Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi vs Makeblock mBot2
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 12, 2026
As of Nov 12, 2026, the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi costs $130 and the Makeblock mBot2 costs $150, so the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi is $20 cheaper. Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Makeblock mBot2 for kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python. The Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi wins 1 of 1 points we can measure.
- Type
- Build it yourself robot
- Interaction
- Freenove app
- Subscription
- None
Budget Raspberry Pi robot dog kit with camera and Python code
Full Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi review, pros and cons →- Type
- Wheeled robot kit
- Interaction
- 1.44 in color screen
- Subscription
- None
- Ages
- 8 and up
Metal build it yourself coding robot with Scratch and Python
Full Makeblock mBot2 review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi | Makeblock mBot2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $150 |
| 3 year cost | $130 | $150 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Companions | #8 | #10 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | Not published on the store page; Freenove lists free technical support | n/a |
| Type | Build it yourself robot dog kit (FNK0050); Raspberry Pi, batteries and charger not included | Wheeled robot kit with metal chassis that kids assemble, run by the CyberPi controller |
| Interaction | Freenove app for Android 5.0+ and iOS 10+, or a client on Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS | 1.44 in color screen on CyberPi, buttons, RGB lights; driven by code or the mobile app (B&H, The Canadian Homeschooler) |
| Ai features | Face recognition and ball tracing through the camera (Freenove); one reviewer could not get ball following or face recognition working out of the box (Engineered.at) | Wi-Fi on CyberPi for internet and AI based coding projects in mBlock; no built in companion personality |
| Camera | Yes, Raspberry Pi camera module; resolution not published | No camera in the base kit; a camera add on is sold separately (The Canadian Homeschooler) |
| Mobility | Four legs on 12 leg servos plus 1 head servo (Freenove docs); walking and self balancing with an MPU6050 motion sensor | Two encoder motors with 1 degree accuracy, up to 200 rpm (B&H) |
| Battery runtime | Uses 2 x 3.7V 18650 cells, sold separately; runtime not published. RaspberryTips found the motors needed rest after about 3 minutes of continuous use | Built in rechargeable lithium ion battery charged by USB; runtime not published |
| Charge time | Not published; RaspberryTips found in robot USB C charging unreliable and used an external charger | n/a |
| Size weight | Not published | Robot size not published; package 8.7 x 7.4 x 4.1 in, 2.5 lb (B&H) |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Age range | Not stated by Freenove | 8 and up (Makeblock, per The Canadian Homeschooler); the reviewer suggests 10 and up |
| Compatible boards | Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B and 3A+ recommended; Zero and older boards need extra parts (Freenove) | n/a |
| Coding | Python, with complete source code and online tutorials (Freenove) | n/a |
| Sensors | Ultrasonic distance module, MPU6050 motion sensor, LED module, buzzer (Freenove docs) | Ultrasonic distance sensor, quad RGB line and color sensor, light sensor (Jessica Boschen, B&H) |
| Compute | n/a | CyberPi with ESP32-WROVER-B, 8 MB flash, Wi-Fi, stores 8 programs (B&H) |
| Programming | n/a | Block coding in mBlock 5 (Scratch based) and Python (B&H, The Canadian Homeschooler) |
| Best for | budget Raspberry Pi tinkering | kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python |
| Skip if | it is your first robot kit | you want a companion with a personality |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi
- RaspberryTips: Build took about 5 to 6 hours on a Pi 3A+; tricks, sensors, app and tutorials worked, but calibration had to be redone, two servos and the camera failed and were replaced by Freenove, USB C charging was unreliable, and motors needed rest after about 3 minutes. Source
- Engineered.at: Reached a working state after tinkering, but advertised red ball following and face recognition did not work out of the box, a picamera2 update broke video until the repo was fixed, and video control over VNC had noticeable WiFi lag. Source
Makeblock mBot2
- What I Have Learned Teaching (Jessica Boschen): Her 12 year old built it alone, with one part upside down, and wrote Scratch programs using the ultrasonic, line and light sensors. Highly recommended it, noting minor connectivity issues. Makeblock supplied the unit. Source
- The Canadian Homeschooler: Kids aged 11 and 9 assembled it without help. A motor in the wrong port made it spin in circles, setup was the hardest part and firmware updates often fixed issues. Suggested ages 10 and up. Makeblock supplied the unit. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi or the Makeblock mBot2?
Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Makeblock mBot2 for kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python.
Which is cheaper?
The Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi at $130, versus $150 for the Makeblock mBot2, checked Nov 12, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $130 vs $150.
What is the difference between the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi and the mBot2?
Type: Build it yourself robot dog kit (FNK0050); Raspberry Pi, batteries and charger not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, Wheeled robot kit with metal chassis that kids assemble, run by the CyberPi controller on the mBot2. Interaction: Freenove app for Android 5.0+ and iOS 10+, or a client on Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, 1.44 in color screen on CyberPi, buttons, RGB lights; driven by code or the mobile app… on the mBot2. Ai features: Face recognition and ball tracing through the camera (Freenove); one reviewer could not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, Wi-Fi on CyberPi for internet and AI based coding projects in mBlock; no built in… on the mBot2.
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