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Toniebox vs Yoto Mini: which is the best screen-free audio player?
With both devices scoring highly in the court of Mumsnet opinion, we found two parent testers compare and contrast Toniebox and Yoto Mini. Read on for our honest comparison of the two audio players.
By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Sep 20, 2023
Both toddler- and child-friendly, screen-free and portable - it’s no wonder many parents are finding it difficult to choose between the Yoto Mini and Toniebox. That’s why we decided to pit the two players against each other, weighing up their strengths and weaknesses, the age groups they’re most suitable for and which offers the most bang for your buck. This is yoto vs tonie: the showdown.
With both players regularly mentioned in forum discussions about the best toys for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, we wanted to dive deeper and really put the devices through their paces. Our parent-testers were Bethan and her five-year-old, and May and her four- and two-year-olds. Over a number of months they’ve tried and tested the devices, getting to know the players and their features.
Here’s their verdict.
Yoto Mini: at a glance
Price on writing: £59.99 | Buy now from Amazon
What we love
Perfectly sized for little hands
Sleep radio is a godsend at bedtime
Portable
Easy for young children to operate independently
Straightforward set-up
Ability to record your own Yoto cards
Ok-to-wake clock
What to know
No rewind or fast-forward button
Cannot be turned on through the app
Accessories sold separately and can be costly
Cards can get damaged
Read our in-depth Yoto Mini review.
Toniebox: at a glance
Price on writing: £79.95 | Buy now from Amazon
What we love
Easy for kids to operate
Characters make great gifts
Brilliant for bedtime stories
Robust
Portable
Good battery life
What to know
Skipping backwards and forwards can be tricky for kids
Characters sold separately
Expensive option
Read our full Toniebox review.
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Quality and Robustness
When it comes to audio quality, both the Toniebox and Yoto Mini offer excellent sound output. The Toniebox has a built-in speaker that offers clear audio playback. The Yoto Mini also offers high-quality audio playback, with a built-in speaker that produces clear and rich sound.
In terms of durability, both devices are made with child-friendly materials and are built to withstand the wear and tear of regular use. The Toniebox is made with a soft, shock-resistant material that is easy to grip and carry around and can withstand accidental drops and bumps. The Yoto Mini is made of hard plastic, and our tester opted for a silicone “adventure case” to give it some extra protection.
Our parent-testers said the Toniebox is very robust, and can withstand a bit of rough handling. The Yoto Mini player is similarly tough, but the cards aren’t as substantial as the Tonie audio characters so they’re more liable to get damaged.
Our verdict: The Toniebox wins, especially when pitted against a toddler.
Toniebox: 5/5
Yoto Mini: 3/5
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Useability
With two simple buttons and a parents’ app, the Yoto Mini is really well designed for use both by kids and parents. Our 2-year-old tester could choose a card, insert and make it play independently, and our four-year-old tester could also switch between tracks on the cards.
While the Toniebox has an innovative design that involves pressing the box’s “ears” to control the volume and tapping the sides to skip tracks, our five-year-old tester found it less easy to operate.
“Going back and forwards chapters or songs can be difficult for my son, having to bang the sides. It can need a good thump to work.”
That said, the novelty of selecting a chunky, hand painted character wins out over a card, and our parent-tester thinks the Tonies characters make brilliant gifts.
Our verdict: Yoto Mini is the more user-friendly option.
Toniebox: 3.5/5
Yoto Mini: 4.5/5
Read next: The very best toddler toys Mumsnetters swear by.
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Accessories
Both players come with some basic content when you purchase the player, with extra content needing to be purchased if you want to expand the device’s repertoire. Both our-parent-testers found the accessories to be a bit pricey, and said it’s best to look for deals and bundles rather than paying full price where possible.
Our verdict: A draw.
Toniebox: 4/5
Yoto Mini: 4/5
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Features
We think the Yoto Mini really shines in its radio and podcast features - which are constantly updated. Our parent tester May said Sleep Radio is the best feature, “Sleep radio is amazing. It helps the youngest sleep every night and even me sometimes too!”
The Toniebox on the other hand is more straightforward - it just plays the content on the Tonie character placed on top of it.
Our verdict: We think the Yoto Mini is the clear winner in this category.
Toniebox 3/5
Yoto Mini: 5/5
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Longevity
Our parent-testers can see the Yoto Mini and Toniebox being used in the long-run, especially during car journeys to avoid the dreaded screens. The Toniebox is tough and built to withstand a bit of rough and tumble, but the design is very much geared towards pre-schoolers.
We think the minimalist design and range of content for older kids makes the Yoto Mini the one that will last the longest.
Our verdict: Yoto Mini has more cool factor for older kids
Toniebox: 3.5/5
Yoto Mini: 4.5/5
Yoto Mini vs Toniebox: Price
The Yoto Mini retails at £59.99, with extra cards priced from £5.99. The Toniebox is priced at £79.99 and characters are available for £14.99.
Deals and bundles can be found for both Yoto cards and Tonies characters, but you do have to shop around.
Our verdict: Yoto Mini represents better value for money, and a lower price point.
Final verdict: Yoto Mini vs Toniebox
Yoto Mini is the best screen-free audio player.
The extra features, appealing design and lower price point have won the Yoto Mini Mumsnet’s seal of approval. While we think the Toniebox is a great player for younger kids and the characters make great gifts, the Yoto Mini impressed us with its radio and podcast features, useability for both little ones and parents, and its ability to appeal to older kids.
About Mumsnet Reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust.