# Pollen Robotics (Hugging Face) Reachy Mini review

Open source desk robot kit with expressive head, for AI tinkerers

- Our score: not scored yet
- Price: $499 (checked Nov 4, 2026)
- Status: on sale
- Best for: makers learning AI and robotics
- Skip if: you want a ready made companion that just works
- HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/robot/pollen-robotics-reachy-mini/

## Verdict

Reachy Mini is a charming, fully open desk robot for people who want to build and code their own AI companion. Hands on testers liked the kit quality but hit setup bugs, network problems and a loose cable. Skip it if you want a plug and play assistant, because it expects Linux and Python comfort.

## Pros

- Fully open source hardware and software
- Expressive 6 DoF head with camera, mics and speaker
- Large library of community apps
- Solid kit that families built in 2 to 3 hours

## Cons

- Setup bugs and broken docs reported by testers
- APIs and web UI open by default with no login (Geerling)
- Price rose from $449 to $499 for Wireless
- No published battery life

## Specs

- type: DIY kit desk robot with a moving head, antennas and rotating body; Wireless and Lite versions share the same body
- interaction: Voice conversation app, head and antenna motion, community apps from the Hugging Face hub; SDK in Python and JavaScript (CNX Software)
- ai features: Runs AI apps on a connected computer or the cloud; Jeff Geerling found the conversation app connects to OpenAI without asking for consent
- camera: Wide angle camera; Geerling found a Raspberry Pi Camera Module 2 behind a fisheye lens. Four microphones and a 5W speaker (Pollen, CNX Software); Liliputing reported two mics on Lite at launch
- mobility: Stationary; 6 DoF head, 9 servo motors in total (CNX Software). Wireless version works with an optional hoverboard base (Pollen)
- compute: Wireless: built in Raspberry Pi CM4 per Pollen and Geerling (launch coverage said Raspberry Pi 5). Lite: no onboard computer, runs from a Mac, PC or Linux machine over USB
- battery runtime: Wireless has a built in battery; runtime not published. Lite has no battery
- size weight: About 280 x 160 mm (11 x 6.3 in), about 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) (Liliputing, CNX Software)
- assembly: Ships as a kit; Pollen says about 2.5 hours. Geerling built it in under 2 hours; Make's Dale Dougherty took about 3 hours
- subscription: None; AI apps that use cloud models may need your own API account
- age range: Not published by Pollen; aimed at developers and makers
- charge time: Not published

## Safety

- recalls: Not checked
- fcc: Not checked
- company status: Active; Pollen Robotics is owned by Hugging Face

## Questions buyers ask

### What is the difference between Wireless and Lite?

Wireless has a built in Raspberry Pi CM4, battery, Wi-Fi and accelerometer. Lite has none of these and runs from your computer over USB. Both share the same body, camera, mics and speaker.

### Does it come assembled?

No. Both ship as a kit. Pollen says about 2.5 hours; testers took 2 to 3 hours.

### Does it need an internet AI service?

The conversation app uses a cloud model; Jeff Geerling found it connects to OpenAI. Running models locally needs a strong GPU computer.

## Sources

1. [Pollen Robotics: Reachy Mini page with prices](https://pollen-robotics.com/reachy-mini)
2. [Jeff Geerling: Testing Reachy Mini](https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/testing-reachy-mini-hugging-face-robot/)
3. [Make: Reachy Mini and Rocky](https://makethings.make.co/p/reachy-mini-and-rocky)
4. [Liliputing: Reachy Mini launch specs](https://liliputing.com/hugging-faces-reachy-mini-is-an-open-source-robot-aimed-at-developers-priced-at-299-and-up/)
5. [CNX Software: Reachy Mini specs](https://www.cnx-software.com/2026/03/24/hugging-face-reachy-mini-open-source-ai-robot-computer-raspberry-pi-5/)
6. [Level Up Coding: first look at Reachy Mini](https://levelup.gitconnected.com/my-five-month-wait-for-a-desk-mate-a-first-look-at-reachy-mini-6813c90a1755)