Furby › Furbish lessons › Furby 1998 vs Furby 2023: what changed in 25 years

Furby 1998 vs Furby 2023: what changed in 25 years

The ears are still big. Nearly everything inside is new. A side-by-side for anyone who had the first one.

The original

The first Furby came out on October 2, 1998, invented by David Hampton and Caleb Chung. It had a moving beak, a 42-word Furbish dictionary and a famous habit of gradually using more English the longer you played.

The current one

Hey Furby launched on June 22, 2023 as the fifth generation. It responds to voice commands, has over 600 responses, light-up ears and, at last, an off switch: triple-tap the heart gem.

What stayed

Painted eyes with eyelashes instead of screens, a tuft of longer fur on the head, Furbish, and no internet connection. Unlike the 2012 and 2016 generations there is no app.

What went

The moving beak and the tail are gone on Hey Furby (DJ Furby brought both back in 2025). The language no longer develops in stages; Hey Furby speaks English and Furbish from day one.

Want the old look?

The Furby Forever Collector 5-Pack recreates five 1998 colour styles, including the Wizard, as 3.2-inch figures.

Next lesson:DJ Furby modes explained, light by lightFurby Vibes glasses guide: which pair does whatHow Furblets work: taps, holds and duets