Hey there, fellow parents!
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
I'm sure you're all singing along to that Beatles tune from 1966.
It's funny how it works - even if I've had an item bookmarked for ages, I'll still find a reason to buy it. The key to it all is closure.
That's exactly what happened with this quirky Chinese submarine that popped up in my Amazon recommendations while I was browsing for a gift for my kid. My son's got a bunch of interactive dogs, robots, a tank transformer, and remote-control cars (all courtesy of relatives on various holidays), but no submarine. So, when I spotted this little thing, I knew it was just what we needed.
And what's a gift without a bit of mystery, right? I couldn't find much in the way of reviews (except for some old blog post), and the price was steep - 5,000 rubles, to be exact. The listing I saw was pretty clear about that.
I didn't let that deter me, though. I dug deeper, searching for similar products from other sellers, and that's when the shock hit - the same thing was available on Yandex Marketplace for 8,000 rubles, and on AliExpress for 7,000 rubles, with other shops offering it for 4-5,000 rubles. Even now, in late January, the prices haven't changed.
After some quick thinking, I decided to keep an eye on the prices on AliExpress, especially considering this is a Chinese product. And, as it turned out, I was right to do so. I managed to snag this little gem for 2,000 rubles, but there are some nuances to that purchase that I should mention.
I don't remember what the estimated delivery time was on Ozon, but getting the package through Ozon Global wasn't exactly a speedy affair – it took around a month, roughly the same as I'd expect for any package from China.
xa0
But here's the important thing to note: if you're planning to gift this to someone (not your kid!), be prepared for it to arrive without the original packaging. It's a common thing with AliExpress, as they reduce shipping costs by minimizing packaging. The store optimizes their logistics by fitting more items into the postal conveyor belt.
xa0
When I opened the post office box, I was expecting a lot of packaging, but the submersible is tiny, weighs practically nothing, and the remote is featherlight, so it looked like there was nothing inside the packaging made of foam.
xa0
But to our luck, the package was complete!
xa0
Inside the box, I found the submersible, a charging cable, an instruction manual, and the remote control – all as it should be. The submersible charges via USB, and we decided to set it up and test it that very evening.
xa0
The submersible looks great, despite its small size, with all the details and construction well thought out. At times, you look at the construction and think it won't last long, but it seems this isn't the case.
The manufacturer claims it moves at a speed of 5-8 km/h and dives to a depth of up to 0.5 meters.
xa0
I'm not aware of any usage restrictions. In theory, it could work with any artificial or small body of water: pool, fountain, pond, aquarium, and of course, a bathtub. We only have a bathtub, which is exactly why we bought it.
xa0
The diving process is handled by the screws. As soon as you lower the boat into the water, a light indicator turns on. It's extremely quiet, with a very subtle background noise when lowering and lifting it.
xa0
I have to say, the remote control is incredibly intuitive, even a 4-year-old would figure it out. However, I'm an adult and I still manage to get the buttons mixed up when I get carried away.
xa0
The remote control is waterproof, which is a huge plus. Of course, I wouldn't intentionally submerge it in water (I'd be too nervous), but if it accidentally gets wet, it's fine. You can confidently get your hands wet and operate the submarine even with wet hands.
The kid was begging me to get in the water with the boat and the remote control at the same time, but I was too hesitant. I feel safer when everyone plays with electrical gadgets on dry land.
xa0
Two standout buttons in the center (up-down) control the submersible's dive and ascent. The others handle spatial orientation (forward-backward, left-right). It takes about 40 minutes to get used to the controls, given the 40 minutes of battery life.
xa0
And then there's the gameplay experience.
xa0
Initially, the left and right turns were a bit wonky for the first 5-10 minutes. We were worried that they just didn't work, but then something weird happened, and the controls stabilized.
xa0
The submersible dives and rises smoothly, without any hiccups. The compact space in the tub limits your movements, but when it gains speed and slices through the water, it's pretty cool.
xa0
Testing simultaneous movement with other toys wasn't great. Any barrier creates a significant obstacle, and it gets stuck in one spot. It's not very maneuverable and has trouble dodging or ramming into other objects.
xa0
We tried controlling it with the water turned on while the tub filled up. That was pretty cinematic, as it spun around in the water vortex and gave in to the motion, performing barrel rolls through the water. We even managed to capture some fun clips with the kid, set to music – it looked great!
xa0
I wouldn't say the kid was completely blown away by the gift, but it did seem to enjoy it, especially with some adult supervision. I think it would be even more engaging with another kid around, as there's plenty of room for creative storytelling. We're looking forward to testing it out in more adventurous settings come summer – a nearby river or a friend's private pool would be perfect. Any outdoor tub or pool would be a lot more exciting than a standard bathroom setup.
xa0
I'd definitely recommend this toy as a gift – it's sure to leave a lasting impression. Just make sure you don't overpay and find a sweet spot in terms of value for money. Honestly, if I had paid more than 4 thousand, I wouldn't have experienced the same level of excitement.
Intuitive remote control
Waterproof remote control
Smooth diving and rising motion
Compact size
Good value for money
Wonky controls at first
Not very maneuverable
Stuck in one spot with barriers
Rating: 4.5/5