Makeblock mBot2 vs Sphero Mini
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Makeblock mBot2 costs $150 and the Sphero Mini costs $50, so the Sphero Mini is $100 cheaper. Pick the Makeblock mBot2 for kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding. They split the points we can measure, 1 each.
Who wins, point by point
They split the points we can measure, 1 each. Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| mBot2 | Mini | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $150 | $50 | Mini |
| Release year | 2021 | 2017 | mBot2 |
- You want the newer model (2021 vs 2017)
- Best for kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python
- You want to spend less (saves $100)
- Best for low cost intro to coding
- 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 →- 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
| Makeblock mBot2 | Sphero Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $50 |
| 3 year cost | $150 | $50 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Companions | #8 | #6 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | n/a |
| Type | Wheeled robot kit with metal chassis that kids assemble, run by the CyberPi controller | Small app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells |
| Interaction | 1.44 in color screen on CyberPi, buttons, RGB lights; driven by code or the mobile app (B&H, The Canadian Homeschooler) | 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 | Wi-Fi on CyberPi for internet and AI based coding projects in mBlock; no built in companion personality | None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the phone's camera |
| Camera | No camera in the base kit; a camera add on is sold separately (The Canadian Homeschooler) | No camera, microphone or location tracking on the robot; the app can use the phone's camera, mic and location (Mozilla) |
| Sensors | Ultrasonic distance sensor, quad RGB line and color sensor, light sensor (Jessica Boschen, B&H) | n/a |
| Mobility | Two encoder motors with 1 degree accuracy, up to 200 rpm (B&H) | Rolls inside its shell; motor encoders, gyroscope and accelerometer (Mozilla); not waterproof (TechCrunch) |
| Compute | CyberPi with ESP32-WROVER-B, 8 MB flash, Wi-Fi, stores 8 programs (B&H) | n/a |
| Programming | Block coding in mBlock 5 (Scratch based) and Python (B&H, The Canadian Homeschooler) | n/a |
| Battery runtime | Built in rechargeable lithium ion battery charged by USB; runtime not published | About 45 minutes; TechRadar measured a little under 45 minutes and found it lost most of its charge overnight when idle |
| Size weight | Robot size not published; package 8.7 x 7.4 x 4.1 in, 2.5 lb (B&H) | 42 mm, 46 g (TechCrunch) |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Age range | 8 and up (Makeblock, per The Canadian Homeschooler); the reviewer suggests 10 and up | Not published in the sources we fetched |
| Charge time | n/a | Just over an hour by Micro USB (TechRadar) |
| Best for | kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python | low cost intro to coding |
| Skip if | you want a companion with a personality | 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
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
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 Makeblock mBot2 or the Sphero Mini?
Pick the Makeblock mBot2 for kids 10 and up moving from blocks to Python. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding.
Which is cheaper?
The Sphero Mini at $50, versus $150 for the Makeblock mBot2, checked Nov 4, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $150 vs $50.
What is the difference between the mBot2 and the Mini?
Type: Wheeled robot kit with metal chassis that kids assemble, run by the CyberPi controller on the mBot2, Small app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells on the Mini. Interaction: 1.44 in color screen on CyberPi, buttons, RGB lights; driven by code or the mobile app… on the mBot2, Phone or tablet app with Joystick, Tilt, Slingshot and Face Drive modes, games, and… on the Mini. Ai features: Wi-Fi on CyberPi for internet and AI based coding projects in mBlock; no built in… on the mBot2, None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the… on the Mini.
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