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Robotics Buying Guide

The Complete LEGO Robotics Buying Guide for Parents (2026)

If you’re trying to figure out which LEGO robotics kit to buy your child, you’ve probably already noticed that there is an overwhelming amount of information.

Mindstorms is retired but is still a great product if you can find it used. SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime sound almost identical, but they’re not. Every “Top 10 STEM Kits” list on the internet recommends a different combination of products, most of which the author has clearly never touched. And on June 30, 2026, LEGO Education stopped selling the entire SPIKE line. The SPIKE App is still supported with updates through June 30, 2031, so a kit you already own, or one you find secondhand, keeps working.

I’m a STEM educator. I run a makerspace, I coach an FTC robotics team, and I’ve been teaching students on LEGO robotics platforms for over a decade. I use these kits every day with my students, ages 5 through 18.

Here’s what I recommend, and what the discontinuation actually changes for your family.

Quick Verdict

My #1 Pick

SPIKE Prime
~$430 · Ages 5-18 · Block + Python

Best Secondhand

Mindstorms EV3
Used · Still excellent · Pybricks support

Skip This

SPIKE Essential
~$360 · You’ll outgrow it · Only 2 ports

The Current LEGO Robotics Lineup

Until June 30, 2026, LEGO Education sold two robotics kits: SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime. Both replaced the retired Mindstorms line, and both are now secondhand-only. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

SPIKE Essential
~$360 Ages 5-8 2 ports Block coding only
Best for: Classrooms and nonprofits buying in bulk where per-unit cost matters. Not recommended for individual families.

SPIKE Essential is designed for younger learners, roughly ages 5 to 8. It uses drag-and-drop block coding, smaller builds, and story-based lessons. The hardware is solid, and the app works well. For what it is, it’s a decent product.

But I don’t recommend it. I’ll explain why below.

✓ Advantages
  • Lower price point (~$360)
  • Story-based lessons for young learners
  • Simpler interface for ages 5-6
  • Solid hardware quality
✗ Drawbacks
  • Only 2 ports for motors/sensors
  • No Python transition
  • Kids outgrow it in 1-2 years
  • You’ll end up buying Prime anyway
MY TOP PICK
SPIKE Prime
~$430 Ages 5-18 6 ports Block coding + Python
Best for: Every family. One kit that grows with your child from kindergarten through high school. The only LEGO robotics kit I recommend for home use.

SPIKE Prime is LEGO’s more advanced robotics kits. It has a larger hub, more powerful motors, a bigger sensor suite, and a build system that supports complex, ambitious projects. It starts with block coding for younger kids, then transitions to Python for older students. I use Spike Essentials for teaching younger students at work (as a nonprofit, we could purchase more kits), but it’s not the one I recommend to a parent when they ask.

✓ Advantages
  • 6 ports for motors and sensors
  • Block coding transitions to Python
  • Ages 5 through high school
  • More powerful motors and sensors
  • App supported through June 2031
✗ Drawbacks
  • Higher upfront cost (~$430)
  • Discontinued June 2026
  • Younger kids need parental guidance
  • Not better than retired Mindstorms
RETIRED BUT STILL GREAT
Mindstorms EV3
Secondhand only Ages 8-18 4 ports Multiple coding options
Best for: Families who find a complete set in good condition secondhand. Still the gold standard for depth and flexibility.

LEGO Mindstorms was the gold standard for home robotics education for over 20 years. It’s been retired, and SPIKE is the replacement. Let me be clear: SPIKE is not better than Mindstorms. Mindstorms had a depth and flexibility that SPIKE hasn’t fully matched. But Mindstorms is no longer sold new, and SPIKE is the best LEGO robotics option currently available.

If you find a Mindstorms EV3 set secondhand in good condition, it’s still a solid kit. Just be aware that the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 app and related support was discontinued on July 31, 2026. However, there are initiatives such as Pybricks to help keep Mindstorms supported.

✓ Advantages
  • Deeper and more flexible than SPIKE
  • 20+ years of community resources
  • Pybricks keeps it supported
  • Can find deals secondhand
✗ Drawbacks
  • No longer sold new
  • Official app support ends July 2026
  • Replacement parts harder to find
  • Secondhand quality varies

Why I Recommend Prime Over Essential

This is where my advice differs from most guides. Nearly every LEGO robotics article online lists Essential and Prime side by side, describes the age ranges printed on the box, and tells you to pick based on your child’s age. That’s the easy answer. It’s also the wrong one.

The price difference is about $70. For that $70, you get a kit that will grow with your child for years instead of hitting a ceiling after a year or two.

SPIKE Essential has a lower skill ceiling. Once your child masters the basics, there’s nowhere to go within the Essential platform. The natural next step is buying SPIKE Prime. So you end up spending $360 on Essential, then $430 on Prime. That’s $790 for a path that should have cost $430 from the start.

The port problem: There are only two ports for motors and sensors on Spike Essential hubs, whereas there are six ports on Spike Prime hubs. As soon as a child learns the basics, they want to plug in more motors and sensors, but are restricted with Spike Essential.

Prime’s block coding environment is simple enough for a 5-year-old to use with some guidance. The builds can start small and basic, then get more complex as your child’s skills develop. And when they’re ready, typically around age 11 to 13, the same kit transitions to Python. That’s a progression from kindergarten to high school on a single platform.

Teacher’s Note

I’ve watched this play out. A parent buys Essential because the box says “ages 6+,” their child loves it, and six months later they’re asking me what to buy next because their kid has hit the ceiling. The answer is always the same: SPIKE Prime. Save yourself the extra purchase and start there.

With the entire SPIKE line now discontinued as of June 2026, longevity matters even more. If you’re going to buy a LEGO robotics kit, buy the one that will be useful for the longest time. That’s Prime.

The Discontinuation: What Parents Need to Know

LEGO Education has discontinued the entire SPIKE portfolio, both Essential and Prime, ending direct sales as of June 30, 2026.

Important Date

June 30, 2026: LEGO Education ended direct sales of SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime. New retail stock has sold out, so a secondhand kit is now the only way to buy one.

Is SPIKE still worth buying right now?

Yes. SPIKE Prime is still the best LEGO robotics platform available for sale, and it will remain useful long after it leaves store shelves. The hardware doesn’t expire. A well-maintained SPIKE Prime kit purchased today will work just as well in 2028 or 2030 as it does the day you open it.

That said, you should buy sooner rather than later. With production stopped and new stock gone, secondhand prices may climb. Expansion sets and replacement parts will become harder to find.

What about the software?

The SPIKE App will continue to be supported with updates until June 30, 2031, allowing for continued use. The SPIKE app is required to program the hub.

What’s replacing SPIKE?

LEGO has announced an AI-focused robotics set as the successor to SPIKE. I have not used it yet. It has not been released as of this writing. I did attend a webinar on it, and I was not impressed; it appears to be a plug-and-play set with curriculum for teachers. I think it would be an excellent product to add to their product line, but right now I cannot see it replacing Spike.

I also don’t recommend products I haven’t tested with my students. When I’ve had hands-on time with the new set, I’ll publish a full review here. Until then, I can’t tell you whether it’s a worthy successor or a step backward.

Bottom line on the discontinuation: SPIKE Prime is a proven product. I’ve used it with hundreds of students. I know what it can and can’t do. If you want a LEGO robotics kit now, look for a secondhand SPIKE Prime.

What NOT to Buy

This is the section most buying guides won’t give you, because most buying guides are written by people who make money recommending everything. I make my recommendations based on what I’ve seen work and fail with my students. Here’s what I tell every parent to avoid.

mBot and similar budget robots ($60-$100)
These look great in Amazon photos and they have thousands of reviews. In practice, the builds are flimsy, the apps are buggy, and there’s no meaningful pathway to more advanced learning. My students lose interest in these within weeks. The low price is tempting, but you’re not saving money if the kit ends up in a closet within a few months.
“100-in-1” snap-together electronics kits
These kits use spring clips and pre-wired circuits. Your child isn’t learning electronics. They’re learning to follow pictures. If you want your child to actually understand circuits, get a real breadboard kit or wait for Arduino when they’re older.
“Learn to Code” robots marketed to kids ages 10+
By age 10, your child has outgrown coding toys. They don’t need another drag-and-drop app attached to a plastic robot. They need SPIKE Prime with block coding transitioning to Python, or an Arduino starter kit. Real tools, not toys with a learning label.
Any robotics kit from a brand you’ve never heard of
If the brand doesn’t have a track record in education, the odds of a quality experience are low. LEGO and VEX have decades of development behind their platforms. The no-name Amazon kit with “STEM” in the title and a 4.5-star rating probably has paid reviews and a support email that goes nowhere.
Teacher’s Note

I know these kits are tempting because of the price. I get it. But I’ve seen too many families spend $60 to $80 on a kit their child uses twice, then come to me asking what they should have bought instead. The answer is almost always a more established platform that costs more upfront but actually holds a child’s attention and teaches something real.

What to Buy Alongside SPIKE Prime

A SPIKE Prime kit is a complete starting point on its own. You don’t need to buy a bunch of extras right away. But as your child progresses, a few additions will make a real difference.

Best first addition
A Basic Tool Kit
$30-$60
Screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, and a measuring tape. Kids who build robots need to learn to use tools. Get a set with pieces sized for smaller hands. This is a small investment that teaches skills they’ll use forever.
Best for expanding builds
Extra Building Elements
Varies
LEGO sells expansion sets and additional sensors for SPIKE Prime. You don’t need these on day one, but as your child’s builds get more ambitious, extra motors, wheels, and structural pieces open up new possibilities. Buy these based on what your child is actually building, not in advance.
Best for serious builders
A Dedicated Workspace
$80-$200
Robotics projects need a surface where they can stay assembled between sessions. The kitchen table doesn’t work long-term. Even a small desk with a pegboard for tools and a few bins for parts makes a big difference. I’ll cover this in detail in a future article on setting up a home STEM workbench.
Highest impact for ages 11+
A 3D Printer (Bambu Lab A1 Combo)
$399
This is the single highest-impact addition once your child is ready for it. A 3D printer lets kids go from building with pre-made parts to designing their own. My students who have access to a printer at home progress noticeably faster because they can iterate on their designs between sessions. The Bambu Lab A1 Combo pairs the full-size A1 with the AMS lite for multi-color printing, and buying them together costs less than adding the AMS later. It’s reliable, fast, and easy for a family to set up. You’ll also want PLA filament to print with and a pair of needle-nose pliers for clearing supports. See my full 3D printer guide for the complete breakdown.

The Learning Pathway

Ages 5-8
SPIKE Prime with block coding. Start with simple builds and basic motor control. Focus on building confidence and the habit of experimenting.
Ages 8-10
SPIKE Prime with more complex builds. Introduce sensors, conditional logic, and multi-step programs. This is when kids start designing solutions to problems rather than following instructions.
Ages 11-13
SPIKE Prime with Python. Add a 3D printer for custom parts. Introduce Arduino for electronics projects. This is when STEM stops being enrichment and becomes a real skill set.
Ages 14-18
Join an FTC or FRC robotics team. Add soldering, Raspberry Pi, and independent projects. The goal at this stage is building things they design themselves and developing skills that matter for college and careers.

For the full age-by-age breakdown with specific product recommendations at every stage, visit my Start Here page.

The Bottom Line

Buy SPIKE Prime. New stock has sold out, so look for one secondhand. Essential and the cheap Amazon alternatives aren’t worth the money, and neither is any kit from a brand with no track record in education.

SPIKE Prime is the best LEGO robotics platform available right now. It works for ages 5 through high school, it transitions from block coding to Python, and it’s the kit I trust most with my own students.

When LEGO releases the new AI-focused successor, I’ll test it with my students and publish a full review. Until then, Prime is the recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SPIKE Prime too advanced for a 5-year-old?
No, but they’ll need parental guidance at first. Prime’s block coding environment is visual and intuitive. A 5-year-old won’t use all the features right away, and that’s the point. They grow into it over years instead of outgrowing it in months.
Can I still buy SPIKE after June 30, 2026?
Only secondhand. LEGO ended direct sales on June 30, 2026, and new retail stock has sold out. Resellers still list kits, but prices are higher and availability is unpredictable.
Will the SPIKE app stop working after the discontinuation?
No. LEGO has committed to supporting the SPIKE App with updates until June 30, 2031. That gives you five years of continued software support after sales end.
Is a used Mindstorms EV3 worth buying in 2026?
If you find a complete set in good condition, absolutely. Mindstorms is still an excellent platform. The official LEGO app support ends July 2026, but community projects like Pybricks are keeping Mindstorms alive with modern programming options. Just check that all pieces, sensors, and motors are included before purchasing.
What about LEGO’s new AI robotics set?
LEGO has announced an AI-focused set as the SPIKE successor. I attended a webinar on it and was not impressed. It appears to be a plug-and-play set with teacher curriculum. I haven’t used it with students yet and won’t recommend it until I do. I’ll publish a full review when it’s released.
Should I buy SPIKE Essential for my 6-year-old since it’s “designed” for that age?
No. Essential only has two ports for motors and sensors. As soon as your child learns the basics, they’ll want to plug in more, and they can’t. You’ll end up buying Prime within a year. Spend the extra $70 now and get Prime from the start. Your child can use the block coding interface at age 6 with a little help.
How does SPIKE Prime compare to VEX IQ?
Both are excellent platforms with different strengths. SPIKE Prime uses LEGO bricks (familiar to most kids) and has the block-to-Python coding transition. VEX IQ is more mechanically complex and feeds directly into VEX Robotics Competition. I’ll have a full comparison article coming soon. Either is a solid choice over budget Amazon alternatives.
I’m a teacher, not a parent. Is there a classroom-specific resource?
Yes. If you’re setting up SPIKE Prime for a classroom or robotics club rather than a single kid at home, see my 8 classroom challenges for grades 4-8, with pacing guidance and a ready-to-teach activity bundle.
For Teachers

Teaching SPIKE Prime in a classroom? My ready-to-teach bundle has 8 hands-on robotics challenges for grades 4 to 8. Each one comes printable, with student worksheets and grading rubrics built in.

Get the 8-activity bundle for $20

Not sure if SPIKE Prime is right for your child? Have a question about age, skill level, or where to start? Just ask.

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Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’d trust with my own students. Full disclosure on my About page.