Anki Cozmo vs Vector: Which Is The Best?

In the ever-evolving landscape of robotics, Anki, a pioneer in the field, has introduced two remarkable creations that have captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts and casual users alike—Cozmo and Vector.

These small, intelligent robots have broken new ground by blending advanced artificial intelligence with a charming personality, making them more than mere gadgets; they are companions that can entertain, interact, and even learn.

In this article, we will delve into the distinctive features of the Anki Cozmo robot and robot Vector (Anki Vector vs Cozmo), comparing their capabilities, designs, and functionalities. Both robots showcase Anki’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in consumer robotics, but they cater to different preferences and needs.

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The Quick Answer – Cozmo Vector Comparison

Between the Anki Vector robot vs Cozmo Anki robot, it is pretty clear that Vector is a far superior robot and a better buy for several reasons.

While the Cozmo isn’t a bad robot toy and is an excellent option for kids, it’s not worth spending your money on it when there is already an upgraded option – Vector the robot.

Hence, in our opinion, we recommended for most, choosing the Vector would be the best of the two. However, if you are buying for someone under 12 and looking for a toy that can help them learn to code with a wide community of engaged contributors, then the Cozmo may be a better option.

Whether you are a tech aficionado seeking the latest innovations or someone curious about the future of interactive robotics, this exploration will provide valuable insights into the strengths and quirks of these two captivating companions.

Vector Robot

Key Features:

• Powered by AI and advanced robotics
• Alive with personality and engaged by sight, sound, and touch
• Voice-activated and will answer questions, take photos for you, time dinner, show you the weather, and more
• Comes with Alexa built-in

Anki’s Vector robot is a companion made to hang out and help out. Powered by integrated AI and advanced robotics, he’s alive with personality and engaged by sight, sound, and touch. He can answer questions, take photos for you, time dinner, show you the weather, and more with his voice-activation features.

Vector is voice-activated and will answer questions, take photos for you, time dinner, show you the weather, and more. Voice features are currently in the English language only.

Vector can independently navigate and self-charge. He recognizes people and avoids obstacles.

If you choose to set up Alexa on your Vector buddy, you’ll be able to set reminders, control smart home devices like lights-speakers and thermostats; play ambient sounds, and do many things that ALEXA already does on other compatible devices like Amazon Echo or Dot.

See more details or buy Vector

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Anki Cozmo Robot

Key Features:

• Small, lightweight robot with a singular arm and two treads
•  Cube-shaped OLED display used as a face
•  Made using over 300 individual parts
• Several features that allow it to learn, play games, and interact with its environment
• Expressive LCD screen “face,” built-in wheels, and a range of sensors and cameras
• Built-in camera, sensors, a gyroscope and a downward-facing cliff detector

Meet Cozmo Anki, a gifted little guy who’s got a mind of his own and a few tricks up his sleeve. He’s the sweet spot where supercomputer meets loyal sidekick. Curiously smart and a little mischievous.

Cosmo robot is more than your average toy – it’s an educational experience for kids and adults to learn creatively and code! He’ll ask you questions about what you want to do with him next and then surprise you with what he can do based on your instructions!

Challenge Anki Cozmo the robot to games or use Explorer mode (his eyesight in this mode is limited) to see things from his perspective.

With a beginner-friendly interface, Cozmo is the perfect educational robot for kids and adults to learn to creatively code. Easier than you’d think and tougher than he looks, this toy robot is tested for durability and security.

See more details or buy Cozmo

Last update on 2024-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Similarities

Before we get going, just keep in mind that both these robots are a little on the pricey side. As such, if you’re looking for more options at a better price point, don’t miss our other post with recommendations for the best robot toys.

With that said, before we discuss the differences between these two robots, let’s shed some light on their similarities.  

Design

The design of both these robots is almost the same. Anki Vector comes with the same face, tracks, and lifting arm as Anki Cozmo. Other external hardware is also in the same position. For instance, the camera is inside both the robot’s mouth. Even the screen display for all the expressions and other animations is in the same place.

Size

There again is barely any difference between the Vector and Cozmo robot’s sizes. That said, we would’ve liked it if the company had increased the Vector’s size as it is quite small.

Battery Life

Both robots share a similar battery life. However, the Vector does come with self-charging technology and automatically returns to its dock when the battery runs low.

Mechanical Function

The lift arm, movement style, and tilting head are all mechanical functions that are similar between the two robots. Both of them also roll around on tank-like tracks.

The Key Differences in Terms of Advantages

Even with so many similarities, the Anki Cozmo vs Vector Robot has quite a lot of differences when you take a closer look at their hardware specifications. To discuss their differences, we felt that it would make more sense to talk about each of their advantages.

Why Vector Robot is better than Cozmo

Now that you know more about the two little robots, let’s focus on Vector Robots for a moment and some of the advantages over Cozmo.

• Better Display Resolution – While both the robots share a similar-sized display and are in the same location, the Cozmo’s screen can display only in blue and has a lower resolution of 128 x 64. On the other hand, Vector has a camera resolution of 184 x 96 and displays in full color.

• Upgraded Processor – The Cozmo has one massive limitation: it relies on an app and device for processing. With the Vector, the company has upgraded the processor from a simple Arm Cortex 4 to a highly impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon 200.
• This upgrade means that there is a jaw-dropping increase in speed from 100MHz to 1.2GHz. That also means the Vector can support onboard processing with no need for a companion device.

• WiFi Connectivity – Anki Vector is capable of connecting to a WiFi network by itself, which further adds more functionality.

• Built-In Microphone – The Vector comes with its own onboard beamforming four-microphone array. That means it can double up as a voice assistant. Like you would ask Amazon Alexa or Google Home any questions, you can do the same with the Vector, keep reminders, set timers, and more. Shortly after the Vector was on sale, the company released an update that made it compatible with Amazon Alexa.

• Voice – Another great thing about the Vector robot is that it comes with its voice, which makes it appear more lifelike when you’re asking it questions.

• Better Camera – Not only does Vector’s camera come with a higher resolution at 720p, but it also comes with a wider field of view than its counterpart. Vector features a 720-pixel wide-angle lens camera, whereas Cozmo’s camera isn’t as good, with a resolution of 320 x 240-pixel camera with a narrower angle.

• Vector has Sensors – A capacitive touch sensor is located behind the Vector. This feature allows the robot to interpret tactile signals like when it is stroked or picked up. There is also an infrared laser sensor mounted on the front. It will allow the Vector to navigate the surroundings better.

Where Cozmo is better than Vector

Despite the Vector robot having too many advantages, Cozmo also comes with some, including:

• Has Three Game Cubes – The Cozmo comes with three cubes, unlike the Vector which comes with only one game cube. We believe that the company did this to focus more on Vector’s voice assistant aspect, targeting an older demographic. The three cubes make the Cozmo suitable more for the younger lot who are interested in games.

• SDK availability – At the time of writing, the alpha SDK for the Vector is available. That said, as an alpha software type, there is a high chance that it may contain bugs. With the Cozmo SDK being mature, it is more stable and proves to be suitable for anyone who wants to program Cozmo to do much cooler things.

Anki Cozmo vs Vector

The biggest difference between the Anki Cozmo and Vector robots is that Cozmo requires an app for interactions, whereas the latter is pretty much autonomous. You can control the Cozmo and access the Code Lab with an app that you have to download on your device.

However, thanks to the onboard processing power, the Vector robot will connect to your WiFi and respond directly to voice commands, which gives it a more intelligent feel.

In addition to the higher processing power, the Vector robot comes with an improved camera and extra sensors, a display with higher resolution, and can find its way back to its charging dock without any assistance from the user.

Upon closer inspection of the hardware and all the other specifications, the Vector is more technologically advanced than the Anki Cozmo robot. It has a total of 700 components, which is almost double what Cozmo consists of, which is only 370.

However, since the Anki Cozmo robot has been around for longer than the Vector robot, it comes with a more mature community with a wider base of people sharing tips and ideas.

It is also designed more for younger children and has a game-centered mode of play in mind.

The Cozmo robot is significantly cheaper than the Vector robot, which may factor into your decision-making process. For children who are more interested in playing games with the robot, rather than using voice features, the Cozmo may be a better choice.

Can the Vector Play Like the Cozmo?

Yes, it can, sort of. The Anki Cozmo plays with its three cubes in various ways, such as stacking them, then knocking them over, and more.

Since the Vector comes with just one cube, its play options are a bit more limited.

In contrast, though, the Vector capacitive touch sensor on the back opens up play options that cannot be found on the Cozmo.

So is the Anki Vector a Better Option for Kids?

It’s clear that the Vector has a better personality and is more advanced. In many ways, though, this robot is more of a voice assistant than a toy.

We found that the kids did like this robot, but getting the most out of it would mean that they would need to delve into coding to a greater extent than some kids aren’t willing to do, so I would say the Cozmo would be better suited if you are looking for a cool toy that can help kids learn to code.

FAQ section

Conclusion

With the release of Anki Vector robots, the company has developed a unique robot that is capable and interactive and can be a real personal assistant robot. It is certainly my preferred option when looking at all the good and bad things.

But the Cozmo still has a place. It is perfect for kids or people who are looking to learn how to code because it can do some pretty cool things. If you have children, this might be worth the investment as they will not only get an educational toy but also one that helps them grow their coding skills in a fun way!