Aibo vs SwitchBot KATA Friends
Side-by-side comparison of Aibo (Sony) and SwitchBot KATA Friends (SwitchBot US) — specs, pricing, Robolist Product Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AiboJapan
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsUnited States
Year First Available
- Aibo2018
- SwitchBot KATA Friends2026
Verified Deployments
- Aibo0 Deployments
- SwitchBot KATA Friends0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- Aibo$2,900
- SwitchBot KATA Friends$699
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Aibo2 hrs
- SwitchBot KATA Friends3 hrs
Availability Status
- AiboACTIVE
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsACTIVE
Physical
Robot Weight
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friends3.5 kg
Dimensions
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friends250x300x300
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Aiboother
- SwitchBot KATA Friendslidar slam,hybrid
Power
Battery Runtime
- Aibo2 hrs
- SwitchBot KATA Friends3 hrs
Charge Time
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friends8 hrs
Auto Docking
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsYes
Integration
Elevator API
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsYes
PMS / POS Integration
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsNo
Fleet Management
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friendsnone
Floor Compatibility
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friendshard floor,low pile carpet
Display & UX
Voice Interaction
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA FriendsYes
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Aibo$2,900
- SwitchBot KATA Friends$699
RaaS / Month
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friends$14.99
Warranty
- Aibo—
- SwitchBot KATA Friends1 yrs
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | 2026 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $2,900 | $699 |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 2 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Robot Weight (values differ) | — | 3.5 kg |
| Dimensions (values differ) | — | 250x300x300 |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | other | lidar slam,hybrid |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (values differ) | 2 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Charge Time (values differ) | — | 8 hrs |
| Auto Docking (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Elevator API (values differ) | — | Yes |
| PMS / POS Integration (values differ) | — | No |
| Fleet Management (values differ) | — | none |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | — | hard floor,low pile carpet |
| Display & UX | ||
| Voice Interaction (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $2,900 | $699 |
| RaaS / Month (values differ) | — | $14.99 |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 1 yrs |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload, Tray Count, Compartment Type, IP Rating, Max Speed, Min Passable Width, Hot-Swap Battery, Display Size, Noise Level, Languages Supported
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Aibo and SwitchBot KATA Friends?
Aibo is made by Sony, based in JP. SwitchBot KATA Friends is made by SwitchBot US, based in US.
When were Aibo and SwitchBot KATA Friends launched?
Aibo launched in 2018. SwitchBot KATA Friends launched in 2026.
How much does Aibo cost compared to SwitchBot KATA Friends?
Aibo is listed at $2,900. SwitchBot KATA Friends is listed at $699.
Are Aibo and SwitchBot KATA Friends in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Hospitality Service on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Hospitality Service robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Hospitality Service TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Service Robot TCO Across Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Senior Care.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Aibo and SwitchBot KATA Friends?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Service Robot SLAs and Contract Red Flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Service Robot TCO Across Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Senior Care
9 min readService Robots
Service Robot SLAs and Contract Red Flags
10 min readService Robots
Service Robot Pilot: A 60-Day Evaluation Framework
10 min readService Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
About this comparison
Aibo vs SwitchBot KATA Friends compares two robots in the hospitality-service category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robolist Product Score is calculated.