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PlayShifu Orboot Earth Review: An AR Globe That's Only as Good as Your Tablet

PlayShifu's Orboot Earth is a globe you point a tablet or phone at rather than spin and read. The 10-inch globe is dotted with markers, and the free Orboot app uses the device's camera to bring up animals, monuments, cultures, cuisines and weather over it, with quizzes and games built around more than 1000 facts. In the box there is also a passport, stamps and flag stickers. The globe is the easy part; the app and the device running it decide the experience.

By Athena, Home & Family Editor Published September 27, 2026 Updated September 27, 2026
4.1Our score
PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 2 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 3 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 4 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 5 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 6 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 7 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 8 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 9 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 10 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 11 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 12 PlayShifu Globe for Children – Orboot Earth: Interactive Kids Globe with 1000+ Facts on Animals, Places & Monuments | Tech-Powered Learning Toy & STEM Gift for Kids Ages 4–10, view 13
Product gallery, 13 images
$91.98 Check price on Amazon

Prices shown were correct on September 27, 2026 and change frequently.

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the PlayShifu Orboot Earth Worth It?

Everything that makes this globe special lives in a free app, so the device you own matters more than the globe itself. On a supported iPad, iPhone or Android device, pointing the camera at the 10-inch globe brings up animals, monuments and cultures, with games and quizzes built around 1000+ facts, and children from about four get hooked. On an unsupported or struggling device, tracking drops and the magic goes with it, and Amazon Fire tablets are not supported at all.

NoFussDeal rates the PlayShifu Orboot Earth 4.1 out of 5 at $91.98. Last updated September 27, 2026.

Key Facts

Base Material
Plastic
Item Weight
2.65 pounds
Finish Type
Matte
Item Diameter
10 Inches
Global Trade Identification Number
04501517003431
Release date
November 23, 2017

What Stands Out

  1. A 10-inch augmented reality globe that works with a free app on your own tablet or phone.
  2. More than 1000 facts on animals, places, monuments and cultures, plus quizzes, puzzles and games.
  3. PlayShifu pitches it at ages 4 to 10, building geography, memory and problem-solving skills.
  4. Comes with a passport, stamps, country flag stickers and a help guide for hands-on play.
  5. Works with recent iPads, iPhone 7 and newer, and Android devices with 3GB of RAM or more.
  6. Not compatible with Amazon Fire devices, and the tablet or phone is not included.

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

  • Rich, animated content on animals, places, food and culture that holds children's attention.
  • Grows with a child, from feeding animals as a toddler with help to quizzes for older children.
  • The passport, stamps and flag stickers add a hands-on side to the digital tour.
  • Some app games work without the globe, which suits car journeys.
  • A lightweight globe that one parent found survives rough handling by toddlers.
  • A popular gift for children who love animals and travel.

What does not

  • Useless without a compatible device, and Amazon Fire tablets are not supported.
  • App functionality draws more complaints than praise, including slow performance at times.
  • Some devices struggle to keep the camera locked on the globe's markers.
  • Value splits opinion, since much of what you pay for is the app experience.
  • Not every feature is available in other languages.
  • Learning happens on a screen, so it adds to screen time.

Features in Depth

01

Augmented Reality World Tour

Facts 1000+ Topics Animals, monuments, cultures, cuisines, weather Recommended Age 4 to 10

Point a compatible device at the globe and the Orboot app overlays animals, monuments, inventions, cultures, cuisines, country maps and weather onto the matching region. PlayShifu packs in more than 1000 facts, with mysteries, quizzes and coins to collect. The depth is the draw: a single region can open several topics, and children can feed animals and watch their reactions, which keeps younger ones engaged well beyond a first session.

$91.98 4.1/5 Check price
02

App and Device Compatibility

iOS Support Recent iPads, iPhone 7 and newer Android Support 3GB RAM or more Not Supported Amazon Fire devices

Everything depends on the free Orboot app and the device running it. PlayShifu lists recent iPads, the iPhone 7 and newer, and Android devices with 3GB of RAM or more, and excludes Amazon Fire devices. App functionality and compatibility draw more complaints than praise: the app can run slowly, and on some devices the camera struggles to hold its lock on the globe's markers. Download the app and check your device before gifting it.

$91.98 4.1/5 Check price
03

Globe, Passport and Sticker Kit

Globe Size 10 inches Finish Matte plastic Item Weight 2.65 pounds

The 10-inch plastic globe has a matte finish, which helps the camera read it without glare, and it is light compared with a traditional globe; one parent of toddlers found it holds up well to rough handling. The box adds a passport, stamps, country flag stickers and a help guide, so children can stamp and sticker each place they visit in the app. That physical side is a real part of the appeal for younger children.

$91.98 4.1/5 Check price
04

Age Fit and Screen Time

Target Age 4 to 10 Device Included No App Cost Free download

PlayShifu targets ages 4 to 10. Younger children can enjoy the animals and music with an adult holding the device, while the facts and quizzes suit early readers and older children. Because the learning happens on a screen, it is worth deciding up front how long sessions should run. Some games work without the globe, which makes the app travel-friendly, but the globe itself is designed to be used with the app.

$91.98 4.1/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on
The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating
4.4 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 27, 2026
How we score
We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Shifu Globe for Children. Eight things come up most in owner feedback: four draw praise and four draw mostly complaints. Its ratings average 4.4 stars (70% five stars, 14% four, 8% three and 8% one or two), so every score starts at 88, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read eight owner reviews in full, including the critical ones, and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.4 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Here that takes off 0.3, which gives 4.1. Read our editorial standards

Educational

Six of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 93: we started at 88 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

93Positive

Gift

Two of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 93: we started at 88 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

93Positive

Fun

Four of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 93: we started at 88 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

93Positive

App Functionality

Three of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. Two gave the product four or five stars and one gave it three or fewer. 16% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 88 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

76Needs Improvement

Compatibility

None of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. 16% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 88 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

76Needs Improvement

Functionality

None of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. 16% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 88 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

76Needs Improvement

Owner Satisfaction

70% of ratings are five stars and 14% are four. 8% are three stars and 8% are one or two. The spread skews positive, but enough ratings sit low that the drawbacks below are worth reading. One of the eight owner reviews we read gave it three stars or fewer. We look for the critical ones on purpose. Score 88: its 4.4 star average on a 100 point scale.

88Mostly Positive

Value for Money

Value for money opinions are divided between those who find it worth the money and those who say it's not worth the price. Three of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. Two gave the product four or five stars and one gave it three or fewer. 16% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 88 and took off 12 because it draw…

Read the full note (420 characters)

Value for money opinions are divided between those who find it worth the money and those who say it's not worth the price. Three of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. Two gave the product four or five stars and one gave it three or fewer. 16% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 88 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

76Needs Improvement

Specifications

Materials and warranty

Base Material
Plastic
Finish Type
Matte

Size and weight

Item Weight
2.65 pounds

Other specifications

Item Diameter
10 Inches
Global Trade Identification Number
04501517003431
Release date
November 23, 2017

What Buyers Say

It is praised as an educational, fun gift that sparks curiosity about animals, places and cultures, and the interactivity draws strong feedback. The complaints cluster around the app: functionality, compatibility with particular devices and value all draw more complaints than praise, from an app that runs slowly at times to devices that cannot hold the camera lock on the globe's markers.

Based on 17,827 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.4 out of 5, recorded 27 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars 70%
4 stars 14%
3 stars 8%
2 stars 3%
1 stars 5%
★★★★★

So much to discover, and so fun for everyone!

We got the Orboot for our (almost) 3.5 year old son. He is very interested in planets, animals, and dinosaurs, so this was the perfect interactive toy/game for him! It very easily syncs up t… Read it on Amazon
MeghanandCo · December 14, 2019 · Verified
★★★★★

Educational and fun - my kids love it

Our Orboot arrived this week, and I couldn't be happier. The recommended age is 4+, but it is a big hit with my twin 2.5-year-olds. Obviously, they can't use it without help, but once the ap… Read it on Amazon
Angelica Kajiwara · August 4, 2018 · Verified
★★★★★

Fun educational tool, that can hold a child’s attention.

Extremely cool product, a great educational toy/tool. Simply scan over any place in the globe and you will be told about; tourism, economics, animals and customs of that location in the worl… Read it on Amazon
JPG · February 2, 2026 · Verified
★★★★★

Great gift

This has been one of the most enjoyable gifts my son has received. It is very educational and entertaining. Would definitely recommend it. My son is only 4 and LOVES animals and dinosaurs. A… Read it on Amazon
Jeniffer R. · April 14, 2026 · Verified
★★★★★

Didáctico

Excelente, tiene opciones de cambiar el idioma pero no todas las funcionalidades están en otros idiomas. De todos modos es excelente producto
Rossina Gamba · September 4, 2026 · Verified
★★★★★

Globe

Great educational gift for kids easy to assembly
Albert Dixon · August 9, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

  1. Check your device

    Confirm your tablet or phone is supported: recent iPads, iPhone 7 or newer, or Android with at least 3GB of RAM. Amazon Fire devices will not work.

  2. Install the Orboot app

    Download the free Orboot app from your device's app store and open it once yourself before handing it to a child.

  3. Set up the globe in good light

    Place the globe where light is even and there is no glare, which helps the camera recognize its markers.

  4. Line up the stars

    Point the camera at the globe and line up the star on the globe with the star on screen to open that location's content.

  5. Add the passport

    Hand over the passport, stamps and flag stickers so children can record each place they visit.

Common Questions

Does Orboot Earth work without a tablet or phone?

No. The globe works through the free Orboot app on your own device, which is not included. Without the app, it is simply a globe.

Which devices are compatible?

PlayShifu lists recent iPads, the iPhone 7 and newer, and Android devices with at least 3GB of RAM. Amazon Fire devices are not compatible.

What age is it for?

PlayShifu aims it at ages 4 to 10. Younger children can enjoy the animals with an adult's help, while older children get more from the facts and quizzes.

What comes in the box?

A 10-inch globe, a passport, stamps, country flag stickers and a help guide.

Why does the app keep losing the globe?

AR tracking needs even light, no glare and a steady camera. If it still drops out, check that your device meets the compatibility list and that the app is up to date.

Can it be used in other languages?

The app offers language options, though not every feature is translated.

On Video

6 videos

PLAYSHIFU Orboot Earth Interactive Globe Review

The Holistic Hazelnut Reviews
All videos
  1. PLAYSHIFU Orboot Earth Interactive Globe Review The Holistic Hazelnut Reviews
  2. Shifu Orboot Globe from PlayShifu TTPM Toy Reviews
  3. PlayShifu Educational Globe for Kids - Orboot Earth (Globe + App) amrita mozumder
  4. PlayShifu Orboot | Augmented Reality Smart Globe Review | Travel the world with AR | Toy Unboxing KichaTube HD
  5. 🌍 PlayShifu Orboot Earth AR Globe Review | Perfect Christmas Gift #ad #amazoninfluencer Littlehomeshop LJ
  6. Orboot AR (playshifu) tutorial for virtual students Mr. D Science Dweeb

The Verdict

4.1Out of 5

Orboot Earth is an imaginative way to introduce young children to the world. On a compatible tablet, its animated animals, monuments, foods and cultures, 1000+ facts and quizzes make geography feel like exploration, and the passport and stickers add a physical side that younger children love. The catch is that almost everything depends on the app. Compatibility, app reliability and value all draw more complaints than praise, and on the wrong device the camera struggles to hold its lock on the globe, which is deeply frustrating for a child. Confirm your device is supported, set it up in good light and treat it as screen-based learning, and it is a memorable gift.

Who should buy it

  • Families with a compatible tablet
  • Children aged 4 to 10 who love animals, maps and travel.
  • Parents happy to use screen time for guided learning.
  • Homeschoolers looking for interactive geography.

Who should skip it

  • Households with only Amazon Fire tablets or older, low-memory devices.
  • Parents who want a screen-free globe with printed place names.
  • Buyers wary of paying for an experience that depends on an app.

A delightful AR globe on the right device and a frustrating one on the wrong device, so check compatibility before you buy.

Check price on Amazon

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