Which is the best audio player on the market, Yoto or Tonie?
When it comes to finding ways to keep our littles ones occupied without sticking them in front of a screen then the audiobook player has found its niche in the market.
There are loads out there, but the two that seem to dominate conversations in my parent groups is Yoto and Tonie.
What is a Yoto player?
According to Yoto: “Yoto Players and Yoto Minis are smart speakers that kids control. They fill your home with inspiring audio and let kids lead the way. Our award-winning audio players let kids explore their favourite stories, music and more without a screen. There’s even a free daily podcast and family-friendly radio - all at the push of a button. Our award-winning audio players provide the heartbeat “of the family home, packed with features for day and night, Yoto is so much more than a storyteller.
These small boxes allow children to select stories or music to listen to. You purchase cards from the Yoto shop. A digital version is sent straight to your phone and a physical version is posted to you, which can then be inserted into the Yoto player to listen to (think of it like a modern Walkman with a cassette). If your card hasn’t arrived, you can send the digital version to the player from the app. This is great if you have one card and two players because then both children can listen to the same thing at the same time.
There are two Yoto Players. The Yoto and the Yoto mini. The Yoto mini is smaller and promoted for travel, but it has a better battery life so actually works well in the home as well. There are features like a wake-up light, headphone jack, and it shows pictures in a pixelated way on a tiny display for further interactivity.
What are the pros of a Yoto?
The cards are about the same price as a book and have a big range. There is a lot for older children.
There are podcasts and radio stations for children that you can select in the app and send to the player. You can also set up the player to play a specific radio station if they press the right-hand button twice.
Having all the content on the app on your phone is helpful as you can play it in the car.
You can record your own content and music onto blank cards.
There is a strong resale community where prices are fair.
You can join the Yoto club for £99 per year and this gives you two cards from the club section (this is quite big) and 10% everything with free postage.
What are the cons of a Yoto?
Some of the cards are short, so sometimes it doesn’t feel value for money.
The battery life can seem a bit hit and miss on the Yoto mini.
The app to shop function is a bit clunky and can freeze and crash which is a bit annoying.
Without the added accessory of the adventure jacket, it might not be durable if dropped or thrown.
It’s a bit tricky for little ones to turn on themselves.
What is a Tonie?
According to Tonie: “An innovative concept, inspired by children's adventurous spirit; the Tonie box. A child-friendly, screenless audio system that was developed by a father solving an everyday problem for his children.”
The Tonie box is a colourful cube audio player with a magnetic top where you fix your Tonie’s characters. The Tonie’s characters are easy for little hands to identify and hold, so they can easily choose which story or music they wish to listen to.
The Tonie box features a rechargeable battery and headphone jack so you can use it to travel.
What are the pros of the Tonie?
The padded box seems durable.
The characters are easy to hold, and the kids love them, they can use them in other types of play throughout the day.
There are a wide range of stories that are engaging for younger children.
You can record your own stories and messages from friends and family on a creative Tonie character.
It is easy for children to use.
What are the cons of the Tonie?
The characters are expensive at around £15 and some of the stories are short.
Because there are limited numbers of characters the resale market is too expensive.
You can’t send the story to another device from the app.
It is hard to transfer ownership of the box and characters.
It is not easy to set up.
So which player is better the Tonie or Yoto?
Having spoken with lots of parents and childcare providers we decided that it depends on your child, how you want to use the player within your family and what longevity you want out of it.
The Tonie is easy for the child to use, the characters are very interactive and the box itself is very durable. The range of stories available (in the UK) is limited and seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Whilst it says it can be used for travel, it is quite large.
The Yoto and, in particular, the Yoto mini, felt more affordable and offered more longevity in terms of ages. The range of stories is much greater and there is plenty for older children. The mini is perfect for travel as it is small and compact. You can buy a travel case for it from Yoto, but other retailers have options available to.
Whatever you choose, audio players are a great way to get children into reading and cut down on screen time.
