Yoto Mini 4th Gen review: Screen-free entertainment device for kids gets an upgrade

In a world where screens constantly clamour for our children’s attention, the Yoto is a breath of fresh air. Aimed at kids aged three and over, the audio players offer a mix of stories, podcasts, and music. And most importantly, aside from the initial set-up of the system, they aren’t dependent on a smartphone.

If you aren’t familiar with the Yoto system, it has two options: the full-sized player and the portable Yoto Mini. Both work with physical cards – NFC (near field communication) enabled – that you insert into the player, or with digital ones through the Yoto app.

Kids have access to more than 1,000 titles, from well-known audiobooks such as Matilda and Diary of a Wimpy Kid to cards with information and quizzes on the flags of the world and ancient Rome. You can even record your own stories to play back. Any cards you insert into the player are downloaded to the device over wifi, where they are stored safely for easy playback.

The Yoto Mini is now in its fourth generation. It keeps all the best things about the previous versions of the Yoto Mini, and adds a few new extras to justify raising the price to almost €100.

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The design is still very child-friendly. It has all rounded edges and easy-to-use controls, with two dials on the front for controlling volume and changing tracks. It has a power button and a small screen that displays the time, helps you select content, and shows you the battery level. If you want your children to keep the audio to themselves, there is a headphone jack; you can also use Bluetooth headphones with the player.

So what is new about the Yoto Mini? It comes with a new processor and downloads content faster than its predecessor. Another new addition is the green side button, which takes over playing and pausing tracks, and also gives quick access to a playlist of up to 20 of your child’s favourite cards.

You create these playlists through the Yoto app, which is installed on a parent’s phone, mixing cards with podcasts or your own recordings.

That’s not all the app does. Aside from the initial set-up of the player – connecting it to wifi – and managing the library of stories, the app also gives you control over settings on the player. You can set limitations on how loud the player will go, with different settings for daytime listening and night, along with battery management options and alarms.

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The player will store cards too, but when the memory is finally full it will make room for new content by getting rid of the oldest, least played options so you never lose a favourite story.

And there are plenty of favourites.

You might baulk at the idea of paying close to €100 for an audio player when you could get the same functionality from your phone or a smart speaker. Yet, from personal experience, even in a house of children who have been reading independently for a few years, the Yoto Mini is fought over. At night it is used for sleep stories or sounds; during the day, the choices range from Harry Potter to the Unicorn Academy and Roald Dahl. Ladybird’s Everything Under the Sun taught them – and me – a few things, with a question for every day of the year.

And the whole point of the Yoto is to keep children away from screens and intrusive technology, while still giving them independent access to entertainment.

The only downside is remembering to charge it, although you can check on the battery level through the app too. Plus, the battery life runs to about 16 hours of use, which is a lot of entertainment, even for the most demanding of audiences.

Good

Small and light enough to carry around, the Yoto Mini is also durable. And it needs to be . Given the target market, it is bound to take some bumps, drops and knocks. It is water and dust-resistant too, which means if it accidentally winds up in the sink, it isn’t the end of the world.

All the buttons are appropriately sized for smaller hands, and if you are new to Yoto, the controls are intuitive.

The ability to store around 1,000 hours of content on the device means you don’t need an internet connection all the time, just the first time you load the new card into the player.

Bad

For those familiar with the Yoto Mini player, the addition of the green button might introduce a bit of confusion. It takes over some of the functions of the orange dials, so it takes a bit of getting used to.

Everything else

The player needs wifi and access to a smartphone for the initial set-up; after that, you can use the wifi connection to download the card content so it can be played when you are on the move.

The cards you scan into the app’s library will also be available to play directly in the app, without having the physical card every time

If you want extra protection for the player, you can buy a silicone jacket. They come in an assortment of colours and give you an extra layer of protection against scratches.

Verdict: Four stars

The Yoto Mini Gen 4 is a handy device that could help you keep control of your child’s screen time for a little longer.

eu.yotoplay.com