For those who’ve been playing along at home, my status as the “cool aunty” makes up approximately 95 per cent of my identity. Which means that when Christmas rolls around, the pressure to impress my 2 and 7 year old nephes is very real. Last year’s gift – a Toniebox – was a runaway hit. Beloved by the kids. Quietly applauded by the parents. Hard to beat. So when December started creeping closer, and expectations were… high, the solution felt obvious. If you can’t outdo a Toniebox, you upgrade it. Enter: the Toniebox 2.
If you’re new to the Tonie universe, here’s the quick explainer. The Toniebox is a soft, squishy, screen-free audio cube that plays stories, songs and educational content when kids place magnetic figurines — known as Tonies — on top. No screen. No endless scrolling. And, no post-iPad meltdowns. Just imagination-led listening that kids can control entirely on their own.
The original Toniebox earned its cult status for good reason. It was simple, durable and genuinely useful — the rare toy that didn’t end up abandoned after a week. The Toniebox 2 keeps everything that worked and quietly fixes the things parents grumbled about in the background.
The most immediate win is the charging situation.. The fiddly dock is gone, replaced by universal USB-C charging, which means no frantic hunts for a proprietary cable when bedtime is looming. Small change, big impact.
There’s also a new LED light ring that subtly shows what the box is doing — playing, charging or winding down for sleep. It doubles as a soft night light and even acts as a sunrise alarm. In real-life parenting terms this translates to calmer bedtimes and fewer “it’s still dark outside” wake-ups.
Design-wise, it’s still that familiar soft-edged cube, now slightly sleeker with rounded corners and a more refined feel. Crucially, it remains gloriously indestructible. This is a toy designed to survive enthusiastic toddlers, accidental drops and being carted from bedroom to lounge room on a daily basis.
The biggest upgrade, though, is Tonieplay — a new range of interactive, screen-free games. Instead of just listening, kids can make choices, answer questions and become part of the story using a simple dial-and-button controller. Think Paw Patrol rescue missions, Winnie the Pooh scavenger hunts and Disney quizzes — all without introducing a screen into the mix.
It’s particularly brilliant for kids who are starting to outgrow passive storytelling. Tonieplay adds just enough interaction to keep them engaged while still encouraging listening, problem-solving and imagination. Once downloaded, everything works offline, making it equally handy for travel, quiet time or winding down before bed.
Another thoughtful evolution is the expanded age range. While the original Toniebox was best suited to kids aged three and up, the Toniebox 2 is designed for children from one year onwards, thanks to the introduction of My First Tonies — larger, softer, squeezable figurines made for tiny hands and early learning. One box, years of use.
And yes, existing Tonies still work on the Toniebox 2, so families don’t have to rebuild their collection from scratch. Parents can also manage content and volume via the updated app — ideal for those moments when you’re across the room pretending not to hover.
Is it cheap? Considering that forking over $30 for avo toast is a fairly standard rate, then a starting price of $209.95 for a Toniebox 2 (+ optional Tonieplay add-ons), sounds fairly reasonable.
As for my cool aunty credentials? Safe for another year. If last year’s Toniebox set the bar, the Toniebox 2 quietly clears it — no flashing lights required.
