Disclosure: This product was sent to us free of charge for the purpose of this review. However, as per my PR Info page, this review represents our honest opinion of the product. This post may contain affiliate links.
Product: Disco Ball Wristband – Light up the Room
Price: £14.99
Age Range: 5-15 years
Manufacturer’s Description: Create a disco anywhere with this clever gadget! Measuring 5cm, simply pop it on your wrist with the adjustable smooth silicone strap and bring the disco with you. The dome casts a pattern of colourful light, with red, green and blue flashing LEDs. Explore through the three different settings, from pulsing to beat activated! Rechargeable via USB and perfect for parties, this wristband is truly cool. Get your groove on!
Rating: (3/5 stars) Review: Wicked Uncle sent this disco wristband over for Lydia to try out, and she thinks it’s a fun little sensory toy. Ideal for children’s parties, this portable disco light wristband would make a great gift for any child who loves to hit the dance floor. Inside the attractive, slightly retro-style box, you get the wristband, a charging cable, and an instruction sheet. The wristband charges via USB-C (hooray!), and the instructions advise fully charging it before first use. This brings us to the first stumbling block: there’s no indicator to show that it’s charging when plugged in. It’s not as though it already has built-in LEDs that could light up to indicate charging or anything… oh wait, yes it does! The silicone wristband is very reminiscent of a sport-style Apple Watch strap and is just as comfortable. You can even slide it off and replace it with a large-size Apple Watch-compatible strap. However, neither the included strap nor a replacement locks into place like an actual Apple Watch strap, so it doesn’t feel especially secure. It fits Lydia’s wrist nicely while also being just long enough for me to wear. Because the rigid plastic section is quite large, it may feel a little bulky on a younger child’s wrist, although the strap does tighten enough to keep it secure. As for the “disco ball” itself, it lights up brightly and throws light around effectively through the faceted plastic dome. The coloured LEDs combine and flash to create a variety of effects. The wristband itself is all black, which feels a little plain for younger children, though it may appeal more to older tweens and teens. There are three LEDs in the centre of the dome—one red, one green, and one blue. Around the inside edge of the hemisphere are smaller LEDs, alternating between the three colours, with five of each in total. With 18 LEDs altogether, there are plenty of possible light combinations and patterns for the wristband to cycle through. That said, only the three central LEDs really project light outward from the “disco ball,” while the outer LEDs mainly illuminate your hand and wrist. The box and instructions claim there are three modes, and it’s simple enough to operate: a long press turns it on or off, while a short press cycles through the modes. All three modes seem to have the same (or very similar) edge-light patterns, while the central LEDs behave differently. Mode one “jumps” between the LEDs—first one at a time, then two at a time. Mode two flashes them all on and off together. Mode three is sound-activated, with the central LEDs flashing in response to loud noise, making it ideal for music and parties. While testing it, we discovered it appears to remember the last mode used when turned off and on again. However, working out which mode you’re currently on can be a bit of trial and error, as you have to cycle through them to check. There are a few oddities with this fun little gadget. On the back of the plastic housing is what appears to be a sensor hole (like you’d find on a fitness band), filled with foam and covered by a sticker similar to black electrical tape. Presumably the manufacturer uses the same housing for another product—perhaps a fitness band—or for an accessory such as a suction cup attachment. It feels a little strange, but aside from these quirks, the build quality is decent and the wristband is fairly comfortable to wear. Overall, it does what it’s meant to do: it’s a fun sensory gadget that would certainly keep young disco fans entertained at their next party. It’s light enough not to weigh your wrist down and bright enough to throw colour onto the ceiling. I do think £14.99 is a little expensive, however, especially when you can find sets of four similar wristbands with more colourful casings and straps for around the same price elsewhere online. We give it three stars.
