Miko Mini vs Sphero Mini
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Miko Mini costs $149 and the Sphero Mini costs $50, so the Sphero Mini is $99 cheaper. Pick the Miko Mini for young kids who want a talking robot buddy. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding. The Sphero Mini wins 2 of 3 points we can measure.
Who wins, point by point
The Sphero Mini wins 2 of 3 points we can measure. Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Miko Mini | Mini | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $149 | $50 | Mini |
| 3 year cost | $446 | $50 | Mini |
| Runtime | 60 min | 45 min (tested) | Miko Mini |
- You care most about runtime (60 min vs 45 min (tested))
- Best for young kids who want a talking robot buddy
- You want to spend less (saves $99)
- Best for low cost intro to coding
- 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 →- 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
| Miko Mini | Sphero Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 | $50 |
| 3 year cost | $446 | $50 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Companions | #7 | #6 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | n/a |
| Type | Small kids companion robot with a 2 inch screen face | Small app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells |
| Interaction | Voice first; triple MEMS microphones; parent app with usage limits and blocked hours; English only | 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 | AI conversation, stories, fun facts, songs and a Story Coach feature; companion app adds games and videos | None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the phone's camera |
| Camera | Yes, wide angle HD camera with an on demand camera shutter; one way video calls from the parent app | No camera, microphone or location tracking on the robot; the app can use the phone's camera, mic and location (Mozilla) |
| Mobility | Wheels: rubberized wheels with time of flight range sensors and odometric sensors | Rolls inside its shell; motor encoders, gyroscope and accelerometer (Mozilla); not waterproof (TechCrunch) |
| Battery runtime | Up to 1 hour of active play and up to 15 hours on standby (Miko) | 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; charges over USB Type C | Just over an hour by Micro USB (TechRadar) |
| Size weight | 4.5 x 5.3 x 6.49 in (Miko); weight not published | 42 mm, 46 g (TechCrunch) |
| Subscription | Miko Max content plan: $99 per year or $14.99 per month (Miko site) | None |
| Age range | 5 to 10 years (RobotShop listing); Mumsnet suggests 7 to 9 | Not published in the sources we fetched |
| Best for | young kids who want a talking robot buddy | low cost intro to coding |
| Skip if | you need long play time or languages beyond English | 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
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
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 Miko Mini or the Sphero Mini?
Pick the Miko Mini for young kids who want a talking robot buddy. Pick the Sphero Mini for low cost intro to coding.
Which is cheaper?
The Sphero Mini at $50, versus $149 for the Miko Mini, checked Nov 4, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $446 vs $50.
What is the difference between the Miko Mini and the Mini?
Type: Small kids companion robot with a 2 inch screen face on the Miko Mini, Small app controlled robot ball with colored LED and swappable colored shells on the Mini. Interaction: Voice first; triple MEMS microphones; parent app with usage limits and blocked hours… on the Miko Mini, Phone or tablet app with Joystick, Tilt, Slingshot and Face Drive modes, games, and… on the Mini. Ai features: AI conversation, stories, fun facts, songs and a Story Coach feature; companion app adds… on the Miko Mini, None (Mozilla Privacy Not Included); Face Drive reads your expressions through the… on the Mini.
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