mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit vs Root
Side-by-side comparison of mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit (Makeblock) and Root (iRobot Corporation (Amazon subsidiary)) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- mBot2 Rover Robotics KitChina
- RootUnited States
Year First Available
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit—
- Root2018
Verified Deployments
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit0 Deployments
- Root0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit$260 USD
- Root$199 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit5 hrs
- Root—
Availability Status
- mBot2 Rover Robotics KitACTIVE
- RootACTIVE
Layer 3: Category Specific
Max Speed
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit0.2 m/s
- Root0.1 m/s
Autonomy Level
- mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit—
- Rootsemi-autonomous
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | China | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | — | 2018 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $260 USD | $199 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Max Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 0.1 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: Payload Capacity, 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 | mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit | Root |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $260 | $199 |
| Payback period | < 1 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $249,740 | $249,801 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +96058% | +125528% |
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 mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit and Root?
mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit is made by Makeblock, based in CN. Root is made by iRobot Corporation (Amazon subsidiary), based in US.
How much does mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit cost compared to Root?
mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit is listed at $260. Root is listed at $199.
How do mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit and Root compare on the Robo Index?
mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit grades BBB on the Robo Index. Root 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 mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit and Root 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 mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit and Root?
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
mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit vs Root 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.