Comparison

Sphero Play vs Kosmos Super Sphere

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sphero Play

Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.

Highlights
  • Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
  • Robot-controlled games
  • Block Drive programming
  • Sports-themed drive modes
  • Voice control
Features
Read full description

Drive and play games from ONE app with your Sphero Mini, Sphero 2.0, SPRK, SPRK+, BOLT, and BOLT+. Connect and control your robots with several exciting drive modes, use your robot as a controller to play games, or try out Block Drive for an intro to programming with colorful blocks. Features include: DRIVE MODES Drive your robots several ways with the Sphero Play app. Use the joystick and slingshot controls, tilt your device, or use your voice. Our sports-themed drive modes keep things fun with the ability to swing your device to "golf"*, or flick to "kick" your robot. BLOCK DRIVE PROGRAMMING Learn programming basics by controlling your robot with colorful movement and light blocks. GAMES Use your robot as a controller to shoot your way through space, race your vehicle through a tunnel avoiding obstacles and scoring points, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Need robots? We know a guy. Visit sphero.com and order today. *This mode is not available on iPads.

About

Kosmos Super Sphere

This app allows users to control and program a rolling robotic sphere and other robots built from a robotics kit. It features a remote control interface and a visual programming language, enabling users to create custom commands based on sound detection.

Highlights
  • Remote control interface
  • Visual programming language
  • Sound sensor programming
  • Build and program 7 robots
  • Movement-activated on-off switch
  • Bluetooth connectivity
Features
Read full description

For use with the “Robotics: Smart Machines – Super Sphere” robotics and engineering kit by Thames & Kosmos ABOUT ROBOTICS: SMART MACHINES – SUPER SPHERE The Super Sphere kit allows you to build and program seven amazing robots, including a spherical robot: an awesome, nine-inch-diameter, rolling robotic sphere! With this app installed on a supported Bluetooth-enabled device, you can remotely control and program your Super Sphere and other robots. Drive your robot using the remote-control interface in the app, or write programs using the easy, visual programming language in the app. The onboard sound sensor lets you program your robots to perform specific sequences of commands in response to the number of claps (or other loud sounds) that it detects. HOW TO USE: We suggest you read and follow the instructions step by step in the manual included in the kit. Here is an overview of the instructions for building and using the Super Sphere to get you oriented: 1. Download and install the app. 2. Follow the assembly instructions on page 14 to build the first model, the Super Sphere. Make sure you have inserted the batteries into the Bluetooth battery box correctly according to the instructions on page 2. 3. Shake the model until the blue light on the Bluetooth battery box turns on, indicating that the module is on. The module automatically turns off after about a minute of inactivity to save battery power. You simply have to jiggle the model when you want to turn it on again. It’s a movement-activated on-off switch! 4. Now you can connect the tablet or smartphone to the model via the free app. Follow the instructions at the bottom of page 7. 5. To drive the Super Sphere in remote control mode, follow the instructions on page 8 and the driving tips on pages 22–23. 6. To run a program on the Super Sphere, follow the instructions on page 24. For detailed explanations of how the programming mode of the app works, refer to pages 9–13. Try editing the program for Super Sphere, or writing your own from scratch. 7. Now, proceed with building the other models, one at a time, and running the sample programs given on the programming page found after the assembly. ***** Questions or suggestions for improvements: Mail to apps@kosmos.de We are looking forward to your feedback! *****

Screenshots

Sphero Play4 screens
Kosmos Super Sphere4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sphero Play at 69% against Kosmos Super Sphere's 25%. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (37K vs 22). Kosmos Super Sphere's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 25% of Kosmos Super Sphere's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sphero Play versus Kosmos Super Sphere: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSphero PlayKosmos Super Sphere
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (37K ratings) — better3.9 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews69.1% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings37K — better22
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSphero, Inc.Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co. KG

Customer experience

Sphero Play

All ratings36,681 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews517 reviews
Positive69.1%
Neutral6.2%
Negative24.8%

Kosmos Super Sphere

All ratings22 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral9.1%
Negative22.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Sphero Play

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Joystick controls not working as expected
  • Alignment issues causing unexpected movement

Requested features

4 requests
  • More games and activities
  • Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
  • Improved aiming and control precision
  • Camera integration to see the Sphero's view

Kosmos Super Sphere

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sphero Play

No in-app purchases

None

Kosmos Super Sphere

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sphero Play free?
Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kosmos Super Sphere free?
Kosmos Super Sphere is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or Kosmos Super Sphere?
Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Kosmos Super Sphere averages 3.9 from 22 ratings.
Do Sphero Play or Kosmos Super Sphere have ads?
Neither Sphero Play nor Kosmos Super Sphere shows ads.

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