Whether you're holiday shopping for a kid or a tech loving adult stuck in the state of perpetual adolescence a remote control toy is a sure fire hit.
I'm Donald Bell and this top five I'm counting down is my favorite remote control toys that are new for the 2014 holiday season.
Starting things off at number five, the Hexbug Vex Series.
I think these qualify as an educational toy.
At least, you could spin it that way.
These are DIY snap together versions of Hexbug's greatest hits, including my personal favorite, the [UNKNOWN].
Prices range fro $50 to $90 you don't get that instant gratification of pre-assembled toys but it's a great option if your little nerd is more of a Lego proto engineer type.
At number four MiP by Wowwee this is a self balancing mini robot that responds gestures or can be controlled by an app.
Or even just roam around on it's own giving your pets and anxiety attack.
He's cute.
He can carry your drink.
He's $90, but it at least gets you in the ball park of your own personal R2-D2.
[NOISE] For number three, I'm going with the PowerUp!
3.0.
Using a lightweight motor and a Bluetooth connection, PowerUp!
keeps an ordinary paper airplane up in the air for minutes.
And steers it around using an app.
It's $50 and you need a big open space to appreciate it, but come on.
An app controlled paper airplane?
That's awesome.
Coming in at #2 the Sphero Ollie.
It sorta looks like a motorized can of soup, but it's really cool.
You can race it around using your phone as a simple remote.
Or turn your phone sideways for a set of stunt controls that makes the whole thing go nuts.
It's not cheap at $99.00 but it's extremely portable and the battery charges over USB.
Which brings us to the number one new remote control toy on my personal 2014 wish list.
The Parrot Minidrone Jumping Sumo.
This guy is controlled by your phone over wi-fi for extended range and is blessed with two super powers.
First is the power to jump into the air.
Second is the power to spy using an embedded video camera that streams to your phone.
Now it's a little pricy at $160, but being able to navigate this thing around with a floor eye view and scare the crap out of people by jumping up at them.
That just sounds like.
So there you go.
Five new remote control toys for 2014 that make me feel like a kid again.
For more gift ideas visit www.cnet.com/holiday-gift-guide and for more top fives like this, www.top5.cnet.com.
I'm Donald Bell, thanks for watching.
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