Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi vs Miko Mini
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 Miko Mini costs $149, so the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi is $19 cheaper. Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Miko Mini for young kids who want a talking robot buddy. The Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi wins 2 of 3 points we can measure.
Who wins, point by point
The Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi wins 2 of 3 points we can measure. Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi | Miko Mini | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $130 | $149 | Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi |
| 3 year cost | $130 | $446 | Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi |
| Runtime | 3 min | 60 min | Miko Mini |
- You want to spend less (saves $19)
- Best for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering
- You care most about runtime (60 min vs 3 min)
- Best for young kids who want a talking robot buddy
- 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
- Small kids companion
- Interaction
- Voice first
- Subscription
- Miko Max content plan:
- Ages
- 5 to 10 years
Pocket sized voice first AI robot for kids 5 to 10
Full Miko Mini review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi | Miko Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $149 |
| 3 year cost | $130 | $446 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Companions | #8 | #9 |
| 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 | Small kids companion robot with a 2 inch screen face |
| Interaction | Freenove app for Android 5.0+ and iOS 10+, or a client on Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS | Voice first; triple MEMS microphones; parent app with usage limits and blocked hours; English only |
| 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) | AI conversation, stories, fun facts, songs and a Story Coach feature; companion app adds games and videos |
| Camera | Yes, Raspberry Pi camera module; resolution not published | Yes, wide angle HD camera with an on demand camera shutter; one way video calls from the parent app |
| Mobility | Four legs on 12 leg servos plus 1 head servo (Freenove docs); walking and self balancing with an MPU6050 motion sensor | Wheels: rubberized wheels with time of flight range sensors and odometric sensors |
| 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 | Up to 1 hour of active play and up to 15 hours on standby (Miko) |
| Charge time | Not published; RaspberryTips found in robot USB C charging unreliable and used an external charger | Not published; charges over USB Type C |
| Size weight | Not published | 4.5 x 5.3 x 6.49 in (Miko); weight not published |
| Subscription | None | Miko Max content plan: $99 per year or $14.99 per month (Miko site) |
| Age range | Not stated by Freenove | 5 to 10 years (RobotShop listing); Mumsnet suggests 7 to 9 |
| 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) | n/a |
| Best for | budget Raspberry Pi tinkering | young kids who want a talking robot buddy |
| Skip if | it is your first robot kit | you need long play time or languages beyond English |
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
Miko Mini
- Mumsnet: Reviewer's kids found it cute and engaging, and she rated it good value. It sometimes misheard commands, Dance Master songs cut off mid song, and app syncing needed a restart during setup. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi or the Miko Mini?
Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Miko Mini for young kids who want a talking robot buddy.
Which is cheaper?
The Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi at $130, versus $149 for the Miko Mini, checked Nov 12, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $130 vs $446.
What is the difference between the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi and the Miko Mini?
Type: Build it yourself robot dog kit (FNK0050); Raspberry Pi, batteries and charger not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, Small kids companion robot with a 2 inch screen face on the Miko Mini. 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, Voice first; triple MEMS microphones; parent app with usage limits and blocked hours… on the Miko Mini. Ai features: Face recognition and ball tracing through the camera (Freenove); one reviewer could not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, AI conversation, stories, fun facts, songs and a Story Coach feature; companion app adds… on the Miko Mini.
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