littleBits vs mBot
Side-by-side comparison of littleBits (Sphero) and mBot (Makeblock) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- littleBitsUnited States
- mBotChina
Year First Available
- littleBits2019
- mBot—
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- littleBits$4,790–$7,185 USD
- mBot$70 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- littleBits—
- mBot1 hrs
Availability Status
- littleBitsACTIVE
- mBotACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Max Speed
- littleBits1 m/s
- mBot0.2 m/s
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2019 | — |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $4,790–$7,185 USD | $70 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Max Speed (values differ) | 1 m/s | 0.2 m/s |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Verified Deployments, Payload Capacity, Reach, IP Rating, Autonomy Level
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 | littleBits | mBot |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,988 | $70 |
| Payback period | 1.4 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,013 | $249,930 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4075% | +357094% |
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 littleBits and mBot?
littleBits is made by Sphero, based in US. mBot is made by Makeblock, based in CN.
How do littleBits and mBot compare on the Robo Score?
littleBits scores 58.0 on the Robo Score. mBot scores 58.5. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are littleBits and mBot 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 littleBits and mBot?
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
littleBits vs mBot 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 Score is calculated.