The 10 Best Robotic Pets
Special Honors
I Robot Puppy Dog A futuristic-looking toy that will please the young canine fan in your life, the I Robot Puppy Dog is available in blue or pink and is programmed to walk, sit, bark, and even dance. It runs on three AA batteries, which are not included, unfortunately. walmart.com
Barbie Pets Walking Puppy From one of the most recognizable names in toys comes the Walking Puppy, which features a leash that makes it possible for your child to actually "walk" their new pet. Additionally, several colorful bows and barrettes are included to accessorize the pooch. target.com
UBTech UnicornBot Kit Parents looking for a toy that offers educational as well as entertainment value will appreciate this toy. It's intended to be constructed by the user, so kids can experience the satisfaction of building something all on their own. Though the building process is a little bit too complicated for children under the age of eight. bestbuy.com
Editor's Notes
July 23, 2020:
The Zoomer Dino has been removed due to complaints about malfunctions, and the WowWee Chippies was taken off the list due to availability issues. In place of those two toys, the Advanced Play Dinosaur and Fisca Dog have been added, the former because of its realistic design and eight distinct roar sounds, and the latter for its remarkable sensitivity to voice commands. The top spot on the list is now occupied by the Robo Alive Zuru, which is quite affordable considering its durable construction and long battery life. The Zoomer Hedgiez has been demoted to tenth place, despite its cute appearance, as some users report the toy is prone to shutting off spontaneously. If your kiddo is more into the technical aspects of robotic toys than their physical likeness to cute animals, you might consider a remote control robot as a gift instead.
January 11, 2019:
We've come a long way from the early days of animatronic pets, when the best you could hope for was a chance to impress your friends and maybe scare the bejeebers out of a living, breathing animal (or younger sibling) before the batteries died. The novelty of those fuzzy automatons wore off quickly, and many a jumping, yipping robotic dog met its end when a parent found it languishing in a remote corner somewhere with corroded batteries—and threw it out. With the development of artificial intelligence and ever-more-sophisticated locomotion technology, these robotic pets can not only move around and make noise, they can also engage a variety of lively interactions, using sensors and servos to respond realistically to their surroundings, voice commands and touch. With the addition of customizable programming, they can also "learn" to perform new tricks and engage in competitions with their robot fellows.