You’ve got to remember that Yoto isn’t going for picture quality. This is a toy that’s meant to reduce screen time, not increase it! Does Yoto Mini need WiFi?

The Yoto Mini works like the original Yoto in this way. You need WiFi to set up the Yoto Mini at first, and then Wifi is needed anytime a brand new card is put in. After any physical cards have been played through once, you never need Wifi again. That’s what makes the Yoto Mini so cool! Kids can listen the first time at home, and then easily listen to stories on an airplane, in the car, or anywhere that WiFi is normally a barrier to entertainment! The player comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters - often mentioned in discussions about the best toys for two-year-olds and three-year-olds. But with parents’ smartphones able to play audiobooks and kid-friendly music, is it really worth investing in a piece of tech specifically for young children? Another difference is how it’s charged. The original Yoto sits on a special charger; whereas the Yoto Mini uses a standard USB-C, making it easier to juice up anywhere you go (including the car). So naturally, when my sweet sister-in-law gifted us with the Yoto Minifor our two year old’s birthday, I felt it necessary to write this Yoto Mini review . Read next: Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: which is the best screen-free audio player? Where to buy a Yoto Mini and Yoto cardsKids can wear headphones with them, which makes it a great tool for long car rides or flights. At the same time, we use ours for daily use at bedtime and bath time. I absolutely LOVE the Yoto Mini. If you’re trying to decide between an original Yoto and a Yoto Mini, I’d probably choose the Mini, unless you’re super excited about the sleep training and nightlight features on the original model. I can’t overstate how nice it is that the Mini uses a standard USB-C charger, too! I actually love the Yoto Mini for toddlers because the yoto mini’s size is perfect for small hands. The only downside is that once in a while, the card slot will end up with a coin in it, but it’s large enough that you can usually dig things out with a paper clip. Full disclosure: we don’t currently own any of these accessories above, and we LOVE our Yoto player and Yoto Mini. We have an older zip-up carrying case for our cards that’s pictured throughout my post about our favorite Yoto cards. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find it anywhere for you guys. I thought it was a great product. Inside the box you’ll find the player, one make-your-own card and USB charging cable. Other cards are sold separately. The sound quality is brilliant and the tiny screen shows cute digital illustrations that bring the stories to life.

Looking for a safe, fun and easy-to-use audio player for young children? The Yoto Mini could be just what you need. With its simple design and range of age-appropriate content, the device is designed with little ones in mind. It’s a portable audio player that has been on many cross-country flights in our family. It’s truly the perfect size! The Yoto Mini is great looking, and we loved its minimalist design as soon as we laid eyes on it. In terms of getting it set up, as long as you have a strong WiFi connection, it couldn’t be easier. The Yoto Mini gets charged with a USB-C cable, and then it will hold a charge for 18-20 hours, depending on whether or not you’re using WiFi with it. Yoto Mini’s Sound QualityAlongside the Toniebox and Echo Dot Kids, the Yoto is one of the most popular audio devices on the market right now. To find out whether this cute and eye-catching gadget is worth the hype, we asked our parent-tester, May, and her 4- and 2-year-olds to put the Yoto Mini to the test. Here’s what they thought… Our verdict at a glance Update: She’s now 9 and listens to her Yoto Mini regularly, especially when she gets gifted a new chapter book. I think any older children would enjoy a Yoto, but especially those who don’t already use screens at home. There are clear and concise instructions as you go along which worked well for me.” Our parent-tester says. “There are also now a number of guides that are automatically in the playlist section.” The Yoto Mini is a great device for parents who want to reduce screen time while still having some tech for their kids. It's useful for children of all ages, and makes a great introduction to the world of technology. With its simple card system and chunky buttons, the device is easy to use and allows children to select and play their own content independently. The number one favorite toy in our household used to be the Yotooriginal audio player. I loved it so much that I wrote an entire Yoto player reviewabout it. And then I wrote another post about our favorite Yoto cards, too! (Spoiler – While we love all our cards, my favorites are the blank cards!)

The Yoto Mini only plays cards and podcasts from the app; it doesn’t have a nightlight or some of the other features on the original Yoto. Yoto Mini has a battery life of 20 hours, whereas the Yoto original has a shorter battery life of 10 hours. These long hours of battery life make it perfect for long trips. How does Yoto Mini work? Our tester gave the Yoto Mini an impressive 5/5 stars. As an age-appropriate introduction to tech, it’s hard to beat. In our family, both devices get daily play, and I’m glad I’m not forced to choose! Do I Need Yoto Accessories?The cards are like heavy duty credit cards, and they hold stories and music. You can buy excellent cards for any age group from toddlers up through about age 12. In fact, I even wrote a post about all our favorite Yoto cards for each age group. The wonderful thing about the Yoto is how well it grows with kids. If your child has a tiny attention span, you can choose fun music and nursery rhymes, or super short stories to fill your collection of Yoto cards. Our family goes on quite a few long trips. We fly several times a year to see family and also do a 4 hour drive to see my parents every 4-6 weeks. In an ideal scenario, all three of my kids would have their own Yoto Mini and share a great big collection of cards. I would love that, because they would be quietly entertained, getting smarter all the way, and it would cut down on their screen time. However, the original Yoto is really great if you’re looking for one tool to do a bunch of features. Being able to use one device for both entertainment and sleep training is pretty special. Use the sleep training feature by adjusting sleep time and wake time on the original Yoto (not a feature of the Mini)

If you’ve got a voracious reader who is into chapter books, you can scoop up cards like the Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, the Magic Treehouse Collection, or any of the Roald Dahl books. Using The Yoto App

Final verdict: Yoto Mini review

It’s a great way to serve up great entertainment to your kids without putting a screen in front of them. Our kids listen to the Yoto mini in the bathtub, while doing chores, and on long car rides. What is the difference between Yoto and Yoto Mini?