Kiwi vs Mini
Side-by-side comparison of Kiwi (University of Southern California) and Mini (Sphero) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Kiwi—
- MiniUnited States
Year First Available
- Kiwi2016
- Mini2017
Verified Deployments
- Kiwi0 Deployments
- Mini0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- Kiwi$4,500 USD
- Mini$130 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kiwi—
- Mini1 hrs
Availability Status
- KiwiACTIVE
- MiniACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Kiwi4 kg
- Mini20 kg
Reach
- Kiwi—
- Mini1,700 mm
Max Speed
- Kiwi—
- Mini1 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Kiwisemi-autonomous
- Mini—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | — | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2017 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $4,500 USD | $130 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 4 kg | 20 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 1,700 mm |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 1 m/s |
| Autonomy Level (values differ) | semi-autonomous | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: IP Rating
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Kiwi and Mini?
Kiwi is made by University of Southern California. Mini is made by Sphero, based in US.
When were Kiwi and Mini launched?
Kiwi launched in 2016. Mini launched in 2017.
How much does Kiwi cost compared to Mini?
Kiwi is listed at $4,500. Mini is listed at $130.
How do Kiwi and Mini compare on the Robo Index?
Kiwi grades A on the Robo Index. Mini grades AA. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Kiwi and Mini in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Education on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Kiwi and Mini?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: The Education Robot Vendor RFP: Questions and Red Flags.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
The Education Robot Vendor RFP: Questions and Red Flags
10 min readEducation Robots
A 90-Day Classroom Robotics Rollout Playbook
9 min readEducation Robots
Decision Framework: Matching Robots to Grade Band and Learning Goals
10 min readEducation 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
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About this comparison
Kiwi vs Mini compares two robots in the education category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.