LEGO Education SPIKE Essential (Set 45345) review 2027

What problem does the LEGO Education SPIKE Essential solve?

SPIKE Essential is the classroom LEGO robotics set for ages 6–10: motors, sensors, a hub and story-based coding lessons. It logged the most hours of activity of any kit we tested — 12 hours — and it taught both children something, building and coding in one. The story-based lessons made coding make sense to our 7-year-old, and the set works with the LEGO you already own. It is built to survive a classroom, which is exactly the environment it was designed for.

How did it score across our five criteria?

Learning value: 26 out of 30. We measured what the child could explain about the science or code afterwards, and whether the kit teaches or just entertains. Engagement: 20 out of 20 — whether the child returned to it unprompted and how long a session held attention. Build quality and safety: 15 out of 15, covering component quality, missing parts, small-part and chemical safety, and age accuracy. Parent effort: 12 out of 15, based on setup time and how much adult help each activity needed at the stated age. Value: 7 out of 20, judged on price per hour of activity and whether it keeps giving after the first use. That adds up to an overall score of 8.

What are the standout strengths?

The 12 hours of activity we measured is the highest of any kit in this test. Real motors, a colour sensor and a hub work alongside the LEGO you already own, so the set extends a collection rather than replacing it. Icon blocks suit younger kids; word blocks suit older ones, so the same kit grows with the child. Story-based lessons made coding make sense to our 7-year-old, and the whole thing is built to survive a classroom.

How does the technology work?

The set centres on a hub that runs programs and connects wirelessly to a tablet or computer app. Motors turn the hub's commands into movement, and a colour sensor reads colours and light so a program can react to what the model sees. Coding happens in the app with icon blocks for younger children and word blocks for older ones, so the same program logic is expressed at two levels. The 449 pieces build the models the lessons are written around.

What is in the box and how is it built?

The set is a robotics kit for ages 6–10 covering engineering and coding. It contains 449 pieces and dozens of lessons, including a hub, motors and a colour sensor. It needs a screen — a tablet or computer running the app — and it is reusable. The components are made to classroom standards, which is why build quality and safety scored full marks.

How does it compare with the other kits we tested?

Against Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 (8.9, $34.99), SPIKE Essential scores lower and costs far more, but Snap Circuits is a one-off electronics kit for ages 8+ while SPIKE Essential is a reusable robotics set for ages 6–10. Against KiwiCo Crates (8.7, from $23.95/mo), the subscription delivers 1–3 projects per crate across ages 0–16 with no screen; SPIKE Essential is a single robotics set that needs a screen. Against Sphero BOLT (8.4, $179.99), both need a screen and both teach coding, but BOLT is a robot ball for ages 8+ while SPIKE Essential is a building set for ages 6–10. Against MEL Science (8.4, from $29.90/mo) and Thames & Kosmos CHEM C500 (8.2, $39.95), the comparison is subject matter: those teach chemistry and physics, SPIKE Essential teaches engineering and coding.

Where does it fall short?

Value is where it lost: $299.95, the most expensive kit here, and only 7 out of 20 on that criterion. It is sold through education channels, so Amazon stock varies. It needs a device for the app, which rules out screen-free use. Those are the concrete shortcomings; the rest of the scores were strong.

Is it worth $299.95?

The list price is $299.95. For that money you get 449 pieces, dozens of lessons, a hub, motors and a colour sensor, and a set that is reusable and built to classroom standards. The value score of 7 out of 20 reflects the price per hour of activity and whether it keeps giving after the first use — at this price, the maths only works for families who will use it for years.

Who should buy the LEGO Education SPIKE Essential?

Families who will use it for years. Schools buy it; a family with LEGO-mad kids might. If your children are between 6 and 10, already own LEGO, and you want one kit that teaches building and coding together, this is the one that held our children's attention longest.