution is only 800×400. Each comes with a protective silicone bumper intended to reduce the chances of the tablet being damaged if it is dropped, but the Y1’s bumper comes in a range of colours, whilst the Cubby’s only comes in green, and also protects more of the edges than that on the Cubby.
Both tablets are Android tablets, with access to the Android content and app ecosystem. The Y1 now runs Android 4.4 KitKat as standard, as does the Cubby. The internal memory on the Cubby is 16 gigabytes (GB), which is double the 8GB of the BabyPad. The available storage on each tablet can be expanded, as each has a micro SD card slot, capable of taking memory cards up to 32GB in size. Each tablet has a quad core processor.
Each tablet has stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack and an internal microphone. Both tablets have WiFi, but the Cubby also comes with Bluetooth, enabling it to wirelessly connect to other devices. Each has a micro USB port, used to connect to other devices and for charging, but the Cubby also has an HDMI port which can be used to connect the tablet to compatible televisions, and other suitable devices.
Both tablets have two cameras, one front facing and one rear facing, but those on the Cubby are far superior to those on the Y1. The Cubby’s cameras both have a resolution of 2.0 megapixels (MP), whilst those on the Y1 only have a resolution of 0.3MP each.
Each tablet has access to Google Play, although on the Cubby this can only be accessed outside of Cubby Mode. Each has parental controls, with those on the Y1 being provided by the Zoodles app and those on the Cubby coming with the tablet as standard. As well as the educational material that may be found on Google Play, the Cubby also comes with some other educational content as standard.
The Sprout Channel Cubby is superior technologically to the iRulu BabyPad Y1 in quite a few ways. The screen has better resolution, and so do the cameras, it has more means of connection, with Bluetooth and an HDMI port, and the internal memory is greater. The Y1 is cheaper.