Yoto Review … A whole new world of audio for kids!
Summary: The Yoto (3rd Generation) and Yoto Mini both provide an excellent and interactive way for children to listen to audio books, music and engage in some fun activities without pesky smartdevices.
4.8
Hello Yoto!
Welcome to Yoto, a ‘screen-free’ audio player designed for kids to immerse themselves in a world of stories and music. Kids interact with the device using oversized dials, a built-in speaker, and cards that are inserted directly into the machine. Although there’s no traditional screen, a small display creates pixelated images and text. This enhances the device’s functionality by giving younger users access to the weather, time, and quizzes—making it both simple and ingenious.
Welcome to the Yoto (3rd Generation) and the Yoto Mini
In a world where smart devices and gaming consoles constantly vie for our kids’ attention, Yoto offers a more grounded approach. While the Yoto does need the internet for setup and certain features, you can still use the audio player with physical cards, making it ideal for travel. Connecting the Yoto to the internet allows parents to set age-appropriate content, which also gives access to an extensive content library.
One of Yoto’s standout features is the ability to ‘Make Your Own’ cards. This lets parents or grandparents record their voices reading a favorite book or singing a song, creating personalized content that can become a cherished heirloom. The Yoto library is continually growing, and with over one million families connected to its network, there’s a wealth of content available.
Beyond its core function as a smart audio player, the Yoto also includes thoughtful features like an integrated night light and an accompanying app that gives parents control over volume limits and sleep timers. The pixel display adds a charming visual element, displaying relevant icons or the time, engaging young users without the distraction of a full screen.
Unboxing Gallery
The Setup
Setting up both the Yoto and Yoto Mini is a simple process that requires you to download the Yoto app and then follow the wizard to set up your player or players. We had no issues with the Yoto (3rd Generation), but we did have a slight hiccup with the Mini as we had to change the Wi-Fi network on our smartphone from 5Ghz to 2.4Ghz. Once connected to our network, we and our girls were ready to explore the wonderful world of Yoto!
Yoto (3rd Generation) App Setup
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Yoto Mini App Setup
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Another cool part of the setup process is the included audio card that takes you through a tutorial of the Yoto and best of all, this card can be recorded over once you are ready. Recording an audio card on Yoto is a simple, three-step process handled through the Yoto app. First, you record your audio directly within the app’s “Create” tab, saving it to “My recordings.” Next, you select your recording and add it to a new playlist, which you can title and customise. Finally, you link this playlist to a blank Make Your Own (MYO) card by placing it near your phone’s NFC scanner or inserting it into your Yoto Player while following the app’s instructions. Once the link is successful, the card is ready to play your new audio.
Yoto also provides a handful of extras for their products, including protective cases (the Mini Adventure Jacket and the Adventure Jacket) for the audio players, a card case, and wireless headphones that mirror the devices’ orange coloring. While the Yoto players are quite sturdy, the two adventure jackets are a must for additional protection, and the Yoto Case is great for making sure no cards are lost.
Regarding the Yoto Wireless Headphones, which are Bluetooth-enabled, you can use any compatible headphones or earbuds or even wireless speakers. Setting up the Yoto Wireless Headphones is a simple pairing process and it also supports a wired connection as well.
The Yoto (3rd Generation), Yoto Mini, and Yoto Wireless Headphones all charge via included high-quality cables. The larger player provides up to 24 hours of battery life, while the Mini offers 14 hours. As for audio quality, the Yoto (3rd Generation) boasts exceptional stereo sound, whereas the Mini is mono. Even so, the Mini’s audio is still impressive for such a small device. If you want higher quality audio, that’s where Bluetooth comes into play.
We received the Yoto pack during the July School Holidays and both our girls loved these devices, particularly the stories that they were able to listen to. With classics such as the Roald Dahl collection to the music of Frozen and Encanto plus the truly timeless Spice Girls: The Greatest Hits, these “credit card” sized cards were a hit. They also enjoyed The Starter Pack audio cards that boasted fun stories, perfectly delivered education and even quizzes.
Final Thoughts?
In conclusion, Yoto is an engaging device that opens a new world of audio experiences for children, from listening to bands like the Spice Girls to classic stories by Roald Dahl. The Yoto is a well-designed product that emphasizes interactivity and independence, offering a thoughtful alternative to traditional screens. It is also well supported from regular new releases and even an optional Yoto Club subscription that unlocks unlimited digital Originals, member only titles and radio stations.
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