Summer break has been wild, but a few weeks in we learned that my daughter loves to listen to music as a way to just chill. That might be obvious for some, but I don’t enjoy listening to music! We set her up with an old iPad and headphones - but it’s clunky, the battery life is terrible, and more. So, I started asking around about child-appropriate audio players and discovered Yoto. 

The iPad screen is so not functional sometimes and she felt trapped — Peep the Current Tyde Swimsuit - we had to size up to a 7/8 this year for her, but love the fit and function of this BC-based swimwear.

 Yoto is a screen free audio player designed for kids. It features a wifi connection and uses cards to play stories or music. I shared it with my husband who immediately had to learn if it was easy to DIY repair or upgrade (he says yes), and then decided we needed the Yoto! 

Sometimes when I find cool products for my kids that we don’t have in town, I think - I wonder if I can become a Yoto retailer? And surprising yes! So we’re bringing Yoto to Prince George, to our small children’s boutique in Pine Centre Mall for my children, your children, and all the families in Northern BC. 

I haven’t decided which Yoto Player models I’m going to get the kids yet because truly I’m torn between the two.  Anna thinks she wants the mini and Walter seems torn on which one. Part of me wants tot get the 3rd Generation and replace they’re wake with me clocks/white noise machines in their room. But I also love how compact the Mini is! 

Today, we present a comprehensive comparison of these two extraordinary devices, to help you select the ideal audio companion for your little one's adventures. Or at least try. For even more in-depth review check out this Canadian blog. 

We’re going to continue to stock Yoto Player as long as the reception and feedback remains positive. This is just our first small order. 

Feature	Yoto Player (3rd Gen)	Yoto Mini
Age Suitability	Kids aged 3-12+	Kids aged 3-12+
Display	Programmable night light and clock	Small Pixel Display. OK-to-wake clock for sleep training
Size	11 x 11 x 10.5cm	7 x 7 x 4cm
Room Thermometer	Yes	No
Audio Storage	600+ hours of storage for offline listening, 32GB	Up to 350 hours/16GB of audio storage
Charging	USB-C & Wireless	USB-C
Battery Life	Up to 24 hours of play on a single charge	Up to 20 hours of play on a single charge
Acoustics	Acoustically-engineered stereo sound	Clear and size-defying sound
Headphone Compatibility	Wireless and wired headphones	Wireless and wired headphones
WiFi Requirements	Needed for initial setup and Yoto Cards	Needed for initial setup and Yoto Cards
Night Light	Yes	No
Bluetooth Speaker	Yes	Yes
Included Accessories	Charging Cable, Welcome Card, Quick Start Guide	Charging Cable, Welcome Card, Setup Guide
App Control	Yes	Yes
Content Variety	Endless hours of free stories, music, podcasts, and sleep sounds	Free podcasts, radio, sleep sounds, and more
Durability of Cards	Food-safe plastic, hard to bend or break	Food-safe plastic, hard to bend or break
Price	$149.99	$99.99

 

The key difference is that the Yoto Player (3rd Generation) is larger, double the storage, slightly longer battery life, and has a full pixel display with clock. Oh, and price. 

Age Suitability

Both Yoto Player (3rd Gen) and Yoto Mini are suitable for kids aged 3-12+, ensuring that your child will have access to a wealth of captivating content from Yoto, and we’ll be carrying a selection of Yoto Cards in store! The collection will start small and grow as we grow. That’s how every new product works. 

The Yoto Player is truly designed to grow with your family, you have the choice to choose from a wide collection of titles and songs that embraces the many stages of childhood. 

My son is 8 years old, so we have the Dairy of a Wimpy Kid on our radar, but for younger children stories like The Very Hungry Caterpillar make a perfect collection. You can also create your cards and upload your own audio content. 

What about younger kids? Everything with parent supervision and assistance. From their website - Although we've got hundreds of titles for kids from birth to 12+ years, children under 3 years old should only use Yoto Player or Yoto Mini under adult supervision, and charging must be kept out of reach of children.

Display and Size

Yoto Player (3rd Gen) features a programmable night light and clock, offering a comforting glow in the dark. On the other hand, Yoto Mini boasts a small pixel display and an OK-to-wake clock for sleep training. Choose the one that best suits your child's bedtime routines and preferences. Yoto Player (3rd Gen) has dimensions of 11 x 11 x 10.5cm, while Yoto Mini measures 7 x 7 x 4cm, making it a more compact and travel-friendly option.

Room Thermometer

If room temperature monitoring is essential, Yoto Player (3rd Gen) includes a built-in room thermometer to keep your child's space cozy and comfortable. We know this important for many new parents, and this is what intrigues me to consider adding the Yoto Player to your baby registry. It would be a fantastic white noise machine that grows with your family and transitions into their first audio player as they age. 

Audio Storage and Battery Life

 Yoto Player (3rd Gen) provides an impressive 600+ hours of audio storage with 32GB of space, while Yoto Mini offers up to 350 hours/16GB of audio storage. Both devices offer long-lasting battery life, with Yoto Player lasting up to 24 hours on a single charge and Yoto Mini up to 20 hours.

One reason I lean towards the Yoto Player 3rd Gen is because of the wireless charging capability. Charging things with kids is always interesting… and we’ve destroyed a few chargers and connecters over the years. At this time the wireless chargers are sold separately, and were unavailable when I was ordering. But a wireless charger at your bedstead seemed like a fantastic fit for my family. 

Better Night Time

Both Yoto Player and Yoto Mini can be an invaluable asset to your bedtime routine with a programmable nightlight, soothing sleepy sounds, sleep timers and volume limits, and alarm clocks. The functionality of both devices can help your little design their own bedtime without screens and get the support they need. 

The Yoto Player (3rd Generation) features a bigger display to be a nightlight and ok-to-wake clock. With 7 colours to choice from, just flip the display face-down after lights out. 

Acoustics and Headphone Compatibility

Yoto Player (3rd Gen) delivers acoustically-engineered stereo sound for an immersive listening experience. Yoto Mini, while smaller, does not compromise on sound quality and offers clear and size-defying audio. Yoto Player (3rd Gen) supports wireless and wired headphones, while Yoto Mini is compatible with 3.5mm and Bluetooth headphones, providing versatile listening options for your child.

Yoto Wireless headphones are also available for a separate purchase. We will have them with our next order. 

WiFi Requirements: Both Yoto Player (3rd Gen) and Yoto Mini require WiFi for initial setup and downloading Yoto Cards, ensuring your child has access to a diverse range of content.

Don’t have wifi at home? You could set this up at the library, or anywhere with free public wifi access and then be good to go at home. 

Content Variety and Card Durability

Both Yoto models offer endless hours of stories, music, podcasts and sleep sounds. Additional stories can be purchased digitally or using physical Yoto Cards, made from food-safe plastic, are durable and hard to bend or break, ensuring lasting enjoyment for your child.

AS mentioned earlier, their is a wide collection of content from birth to preteen available on Yoto for the entire family to enjoy.

You can also purchase blank cards and create audio to play whenever you want. I forgot to order the blank cards, but will grab them next time. This is a fantastic way to record voices (stories read aloud by a parent or loved one), create mixtapes of your favourite songs, and more! This is done in three easy steps using the Yoto App, and the player.  

You do get one blank card with every player. One card holds 500mb maximum, 100mb per file, or 100 tracks per card (1 hour running length per card). Learn more about Make Your Own Cards direct from Yoto. Experience the magic of Yoto Player or Yoto Mini today at Nest and Sprout Boutique and give your child the gift of limitless exploration and learning.

Available this August at Nest & Sprout

We know the Yoto Player is going to be the hot item for Christmas, and this first order is expected anyway now. Both the Yoto Mini or the Yoto Player (3rd Gen) will be a fantastic choice for any family, with accessories and covers to help you go wherever with your player.

Yoto reviews are unanimously positives and we look forward to working with you to get you the player you want! We hope to open up a local BST in our Facebook group for Northern BC parents looking to swap cards. 

Shop Yoto at Nest & Sprout, and let us know what products, accessories, and cards you want to see next. We can’t wait to ingnite your child's love for storytelling, music, and knowledge.

For fantastic resources about Yoto Player - check out Pocket Wonders.