I originally wrote this in 2023 but I don't think it ever made it onto Yoto Space, so I've updated it and am sharing! Hope it's useful.
I opened my 3rd Generation Yoto with the excitement of a 5-year-old on Christmas morning. Here’s my review!
With the adventure jacket on, it looks the same as the 2nd Gen, except for the power button/USB port and different jacket colours.
The power button is better, but can still be fiddly. However, there’s very little need for the power button, since, like the Yoto Mini, the 3rd Generation has a hibernation mode and can be woken by clicking the orange buttons – one of my favourite features of the Mini and I’m so glad it’s come to the larger machine.
The included USB charging cable is plain orange, longer and feels even better protected and thicker than the ones that come with the Minis. Our 3rd Gen cables are our go-to USB cables for all our USB devices.
We were big fans of the 2nd gen's charging base but given the hibernation feature, and longer battery life, the 3rd generation doesn’t need charging anywhere near as often. I charge mine as needed, and leave it unplugged most nights. This means the screen goes dark, allowing me to sleep, but I can easily check the time by clicking or turning the orange buttons. We do now have one magnetic charging base, (similar to the base for the 2nd Gen version and available for purchase separately) which is shared between my kids’ two Players but I actually prefer the USB cable for mine.
The thermometer didn’t interest me at all when the 3rd Gen was announced but would have been useful when my kids were babies and every time I see the room temperature in the player’s settings I get a little excited!
The sound quality is reportedly better than both the 2nd Generation and Mini, but I haven’t done a side by side comparison.
I love all 5 of our Yotos. I think the Mini is still my favourite, because of the portability, but the 3rd Gen is definitely an upgrade from the 2nd and I’m so relieved I no longer have to go on a Mini hunt every night before bed!