Overview
littleBits are small color-coded circuit boards that snap together with magnets, so circuits are built without wires, solder or code. Blue Bits are power, pink are inputs, green are outputs and orange are wires. The magnets only connect one way, so Bits cannot be attached backwards. Ayah Bdeir began littleBits in 2008 from an idea that took shape at MIT, and founded the company in New York in 2011. Robot kits followed, including Gizmos & Gadgets (2015), the Blockly-based Code Kit (2017) and the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit (2017). The Droid kit builds an R2-D2 driven by a Bluetooth control hub, with an app drive mode and a self-navigate mode using a proximity sensor. Sphero bought littleBits in August 2019 and ended the Droid and Avengers kits, the cloudBit and the Code Kit app. Sphero still sells classroom kits and single Bits. The RVR+ Topper Kit mounts Bits on a Sphero RVR, which supplies power and movement. Cubelets is the closest rival, since each of its blocks carries its own small computer.
- Type
- Modular robot · Consumer & education kits
- Maker
- Sphero, formerly littleBits Electronics (USA)
- Released
- 2011
- Price
- $189 – $479
- Status
- Available
- Best for
- Ages 8+
- Programming
- Limited SDK
Price and shipping
In an October 2026 check, Sphero listed the littleBits Invention Kit at $479 (29 Bits, classroom kit) and the RVR+ Topper Kit at $189, both available. Single Bits sell from $3 to $50. The consumer robot kits are gone. Gizmos & Gadgets launched at $199.95 in 2015, the Code Kit at $299.95 in 2017 and the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit at $99.95 in 2017. The Rule Your Room Kit was $99.95 in 2016.
Shipping: In stock at Sphero. Sphero sells the Invention Kit, the RVR+ Topper Kit and single Bits from its online store, all shown as available in an October 2026 check. The older consumer kits, such as the Droid Inventor Kit, are only found used. Sphero ↗
Specifications
| Category | Modular & reconfigurable · Consumer & education kits |
|---|---|
| Released | 2011 |
| Country | USA |
| Availability | Available |
| Sales | Hundreds of thousands of Bits modules sold by January 2014. Sphero later said millions of littleBits kits had sold in over 70 countries by August 2019 (estimate) MIT News ↗ |
| Programmability | Limited SDK |
| Built-in autonomy | Reactive · Responds to its surroundings without a map, such as avoiding obstacles or following a person |
| LLM support | None · No built-in LLM and no live control API. The codeBit is programmed with blocks or JavaScript in the Fuse app, and a micro:bit on the adapter runs MakeCode or MicroPython programs. Changes to littleBits Apps and Code Kit Support (Sphero) ↗ |
| MuJoCo simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| NVIDIA Isaac simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| Gazebo simulation | None found · Nothing found. |
| Best for | Ages 8+ (maker rating) |
| Vision sensors | No vision sensors |
| Actuators | Mixed |
| Audio | Speaker |
| Compute type | Arduino / ESP32 / microcontroller |
| Remote control | Via SSH / web / bridge |
| Size | Small circuit-board Bits joined end to end by magnetic connectors (Bit dimensions not published). The Invention Kit box is 18.6 × 3.75 × 12 in and 3.96 lb, and the Droid Inventor Kit builds an R2-D2 about 11 in tall |
| Locomotion | No fixed body. DC motor and servo Bits with wheels, motorMates and mechanical arms make rovers, arms and droids, and the Topper Kit rides on a Sphero RVR |
| Compute | No central computer. Most Bits are simple 5 V circuits that pass a signal down the chain. The codeBit, Bluetooth Bits and the former Arduino Bit (ATmega32U4, like an Arduino Leonardo) add microcontrollers. The micro:bit Adapter uses a BBC micro:bit as the brain |
| Camera | None (light, proximity and IR sensing Bits only) |
| Sensors | Input Bits include buttons, switches, dimmers, light, proximity, temperature, pressure, sound trigger, motion trigger, accelerometer and an IR remote trigger. Output Bits include LEDs, RGB LED, bargraph, number display, buzzer, speaker, fan, vibration motor, DC motors and a servo |
| Runtime | 9 V battery through a power Bit (stepped down to 5 V), or USB power and a rechargeable battery Bit (runtime not published) |
| Speed | Not published |
| SDK | Most builds need no code, since Bits are wired by snapping them in order. The littleBits Fuse app is now the only way to program the codeBit (blocks or JavaScript) and also controls the w30 BLE Bit. The micro:bit Adapter connects Bits to a micro:bit programmed in Microsoft MakeCode or the micro:bit Python editor. The Arduino Bit was programmed in the Arduino IDE. The Code Kit app was retired in June 2022, and the Droid Inventor app was pulled from app stores |
Timeline
- ReleasedlittleBits released the Gizmos & Gadgets Kit, 15 Bits for 12 projects such as a wireless rover, at $199.95. littleBits press release (La Opinión) ↗
- ReleasedThe Code Kit went on sale at about $300, with 16 Bits including the new codeBit and a Blockly-based coding app. Engadget ↗
- ReleasedlittleBits launched the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit for Force Friday II, building an app-controlled R2-D2 from six Bits. Cool Mom Tech ↗
- UpdateSphero acquired littleBits for an undisclosed sum, and founder Ayah Bdeir left the company. EdSurge ↗
- UpdateSphero retired the Code Kit app and moved codeBit programming to the littleBits Fuse app. Sphero support ↗
Common questions
How much does littleBits cost?
littleBits is listed at $189 – $479. In an October 2026 check, Sphero listed the littleBits Invention Kit at $479 (29 Bits, classroom kit) and the RVR+ Topper Kit at $189, both available. Single Bits sell from $3 to $50. The consumer robot kits are gone. Gizmos & Gadgets launched at $199.95 in 2015, the Code Kit at $299.95 in 2017 and the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit at $99.95 in 2017. The Rule Your Room Kit was $99.95 in 2016.
Can littleBits be bought today?
Yes, it is on sale. Sphero sells the Invention Kit, the RVR+ Topper Kit and single Bits from its online store, all shown as available in an October 2026 check. The older consumer kits, such as the Droid Inventor Kit, are only found used.
Who makes littleBits?
littleBits is made by Sphero, formerly littleBits Electronics (USA). It came out in 2011.
Can littleBits be programmed?
Limited SDK. Most builds need no code, since Bits are wired by snapping them in order. The littleBits Fuse app is now the only way to program the codeBit (blocks or JavaScript) and also controls the w30 BLE Bit. The micro:bit Adapter connects Bits to a micro:bit programmed in Microsoft MakeCode or the micro:bit Python editor. The Arduino Bit was programmed in the Arduino IDE. The Code Kit app was retired in June 2022, and the Droid Inventor app was pulled from app stores.
Does littleBits have AI chat or LLM support?
None. No built-in LLM and no live control API. The codeBit is programmed with blocks or JavaScript in the Fuse app, and a micro:bit on the adapter runs MakeCode or MicroPython programs.
What age is littleBits for?
Ages 8+, per the maker.
Ratings & reviews
Ratings and reviews load on the live site.
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littleBits Invention Kit (Sphero) ↗ · littleBits RVR+ Topper Kit (Sphero) ↗ · littleBits products and apps (Sphero support) ↗ · Wikipedia ↗ · Sphero and littleBits press release (2019) ↗ · MIT News (2014) ↗ · Engadget, Code Kit launch (2017) ↗ · MobileSyrup, Droid Inventor Kit hands-on (2017) ↗