Little Sophia vs Photon
Side-by-side comparison of Little Sophia (Hanson Robotics) and Photon (Photon Entertainment) — 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
- Little SophiaHong Kong
- PhotonPoland
Year First Available
- Little Sophia2019
- Photon2017
Verified Deployments
- Little Sophia0 Deployments
- Photon0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Little Sophia$249 USD
- Photon$215 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Little Sophia2 hrs
- Photon8 hrs
Availability Status
- Little SophiaACTIVE
- PhotonACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- Little Sophia0.1 kg
- Photon—
Max Speed
- Little Sophia0.6 m/s
- Photon0.4 m/s
Autonomy Level
- Little Sophiasemi-autonomous
- Photonsemi-autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Hong Kong | Poland |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2019 | 2017 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $249 USD | $215 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 2 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 0.1 kg | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.6 m/s | 0.4 m/s |
| Autonomy Level | semi-autonomous | semi-autonomous |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Reach, IP Rating
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Little Sophia | Photon |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $249 | $215 |
| Payback period | < 1 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $249,751 | $249,785 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +100302% | +116179% |
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Little Sophia and Photon?
Little Sophia is made by Hanson Robotics, based in HK. Photon is made by Photon Entertainment, based in PL.
When were Little Sophia and Photon launched?
Little Sophia launched in 2019. Photon launched in 2017.
How much does Little Sophia cost compared to Photon?
Little Sophia is listed at $249. Photon is listed at $215.
How do Little Sophia and Photon compare on the Robo Index?
Little Sophia grades AA on the Robo Index. Photon grades A. 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 Little Sophia and Photon 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 Little Sophia and Photon?
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
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A 90-Day Classroom Robotics Rollout Playbook
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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
Little Sophia vs Photon 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.