Elecfreaks Cutebot, XGO Robot Dog & JacDac Kit – Which Wins?

If you’re anything like me, you probably get that same excitement every time a new robotics kit arrives at your desk. Unboxing, assembling, coding, testing… it’s that mix of curiosity and creativity that makes robotics such a fun hobby.

Recently, I decided to dive deep into some of the most popular educational robotics kits from Elecfreaks — a company known for their well-thought-out STEM and maker products. They have been making some solid micro:bit and Raspberry Pi based kits that are great for beginners and hobbyists, but still fun for experienced makers too.

I spent the last few weeks testing three of their most talked-about kits:

1. Elecfreaks Smart Cutebot Kit (micro:bit based robot car)
2. Elecfreaks CM4 XGO Robot Dog (a four-legged walking robot powered by Raspberry Pi)
3. Elecfreaks JacDac Smart Exploration Kit (a sensor and IoT learning kit)

Each of these kits has its own purpose and personality — the Cutebot is all about fun movement and coding practice, the XGO Robot Dog is a mini engineering marvel, and the JacDac kit is a playground for sensor-based projects. Let’s look at each one closely, check their specifications, coding experience, and see if they are worth the price.

Elecfreaks Smart Cutebot Kit

The Smart Cutebot is one of Elecfreaks’ most popular micro:bit robot car kits. It’s a small but powerful two-wheel drive robot designed mainly for education and hobby robotics.

When I first took it out of the box, I immediately liked the clean build and easy setup. The micro:bit slots neatly on top, and the entire wiring system is pre-soldered — which means no messy jumper cables or complicated wiring.

This makes it especially suitable for beginners or teachers who want to run robotics classes without spending an hour debugging wire connections. Despite its simple appearance, it has plenty of onboard sensors and features that make it a great platform to learn about automation and control systems.

Specifications

• Control Board: BBC micro:bit (not included in the kit)
• Power Supply: 3.5V to 5V
• Motors: 2 x GA12-N20 DC gear motors (300 RPM)
• Sensors: Ultrasonic distance sensor, line tracking sensors, infrared receiver
• Outputs: RGB LEDs as headlights, buzzer for sound
• Connectivity: Bluetooth via micro:bit, IR remote support
• Dimensions: Approx. 85mm x 85mm x 38mm
• Material: Metal base chassis with plastic cover

The motors run smoothly and the ultrasonic sensor is quite accurate. The overall build quality feels sturdy and well-made, especially considering its price range. During testing, I found the robot to be responsive and stable, even on slightly rough table surfaces.

Coding and Programming

The Cutebot supports MakeCode and Python, both of which are great for learning and experimenting.
With MakeCode’s intuitive block editor, I easily programmed an obstacle-avoidance routine — the whole setup took barely five minutes. You can also use the Elecfreaks MakeCode extension that adds special Cutebot blocks like “move forward”, “turn left”, or “set LED color”.

For more advanced users, MicroPython gives you full control. I tested it with a small Python script that used the ultrasonic sensor to measure distance and beep when an object came too close. The motor speed control and sensor reading were reliable, without any lag.

If you want to go one step further, the Cutebot can be controlled over Bluetooth using a smartphone app, or even via the joystick:bit controller for remote driving.

Price

The Elecfreaks Smart Cutebot Kit (without micro:bit board) is priced around $39.90 USD on the official Elecfreaks store.
It’s one of the most affordable programmable robot cars available, and easily one of the best starter kits in this range.

Elecfreaks CM4 XGO Robot Dog

This one instantly grabbed my attention. The Elecfreaks CM4 XGO Robot Dog is a four-legged robotic platform that looks like a mini version of Boston Dynamics’ Spot. It’s built around the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) and designed for AI and robotic motion control experiments.

Compared to the Cutebot, this is a serious piece of engineering. The first thing you notice is how precisely the joints move. It can walk, sit, bow, and even wave. The 12 servo motors inside are all independently controlled, allowing a smooth and stable walking motion.

This kit is not really for beginners, but for enthusiasts and students who want to learn about kinematics, motion control, and robot balance — this is a dream come true.

Specifications

• Main Controller: Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (4GB RAM)
• Servo Motors: 12 high torque metal-geared servos
• Structure: Aluminum alloy frame with plastic shell
• Sensors: IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for balance and motion sensing
• Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPIO expansion pins
• Battery: 11.1V 2500mAh rechargeable battery
• Operating Time: Around 1.5 to 2 hours
• Weight: Around 1.5kg

It comes fully assembled, which is nice because calibrating 12 servo joints manually would be a headache. The robot feels sturdy and stable, and its movement patterns are surprisingly natural.

Coding and Programming

The XGO Robot Dog supports Python, ROS (Robot Operating System), and Block coding through Elecfreaks’ online interface.
I used both Python scripts and the built-in app to test walking gaits. Within a few minutes, I was able to modify the movement pattern — making it crawl slower, or move diagonally.

Since it’s based on Raspberry Pi, you can easily install OpenCV and start experimenting with computer vision. I tried a simple color tracking program using the onboard camera and it worked fairly well. The robot followed a red object around the room using its head servo movements.

This makes it perfect for intermediate and advanced roboticists who want to dive into AI-powered motion control. It’s not just a toy — it’s a full-fledged robotics development platform.

Price

The Elecfreaks CM4 XGO Robot Dog Kit is priced around $699 USD, depending on configuration.
Yes, it’s on the expensive side, but considering it includes a Raspberry Pi CM4 and 12 servo joints, it’s justified. This kit is ideal for labs, universities, and robotics enthusiasts who are serious about robotic locomotion and vision.

Elecfreaks JacDac Smart Exploration Kit

The JacDac Smart Exploration Kit is a completely different type of kit. Instead of being a moving robot, it’s more like an IoT and sensor experimentation platform. It’s designed for the micro:bit and introduces you to the Jacdac protocol — which is basically a plug-and-play system for sensors and actuators.

Think of it as LEGO for electronics. You just connect modules using small cables, and the system automatically identifies the connected devices. No more worrying about wiring errors or pin mismatches.

This is great for students or makers who want to focus on learning coding and logic, rather than spending hours figuring out hardware wiring.

Specifications

• Main Controller: micro:bit (not included)

The build quality of each module is excellent, with proper labeling and durable connectors. Everything fits perfectly and works right out of the box.

Coding and Programming

Just like the Cutebot, the JacDac kit supports Microsoft MakeCode and Python. In MakeCode, the Jacdac extension automatically recognizes each connected module and gives you easy-to-use blocks. For example, if you plug in the light sensor, you immediately get a “read light intensity” block in the coding interface.

I tried a few small projects — a light-controlled LED ring, a motion-activated alarm, and a magnetic switch demo. All worked flawlessly.

In Python, you can write your own scripts to collect sensor data or build interactive IoT projects. The plug-and-play concept makes it ideal for quick classroom experiments or prototype demos.

Price

The Elecfreaks JacDac Smart Exploration Kit costs around $56.90 USD (without micro:bit).
It’s reasonably priced considering the number of high-quality sensors it comes with. Perfect for both beginners and teachers looking to introduce students to IoT and sensor programming.

Let’s Summarise

Feature	Smart Cutebot Kit	CM4 XGO Robot Dog	JacDac Smart Exploration Kit
Type	2-wheel drive robot car	4-legged walking robot	Sensor and IoT learning kit
Main Controller	micro:bit	Raspberry Pi CM4	micro:bit
Movement	Yes (wheeled)	Yes (legged)	No
Sensors	Ultrasonic, line tracker, IR	IMU, optional camera	Light, motion, magnetic, knob, etc.
Programming	MakeCode, Python	Python, ROS	MakeCode, Python
Skill Level	Beginner	Advanced	Beginner to Intermediate
Battery	3.7V rechargeable	11.1V Li-ion	USB power
Price (approx.)	$29.90	$599	$56.90
Ideal For	Students, hobbyists	Engineers, researchers	Classroom, IoT learners

Conclusion

After spending some time with all three kits, I can confidently say that Elecfreaks has nailed the balance between educational value and real-world functionality.

If you’re new to robotics, start with the Smart Cutebot. It’s compact, affordable, and gives you a quick sense of what coding and sensors can do together. If you want to take things to the next level, the XGO Robot Dog is a beast. It’s more than just a kit — it’s a platform to learn motion control, AI, and computer vision. And if you’re more interested in IoT, sensors, and data-driven projects, the JacDac Smart Exploration Kit will keep you busy for months.

What I liked most about Elecfreaks kits is their consistency. The documentation is clean, examples work out of the box, and all components feel like they were designed with learning in mind.

No matter which kit you pick, you’ll be gaining real hands-on experience in robotics and programming — not just building a toy, but creating something that thinks, senses, and reacts. If you’re looking to get into robotics or add something new to your lab setup, I’d say these Elecfreaks kits are definitely worth checking out.