Consumer Reports expert testers checked them out, with a little help from some little helpers.
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The Spin Master Zoomer Chimp is a personality-filled robot who responds to voice commands in English or French. Unlike many robots he doesn't need a mobile device to work. But after about 20 minutes of play, the chimp needs an hour of re-charging.
The WowWee ChiP was popular but took some time to get the hang of. He responds to verbal commands, head taps, and signals from a wristband. ChiP is supposed to fetch a smart ball but one of the Consumer Reports models never mastered it even using the lengthy instructions that don't come in the box.
Sphero BB-8 was a favorite - a roly poly Star Wars bot, he's controlled by a mobile app that lets you steer him around obstacles, chirping and tweeting all the while.
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The Anki Cozmo robot charmed kids with fun games like Quick Tap and Keepaway, using little "power cubes." It's packed with technology, like facial recognition and a software-development kit so tech-minded kids can program him.
And if you're looking for a robot toy that grows with your child, check out Wonder Workshop's Dash. It has five age-appropriate apps - from simple movement and sound commands to showing tweens the fundamentals of coding.
Something to consider - Most of these robots are controlled by apps downloaded on your smartphone or a tablet. In other words your toys will become their toys. So plan accordingly.