



Overview
The third-generation Mindstorms brick and a decade-long standard for school robotics and FIRST LEGO League. Its ARM9 Linux brick made it hackable, since ev3dev turns it into a small Debian computer with Python. LEGO retired the retail set in 2020 and the whole Mindstorms line at the end of 2022, but huge numbers of used sets remain.
- Type
- Modular robot · Consumer & education kits
- Maker
- The LEGO Group (Denmark)
- Released
- 2013
- Price
- Was $349.99
- Status
- Discontinued · used/leftover only
- Best for
- Ages 10+
- Programming
- Full SDK
Price and shipping
Retail set 31313 RRP (Brickset). On sale Sept 2013 – July 2020. Education Core Set 45544 sold separately.
Shipping: Used, days. Discontinued. Used and new-old-stock sets are widely available on eBay and from school surplus.
Specifications
| Category | Modular & reconfigurable · Consumer & education kits |
|---|---|
| Released | 2013 |
| Country | Denmark |
| Availability | Discontinued · used/leftover only |
| Programmability | Full SDK |
| Built-in autonomy | Reactive · Responds to its surroundings without a map, such as avoiding obstacles or following a person |
| LLM support | Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it. |
| MuJoCo simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| NVIDIA Isaac simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| Gazebo simulation | None found · Nothing found for the EV3 kit itself. |
| Best for | Ages 10+ (maker rating) |
| Vision sensors | Sonar / ultrasonic |
| Actuators | DC / gear motors |
| Audio | Speaker |
| Compute type | Other ARM chip |
| Remote control | Via SSH / web / bridge |
| Size | EV3 brick plus 601 Technic pieces (retail set), robot size varies |
| Locomotion | Any LEGO Technic build, typically 2 large motors for differential drive + 1 medium motor |
| Compute | EV3 Intelligent Brick: ARM9 CPU running Linux, USB, microSD (up to 32 GB) |
| Camera | None (color sensor only) |
| Sensors | Touch, color, infrared (retail) or ultrasonic and gyro (Education set), NXT sensors compatible |
| Runtime | Not published |
| Speed | Not published |
| SDK | LEGO's graphical EV3 software, ev3dev Debian Linux from microSD (Python, C, etc.), LeJOS (Java), Open Roberta |
Common questions
How much does LEGO Mindstorms EV3 cost?
It sold for $349.99. Retail set 31313 RRP (Brickset). On sale Sept 2013 – July 2020. Education Core Set 45544 sold separately.
Can LEGO Mindstorms EV3 be bought today?
It is discontinued, though used or leftover units still turn up. Discontinued. Used and new-old-stock sets are widely available on eBay and from school surplus.
Who makes LEGO Mindstorms EV3?
LEGO Mindstorms EV3 is made by The LEGO Group (Denmark). It came out in 2013.
Can LEGO Mindstorms EV3 be programmed?
Full SDK. LEGO's graphical EV3 software, ev3dev Debian Linux from microSD (Python, C, etc.), LeJOS (Java), Open Roberta.
Does LEGO Mindstorms EV3 have AI chat or LLM support?
Possible via SDK. No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
What age is LEGO Mindstorms EV3 for?
Ages 10+, per the maker.
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
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