Research verdict

A strong bridge between AI software and a physical character.

Reachy Mini is a 28 cm expressive desktop robot offered in Lite and Wireless versions. Both share the same moving head, rotating body, camera, microphone array, and speaker; the Wireless model adds onboard compute, Wi-Fi, and a battery.

Our analysis

Reachy Mini is the better Pollen robot for voice, vision, expression, and app experiments. It is unusually approachable for an open robotics platform, but kit assembly and a developer-oriented ecosystem still make it a project rather than a finished household appliance.

Best fit

Developers building voice, vision, telepresence, or expressive AI experiences
Educators seeking an open-source human-robot interaction platform
Makers comfortable spending a few hours assembling a kit

Probably not for

People who want a wheeled robot that can roam the home
Buyers who want zero assembly or a fully curated consumer experience
Anyone expecting arms, manipulation, or household task completion

Price and key facts

A normalized snapshot with evidence attached.

These fields use the same structure across every HomeRobotHQ profile. Each value is linked to its evidence, classified transparently, or marked as not published.

Listed price: €350 Lite / €435 Wireless
Availability: Available
Primary role: Programmable AI / interaction platform
Form factor: Desktop robot
Mobility: Stationary base with rotating body and articulated head
Connectivity: Lite uses a host computer; Wireless adds onboard compute and Wi-Fi
Cloud dependence: Varies by installed app
Camera: Wide-angle camera
Microphone: Four-microphone array
Developer access: Open-source SDK, REST, WebSocket, Python, and JavaScript
Charging: USB-C power; Wireless model includes a battery
Documented runtime: Not published by manufacturer
Dimensions: 28 cm tall
Weight: Not published by manufacturer
Subscription: No required platform subscription documented

Additional documented facts

Starting price: €350 Lite
Wireless price: €435
Assembly: Usually 1.5–4 hours
Height: 28 cm
Motion: 9 servos / 6-DoF head
Sensors: Camera + 4 microphones
Audio: 5W speaker
App directory: 58 listed apps

Price, delivery timing, taxes, shipping, and regional availability can change. Verify the current official listing or status source before making a purchase decision. View the reviewed price history →

Capabilities and limits

What can Reachy Mini actually do?

Its useful range comes from expressive motion plus apps that combine the camera, microphones, speaker, and AI services.

01Move its head through six degrees of freedom, rotate its body, and animate two antennas
02Use a wide-angle camera, four microphones, and a speaker in interactive applications
03Run tethered as Lite or standalone as Wireless
04Install official and community apps for conversation, tracking, games, and telepresence
05Use REST, WebSocket, JavaScript, Python, and a MuJoCo simulator

Important limitations

It stays on a desktop and has no wheels, arms, or household manipulation.
Pollen says Lite cannot be directly upgraded to Wireless.
Wireless battery status uses an LED rather than a percentage readout.
Community app quality, cloud use, and account requirements vary.

Software and setup

Open source, with web and Python paths.

Pollen publishes the SDK under Apache 2.0 and supports JavaScript and Python workflows.

The daemon exposes REST and WebSocket interfaces; the repository includes examples, notebooks, troubleshooting, and simulation.

The app directory mixes official and community projects, so review each app's data flow before granting camera or microphone access.

Assemble the DIY kit using the supplied guides.

Install the desktop app and power the robot.

For Wireless, join Wi-Fi and confirm discovery.

Start with a published app, then install the SDK to build.

Projects worth exploring

Build an expressive voice character
Create a camera-based tracking experience
Prototype telepresence or a remote greeter
Develop in simulation before running motion code

Privacy and connectivity

Local by default does not make every app local.

Pollen states the base robot does not store, transmit, or process personal data by default.

Individual apps may call Hugging Face Spaces, AI providers, or other services, so inspect them separately.

Treat the Wireless network connection and Lite host computer as normal connected devices requiring updates and account hygiene.

Alternatives

Compare the role before the specification.

Microduck

Mobile biped for locomotion and reinforcement learning

Open profile →02

Eilik

Simpler, lower-cost expressive desktop companion

Open profile →03

Loona

Mobile consumer companion with a packaged experience

Open profile →

Sources and provenance

Primary sources reviewed.

Follow the sources for the specifications, software requirements, and policies discussed above. Our editorial approach explains how evidence is used.

Official storeReachy Mini Lite listing
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official storeReachy Mini Wireless listing
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official FAQReachy Mini FAQ
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official setup guideReachy Mini getting started
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official app directoryReachy Mini apps
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official repositoryReachy Mini SDK
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗
Official product pageReachy Mini privacy statement
Pollen Robotics · Checked 2026-09-01
Open source ↗