Comparison

Sphero Play vs LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

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

LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

Enhance your LEGO Technic building experience with augmented reality. Interact with models through realistic simulations, games, and educational content. Explore vehicles and learn about engineering with interactive AR challenges.

Highlights
  • AR model interaction
  • Realistic sound effects
  • Robotics and engineering learning
  • Racing car simulations
  • Interactive mini-games
  • Life-size model viewing
  • X-ray view
Features
Read full description

Take your LEGO® Technic™ experience to a new level of realism: • Get unique experiences designed especially for each LEGO Technic AR model. • Enjoy realistic sound effects and lifelike features and functions. • Learn about robotics, engineering, rock sampling and more when you combine the AR app with the LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance (42158) model. • Explore LEGO Technic racing cars using the AR app to see the racetrack appear in front of you as you test your racing skills, play mini-games and beat your own record, and see trackside features like pitstops or grandstands appear (dependent on the model you are playing with). • Take the Yamaha MT-10 SP for a test drive in AR with throttle, brakes, gear shifting and driver dashboard, all based on the real Yamaha controls. See how the real vehicle or the LEGO model would look, life-size in your room, or use the x-ray view to see inside the motorcycle. Here are some models you can explore with the AR app… • LEGO Technic Formula E® Porsche 99X Electric (42137) • LEGO Technic Ford Mustang Shelby® GT500® (42138) • LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance (42158) • LEGO Technic Yamaha MT-10 SP (42159) … and the list keeps growing! (Remember that each of these sets is sold separately.) Each of these models comes with its own unique AR experience. Whether it’s the Yamaha MT-10 SP, the Formula E Porsche race car, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 or the NASA Mars Rover Perseverance, you’ll be able to put your skills to the test with augmented realism. Is your device compatible? Please go to LEGO.com/devicecheck to check if your device is compatible. Ask your parents’ permission before going online. For app support, contact LEGO Consumer Service. For contact details, refer to http://service.LEGO.com/contactus Our privacy policy and terms of use for apps are accepted if you download this app. Read more on http://aboutus.LEGO.com/legal-notice/privacy-policy and http://aboutus.LEGO.com/legal-notice/terms-of-use-for-apps LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2023 The LEGO Group. Under license of Porsche AG. Formula E is a trademark of Formula E Holdings Ltd. Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to the LEGO Group. Shelby® and GT500® are registered trademarks of Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. and used under license. NASA Insignia and identifiers provided and used with permission of NASA. JPL logo provided and used with permission of the California Institute of Technology. Yamaha, the Tuning Fork Mark, MT-10 SP and the likeness there of are trademarks of Yamaha Motor Corp., USA & Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd used under license.

Screenshots

Sphero Play4 screens
LEGO® TECHNIC® AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sphero Play at 37K against LEGO® TECHNIC® AR's 3.1K. LEGO® TECHNIC® AR's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Sphero Play against 4.7 for LEGO® TECHNIC® AR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 3.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 72% of LEGO® TECHNIC® AR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sphero Play versus LEGO® TECHNIC® AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSphero PlayLEGO® TECHNIC® AR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (37K ratings) — better4.7 (3.1K ratings)
Positive reviews69.1% of reviews72.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37K — better3.1K
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB853 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSphero, Inc.LEGO

Customer experience

Sphero Play

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

LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

All ratings3,060 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews185 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral10.3%
Negative17.3%

User reviews

Sphero Play

From 37K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun and engaging app
  • 👍 Great controls and customization
  • 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
  • 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
  • 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
  • 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability

LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

From 3.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Jaw-dropping experience
  • 👍 Realistic racing and AR
  • 🤩 Amazing build experience
  • 💡 Customizable and competitive
  • 🤩 Immersive and engaging

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Scanning issues and glitches
  • 🔋 Battery-intensive
  • 🤔 Limited content and features
  • 🤨 Unnecessary for some users

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

LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Inability to scan or detect models
  • Glitchy track movement and positioning

Requested features

4 requests
  • More compatible LEGO sets
  • Additional tracks and modes
  • Offline or standalone gameplay
  • Improved scanning and stability

In-app purchases

None

Sphero Play

No in-app purchases

None

LEGO® TECHNIC® AR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sphero Play free?
Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LEGO® TECHNIC® AR free?
LEGO® TECHNIC® AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or LEGO® TECHNIC® AR?
Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while LEGO® TECHNIC® AR averages 4.7 from 3.1K ratings.
Do Sphero Play or LEGO® TECHNIC® AR have ads?
Neither Sphero Play nor LEGO® TECHNIC® AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or LEGO® TECHNIC® AR?
Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and LEGO® TECHNIC® AR every 2 months. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on October 24, 2026 and LEGO® TECHNIC® AR on October 24, 2026.

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