Osmo is one of the rare edtech products that actually delivers on its promise. The augmented-reality setup—physical pieces recognized by the iPad camera—feels genuinely magical to kids, and the games are thoughtfully designed to build real skills in reading, math, coding, and art. Parents love that it's ad-free, purchase-free, and comes with a companion app that tracks usage and suggests offline activities.

The downsides are practical: you need a compatible tablet, the initial setup can be annoying, and the upfront cost is real (though the quality justifies it). Older kids will outgrow the core games unless you keep buying expansions. But for families with preschool-through-early-elementary kids who want screen time that's genuinely educational and hands-on, Osmo is a standout.