littleBits vs Professor Einstein
Side-by-side comparison of littleBits (Sphero) and Professor Einstein (Hanson Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- littleBitsUnited States
- Professor EinsteinHong Kong
Year First Available
- littleBits2019
- Professor Einstein2017
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- littleBits$4,790–$7,185 USD
- Professor Einstein$249 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- littleBits—
- Professor Einstein3.5 hrs
Availability Status
- littleBitsACTIVE
- Professor EinsteinACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Payload Capacity
- littleBits—
- Professor Einstein0.1 kg
Reach
- littleBits—
- Professor Einstein1,400 mm
Max Speed
- littleBits1 m/s
- Professor Einstein—
Autonomy Level
- littleBits—
- Professor Einsteinsemi-autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | Hong Kong |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2019 | 2017 |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $4,790–$7,185 USD | $249 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | — | 3.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Payload Capacity (values differ) | — | 0.1 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 1,400 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: Verified Deployments, 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 | littleBits | Professor Einstein |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,988 | $249 |
| Payback period | 1.4 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,013 | $249,751 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4075% | +100302% |
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 Professor Einstein?
littleBits is made by Sphero, based in US. Professor Einstein is made by Hanson Robotics, based in HK.
When were littleBits and Professor Einstein launched?
littleBits launched in 2019. Professor Einstein launched in 2017.
How do littleBits and Professor Einstein compare on the Robo Score?
littleBits scores 58.0 on the Robo Score. Professor Einstein scores 60.6. 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 Professor Einstein 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 Professor Einstein?
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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
littleBits vs Professor Einstein 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.