Updated August 2021
After Sphero 2.0, the remote-controlled app-enabled robot ball, was shipping at the holiday season of 2011, Sphero released Sphero SPRK, the educational version robot ball in 2015 and Sphero SPRK+, a new version of its educational robot in 2016. Then in 2017, Sphero Mini was launched with a smaller size and much more affordable price tag. Then on September 2018, came Sphero BOLT. The programmable tank-tracked kit called the Sphero RVR has been released in October 2019. The Sphere 2.0 is discontinued now. Sphero robots are among the best robot toys in the market now.
Most Advanced Sphero Robot: Sphero BOLT
Sphero BOLT is one of Sphero’s more traditional robots and is its most advanced offering yet. This is the next step on from the SPRK+. Much like the SPRK+ that came before it, the BOLT is a remote-controlled programmable robotic ball that meant to teach kids science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). It’s an educational toy at its heart, but one that’s packed with a bunch of fun gaming modes for almost anyone to enjoy.
The design of the Sphero BOLT is almost identical to many other products from the same company. It includes many of the same core components as the original Sphero ball that debuted in 2011. What’s changed in this version is there are now a few extra components that give the ball more features and capabilities. It’s also slightly more expensive than previous Sphero toys, but that extra cost goes into some really exceptional components. This model has the most sensors of the various Sphero robots, including motor encoders, gyroscope, accelerometer, 8×8 LED matrix display, compass, infrared, and light sensors. What sets the BOLT apart from all of the Sphero toys that came before it is several remarkable advanced sensors, bigger battery, programmable LED matrix that can be seen through the clear casing, and faster charging times. It is also backwards compatible with previous Sphero toys and works with existing Sphero software.
Check the price and customer reviews of Sphero BOLT
Sphero BOLT’s New/Enhanced Components and Features
8×8 Matrix of LEDs
Our favorite new feature is the large 8×8 matrix of LEDs, which is featured in the center of the ball, the first to be included in one of Sphero’s robotic balls. It can display a rainbow of lights or be programmed with images and animations. The display can show battery life and the product’s name for pairing over Bluetooth. You can also customize the graphics on the LEDs for different games and activities.
Infrared (IR) Sensors
Facing outward on the four corners at the top of the hull, you will see four black infrared (IR) sensors. BOLT’s 360º infrared blasters give the BOLT some very lightweight mapping capabilities, react to objects in front of the device, more importantly, allow it to send and receive information between BOLT balls. This is Sphero’s first attempt to make robot-to-robot interactions happen, and up to five BOLTs within about five meters can communicate. This could mean programming multiple balls to interact for classrooms where potentially dozens of balls could be used to share data, send messages, and trigger commands.
Built-in Compass
Sphero has added a compass, giving it the ability to automatically orient itself when you pick it up and start driving. The newly built-in compass has resolved one of the biggest issues plaguing Sphero since the original model, which has been figuring out which direction is forward on the robotic ball. The compass enables a feature is called “auto aim” that automatically figures out which direction is forward. This is a huge addition to anyone who’s played with the older variants.
Ambient Light Sensor
BOLT can better sense the world around it through its new ambient light sensor, allowing for coding based on your space’s brightness. Expand the programming experience by creating triggers, conditionals, and other programming concepts that work with all levels of light.
Bigger Battery
BOLT’s battery life is doubled and then some.
Check the price and customer reviews of Sphero BOLT
Enhanced STEAM Environment
Sphero has remained focused on its original mission to create STEAM educational toys. Sphero BOLT works with the existing SpheroEDU platform, the educational app that lets you drive your robot and run programs. It’s backward compatible with all the content for the existing SPRK+ model, but the app is improved to work with BOLT in some amazing new ways that incorporate all of the new hardware features. What’s great bout the SpheroEDU app is that walks users through increasingly difficult levels of coding. A student could theoretically start with the “Draw” programming tool made for beginners, advance to the “Blocks” programming tool a few years later, and eventually graduate to full-blown text programming with Javascript. As you advance, SpheroEDU lets you see how the code translates from one language to another. Meanwhile, you can always export your “Block” or “Draw” code to actual Javascript. No matter which level you are at, Sphero still keeps things easy for the end user. It’s essentially a drag-and-drop programming interface.
Used in Classrooms
Sphero has designed the BOLT to be used in classrooms, taking advantage of the BOLT’s swarm capabilities by pairing up multiple robots. To make it easier for teachers to get onboard, it’s also selling the Sphero BOLT in batches of 15. They’ll come in a “Power Pack” carry case that lets the owner easily transport them, as well as charging all 15 bots together over a 6 hour period.
The Verdict
Finally, it’s worth noting that the polycarbonate outer layer is extremely durable. It’s designed to take a beating. Comparing to the older Sphero robotic balls, you still have an accelerometer and gyroscope inside as well, along with a motor that can go up to 4.5 miles per hour. What you won’t find in the BOLT is an internal speaker (probably in an effort to keep the casing sealed), so you’ll have to rely on the companion app and smartphone for sound. Even with all the new technology jammed into the ball, Sphero kept the size of the product the same — roughly the size of a baseball. If you want something smaller, look towards the Sphero Mini, which we will cover next, but it won’t be quite as advanced.
Sphero BOLT is pretty impressive. Sphero is making the product more comfortable and easier to use for everyone. This isn’t some single use toy robot, but rather a fun and compelling one that will last long time and grow with the user. The Sphero BOLT is great value, even it’s also slightly more expensive than previous Sphero toys. For the money, you get a fun little robot that might also inspire you to build something yourself with your new coding skills. For anyone looking for an educational toy, this is a no-brainer.
Check the price and customer reviews of Sphero BOLT
Most Affordable Sphero Robot: Sphero Mini
The addition joins Sphero’s original lineup of round robots, packing many features found in its bigger siblings into a ball just 42 mm (1.7 in) wide. Inside that tiny shell is a gyroscope, accelerometer, LED light, Bluetooth chip and a battery, and cramming all that in there. The price tag is reduced dramatically to a third of the original Sphero 2.0 or Sphero SPRK+ robot ball. It comes with seven popular colors: black, white, orange, blue, green, pink, red as well as golf and soccer styles. It is not waterproof like his big siblings. Check Sphero Mini price and customer reviews below:
Check the price and customer reviews of Sphero Mini
Most STEM Orientated Sphero Robot: Sphero SPRK+, The Fun-filled Robotic Ball Also Equipped as a Coding Tool
From the original Sphero 2.0 robotic ball, the robot ball has grown up to teach coding, without losing any of its fun side. SPRK – which stands for Schools/Parents/Robots/Kids. Sphero SPRK+ turns all that robotic energy potential into a tool to teach coding skills to kids/parents/teachers. 
The Sphero SPRK+ robot, unlike previous Sphero toys, is now in a mesmerizingly translucent shell that shows all the robot’s inner mechanism. You can see what happens when one of your coded commands acts out its moves in the ball, not just in the actions but within the actual ball itself. The Sphero SPRK+ ball is pretty hardy, as kids are encouraged to drop it six inches onto the floor and make it collide with things. SPRK+ has got a scratch-resistant and waterproof polycarbonate shell with strong coating on the outside.
Sphero SPRK+ robot has programmable sensors and LED lights. Kids set simple commands to roll, flip, spin, and change color to create increasingly complex instructions for their Sphero robot to follow. The user-friendly Sphero Edu app (free) (SPRK Lightning Lab in older version) is approachable for beginners, with its Scratch-like visual building blocks of code. With the tap of an icon SPRK+ can reveal the underlying text-based code – using its own C-based OVAL programming language – for more advanced programmers. Immediately kids see the connection between the program they created and how the guts of their Sphero work and react. While kids are having fun they are learning the complex principles of computer programming, math and science and applying them to physical world. There are over 4,500 teachers in 20 countries have used SPRK to teach 90,000 students, range from elementary school through high school.
SPRK+ is equipped with Bluetooth SMART, a new tap-to-connect feature that increases the ease of use specifically for teachers in the classroom.
With Sphero Edu app, users can also program a whole line of other robots from Sphero, including Sphero BOLT, Sphero Mini, Sphero RVR, and Ollie.
Check the price and customer reviews of Sphero SPRK+
Coolest Sphero Robot: Sphero RVR
Sphero RVR, the latest programmable robot kit in Sphero robot family, is advertised as a “go anywhere, do anything programmable robot.” It is basically a monster truck you can program yourself. It can handle the great outdoors. Its all-terrain treads make a satisfying whirring noise as they turn. The chassis itself is solid too, and feels like it could withstand a knock or two.
It’s very easy to set up and get going. Just slide the battery in and you’re good to go. A light lets you know when it’s powered up, and you can change its color easily using the app. It has impressive range with Bluetooth connection , and is great fun to drive. You don’t need to get coding to start using it, you can just use it as a remote control car you drive using the app on your phone. Which means it’s good to go right out of the box.
If you want to do more than just drive it through puddles splashing onlookers, the Sphero RVR has a host of programming options to play. It takes coding instructions from the app on your smartphone. It can also take its orders from a Raspberry Pi, an Arduino or BBC micro:bit.
Using the Sphero Edu app (the same one that controls the Sphero Bolt, and other Sphero robots), you can program the robot to perform a series of actions. For example, you can have it turn at a certain angle, move forward for a set number of seconds, flash its lights, make noises and even say phrases. The app is pretty simple to use, and is suitable for all levels, from beginners to experts. You can set action with blocks then fill in the blanks to customize it. It is so visual that a child could master it. The RVR also plays nice with mini coding computers. The programming can get more complicated with JavaScript code. The Sphero RVR robot is modular, with various sensors and boards able to be attached, including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, BBC micro:bit, and Sphero’s own littleBits. Coders are going to love it.
On-board sensors include color, light, IR, a magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope, so you have plenty of options at your fingertips. You can even take photos and videos of it in action using the in-app camera, and record your adventures from the RVR’s viewpoint using an optional add-on camera (which costs extra). Perfect for adrenaline junkies.
