When it comes to precision ironing for quilting, sewing, and crafting, a reliable mini iron can make all the difference. Oliso has long been a favorite among makers, with its compact yet powerful Mini Project Iron gaining a solid reputation for its performance and portability. But now, Oliso has stepped up its game with the release of the Mini Pro3, promising upgraded features, more power, and a professional-grade experience in the same compact form.
So how do these two mini powerhouses stack up against each other? Whether you’re deciding which one to buy or wondering if it’s worth upgrading, this comparison will help you understand the key differences—and which iron might be the better fit for your creative workflow.
I’m covering:
- Why I started using the Mini Project Iron
- Putting the Mini Project Iron to the Test
- Why I Switched to the M3Pro
- Comparison Highlights
- A Note on Steam Capabilities
- Final Thoughts: Which One is Right for You?
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
Why I started using the Mini Project Iron
After sharing my research and your feedback on the Oliso ProPlus iron, I thought you might be interested in hearing more about my experience with the Mini Project Iron.
The amount that I’ve been using this cutie in the sewing studio surprised me. I hadn’t planned this; it just kinda happened. I’d been in the midst of a half-rectangle triangle (HRT) making marathon session, and that meant lots of pressing action. Which led to some pain flaring up in my hand and wrist. Evidently, my hand wasn’t too happy with all that flipping action – ha!
So, I gave it a little rest and then went on the hunt for a new iron. One that didn’t require any flipping 😉 This led me to the research and feedback I shared in this blog post. While I was waiting to figure out which iron I was going to purchase, I opted to use the iron I typically reserve for when I travel – my adorable Mini.
Putting the Mini Project Iron to the test
Since I didn’t usually use the Mini Project Iron for extensive periods of time, this gave me a chance to really put it to the test. Here’s what I discovered:
Pros
- She heats up quickly
- She glides beautifully
- She doesn’t require any flipping
- She’s light
- She stores easily
- She gets the job done
Cons
She gets hot. There’re a couple of spots on the handle that get quite hot after prolonged use. I’m talking over a 4-to-6-hour period. I’m putting this cutie through some intense pressing and waiting sessions. Since it doesn’t have an auto shut-off, she just sits there getting steamy. It was a comment that Nicole shared about hers and how she almost burned herself. So, definitely something to be cautious about.
She’s got an awkward handle. The way you have to hold the iron can feel a little odd. It also put pressure on my thumb area that was already irritated. I found myself wishing I could wrap my hand around a handle, which had me dreaming about the ProPlus Iron.
She’s got a tight solemate – that silicone base is amazing at protecting your surfaces from heat damage, but she’s a sucker to put back on.
Why I Switched to the M3Pro
You might be wondering if I loved my smaller one, why was I switching to the M3Pro? Well, first off, an upgrade was not on my radar. I’m not the type of consumer who needs to buy the latest and greatest version of things; however, when I reached out to my friends at Oliso to inquire about changes they had made to their irons, they ended up sending me one to test out.
Since I always find reviews super helpful in helping me decide on products, I thought sharing my insights with you might be helpful, too 😉
This brings me to the pros the new M3Pro offers in your quilty pressing adventures:
Pros
- She’s got an on/off button – I love that I have the visual of whether she’s on or not
- She auto-shuts off! I love this feature, as I often fire my iron up in the morning and don’t turn it off again until the evening!
- She’s got an improved dial! It’s easier to turn and clicks, notifying you of which setting you’re on
- She’s got a little light to illuminate your projects
- She heats up quickly
- She glides beautifully
- She doesn’t require any flipping
- She’s light
- She stores easily
- She gets the job done
- For those who use steam, there are more steam holes in the newer version
- The solemate is easier to remove and reattach. It glides easily on and off. No wrangling like the previous one.
Cons
Nothing is perfect in life, so why would our irons be any different, right?! I’m happy to report the cons list is quite small, and Oliso has done a great job of addressing some of the issues that popped up with the original mini.
- Cord Location – The cord comes out from the side instead of from the bottom. I’m on the fence about this change. So far, I’ve found the cord gets in the way more than it used to. This is particularly true when pressing larger pieces of fabric (think FQ and up).
Comparison Highlights
If you already have a Mini Project Iron on hand, then you certainly don’t need to run out and replace your working iron. However, if you’re in need of adding one to your sewing space or plan on travelling frequently for sew-ins, then I can attest to enjoying using these.
There are some added features, such as the auto on/off, the clear button indicating whether the iron is on or off, that are great additions to the new mini. But they both have great heating and gliding capabilities.
A Note on Steam Capabilities
I don’t use steam in my irons anymore, so I can’t speak to their steam capabilities. If you’re looking to extend the life of your iron, then I encourage you to pick up a fine mist spray bottle to create your own steam when needed.
That said, I did notice that the new M3Pro has more steam holes than the original, and they are spread out over a larger surface of the soleplate. Even without using/testing the steam function, I can see how this modification would improve the steam capabilities.
Final Thoughts: Which One is Right for You?
I’m a firm believer that the tools and notions we use in our quilty adventures are super personal. What I love might not be what you love. With that said, I was surprised by how much use I’ve gotten out of my mini irons.
They heat up incredibly well, stay hot for a long period of time, and glide effortlessly over my fabric and projects. If you spend a lot of time pressing yardage and large quilt backings, then perhaps a larger iron would be better for you. But if you mostly work on smaller projects and are looking for an iron that doesn’t put too much pressure on your hand, then the mini M3Pro is a great option!
I especially love how transportable the minis are and fit snuggly in my improv triangle bags. I also love that it doesn’t take up too much space at my pressing station.
For more pressing insights, check out:
- You can see my full pressing essentials in this blog post.
- See my Sunday Studio Maintenance habits here.
- Why I upgraded my wool pressing mat.
What About You?
Have you tried using a mini project iron? I’d love to hear about your experience, and hopefully it will help guide fellow makers in their own iron purchases!
Happy pressing 😊
xo,
Shannon
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I went out years ago and purchased the Mini. I’ve only used it for travel sewing. I”ll have to give it a try for piece work sewing. I found the same issues as you, the hand grip was awkward, and certain areas were quite hot that should not be. But I do like the silicone resting mat and the cord that comes out the back. If I were left handed I don’t think the new one would work well unless they sold a R and L iron? Either way, I think Oliso makes a great little iron. Thank you for your honest review!
Sounds like we’ve had similar experiences, Cynthia! And you make such a good point about if you’re right vs. left handed – hadn’t thought of that!
I have the MP3 Pro and I love it. I like the on/off button that you can see whether the iron is on or not. It does heat up fast and is light. The only problem I have is the steam buttons on the grip make it somewhat awkward for me to handle. I have rheumatoid arthritis and the thumb buttons just get in the way. I do not use the steam aspect as I just use a water bottle to mist my pieces.
I love the on/off button that illuminates, too, Sally! Such a small change but one that I’ve found I truly appreciate!
I did not buy an Oliso mini and got another brand. That was recalled and I never bought another. Reading this review makes me feel like it is time to invest in the new Oliso M3. Hmmm….. Christmas is coming! Thanks for the review it was helpful.
Thrilled to hear the review is coming in handy, Jace! Perfect timing for your Christmas wish list 🙂
Thanks for the comparisons. I bought the mini several years ago. I have the larger Oliso and wanted something lighter and smaller for my small projects, which are most of what I do. I absolutely hate the dial. It’s so hard to turn, but other than that it works fine. I’m glad they made some improvements. That cord placement on the new one would be a problem. Thank again for your review.
I agree, Lynda, the dial on the older model was difficult to turn, the new one definitely solves that problem!
I’m left-handed, and I swore long ago that I’d never buy another iron with a cord coming out of the side. It definitely gets in the way and also manages to get caught on dangling fabric when ironing yardage. I can do many things right-handed (not ironing, though), and I can adapt for many other things. But why should I have to for irons, when I can get a very good iron with the cord coming out the back, where it doesn’t get in my way?
I’m right handed and I find the cord coming out the side to get in the way, too, Sandy. Especially, as you say, when pressing yardage.
Similar to another poster, I bought another brand that was recalled & then received the Oliso Mini as a Christmas gift a few years back. I like to use it when I am starting a project & the pieces are small. It saves time going back to the ironing board using my wool mat on the table. I found the dial hard to use & do use it often, as the iron gets too hot so I turn it off while cutting or sewing. The silicon mat is hard to remove & recently cracked during removal. It still works, but now has a crack at the tip. Aside from that, I do use the iron often & take it with me on quilt retreats.
I hear you about the dial being a little difficult to turn, Colleen. The newer version is much easier to turn and the auto-off function keeps it from getting crazy hot. Thank you for sharing about your silicone base cracking, I hadn’t heard of that issue before.
Thanks for this post. I have the original version and I agree that the only downside is how hot it gets. Was there any change with this in the newer model? Thanks so much.
Yes, there was! While the new one still gets nice and hot, I don’t find the handle gets toasty like the previous model.
I’ve had the Pro 3 for quite a while I love it. One thing you didn’t mention is that the Pro 3 cord can be switched to the other side for a left-handed person – it tells you that in the instructions and you can Google how to switch it. I see that several people commented that it’s not for left-handed people. But I agree, the cord coming out the back would be better, although I haven’t had too many issues with the side. I use it mostly for small piecing but it does work great for bigger quilt blocks too.
I totally missed that feature, Cindy! Thank you for pointing it out, I bet that tip will come in handy for all the left-handed quilters 🙂
Thank you for that tip! So Oliso did think of everything to make this mini an improvement over their 1st one.
Agreed! They really thought of all the angles!