myCobot 280 Pi vs LeRobot SO-ARM101: Which Is Better in 2026?

Independent spec-by-spec comparison of the Elephant Robotics myCobot 280 Raspberry Pi and Hiwonder LeRobot SO-ARM101 Open-Source Robotic Arm. Real pricing, verified specs, no affiliate bias.

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Elephant Robotics

~$699–$799Estimate

Estimated from official store listings · Updated 2026-07

Elephant Robotics prices the Raspberry Pi variant above the $649 M5Stack and below the $849 Jetson Nano version; the UK store lists it at £611. Confirm the exact USD figure on the Americas store before ordering.

Payload

0.25 kg

Reach

280 mm

Axes

6

Repeatability

0.5 mm

CE
VS
L

Hiwonder

$269.99Verified

Hiwonder official store (verified) · Updated 2026-07

$269.99 is Hiwonder's listed price. The SO-ARM101 is an open-source design sold by several vendors — DIY kits start near $199 and assembled leader-follower pairs with cameras run roughly $200–$400 depending on vendor and kit tier. The DIY kit excludes cameras; Standard and Advanced kits include them. Compare kit contents, not just headline price.

Axes

6

myCobot 280 Pi is 177% more expensive than LeRobot SO-ARM101

Price Comparison

myCobot 280 Pi

~$699–$799

Estimated from official store listings

LeRobot SO-ARM101

$269.99

Hiwonder official store (verified)

✓ Lower price

The myCobot 280 Pi costs 177% more than the LeRobot SO-ARM101.

Winner by Category

Category
myCobot 280 Pi
LeRobot SO-ARM101
Price
$749
$269.99
Winner
Payload
0.25 kg
Reach
280 mm
Precision
±0.5 mm
Max Speed
Value for Money
Better value
Winner
Higher cost/spec

Full Spec Comparison

SpecmyCobot 280 PiLeRobot SO-ARM101
Payload0.25 kg
Reach280 mm
Axes66
Repeatability0.5 mm
Weight0.86 kg
Certifications
CE

Our Verdict

On price, the LeRobot SO-ARM101 comes in 177% cheaper than the myCobot 280 Pi — a meaningful gap if budget is the primary constraint.

This is a close match.

Choose the myCobot 280 Pi for higher payload applications.

Choose the LeRobot SO-ARM101 for budget-conscious deployments.

Best For

myCobot 280 Pi

  • education
  • ROS development
  • AI projects
  • computer vision

LeRobot SO-ARM101

  • embodied AI research
  • imitation learning
  • STEM education
  • LeRobot development
  • teleoperation experiments

Other comparisons involving myCobot 280 Pi or LeRobot SO-ARM101.

myCobot 280 Pi vs LeRobot SO-ARM101 — FAQ

Is the myCobot 280 Pi or the LeRobot SO-ARM101 cheaper?

The LeRobot SO-ARM101 is cheaper at $269.99, versus ~$699–$799 for the myCobot 280 Pi — a 177% difference.

Which is better, the myCobot 280 Pi or the LeRobot SO-ARM101?

The myCobot 280 Pi wins on more categories overall (price, payload, precision, speed, and value). Choose the LeRobot SO-ARM101 if its specific strengths match your use case — see our verdict above.

Interested in this robot?

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