Connetix tiles review: is this top toy for Christmas 2024 worth the premium price tag?

Price on writing: Sets from £29 | Buy now from Connetix | Buy now from Amazon | Buy now from John Lewis

What do Mumsnet users say

“We invested in a lot of connetix for my 2 year old at Christmas and it has been played with most days. It gets used with other toys- he especially likes when we make ramps and garages for his cars. It's fun for adults to muck about with too.” Brand recommended by Mumsnetter CauleyMacGlochlin

“Splurged on these (connetix) after a recommendation from a friend. Friend has 3 under 5 and these tiles are their most played with and most cooperative toy. My 3 year old plays with them almost every day [...] They're a versatile toy and worth the money imo.” Brand recommended by Babynameangst

“We love them- they are definitely our most played with toy by every age that visits. From building garages/houses that they then put figures in, to building patterns on the floor, to building mazes which we put hexbugs in to scuttle around.” Brand recommended by Elpheba

Our verdict

Magnetic tiles are a great way to fire up young imaginations, promoting creativity as well as essential STEM skills.

Predicted to be one of the best Christmas toys for 2024, Connetix magnetic tiles make a great gift for three-year-olds, and will also prove a hit with older siblings and parents too.

Made from scratch-resistant pieces in bright rainbow shades, Connetix uses non-toxic BPA-free plastic and strong and durable magnets that are safe and easy for children to put together without assistance. 

Although Connetix tiles are for kids aged three and up, older children can lose themselves creating more complicated builds. My five and seven-year-olds busied themselves making intricate patterns on the floor and building an elaborate space prison, via various castles, trains and garages. 

While it’s true that Connetix is on the expensive side, you do get a quality product and guaranteed hours of peace and quiet while your little one works on their latest creation - now that really is priceless.

Related: Don't miss our bespoke guides for kids of all ages: Best toys for 4-year-olds | toys for 5-year-olds | toys for 6-year-olds | toys for 7-year-olds | toys for 8-year-olds | toys for 9-year-olds | toys for 10-year-olds.

How we tested

My kids, aged five and seven, tested the 60-piece Rainbow Starter Pack and 50-piece Rainbow Transport Pack. 

The Rainbow Starter Pack comes with a range of seven different shapes, while the Rainbow Transport Pack contains seven different shapes, plus three wheeled transport bases.

Read next: Find out which came out on top of our list of the best tablet for kids as rated by Mumsnetters.

What to expect when opening Connetix tiles

Connetix tiles come wrapped in paper and packed neatly inside a solid cardboard box. When my kids opened up the starter pack, their first reaction was utter joy at the presence of window tiles, which had been lacking from the box of magnetic tiles that we already had at home.

The Connetix tiles were soon scattered all over the floor and my five-year-old went to work making intricate patterns, while my seven-year-old experimented with making different vehicles. A collaboration followed on a series of increasingly elaborate buildings. 

The Connetix came with a lovely little inspiration book, full of amazing creations and ideas of what we could build with our glossy sets of tiles. However, it soon became apparent that we needed more than the two sets that we had to make many of these, including what seemed like a pretty straightforward sailboat. 

The kids spent ages letting their creativity flow, but when it came to packing up, the magnetic tiles stacked up neatly for quick and efficient tidying.

Read next: Best dolls' houses for imaginative play

Connetix vs Magna-Tiles: Which one is best?

We already had a starter box of Magna-Tiles and as there is much debate on the Mumsnet forums about which is better, I decided to compare them.

It is easy to tell the difference between the two as Connetix tiles have an easy-grip bevelled-edge design while Magna-Tiles have an inner patterned lattice structure. As a result, the Magna-Tiles look a bit more 'industrial', and I don't feel that the colours 'pop' in the same way as the Connetix tiles. Connetix also has slightly larger magnets and the tiles feel sturdier than the Magna-Tiles. There is not a huge difference in the magnet strength, although Connetix may have a slight edge here.

If you buy a Connetix set but want to supplement it with a cheaper box of Magna-Tiles, you will be pleased to hear that the two can be used together, although we found they didn’t always sit flush.

Related: Best robot toys to make STEM learning come alive, as recommended by Mumsnetters

Are Connetix tiles good value for money?

Yes, I would say Connetix tiles are good value for money. Although the initial outlay may feel a bit on the pricey side, I feel it is worth it for a toy that gets played with again and again, according to Mumsnetters who have taken the plunge.

At the cheaper end of the range, is the Rainbow Mini Pack, which costs £29 for 24 tiles. If you would rather go the whole hog and get one big massive set, rather than starting small and building up a collection, then the Connetix Rainbow Mega Pack contains a whopping 212 tiles for £199, including six large hexagonal tiles plus every standard tile in every colour. There are also plenty of sets in between these two price points including the Pastel Mini Pack (32 pieces for £39), Rainbow Transport Pack (50 pieces for £75) and the Rainbow Creative Pack (102 pieces for £95). Connetix also do a fab ball run for £85 for 92 pieces, with plenty of extension packs available too. The possibilities really are endless.

All prices correct as of November 12th, 2024.

Read next: The best kids' bikes for all ages and stages

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers' guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.