Review: Classicbot is the perfect desktop mascot for Apple fans

The Classicbot Classic is an adorable little desktop figure designed after vintage Mac computers. It looked like the perfect mascot to any Mac-fan’s office set-up when we first caught a glimpse of it. Much to our surprise (and delight!), we recently had one show up in the mail so we could get up, close and personal with the cute little guy.

The new Classicbot Classic comes from Hong-Kong start-up Playsometoys which was founded by designer Philip Lee. After Classicbot was first unveiled at the 2016 Toysoul in Hong Kong under a different name, the company now appears to be looking to the future with an entire lineup of geek and computer culture-related collectible figures

Lee has “a soft spot” for product designs from the 1980’s/90’s and apparently for adorable little figures. The idea is to meld the two into what you see before you today with the Classicbot Classic. As of right now, the vintage Macintosh-looking bot is the only member in the lineup.

Now just to get it out of the way off the top here, Classic is just a toy figure. It has no technology packed inside, the screen is just a face and not a screen at all, and you can’t yell at it to order you a pizza. Well you can, but nothing will happen.

It’s a charming little 10-cm tall figure to throw up on your shelf in the office or to be used as the perfect little desktop mascot for Apple fans.

Classicbot can transform into two modes: fully assembled with arms, legs and even a suitcase. Or in Computer Mode, as the one-page instruction manual puts it, with the legs and arms detached completely. The legs snap off and the arms attach to the head of the figure using magnets and can easily be moved around in different positions. You can change his poses or make hilarious stop time animation videos of him dancing with other mini robots (highly suggested).

Classicbot is also accompanied by a small suitcase and the friendly little MouseBot (model G543lb), so he won’t get lonely when you’re not home.

They sell for about $27 plus shipping (varied by location), so we weren’t expecting much in the way of functionality or overall quality. Nonetheless, this thing is pretty solid and well built. The magnets attach well to the side of the body/head, but they could have been a little stronger considering the weight of the suitcase (if you put it in his hand) can drag the arm at times. While we would have liked to see it go for a little bit less, the look and feel of the retro Mac robot friend is priceless.

Oh and, Playsometoys also has some other designs in the works we would love to have on our shelves, like the iBot G3 seen above. You can see more right here.