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Gifts for 8 year old boys
Eight is the age of first gadgets and real challenges: a beginner drone, a science kit, an RC car, a kids' smart watch. Check the age mark before buying LEGO Technic, because most sets are marked 9+ or 10+.
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Best beginner drone
1. Korffe Mini Drone
6-12 years · One-button take-off and landing, 3 speeds · 3 rechargeable, about 10 minutes each
A beginner drone gives an eight-year-old a real skill to learn, with one-button take-off and landing and three speeds to work up through. The listing names ages 6 to 12 and includes three batteries at about 10 minutes of flying each. Korffe is not a known name, and crashes come with learning, though the listing includes eight wings so a broken one can be swapped.
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Best science kit
2. Galt Horrible Science Explosive Experiments
Volcano, rocket parts, slime powder, food colouring · 8
Volcanoes, slime and a rocket are the right sort of science at eight: messy, loud and easy to show off. Galt's kit has eight experiments and is part of the Horrible Science range based on the Nick Arnold books. Eight experiments go quickly, so set it up at the kitchen table with an adult nearby and make an afternoon of it.
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Best for garden battles
3. Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander RD-6
8+ · 12 included · Up to 27 metres · 6-dart rotating drum
Nerf marks this blaster 8+, so eight is the first age it is meant for. It has a six-dart rotating drum, slam fire and comes with 12 darts. Foam darts vanish into hedges fast, so a refill pack is worth adding.
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Best first gadget
4. clleylise Kids Smart Watch
18 · Alarm clock and torch · Camera, step counter, sleep tracking
A watch with games, a camera, a step counter and an alarm is a gadget an eight-year-old can own without needing a phone. The listing lists 18 games, sleep tracking and a torch. It mentions no calls, messages or GPS, so it will not help you keep in touch with them.
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Best remote control car
5. SZJJX 2WD Off-Road RC Car
80ft · 15km/h+ · 2 rechargeable, 30+ minutes
Quick enough to be a thrill on the grass without being a hobby car that needs repairs. The listing gives a top speed of 15km/h, two USB-rechargeable batteries for more than 30 minutes and an 80ft control range. It is two-wheel drive, so it is less capable on rough ground than a 4WD car.
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Best for football fans
6. Amazing Tour Football Rebounder
Powder-coated steel · 5 positions · Folds flat
A rebound net gives a football fan something to practise against when nobody else wants to play. The listing gives a powder-coated steel frame, five angle settings and a folding design. Put it where a missed shot will not end up in a window or next door's garden.
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Best stocking filler
7. EUTOYZ Kids Walkie Talkies
3-8 years · 81g each
Cheap walkie-talkies for the park, camping trips and games with friends. The title names ages 3 to 8, so they are at the top of their range here and suit a stocking more than a main present. The listing does not say whether batteries are included.
Nothing matches those filters. Try fewer filters, or search for a brand like "MSI" or "Crucial".
How we rank
Chosen from what is selling on Amazon UK in each category on the day we checked, inside the price cap, and only if it was in stock. Ordered by how useful the gift is to the person it is for, then price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
Prices are Amazon UK and eBay UK at the time we last checked; they move daily, so confirm on the retailer's page. We earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no cost to you. It never changes the order. More about how we work.