Smart Globe Explorer AR is a brilliant globe that is packed full of 2.5 hours of educational fun and gives the adventurers access to a wealth of information about continents, capitals, populations, geography, culture and more. Not only that, it also takes young adventurers on a journey of planet Earth and the Solar System utilising the latest Augmented Reality technology.
To unlock themselves into a 3D Augmented Reality featuring landscapes, animals, landmarks and even dinosaurs, it requires a tablet or smartphone to download the free app via App stores or Google Play, but this optional as the globe works without the app.
This Smart Globe Explorer AR comes with a Smart Learning pen (Rocket), USB cable and instructions. On the side of the globe’s base, it has a sliding drawer (with local map that includes a more detailed look at the United Kingdom and Ireland). Open the drawer box and put on a flat surface. Then push the button on the top of the globe to release the globe. Open the globe to reveal the Earth’s core and the Solar System and place it on your sliding drawer. Also, do note that the activating code can be located here if you are using the app as you need to scan it when you first log in. You can activate the app on up to five smart devices.
The wireless Smart Learning pen has a built-in battery and it takes about 2 hours to charge. Do remember to turn off the pen to save power. When the power is low, the LED will flash red. You can control the volume of the speakers on the side of the pen and use it with headphones. This cleverly designed pen sits neatly behind the globe. The pen is easily updatable through a PC via the USB cable ensuring you will be kept up to date with real word changes including leaders, news and other interesting facts (1 year’s updates included).
This Smart Globe comes with 42 built-in activities in 2 languages (English and French), with more languages available for download from the website. There are three age settings: 5 to 8, 9 to 14, and 15+. You can play up to four players.
This is a well-made political globe with colourful design which allows you to rotate 360 degrees. It has a solid and sturdy base. The countries are all in capital letters, which are easy to spot. But for younger children, they might struggle to read capital letters as they are unable to process capital letters as well as older children or adults, so you may need to help them to read some countries.
Using this globe with or without the app is very straightforward. Both of my children are able to explore the globe without my help and they are already starting to learn all sorts of facts! The disadvantage of this, is that once you fail to select the correct answers for three times, it won’t tell you the right answer and skip to the next question.
Watch this video where I show you in more detail: https://youtu.be/x_avThgqL_Y
We really enjoy using this Smart Globe to expand our knowledge and this globe will grow with us even when we are older. Given the excellent quality of the globe, this should last for a long time. It would make a great Christmas or birthday gift. They have a range of globes that would suits the budget: Starry – 2 in 1 Day and Night Globe, Adventure AR, Infinity + and Discovery. They are available now from www.oregonscientific.co.uk, Amazon, Argos iExtra, Hamleys and Rymans stores.
Here are some of the Smart Globes from Amazon:
- Explorer AR
- Starry – 2 in 1 Day and Night Globe
- Adventure AR
- Infinity +
- Discovery
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however all thoughts and opinions remain our own. We have included an Amazon affiliate link to the product. If you click on this and buy, we may earn a small commission.