Bilby vs Bilby Camera vs Bilby 2
There are three Bilbys now. They all run the same streaming apps and lock down the same way. What changes is the screen, the camera and the price. Here’s how to pick.
Checked 25 October 2026. Prices are in US dollars, with shipping and duties included.
TL;DR
Bilby
The original. A 2.8-inch screen, a headphone jack, two speakers and no camera, which plenty of parents and schools prefer. US$100.
Bilby Camera
The same pocket size, with a 5MP camera on the back for photos, HD video, filters and effects. US$140.
Bilby 2
A 4-inch screen, a 13MP camera, Android 13 and 32GB of storage. Wired earphones come in the box. US$240.
Side by side
Same points, same order, for each one.
Bilby
- Price — US$100, shipping and duties included
- Screen — 2.8-inch touchscreen
- Camera — None
- Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal
- Storage — 16 GB, plus microSD up to 128 GB
- Headphones — 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth, plus two speakers
- Battery — About 8 hours of music playback
- Size — About 66 grams, fits a pocket
- Controls — Android. Lock it to music with a free app like AppBlock
Bilby Camera
- Price — US$140, shipping and duties included
- Screen — 2.83-inch touchscreen
- Camera — 5MP photos and HD video, with filters and effects
- Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz
- Storage — microSD up to 128 GB
- Headphones — Bluetooth for headphones, speakers or the car
- Battery — 10 to 20 hours of playback (maker's rating)
- Size — 98 grams, fits a pocket
- Controls — Android 10. Same lock-down apps as the Bilby
Bilby 2
- Price — US$240, shipping and duties included
- Screen — 4-inch touchscreen
- Camera — 13MP photos and video
- Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Audible
- Storage — 32 GB, plus microSD up to 512 GB
- Headphones — Wired earphones in the box, Bluetooth, built-in speaker
- Battery — Over 20 hours of playback (maker's rating)
- Size — 110 x 60 x 10 mm, closer to a small phone
- Controls — Android 13. Same lock-down apps as the Bilby
Which one should you buy?
Get the Bilby if…
It’s mostly about music and audiobooks. It’s the smallest, the cheapest, and the one with a proper headphone jack. No camera also means one less thing to argue about.
Get the Bilby Camera if…
They keep asking to borrow your phone to take photos. It’s the same size as the Bilby, with a camera for the dog, the campsite or the view out the car window.
Get the Bilby 2 if…
They’re a bit older, or they’ll use it for more than music. The bigger screen is easier for reading, videos and typing in a search, and the camera is the best of the three.
When to skip the camera
Two reasons to stick with the original Bilby:
School rules
Plenty of schools don’t allow devices with cameras. If it’s going in the school bag, check first. The original Bilby doesn’t have one.
Younger kids
A camera means photos to manage and one more thing to keep an eye on. For a five or six-year-old who just wants their songs, the original is simpler.
Questions parents ask
Do they all run the same apps?
Yes. All three run Android, so Spotify, Apple Music and the rest install the same way, and the same parental control apps work on each one.
Can I turn the camera off?
You can hide the camera app with a parental control app like AppBlock, the same way you’d hide anything else. Our setup guide walks you through it.
Do they need WiFi?
Only for streaming and installing apps. Music saved on the player works with WiFi switched off, which is also when the battery lasts longest.
Do your microSD cards fit all three?
Yes. All three have a microSD slot, and our 32, 64 and 128 GB cards work in any of them.
Ready to pick one?
shipping and import duties included, 90-day free returns
Checked 25 October 2026. Camera, battery and storage figures for the Bilby Camera and Bilby 2 come from the manufacturers. If we have a fact wrong, tell us and we will fix it.
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