Yoto announces new Player and Mini with green controls, higher prices
Yoto announced a new Player and Mini, both with green controls for card-free kids' audio. Player costs $150, Mini $110.
The new Yoto Player remains a speaker with a pixel display. Its big green dial can be twisted to play up to 20 pieces of most loved audio, including podcasts, stories and songs. Engadget reported that this works directly from the device and does not require Yoto Cards, the NFC keys inserted into the player to unlock specific content. Yoto has also updated the software to make routines easier to create and access, so parents can set a routine once and the device will automatically adjust features such as graphics to reflect the time of day. The hardware has been redesigned to be easy for little hands, with storage increased to 64GB, faster downloads and an upgraded nightlight panel.
The new Yoto Player will cost $150, up from $110. It is available for pre-order now, with shipments going out on Oct. 15. Engadget noted that an older version of the Yoto Player had already made its list of the best audio gadgets for kids.
The updated Yoto Mini, the company's cheaper and smaller audio player, is designed for rougher use. According to Engadget, it is rugged and water- and dust-resistant, and Yoto says it can handle playground grass, sofa launches and rainy-day chaos without missing a beat. The Mini also gets the same green button for card-free access to content. It has enough storage for 1,000 hours of audio and works with both wired and Bluetooth headphones.
The Yoto Mini will cost $110, up from $80. It is available for pre-order now, with shipments going out on Sept. 30.
Yoto is also introducing accessories. There are scratch-proof cases for both the Mini and the Player in four colors. The company is working on a wireless dock and a case for Yoto Cards. Engadget reported that pricing and availability information for those items has not been announced yet.
Editor's Summary Yoto announced a fourth-generation Yoto Player and an updated Yoto Mini, both with a green control for card-free access to children's content. The Player will cost $150 and ship Oct. 15, while the Mini will cost $110 and ship Sept. 30, both above previous prices. The launch adds new hardware and accessories to Yoto's child-focused audio lineup at a higher cost.