Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi vs Sphero 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 Sphero Mini costs $50, so the Sphero Mini is $80 cheaper. Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding. The Sphero Mini wins 2 of 2 points we can measure.
Who wins, point by point
The Sphero Mini wins 2 of 2 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 | Mini | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $130 | $50 | Mini |
| Runtime | 3 min | 45 min (tested) | Mini |
- Best for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering
- You want to spend less (saves $80)
- You care most about runtime (45 min (tested) vs 3 min)
- Best for low cost intro to coding
- 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 app controlled
- Interaction
- Phone or tablet app
- Subscription
- None
Ping pong ball sized coding robot you drive and program by app
Full Sphero Mini review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi | Sphero Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $50 |
| 3 year cost | $130 | $50 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Companions | #8 | #7 |
| 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 app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells |
| Interaction | Freenove app for Android 5.0+ and iOS 10+, or a client on Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS | Phone or tablet app with Joystick, Tilt, Slingshot and Face Drive modes, games, and block coding or JavaScript in the Sphero Edu app |
| 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) | None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the phone's camera |
| Camera | Yes, Raspberry Pi camera module; resolution not published | No camera, microphone or location tracking on the robot; the app can use the phone's camera, mic and location (Mozilla) |
| Mobility | Four legs on 12 leg servos plus 1 head servo (Freenove docs); walking and self balancing with an MPU6050 motion sensor | Rolls inside its shell; motor encoders, gyroscope and accelerometer (Mozilla); not waterproof (TechCrunch) |
| 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 | About 45 minutes; TechRadar measured a little under 45 minutes and found it lost most of its charge overnight when idle |
| Charge time | Not published; RaspberryTips found in robot USB C charging unreliable and used an external charger | Just over an hour by Micro USB (TechRadar) |
| Size weight | Not published | 42 mm, 46 g (TechCrunch) |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Age range | Not stated by Freenove | Not published in the sources we fetched |
| 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 | low cost intro to coding |
| Skip if | it is your first robot kit | you want long battery life or a rugged toy |
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
Sphero Mini
- TechRadar: Called it a brilliant toy and highly recommended it, but play time ran a little under 45 minutes after just over an hour of charging, and a full battery could be almost empty the next day without use. Source
- TechCrunch: Hands on at launch: 42 mm and 46 g at $49.99, about half the price of Sphero 2.0, but drops waterproofing and wireless charging and is less durable; Face Drive was both fun and unnerving. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi or the Sphero Mini?
Pick the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi for budget Raspberry Pi tinkering. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding.
Which is cheaper?
The Sphero Mini at $50, versus $130 for the Freenove Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, checked Nov 12, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $130 vs $50.
What is the difference between the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi and the Mini?
Type: Build it yourself robot dog kit (FNK0050); Raspberry Pi, batteries and charger not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, Small app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells on the 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, Phone or tablet app with Joystick, Tilt, Slingshot and Face Drive modes, games, and… on the Mini. Ai features: Face recognition and ball tracing through the camera (Freenove); one reviewer could not… on the Robot Dog Kit for Raspberry Pi, None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the… on the Mini.
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