An honest Yoto Mini review from a family with tweens and teens. Screen-free audio that actually works for road trips, travel and camping.
I’ll be honest: when a Yoto Mini arrived at our house for a review, I quietly assumed it might be a little young for my kids. At 10 and 13, we’re well past picture books and sing-along nursery rhymes.
Turns out, I was very wrong. Not about them being past picture books and nursery rhymes, but by assuming that was all the Yoto had to offer.
We were sent a Yoto Mini (along with a travel case, headphones, a silicone Adventure Jacket and several cards) to try, and within days it became one of the most-used pieces of gear in our house. So much so that my 13-year-old son ended up using his own money to buy a second one – purely so he didn’t have to share it with his younger sister.
That alone probably tells you everything you need to know. But here’s the full story.
What is the Yoto Mini?
The Yoto Mini is a compact, screen-free audio player designed for kids aged 3-12+, using physical cards to play audiobooks, music, podcasts and educational content. You can also get a regular Yoto, which is a bit bigger. Our review is of the Yoto Mini only as the regular Yoto is not relevant for family travel due to its larger size.
There’s no screen, no camera, and no ads. You simply pop in a card, twist the dial, and listen.
Key specs at a glance:
- Designed for ages 3-12+ (and honestly, beyond if you’ve got the right story or music)
- Up to 14 hours of battery life
- Bluetooth enabled
- Ad-free, always
- Works with physical cards and the free Yoto App
- Portable and genuinely travel-friendly
First impressions of the Yoto Mini
My first impressions were quite positive across the board. It arrived very quickly, was boxed nicely, the accessories felt quality, and the Yoto itself was quite nice to the touch. It also felt really sturdy and is a nice shape to fit in your hand. I was really impressed with the carry case and silicone jacket you can buy as extras.
Real-world Yoto Mini review: camping, car trips & everyday use
Using the Yoto Mini on holiday
We haven’t taken the Yoto Mini overseas yet, but it has already passed a very real-world family test: an 11-day camping trip that included a 7-hour drive each way to reach a farm stay just inland from Yamba, NSW.
This is usually prime “Are we there yet?” territory, especially since we banned the kids from watching YouTube unless we were watching something as a family (hello, funny cat videos) when the official social media ban came in late last year. Once we arrived at camp, it also endured two daily 30-minute drives to the beach and back, as well as downtime at camp.
Instead, the kids:
- Listened quietly for long stretches in the car
- Were able to share the audiobooks without fighting (because you can create a free family account)
- Used it independently at camp
- Asked for “just one more chapter” at bedtime
The travel case was genuinely useful. Everything stayed together, cards didn’t go missing, and the shoulder strap made it easy for the kids to carry themselves.
Using the Yoto Mini at home
We received the Yoto Mini around three weeks before we left for our camping holiday, and after five days, my son loved it so much he went out and bought a second one with his own money so he didn’t have to share with his sister. As a parent, I was over the moon, as due to an SLD (Specific Learning Disorder), passing on my love of books has been a challenge.
The option of audiobooks has always been there, but he has never been interested before. It seems the Yoto is just a more appealing option.
The content: not just for little kids
This was my biggest surprise. Yes, there’s content aimed at younger kids, and it’s mostly marketed towards this age group. However, there is also a decent range for tweens and younger teens.
Our household favourites so far:
- Harry Potter: The Complete Collection (obsession level: extreme)
- Science-for-kids style cards
- Minecraft story narrated by Jack Black
What surprised me
In addition to the audiobooks, you can also get soundtracks to popular movies. We received K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wicked and Encanto, and there are plenty more on the Yoto website. You’ll even find ‘adult’ music like David Bowie, Queen, Elton John, The Beatles and more.
Yoto also has its own podcasts, radio station and daily audio via Yoto Daily. As long as you’re connected online, you can access this for free without a card. Parents with younger children could easily incorporate the sleep sounds into their nighttime routine.
We haven’t tried this yet, but you can even make your own content. Each Yoto comes with a starter card that explains everything, but also allows you to save your own stories, podcasts and playlists to it. This is where I think the Yoto Mini really starts to grow with your child and doesn’t age out quickly.
The headphones and accessories
The headphones are designed for kids’ ears, with volume limiting and a comfortable fit. You can also get wireless headphones for it (or use your own), but so far, we’ve only tried the wired ones. I was most impressed with the silicone Adventure Jacket (which comes with a handy carry strap) and the carry case, which is quite sturdy.
Inside the carry case, everything has a place and fits in nicely.
What I loved most as a parent
- No screen battles
- Kids can use it independently
- No ads, no algorithms, no “one more video”
- Encourages listening, imagination and focus
- Genuinely useful for travel – not just at home
It’s rare to find a device that both kids and parents are happy with. This is one of them.
What could be better
Although there are many audiobooks available for the Yoto, it is nowhere near the number you would find on Audible. They do state that the collection is growing and the ones they do have are generally a great mix of big-name stories, classic childrens’ books and up-and-coming writers.
In saying that, it doesn’t matter how many stories Audible has; my kids have no intention of using this service as it doesn’t feature a cute Yoto Mini player, which is a huge part of the appeal for kids.
It would be great if they partnered with another audiobook provider to be able to access more titles – potentially even for adults – through the Yoto app.
Is the Yoto Mini worth it?
At $129.99 AUD, the Yoto Mini isn’t a throwaway toy, but it’s also not something your child will lose interest in after a week.
Based on our experience, it’s:
- A brilliant road trip companion
- Ideal for camping and travel (we’ll be taking it on a plane in April)
- Surprisingly appealing for tweens and younger teens
- Something that grows with your child over time
The fact that my teenager bought his own says more than any spec list ever could.
Disclosure
We were sent a Yoto Mini, travel case, headphones, Adventure Jacket and a selection of cards free of charge to try. We liked it so much, we bought a second one, a silicone Adventure Jacket and some more cards with our own money. This review is based on our genuine experience using it as a family. All opinions are my own.
FAQ: Yoto Mini review
Yes. While it’s marketed for ages 3–12+, there is plenty of content for older kids, including audiobooks, podcasts, music, and educational audio. Both our 10 and 13-year-olds loved it.
Yes. Once content is downloaded to the player, it works offline – perfect for road trips, flights and camping.
Yes. With “Make Your Own” cards, you can upload podcasts, music, audiobooks or record your own stories via the Yoto App.
Absolutely. It’s lightweight, has long battery life, works offline and pairs well with the travel case and headphones.
No subscription is required. You can buy cards individually and access free content through the app.
The Mini is smaller and more portable, designed specifically for on-the-go use. The full Yoto Player includes extra features like a night light, but is less travel-friendly and of more appeal to younger kids.
Where to next?
📌 Save this article to Pinterest so you’ll have it handy when planning your own trip.
Let me know what you think!