Yoto's New Kids' Audio Players Ditch the Cards for Playback—But Both Got Pricier
The 4th-gen Yoto Player and the upgraded Yoto Mini both add a new green button, letting kids play their favorite content without inserting a card—though prices have risen to $150 and $110 respectively.
A round green button is the most immediate change on Yoto's two new devices. In the past, kids had to insert a printed Yoto Card into the player to hear stories or music. Now, just turning or pressing this button pulls up content from a "Favorites" list, storing up to 20 items spanning podcasts, stories, and songs. No need to borrow a parent's phone or dig through a pile of cards.
The 4th-gen Yoto Player keeps its familiar pixel-display design, but plenty has changed under the hood. Storage now sits at 64GB, downloads are faster, and the nightlight panel has been redesigned. The software got an upgrade too—parents set up a "daily routine" just once, and the device automatically switches its display to match the time of day, no manual adjusting required. Yoto says the redesigned shape is also easier for small hands to hold and use.
The Yoto Player is now open for pre-order, shipping October 15, with the price jumping from $110 to $150.
The smaller, cheaper Yoto Mini also got a hardware refresh geared toward durability. The company describes the new version as "waterproof, dustproof, and tough enough" to survive "playground grass, couch bouncing, and rainy-day chaos" without missing a beat—a line that sounds tailor-made for kids who toss their toys around. The Mini gets the same card-free green button, plus storage for "1,000 hours of audio," and supports both wired and Bluetooth headphone connections.
The Yoto Mini is also up for pre-order, shipping September 30, with pricing rising from $80 to $110. Both price hikes are substantial—smarter controls now come with a steeper price of entry.
On the accessories front, Yoto is launching scratch-resistant protective cases for both the Player and Mini, available in four colors. The company also says it's developing a wireless charging dock and a Yoto Card storage case, though pricing and release dates haven't been announced yet.
