Sphero Mini

$50

AvailablePython from a laptopPing-pong-ball sizeCheapest SpheroFace DriveSwappable shells

≤ 1 weekShipping: Days.

Remote control: The official Sphero Edu app runs on macOS/Windows/ChromeOS (and in a browser) and drives the robot over Bluetooth LE with block or JavaScript/Python code. The unofficial spherov2 Python library (pip) also drives it directly from a laptop over BLE.

LEARN MORE (Sphero Mini) ↗

Overview

A ping-pong-ball-sized Sphero with the same Edu programming stack as BOLT at a fraction of the price. It is not waterproof (micro-USB charging port) and has fewer sensors, but it is the cheapest way into a programmable rolling robot. The Sphero Play app adds arcade games and 'Face Drive', which steers it with head movements.

Type: Rolling robot · Consumer & education
Maker: Sphero (USA)
Released: 2017
Price: $50
Status: Available
Best for: Ages 8+
Programming: Full SDK

Price and shipping

sphero.com, September 2026 (Wikipedia lists US$49). Swappable colored shells.

Shipping: Days. Sold directly by Sphero and on Amazon. Sphero Mini ↗

Specifications

Category	Spherical & rolling · Consumer & education
Released	2017
Country	USA
Availability	Available
Sales	Over 4 million Sphero robots of all lines, toys and education, by May 2020 (estimate) Sphero ↗
Programmability	Full SDK
Built-in autonomy	None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions
LLM support	Possible via SDK · Sphero Edu JavaScript/Python and the unofficial spherov2 library over Bluetooth, no built-in LLM.
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	DC / gear motors
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Arduino / ESP32 / microcontroller
Remote control	Python from a laptop
Size	42 mm (1.57 in) diameter, 46 g
Locomotion	Internal two-wheel drive cart in a snap-open shell
Compute	Not published
Camera	None
Sensors	Gyroscope, accelerometer, motor encoders, RGB LED
Runtime	~45 min
Speed	Not published
SDK	Sphero Edu: Draw, Blocks, JavaScript and Python, Sphero Play app, unofficial spherov2 Python library