All over our shop you'll read Classic (Mini) and XL (Midi). If you're new, that won't mean much to you at first. Here's what's behind it.
One thing up front, because it's the most common misunderstanding: XL means bigger pixels, not more material. If you order XL because it sounds like more, you get fewer pixels for the same area, not more.
The two pixel sizes
Classic (Mini) is the original pixel, on the market since 2006. One pixel measures 2.5 by 2.5 millimeters and sits on exactly one pin.
XL (Midi) is the larger version. One pixel measures 5 by 5 millimeters and covers four pins at once, two by two.
If you're searching for Pixelhobby Mini or Pixelhobby Midi, these two are exactly what you mean.
How many pixels you really place
The difference between the two is quickly explained with a picture in mind.
A regular base plate has 40 by 50 pins, so 2000. With Classic (Mini) you place 2000 pixels. With XL (Midi) it's 500.
On the small base plate with 24 by 24 pins, it's 576 versus 144.
The pixel squares hold different amounts, too. A Classic (Mini) square holds 140 pixels, an XL (Midi) square 60. The squares themselves are the same size for both.
How many colors there are
Classic (Mini) has 314 colors. XL (Midi) has 36.
That sounds like a disadvantage for XL (Midi), but it's often exactly the other way around. With 314 colors, lots of similar skin tones sit side by side, and telling them apart isn't that easy. With 36 colors, you find every color again right away.
The color numbers are the same for both sizes. Number 100 is the same white in Classic (Mini) as in XL (Midi), and 441 is the same black. So you can mix without converting anything.
What fits on which plates
The base plates themselves are neutral. There is no Classic plate and no XL plate, just plates with pins. What you fill them with is up to you.
Both sizes fit on the small and on the regular base plate.
With the medallion, that doesn't work. The pixel area is 11 pins wide, and 11 is an odd number. After five XL (Midi) pixels, a row one pin wide is left over that no XL (Midi) pixel can fill. So a medallion can't be pixeled with XL (Midi) alone.
Mixed, though, it does work, and that's not a makeshift solution but a way to get even more creative, this time in a tactile way. The XL (Midi) pixels are slightly taller than the Classic (Mini) pixels, 4 instead of 3 millimeters. A single XL (Midi) pixel in a Classic area therefore sticks out by one millimeter and can be felt with your finger.
The Bio base plate has 46 by 46 pins and is also called the large base plate. It's the only one that is white and not transparent. You can't place the template underneath it, so here you have to count. Both pixel sizes fit on it.
Can you take the pixels off again?
Yes, in both sizes. It's easier with XL (Midi), because you can grab the pixels well with your fingers. For a child who tries things out and then changes their mind, that's the decisive advantage.
The comparison with fuse beads is obvious, but there's one important difference: with Pixelhobby, nothing falls off when someone bumps the table. Anyone who has ever lost a finished fuse bead picture on the way to the ironing board knows what that's worth.
There's no ironing or gluing with us anyway. You can hang up the finished picture right away, or take it apart again and start over.
From what age
The age recommendation is printed on the packaging of each individual set. It depends on the set, not on the pixel size.
For the XL (Midi) pixels themselves, it's from 4 years. For Classic (Mini), it's from 6 years. The recommendation that applies to a complete set is on the package and on the product page.
You'll find the details in the post What Age Is Pixelhobby Suitable For?
Is there a set with all colors?
For Classic (Mini), yes. The School Set contains every Classic (Mini) color once, plus a color chart and a large set box.
For XL (Midi), there is no set that contains all colors together with base plates. You can still get all 36 colors at once, namely with Pixelhobby XL (Midi) - Colors in the variant with all 36 colors.
Why there are more designs in Classic (Mini)
In our shop you'll find considerably more pictures in Classic (Mini) than in XL (Midi). That's simply down to the colors. With 314, a design can be shaded more finely than with 36.
You can still design your own pictures in both sizes, for free with the online designer, including for medallions and heart medallions.
So which one should you pick?
If you want to pixel a photo or a highly detailed picture, go with Classic (Mini).
If you want a visible result quickly, work with children or like to pixel on the go, go with XL (Midi).
And if you'd rather not decide: the color numbers are the same in both sizes. You're allowed to mix.
You'll find materials for both pixel sizes here: Colors Classic (Mini) · Colors XL (Midi) · Base Plates · Medallions and Keychains · XL (Midi) Magnet Sets · Pixelhobby Classic (Mini) - small starter set · Accessories