Why the LeapPad couldn’t survive the iPad
The Verge's podcast 'Version History' explores the rise and fall of the LeapPad, an iconic educational toy that struggled to compete with the versatility of the iPad. The episode examines the intersection of educational technology and consumer hardware evolution.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the rapid disruption of specialized educational hardware by general-purpose mobile computing devices.
For multiple years, the hottest toy in the United States was a book. But not just any book: a smart book that could play sounds and respond to taps and help kids learn to read. However, buying it came with a high price and big parenting questions.
On the next episode of Version History, David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Andru Marino and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to explain how the LeapPad worked, why it was so enticing to both kids and adults, and why the company that made it could never quite follow it up.
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