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First published: July 2026 · Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next scheduled review: January 2027
The decision in one sentence
The YOYO³ is lighter, more refined and better on resale — unless you’re tall and have ever stooped over a compact pushchair, in which case the Pip’s 104.5cm handlebar changes everything.
Why trust this comparison?
iCandy Pip: Fold tested personally. Real daily-user feedback incorporated from a Pip owner who chose it specifically for handlebar height. Scored 7.5/10.
Stokke YOYO³: Hands-on tested. Successor to the Babyzen YOYO², one of the most-reviewed compact pushchairs in the UK market.
Testing scope: Both were hands-on assessments rather than extended long-term ownership tests. Conclusions on durability and resale draw on brand history and market observation.
Handlebar note: Both handlebars are fixed, not adjustable. The Pip is fixed at 104.5cm — iCandy explicitly contrasts this against the Peach 7’s adjustable 95–105cm range. The YOYO³’s exact fixed height is not prominently published by Stokke; confirmed by multiple independent reviewers as comfortable for taller adults.
Should you skip both?
Both the Pip and YOYO³ are premium compact strollers for city and travel use. Check neither is the wrong category before comparing them:
- You walk on rough terrain regularly — both are smooth-surface city pushchairs. Consider the Bugaboo Fox 5 or Out n About Nipper V5 instead
- You need the most compact fold possible — the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 folds smaller than either at 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5cm
- Budget is a genuine constraint — the Mamas & Papas Airo at £189 covers most of what both these pushchairs offer at a fraction of the price
- You need a growing-family pushchair — neither converts to a double. The iCandy Peach 8 or Bugaboo Donkey 6 are the right conversations to be having
If a premium compact for city use, travel and occasional flying is what you need, read on.
The handlebar question
This comparison has one specific differentiator that decides it for a significant number of buyers: handlebar height.
The Pip’s handlebar is fixed at 104.5cm — among the tallest of any compact pushchair, and iCandy built its entire marketing campaign around it. It was designed specifically for taller parents who’ve experienced lower-handlebar compacts and found them uncomfortable. One owner I spoke to — over a pint in a beer garden — had chosen the Pip for exactly this reason. She’d tried the YOYO and found herself stooping. The Pip solved the problem directly.
The YOYO³ handlebar is also fixed — not adjustable — in soft faux leather, with a tether strap. The exact fixed height is not prominently published by Stokke; real-world reviews confirm it suits most adults including taller parents, but it is not the same specific selling point as the Pip’s 104.5cm.
The honest question to ask yourself
Have you ever felt uncomfortable pushing a compact stroller because the handlebar was too low? If yes — and especially if you’re above 6ft — the Pip deserves serious consideration. If handlebar height isn’t something you’ve noticed as an issue, the YOYO³ is the stronger all-round choice on most other criteria.
The real difference between these two
Both pushchairs are IATA cabin-approved premium compacts for city and travel use. Both are well-made, well-regarded and hold their value. The YOYO³ is lighter at 6.2kg versus the Pip’s 7kg, has a fixed handlebar in soft faux leather and benefits from decades of development across the YOYO line. The Pip is 0.8kg heavier but has that 104.5cm fixed handlebar and is also IATA cabin approved.
The newborn situation differs: the Pip has a lie-flat seat suitable from birth. The YOYO³ requires a separately purchased newborn pack (0+) for use before 6 months. That’s a meaningful difference if you’re buying before baby arrives.
The YOYO³’s secondhand market is one of the strongest of any pushchair in the UK. The YOYO line is extremely well-known, consistently sought-after, and holds its value well. The Pip is newer, well-regarded, but without the same depth of secondhand market yet.
Head-to-head
| iCandy Pip | Stokke YOYO³ | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | See full review |
| Price | Check current prices at icandyworld.com | From £299 (6 months+) — newborn pack sold separately |
| Weight | 7kg | 6.2kg ✅ lighter |
| Handlebar | Fixed at 104.5cm ✅ among the tallest compact handlebars we have seen | Fixed — soft faux leather with tether strap. Height not prominently published by Stokke; suits most adults including taller parents |
| Folded dimensions | IATA cabin approved — check icandyworld.com for exact dimensions | 52 × 44 × 18cm — cabin-compatible dimensions ✅ |
| Cabin travel | IATA cabin approved — verify with your airline before flying | Cabin-compatible dimensions — verify with your airline before flying |
| Suitable from | Birth — lie-flat seat ✅ | 6 months with seat — 0+ newborn pack sold separately |
| Fold | One-handed — seat stays attached ✅ | Two-step — quick and straightforward |
| Suspension | Advanced — smooth city ride | 4-wheel Hytrel elastomer suspension — smooth city ride |
| Secondhand market | Good — newer product, market developing | Exceptional — YOYO line one of UK’s most liquid secondhand pushchair markets ✅ |
| Brand heritage | iCandy — British brand since 2004 | Stokke/Babyzen — decades of compact pushchair development ✅ |
| Tested | Fold tested — real owner feedback from daily user | Hands-on tested |
Which should you choose?
Choose the iCandy Pip if:
- ✔ You’re tall and have experienced back discomfort with lower-handlebar compacts — the 104.5cm fixed bar is the Pip’s defining and genuine advantage
- ✔ You need from-birth suitability without buying additional accessories
- ✔ City and travel use are your priorities and handlebar height is the deciding factor
Choose the Stokke YOYO³ if:
- ✔ Handlebar height isn’t a specific concern — the YOYO³’s fixed handlebar suits most parents
- ✔ Weight matters — 6.2kg versus 7kg is meaningful over time
- ✔ Resale value is important — the YOYO line is one of the strongest secondhand markets in UK pushchairs
- ✔ You want the most refined compact with the deepest development history
Who regrets buying each one?
Pip buyers who regret it tend to be:
- Parents who didn’t have a handlebar height issue to begin with and realise the YOYO³ would have served them better overall
- Buyers who expected the handlebar to be adjustable — it’s fixed at 104.5cm, which suits tall parents but may not suit shorter ones
- Families who didn’t realise the YOYO secondhand market is significantly stronger — the resale difference can be meaningful
YOYO³ buyers who regret it tend to be:
- Taller parents who find the YOYO³’s fixed handlebar still doesn’t reach as comfortably as the Pip’s dedicated 104.5cm height
- Parents who needed from-birth suitability and didn’t budget for the separate newborn pack
- Buyers who later discovered the Pip and realised it was the right choice for their height all along
💡 The honest summary
For most buyers the YOYO³ is the stronger choice — it’s lighter, more refined, and has one of the best secondhand markets of any pushchair in this category. But the Pip exists for a reason. The owner I spoke to had tried the YOYO and found herself stooping. The Pip solved her problem directly. If you’ve noticed handlebar height as an issue with compact pushchairs and you’re buying in this premium bracket, the Pip deserves to be your first choice. If you haven’t, it probably shouldn’t be.
Read the full reviews
Also worth reading
- Best Pushchairs for Flying — how both compare for cabin travel
- Best Lightweight Pushchairs — the full compact market compared
- Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Review — another premium compact worth considering
- iCandy hub — all iCandy models reviewed
- Stokke hub — all Stokke models reviewed
About the reviewer
Mark founded MyPushchair.co.uk in 2006 after struggling to find honest, straightforward pushchair advice as a new dad. With more than 30 years in the family travel and leisure industry — and after returning to relaunch the UK’s original independent pushchair review site — he continues to test products with one aim: helping parents buy the right pushchair the first time. Read the full story →
Still not sure which is right for your situation? Get in touch — happy to help.