When it comes to travel strollers, the Bugaboo Butterfly has held the crown — at least here at Tadpole in Boston. Our customers love its easy fold, compact size, and premium feel, making it our best-selling travel stroller for quite some time.

That’s not to say the Butterfly is perfect — it lacks some features, particularly for newborns (and a snack tray for older kiddos) — but as an overall lightweight option for  frequent travelers, and even everyday rides, it’s been hard to beat.

Now, with the release of the UPPAbaby Minu V3, there’s a new contender in town. UPPAbaby clearly took inspiration from the Butterfly, adding several thoughtful upgrades that make the Minu V3 smaller, easier to fold, and more travel-friendly than its predecessor the Minu V2. But how do these two strollers really stack up compared to each other? We put them side by side for a real-world comparison — including all the things we noticed when handling both strollers in our store and outside. 

Specs at a Glance

Folding & Portability

The Minu V3 introduces a tri-fold design, meaning the seat fabric folds outward when collapsed. This leaves the seat fabric, buckle, and harness exposed which can pick up dirt from floors, trunks, or airplane bins.

In contrast, the Bugaboo Butterfly’s fold tucks everything inward, leaving only the back of the canopy exposed which helps keep the seat cleaner.

The Minu V3’s new fold mechanism is easier than the Minu V2, with no side lock, but we found the Butterfly’s fold just a touch easier overall. The Butterfly’s smaller, softer buttons are more comfortable to press, while the Minu’s buttons are larger and stiffer, requiring more finger force.

Carrying Straps: Who Wears It Better?

Both strollers come with a carry strap for easy shoulder carrying.

• On the Minu V3, the strap is longer, as it stretches out from the middle of the seat which causes the stroller to hang lower — around your thighs or even knees. This can feel awkward, especially for petite parents.

• The Butterfly’s strap is shorter and non elastic, keeping the stroller higher up on your back, which feels more balanced and ergonomic — especially if you’re shorter.

One small potential frustration we found with the Minu V3: the carry strap runs through the middle of the seat, and each time you unfold the stroller, a piece of fabric tends to bunch up. It’s easy to fix, but it’s an extra step that doesn’t exist on the Butterfly.

Seat & Comfort

The Minu V3’s big win is its newborn-friendly recline paired with a built-in infant cover that snaps over your baby for added security and privacy. This makes the Minu V3 usable from birth without extra accessories, which is a major advantage over the Butterfly.

The Butterfly seat offers a deeper seat overall, giving older babies and toddlers more legroom and comfort as they grow. However, the Butterfly isn’t newborn-ready out of the box — you’d need a car seat adapter to use it from birth.

Canopy Coverage

Both strollers feature UPF 50+ canopies, but the Butterfly’s canopy extends about an inch further, giving it a slight edge in sun protection. The Minu V3, however, adds a convenient peekaboo window that's closer to you, so you can check on your child more easily.

Wheels & Suspension

The Minu V3’s wheels are slightly larger, but the Butterfly’s wheels, though smaller, feel more substantial during use. Both offer all-wheel suspension, but the Butterfly’s suspension feels just a bit smoother on uneven terrain.

Harness & Buckle Design: A Tale of Two Systems

This is where Bugaboo really shines, but UPPAbaby also made some smart updates.

• The Minu V3 features two crotch buckle positions, allowing you to adjust for smaller babies and newborns. This flexibility makes sense for a stroller designed to be used from birth.

• The Butterfly only has one crotch buckle position, which is fine for older babies, but can feel a bit too roomy for smaller babies — not surprising, since it’s officially recommended from 6 months and up.

However, the Butterfly’s seat is deeper, giving toddlers and older babies more space to sit comfortably, especially on longer outings. Butterfly's harness straps are also padded and raised out for the way so you don't have to fish behind the baby when you're strapping them in. 

Ease of Adjustment & Buckle Feel

• Minu V3’s no-rethread harness feels a bit basic — the straps are thinner, and the buckle itself requires quite a bit of thumb force to release. 

• The Butterfly’s no-rethread harness system feels more premium and intuitive - straps are padded and raised out of baby's way as mentioned and the buckle is easier to unclip, even one-handed.

Overall Feel & Quality

Both strollers are well-made, but the Butterfly wins on materials and finishes. Everything from the fabric texture to the smooth folding action and thoughtful harness design just feels more polished.

The Minu V3 is a huge step forward for UPPAbaby’s travel stroller line, especially with its more compact fold and newborn-friendly features, but the Butterfly still holds onto its reputation as the travel stroller with the best overall feel.

The Tadpole Verdict: Which One Is Right for You?

Choose the UPPAbaby Minu V3 if:

You want a newborn-ready travel stroller with built-in infant-friendly features and you value UPPAbaby’s compatibility with Mesa/ Aria car seats. If you want one stroller to use from birth through toddlerhood, the Minu V3 is a strong option.

Choose the Bugaboo Butterfly if:

You want the smoothest fold, the most premium feel, and an easy-to-use harness system. If you’re buying for a baby over 6 months and want the best handling, easiest fold, and cleanest design, the Butterfly still reigns.

Still unsure? Test Drive Them Both at Tadpole! Come by and our team will help you find the perfect match for your family’s travel style.