Although there are many other choices of tablet on the market and the LeapPad 3 will not resemble an iPad in any way, this is clearly reflected in the price of the tablet which is less than $100.
The LeapPad 3 is not without its problems though, mainly the tablet not turning on which we will address in this article. Then we will take a look at the LeapPad 3 in more detail.
Known Problems with the LeapPad 3
Unfortunately for the LeapPad 3 it is has known issues and you may experience any one of a number of problems. One of the most complained about issues is the tablet not turning on which is the main focus of the article.
If you are experiencing problems with the LeapPad 3 not turning on, one of the first things to do initially is go through a number of troubleshooting steps.
LeapPad 3 won’t Turn On – Troubleshooting Steps
1. Is the Battery Dead?
If you have used the LeapPad for an extended period of time the battery may have died. At this point, it is recommended to fully charge the device. When you connect the tablet to a wall charge a battery symbol should clearly be visible on the screen to show that the tablet is charging.
You can also use the USB port to connect it to a computer for a full charge and you should still see the battery symbol on the screen. When connected to the wall charger a full charge should take about 4 hours and about 7 hours when connected to a PC.
If your device is not charging and you do not see the charge symbol you will then need to move on to the next step.
3. The Cable is Worn Out
It is recommended to perform a visual inspection of your charging cable. Are there any signs of excessive wear or fraying? Does the cable look worn out? Before moving on to the next step you may wish to replace the cable to rule an issue with it.
4. The Battery Will Not Re-charge
If the battery will not recharge for whatever reason it is highly likely that the battery is damaged and it may need replacing. To replace the battery, it is recommended that you contact Leapfrog or an authorized repair shop. Be sure to check the warranty.
5. Motherboard is Damaged
If you have been able to establish that the battery is fully functioning and the device will still not switch on, it is likely that there is a problem with the motherboard. If that is the case then your LeapPad 3 will need a motherboard replacement. Again, it is recommended to get in touch with Leapfrog or an authorized repair shop.
About the LeapPad 3
The LeapPad 3 tablet is rugged and strong although a case is still recommended. The items on the tablet are easy and intuitive to navigate, especially for smaller hands. LeapPad 3 uses picture labeling for navigation which makes it great for children to be able to use the tablet independently.
Set up of the tablet is super quick especially for busy parents. All that is required is to enter some details like the child’s age, connect to Wi-Fi and then load up a few apps for learning. The whole process takes minutes to get up and running.
One great feature of the LeapPad 3 is the ability to set up different profiles. This is great if you have different children at home that want to use the same tablet, that is of course if your children are willing to share.
Each profile you set up on the tablet will include the child’s age, achievements, preferences and reading ability.
Something which is new for the LeapPad 3 is a safe internet search feature. This is great for allowing children to browse the internet unsupervised as all of the content is kid focused and safe. If you prefer the internet search option completely turned off, then that can be achieved with just a few clicks.
As with previous products from LeapFrog the main emphasis in on education. Songs on the tablet assist with reading comprehension, as well as games focused on learning maths and science with a lot of encouragement along the way.
Extra Expenses
The LeapPad 3 tablet comes bundled with a free app, however, if your child gets bored of that, then be prepared to shell out anything up to $20 for a new one.
Paying $20 for an app on a kid’s toy is a little bit expensive and you could see the costs mount. The problem is that with kids being kids they are going to want new apps on a regular basis and it won’t be such an easy task to say no.
On a positive note, all the apps are of a high quality and are very educational. Therefore, paying for a select few will not be such a bad investment.
Also provided on the LeapPad 3 are 2 cameras, one on the front and one on the back. Don’t expect the quality of the camera to be of iPhone quality, in fact when used in low light or indoors the quality is pretty poor to the say the least. With that being is said the tablet is aimed at children and not photography enthusiasts.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the LeapPad 3 is a fantastic learning aid for children. If you are experiencing an issue with the LeapPad 3 not turning on, be sure to follow all of the troubleshooting steps above as it could be just something as simple as the cable not working or perhaps even the USB port of the computer has failed.
