Tech-heavy toys press the right buttons this Christmas

Electronics have stolen the limelight this Christmas, with hot toys coming with smartphone and tablet features, according to the city's biggest toy retailer.

Toys 'R' Us (Asia) managing director Pieter Schats said technological advances had helped revolutionise conventional toys, rather than squeezing the industry out.

For example, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 for children combines education and entertainment, while a robotic hamster or owl-like Furby can be fed via a smartphone application, and remote-controlled helicopters or cars come with lighter batteries and more intelligent printed circuited boards.

"I don't think toy retailers are scared of technology, but are embracing it," Schats said. "It's better to give tablets specifically designed for kids for learning, playing games and interacting with parents and peers while parents can set a timer to avoid over use.

"This is better than letting kids play with adults' smartphones or tablets, which they may use to browse some internet content they are not supposed to."

Toys 'R' Us in the region is a joint venture owned 30 per cent by Fung Retailing and 70 per cent by Toys 'R' Us of the United States. Fung Retailing, a private company of the families of Victor Fung Kwok-king and brother William Fung Kwok-lun, has been rumoured to be seeking a listing since last year.

A traditional peak season for toy retailers, Christmas sales growth at the 15 Toys 'R' Us outlets in Hong Kong could be in the "mid-single-digits" this year, Schats said, after "low double-digit" growth last year.