Dancing Talking Cactus A plush cactus toy that talks, sings, dances and lights up
Overview
Years ago, I had a dancing Coca-Cola can that moved whenever music was playing. Looking back, it was one of the coolest toys I had. Pretty sure it's still somewhere in the attic or storage room.
What brought back the memory? I recently ran into a very similar toy that dances and sings to music or sound. This time, it's a dancing cactus. And on top of that, it can actually talk and repeat what you say.
A bit of nostalgia kicked in, so I looked it up online and saw it everywhere, and it's really cheap. I decided to order one to see if this little gadget still has that same magic, or if it's just cheap fun.
Product details
The Dancing Talking Cactus is a soft plush cactus toy that comes to life with sound. It dances to the rhythm of music, sings a good variety of songs, some of them even familiar, and repeats what you say. It also lights up with a steady, uniform yellow light.
It is simple to operate. There is an on/off button on the bottom, and two buttons at the bottom of the front: one plays music and moves between the songs, and the other controls recording. In recording mode you do not need to press anything, and it simply repeats what you say. If you press the recording button, it plays back what was said again and again. The recording lasts up to 15 seconds.
The version I tested runs on regular batteries, 3 x AA at 1.5V. There is also a version with a built-in battery, which this review does not cover. The unit I tested is 32 cm tall and weighs about 200 g without batteries, with PP cotton filling.
This page is based on the specific unit I tested. Because this is a generic product sold by different sellers, the details, the quality of the materials and the build may vary. Some models are sold with extra design or accessories, such as with or without a hat, with or without a rattle, or with a flag or symbols of a certain country. Sometimes they are sewn into the design and sometimes they are separate. I am perfectly fine with the basic, original version, but I definitely got the impression that the options here are endless.
Specifications
Physical
| Height | 32 cm |
| Filling | PP cotton |
| Weight | About 200 g (without batteries) |
Features
| Music | Built-in songs |
| Lighting | Built-in light, a uniform yellow/bright color (may vary between versions) |
| Recording | Repeats what you say, up to 15 seconds |
| Controls | On/off button on the bottom, plus two buttons at the bottom of the front: one plays music and one controls recording |
| Power | 3 x AA batteries, 1.5V (reviewed unit)Rechargeable 1.2V batteries did not work in my unit. |
Inside the box
Pros
Plays A Good Selection Of Songs It plays all kinds of songs, some of them even familiar, and it is not bad at all. The selection is surprisingly large.
Affordable It is not expensive at all, depending on where you buy it. This is a product that is not supposed to cost much, and a version with regular batteries costs less.
A Fun Decoration I put it on the shelf and it works as a cool decorative item in my office that I play with now and then.
Built-In Light The toy lights up with a steady, uniform yellow light. It is nice and charming, though not amazing.
Battery Options There are versions with regular batteries or with a built-in battery. Mine uses regular batteries.
Cons
Limited Control Over The Music The music button just moves between songs, so you cannot really tell which song you will land on. Since the selection is large, I would have been happy to control the music from an app.
The Speaker Is Basic You can understand what it says and sings, and for the money it is forgivable, but it does not meet the definition of quality sound. Better sound could upgrade the product, although there is also a charm in the simplicity and the low quality.
Unclear Durability Of The Fabric It is not clear how durable the stitching and the fabric that wraps the unit are, and how well they will hold up over time.
Stickers On The Buttons The buttons are covered with stickers, so if you press them too much, they will probably peel, tear or wear out at some point.
Overall Verdict
The Dancing Talking Cactus is a very likable product. It simply makes me laugh every time again. I put it on the shelf, and it serves as a cool decorative item in my office that I play with now and then.
For kids, I think it can be a fun and inexpensive gift that will make them happy and keep them busy. The ads show toddlers, but I think it can suit a wide range of ages. If it is meant for babies or toddlers, just make sure all the parts are in place and that there is no risk of swallowing or falling apart. It is also not clear how well the fabric, the stitching and the stickers on the buttons will hold up over time.
As for pets, whether they will like it is subjective. I have a parrot, the OVR Bird you probably know from my videos, who talks and likes to play with dolls. He was less into the dancing cactus, because he simply does not know how to react to it.
A very likable and inexpensive dancing and singing cactus that works as a fun gift or a decoration on the shelf. Just do not expect quality sound, and it is not clear how well it will hold up over time.
Where to buy
Below are links to purchase the Dancing Talking Cactus (or similar models):
Photos
FAQ
Does it run on batteries?
Does it light up?
Can it repeat what I say?
Does the Dancing Talking Cactus come in different versions?
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