Bugaboo Butterfly vs UPPAbaby MINU V2

UPPAbaby MINU V2

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Full review of the UPPAbaby MINU V2.

How They Compare

The Bugaboo Butterfly and UPPAbaby MINU V2 are both top-tier, high-quality, and relatively high-priced lightweight strollers. Both are suitable for regular use and because of its size and weight, the Butterfly makes a better travel stroller.

Weight and Folded Size

The Butterfly weighs 16.1 lbs, while the MINU V2 is slightly heavier at 16.9 lbs. The Butterfly folds compactly to only 2.0 ft³, much smaller than the UPPAbaby MINU V2, which folds to 3.3 ft³.

Steering and Maneuverability

In the course of our hands-on testing, we found noticeable differences in the steering and maneuverability between the Bugaboo Butterfly and the UPPAbaby MINU V2.

We noted that the Bugaboo Butterfly handled well on smooth surfaces, but encountered considerable difficulties on rough terrains like gravel, requiring more effort to operate. However, in our tests, it stood out for its reduced wheel vibration and noise on flat surfaces, surpassing other strollers in this regard.

From our overall steering and maneuverability ratings, the Butterfly and MINU V2, scored virtually the same with a one point lead for the MINU. We found that the Butterfly was fairly average when it came to jumping curbs, necessitating a downward force of 11 kg to lift its front wheels vs the MINU’s 10 kg, which is in line with several other models in our test group.

When it came to maintaining a straight path, we found that the Butterfly excelled, traveling an impressive 232 inches without veering from the center-line in our tests, significantly above the average of 165 inches.

We found the UPPAbaby MINU V2 to be very responsive and smooth, especially on flat surfaces. It scored well in our ease of steering tests, earning a 9 out of 10, which was higher than the Butterfly’s score of 8.

However, the MINU V2 didn’t perform as well on uneven surfaces. We noted that its wheels often turned sideways and got stuck in cracks on bumpy trails or sidewalks, which was less than ideal.

As for maintaining a straight line, the MINU V2 scored in the middle in our tests. Half of the strollers were less likely to veer off the path, and half were more likely.

Overall Manueverability Scores:

Ease of Use

In our testing, we found that both the Bugaboo Butterfly and the UPPAbaby MINU V2 stood out for their unique features, but they also had their own distinct advantages and limitations.

Starting with the storage basket, we found the Bugaboo Butterfly to be large and accessible, holding up to 18 lbs with a capacity of 0.75 cubic feet. In contrast, the UPPAbaby MINU V2, despite having a slightly smaller capacity of 0.63 cubic feet, impressed us with its accessibility from both the front and back, along with a higher weight limit of 20 lbs. However, the carry strap on the MINU V2 occasionally interfered with the basket access.

We love the fact that both of these strollers also have access to the storage basket from the front.

The MINU V2’s fabric pocket on the canopy was handy for storing small items like a phone, keys, and wallet. However, both strollers lacked a built-in parent console or cup holders, requiring additional purchases for these accessories.

Peekaboo windows were a feature on both strollers, providing a view of the baby and extra ventilation. In our experience, we liked the way the Bugaboo Butterfly’s canopy could be unzipped to reveal a large mesh section, though we also appreciated the MINU V2’s oversized window with its quiet magnetic closure.

When it comes to the handle, both strollers sported non-adjustable faux leather handles, with the Bugaboo Butterfly at 39″ high and the MINU V2 at 39.5″. In our testing, we found both handles to be rigid and secure, though the Butterfly’s handle had a small amount of give at the point of attachment to the frame.

Both strollers required assembly, with the Bugaboo Butterfly taking us just 3 minutes to set up, despite its less organized manual. The MINU V2 took us longer, with 9 minutes of assembly time, but we felt its manual deserved an 8 out of 10 for clear diagrams.

In terms of safety, we found the Butterfly’s single brake pedal that stops both back wheels comfortable and effective, though it sometimes required multiple pushes to lock. The MINU V2 also featured easy-to-understand brake pedals, color-coded for stop and green for go.

The harness systems differed significantly between the two strollers. The Bugaboo Butterfly’s buckle was solid but required snapping in all four harness clips each time, whereas the MINU V2 only required two snaps, making it easier to use in our tests. Harness strap adjustments were easy on both models.

Finally, when it came to car seat compatibility, both strollers required separate adapters, with the Bugaboo Butterfly compatible with select models from Nuna, Clek, Cybex, Kiddy Evolution, and Maxi-Cosi, as well as Bugaboo’s own Turtle Air and Turtle One seats. The MINU V2, on the other hand, was compatible with UPPAbaby’s Mesa infant car seats and with Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex car seats with the use of an adapter.

Kid Comfort

In our testing, we found that both the Bugaboo Butterfly and the UPPAbaby MINU V2 have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to kid comfort.

The Bugaboo Butterfly has a plush, cushioned seat that we found very comfortable. However, the upright seating position reclines at 51 degrees, a bit more laid back than other strollers we tested, which may limit a child’s view. The MINU sits up at a comfortable 71 degrees.

The leg rest extends and the seat fully reclines for comfortable napping, though it doesn’t lay completely flat like a bassinet. In terms of ride smoothness, the Butterfly was average, offering a good balance of vibrations and bumps.

We liked the sun canopy’s coverage of the upper body in both strollers, but noted it doesn’t cover the child’s legs or feet. The five-point harness is padded for comfort, but the stroller doesn’t come with a snack tray or cup holders.

We noticed the MINU’s sunshade can sometimes collapse when fully extended and you hit a bump.

Both strollers accommodate children up to 50 lbs, however, the Bugaboo’s seat height is 22 inches vs the MINU’s 18 inches. That extra 4 inches make the Bugaboo seat more comfortable for taller children.

The MINU’s seat is wide and deep, but the seat back is supported only by the strap used to adjust its position, which can cause discomfort when a child leans forward and the seat moves with them.

The UPPAbaby MINU V2 performed poorly in our vibration and bumpiness tests, which was surprising to us, so we repeated the test several times. This made it one of the least comfortable strollers in terms of ride smoothness. The Butterfly scored average on this test.

There are no built-in kid cup holders or snack trays, but these can be purchased separately. We found the seat reasonably comfortable, with a more upright position at 71 degrees, and the stroller reclines to a 31-degree angle for napping.

Folding and Transport

In our tests, we found that both the Bugaboo Butterfly and the UPPAbaby MINU V2 have excellent foldability, with the Butterfly scoring slightly higher.

The Bugaboo Butterfly can be folded swiftly, taking only a few seconds in our testing. To unfold the Butterfly, you need to press the white release button and pull the stroller upwards, a process we found simple and intuitive. It is operable with one hand, which we liked for its ease and convenience.

The Butterfly, when folded, is among the smallest strollers we tested, occupying just 2.0 cubic feet. However, it’s important to note that it’s 3 inches wider than what some airlines allow in an overhead compartment. Despite this, the Butterfly stays folded during transportation, and its carry strap is comfortably padded, though some might find the strap a bit short.

Turning to the UPPAbaby MINU V2, we liked the feel of its smooth and easy one-hand fold mechanism. On average, it took us about 3 seconds to fold the stroller and 4 seconds to unfold, once we got the hang of it. The MINU V2, unlike some strollers, stays securely folded during transportation, reducing the worry of it unexpectedly unfolding. The carry strap is adjustable and comfortable, a crucial feature given the stroller’s weight of nearly 17 lbs. However, when folded, the MINU V2 is larger than the Butterfly, taking up 3.3 cubic feet, and its dimensions may exceed some airlines’ overhead bin size restrictions.

In our experience, both strollers performed well in terms of folding and transportation. The Bugaboo Butterfly edged out slightly due to its compact size when folded, but both are designed with practical features that make them easy to handle and transport.

Quality and Safety

The UPPAbaby MINU V2 also has a sturdy frame and a high-quality construction. Its fasteners and zippers are robust and work smoothly.

In our sound testing, the MINU V2 measured a bit higher than the Butterfly with a 50-decibel average, making it slightly louder than the Butterfly’s 44 average decibels.

The MINU V2’s wheels are high-quality and durable, featuring rubber treads and sturdy plastic components. It also has spring suspension on all four wheels, similar to the Butterfly.

Just like with the Butterfly, we conducted pinch testing on the MINU V2. We found a few potential pinch points in the folding mechanism, leading to a score of 6 out of 10. This indicates a slightly higher risk of pinching compared to the Butterfly.

In line with all stroller manufacturers, UPPAbaby recommends keeping children away during the folding and unfolding process. The folding mechanism on the MINU V2, including the buttons, functioned reliably in our testing.

We also tested the stability of the MINU V2 by hanging a 12 lb diaper bag on the handles of the empty stroller. The MINU V2, like the Butterfly and the majority of other strollers tested, tipped over backward, underlining the recommendations by manufacturers to not hang items on strollers due to the risk of tip-overs.

UPPAbaby strollers are known for their high quality, and the MINU V2 lives up to this reputation, as did the Bugaboo Butterfly in our testing.

In comparing the two, we found that both strollers offer sturdy construction and high-quality materials. However, the Bugaboo Butterfly outperformed the UPPAbaby MINU V2 in our sound and pinch tests, making it the slightly safer and quieter option based on our results.