Makeblock mBot2
from about €133from $149.99from about AED 551from US$149.99
OffersmBot2 vs Alvik
Two wheeled learning robots for kids and schools. Both start with blocks in mBlock, then Python (mBot2) or MicroPython and the Arduino language (Alvik).
Arduino Alvik
from €159from $140from about AED 658
OffersWhich one?
Makeblock mBot2
Choose mBot2 if you want the widely used classroom robot: mature course material, up to 20 cm/s and about 5 hours per charge. Code it in blocks or Python.
Arduino Alvik
Choose Alvik for a robot that grows with the learner: an 8×8 distance sensor, colour sensor and touch buttons, MicroPython and the Arduino language. It takes LEGO Technic, Qwiic and Grove add-ons and has an official EU store.
Makeblock mBot2: Why it’s on our list
- Widely used school robot with mature curriculum
- Low price, expandable with Makeblock parts and LEGO bricks
- Official affiliate and reseller programs
Arduino Alvik: Why it’s on our list
- Many sensors for the price: a multizone distance sensor, colour, line and motion sensing let it react to its surroundings on its own.
- It grows with the learner: blocks from age 7, MicroPython from 12, then the Arduino language and add-on sensors via Qwiic and Grove.
- From Arduino, the Italian open-hardware company, with an official EU store and a school curriculum.
Makeblock mBot2: What bothers us
- Entry level, not a ROS/AI research platform
- Official store does not ship to the EU
- Official US store currently out of stock (pre-order)
Arduino Alvik: What bothers us
- Slow (up to 13 cm/s) and small: a learning robot, not a ROS or research platform.
- No camera, so no vision-based AI.
- Battery runtime is not stated in the official specs.
Side by side
| Side by side | Makeblock mBot2from about €133from $149.99from about AED 551 (clearly better)from US$149.99 | Arduino Alvikfrom €159from $140 (clearly better)from about AED 658 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Available to order | Available to order |
| Controller | CyberPi, dual-core 240 MHz Xtensa LX6, 8 MB flash + 8 MB PSRAM | Arduino Nano ESP32 (ESP32-S3) + STM32 Cortex-M4 co-processor |
| Sensors | Quad RGB line sensor, ultrasonic sensor, gyro/accelerometer, light, microphone | 8×8 time-of-flight distance (up to 350 cm), RGB colour, 3 line followers, 6-axis IMU, 7 touch buttons |
| Drive and speed | Encoder motors, up to 20 cm/s | 2 DC motors with magnetic encoders; up to 13 cm/s |
| Battery | 2500 mAh LiPo, ~5 h; ~1 h charge | Replaceable 18650 Li-ion battery; USB-C charging |
| Programming | mBlock (blocks) and Python; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Blocks (mBlock), MicroPython, Arduino language |
| Expansion | Makeblock parts and LEGO bricks | 4 LEGO Technic and 8 M3 mounts; 2 servo, 2 Qwiic and 2 Grove connectors |
In bold: the clearly better figure, only where the numbers compare directly.
| Checked | Makeblock mBot2: 27.09.2026 | Arduino Alvik: 28.09.202606.10.2026 |
|---|
Facts and prices from the makers and official sellers, with the date we last checked. Antarum does not sell robots; some links on the robot pages are affiliate links.
Short answers
Which is cheaper, mBot2 or Alvik?
In the US, Alvik: from $140 at Arduino’s US store, mBot2 from $149.99 at Makeblock, where it was on pre-order when we checked. In Europe, Alvik costs from €159 incl. VAT in Arduino’s official store. Makeblock’s own store doesn’t ship to the EU, so mBot2 is sold there through retailers; converted from the US price before tax: from about €133.
Which is better for school?
Both are made for it. mBot2 is a widely used school robot with mature course material. Alvik comes with a school curriculum from Arduino and grows with the learner: blocks from age 7, MicroPython from 12, then the Arduino language.
Which one runs longer on a charge?
mBot2 runs about 5 hours and charges in about 1 hour. For Alvik, Arduino’s official specs give no runtime; it uses a replaceable 18650 battery that charges over USB-C.
What is the main difference?
Speed and sensors. mBot2 drives up to 20 cm/s and has an ultrasonic sensor, a quad RGB line sensor and a microphone. Alvik is slower, at up to 13 cm/s. It has an 8×8 time-of-flight distance sensor (up to 350 cm), a colour sensor and 7 touch buttons. Qwiic and Grove connectors take add-on sensors.
Can I code them in Python?
Yes, both: mBot2 in Python, Alvik in MicroPython. Both also work with blocks in mBlock, and Alvik with the Arduino language too.
What next?
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