Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot — Which One Should You Choose?
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot — Which One Should You Choose?
Selecting the right robotics kit for learning can feel overwhelming, especially when factoring in age, skill level, and educational objectives. Among the most popular options are Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit and Makeblock mBot, each offering distinct features and advantages.
This comparison dives into the strengths and limitations of both kits, helping you determine which one aligns best with your needs—whether you’re introducing your child to robotics for the first time or aiming to enhance their learning with more advanced tools.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot: Overview
We now gather detailed information of all these peoducts and summarize it in a chart for clarity.
| Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit | Makeblock mBot | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75.99 | $72.99 |
| Mechanical Materials | Acrylic chassis | Aluminum alloy chassis |
| Age | 12+ | 6+ |
| Controller | ELEGOOUNO R3(Arduino compatible) | mCore (Based on Arduino UNO) |
| Play Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Charging Time | Unknown | 3 hours |
| Coding Language | Block-based Arduino | Block-based Arduino |
| Connection Methods | Bluetooth
IR USB | Bluetooth
IR USB |
| Sensors | Camera Module *1
Ultrasonic Sensor *1 Line-tracking *1 GY-521 Module *1 | Infrared Receiver *1
Infrared Transmitter *1 Light Sensor *1 RGB LED*2 Ultrasonic Sensor *1 Line-follower Sensor *1 |
| Number of motors | 4 DC geared motors | 2 DC geared motors |
| Compatibility | Compatible with Arduino electronic modules | 500+ makeblock electronic & mechanical parts LECO bricks |
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot: Durability
When it comes to durability, Makeblock mBot shines as a reliable and practical choice. Built with high-quality aluminum alloy, mBot is designed to withstand wear and tear, making it perfect for repeated assembly and everyday use. This durability is particularly beneficial for kids around six, who may not always handle electronics with care.
Beyond its sturdy construction, mBot offers exceptional value, especially during Black Friday sales, striking a perfect balance between quality and affordability. Its resilience and cost-effectiveness make it an excellent option for both families and educators.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit features a predominantly plastic frame, prioritizing a lightweight design. While this makes it easier to handle, it falls short in terms of durability, limiting its suitability for younger children or frequent use. Additionally, some users may find that the nuts and screws become loose after a few uses, which could affect the overall stability and longevity of the kit.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot: Expandability
mBot excels in expandability, offering a user-friendly experience that is particularly well-suited for beginners and educators. Along with the electronic modules included in the kit, users can easily extend their projects by adding Makeblock RJ25 system modules. These modules are fully supported in the mBlock software, allowing users to implement new features quickly and effortlessly without needing to tackle complex programming or wiring.
Additionally, mBot is compatible with LEGO bricks, encouraging creative construction and seamless integration with other systems. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for educational purposes and STEM projects, providing both simplicity and endless possibilities for exploration.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit relies on Arduino-based modules, which are more challenging to expand, especially for beginners. These modules require intricate wiring and a higher level of programming expertise, which can be intimidating for those without prior experience. While this approach offers advanced flexibility and power for experienced users, it is significantly less accessible to novices and younger learners, making it less suitable for introductory education settings.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot: Features
Coding
mBot utilizes mBlock, a versatile graphical programming software developed by Makeblock, offering users extensive cross-platform compatibility. Whether on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebooks, or mobile devices, mBlock ensures flexibility and accessibility across different devices. Based on Scratch, mBlock stands out with its rich and flexible block-based design, catering to a wide range of users — from beginners learning coding fundamentals to advanced users working on complex projects.
To further enrich the coding experience, Makeblock offers physical Coding Box, a curated toolkit designed to expand programming activities. This hands-on resource seamlessly integrates with mBot ecosystem, providing learners with engaging opportunities to explore coding concepts interactively.
For Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit V4, it uses its proprietary ElegooKit software, which is limited to iOS and Android mobile devices. While this may be convenient for mobile users, the lack of support for PC platforms significantly reduces its usability in diverse learning environments.
Additionally, some younger or entry-level users may find it challenging to code with ElegooKit, as it lacks pre-built coding blocks, making it harder for beginners to get started without prior experience.
ElegooKit features a simpler block-based programming system, suitable for beginners. However, while it serves basic learning needs effectively, it lacks the flexibility and depth needed for more advanced or creative projects, making it less adaptable for users who wish to explore more sophisticated coding challenges.
Building
mBot is thoughtfully designed for simplicity and flexibility, offering a modular building experience that is both engaging and educational. Its high-quality parts are easy to assemble, enabling users to quickly build and customize their robot with minimal frustration.
Clear instructions and a sturdy design make mBot particularly well-suited for young learners, while its modular nature provides ample opportunities for advanced modifications as users gain experience.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit delivers a solid building experience, with well-made components that support straightforward assembly. However, its design leans more toward basic construction, with less flexibility for creative customization.
While Elegoo kit is excellent for foundational learning, it offers fewer opportunities for expansion or personalization beyond the included instructions, making it less versatile than the mBot for fostering long-term engagement and growth.
Makeblock mBot: Kid's First Robot Kit for DIY and STEM Learning
Playing
mBot is crafted with fun and interactivity at its core, making it an excellent choice for play-based learning. Its modular design allows kids to quickly assemble their robot and dive into experimenting with various movements and actions. Equipped with multiple sensors, including light, sound, and infrared, mBot enables a diverse range of playful activities such as obstacle avoidance, line following, and remote-control operation, keeping kids engaged and entertained while learning.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit provides basic functionalities like movement and obstacle avoidance, but it lacks the variety of sensors and creative customization options that make the experience more engaging for children. While it serves as a good starting point for beginner-level play, Elegoo kit falls short in delivering the enriched interactivity and flexibility.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit VS. Makeblock mBot: Usage Scenarios
For Family Education
mBot is thoughtfully designed for beginners and family education, making it an excellent tool for introducing robotics to children. Its simplified motor design, featuring just two motors, enhances energy efficiency and simplifies control, ensuring a smoother and more accessible learning experience for kids and parents alike.
One of mBot’s standout features is its compatibility, which opens up endless creative possibilities. This allows children to expand and customize their robots, extending their engagement and making family learning sessions more enjoyable and interactive.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit is also a valuable educational tool but is geared towards older children aged 12 and above. Its assembly process is more complex, and it requires advanced components to achieve basic functionality, making it less suitable for younger learners.
Additionally, Elegoo Smart Robot Car includes fewer built-in sensors, meaning families may need to purchase additional modules to unlock its full potential. This added complexity and cost can be a challenge for those just beginning their robotics journey.
Some users have also reported issues with the sensors, such as unresponsiveness, which can further complicate the learning experience and affect the kit’s overall performance.
For School Education
mBot is an excellent resource for enhancing classroom learning, offering a combination of intuitive features and engaging hands-on experiences. Equipped with built-in sensors like infrared receivers and light sensors, mBot eliminates the need for additional components, simplifying setup and reducing costs—an important advantage for schools.
Additionally, Makeblock offers enriched teaching resources that complement the mBot, including detailed lesson plans, tutorials, and project ideas. These resources are designed to help educators maximize the potential of the kit, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit presents some challenges for classroom use. While its Arduino-based design provides greater flexibility for advanced projects, it demands a higher level of technical understanding, which can be difficult for beginners. Schools may also need to purchase additional components to unlock the kit's full functionality, posing a potential barrier for institutions with limited resources or time.
Moreover, Elegoo kit’s complex wiring and assembly process can slow down the learning experience, requiring more instructional time and potentially hindering student engagement. This makes it less practical for classrooms that prioritize accessibility and efficiency.
Conclusion
Makeblock mBot stands out as the ideal choice for families and educators seeking a robotics kit that is accessible, engaging, and beginner-friendly. Its user-friendly design, simplified two-motor system, and built-in sensors make it perfect for children aged 6 and up.
Additionally, its integration with mBlock software offers an intuitive and enjoyable coding experience, allowing kids to explore robotics and programming without feeling overwhelmed.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit is better suited for older children or those with prior experience in robotics and programming. While it offers more advanced customization and flexibility, its complexity in assembly and programming can pose challenges for younger or less experienced learners.
In Summary, both kits bring valuable features to the table, but mBot’s simplicity, versatility, and educational focus make it the superior choice for most young learners and classroom settings.
