【Fantasy Archives】

Xiaomi is Fantasy Archivesproducing a plastic toy robot that you can assemble into different forms, and control with an app.

Called the Toy Block, the coding toy appears to rely on Lego-like pieces. The kit will come with various other components like wheels, gears and chains, to make your moveable robot come to life.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable SEE ALSO: A dancing, laser beam-shooting robot aspires to teach kids how to code

Xiaomi says the robot will be powered by an ARM Cortex-M3 chip, and will come with sensors such as a gyroscope and be able keep itself upright. The structure will be stable enough to hold up to 3kg while moving forward, its website claims.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The accompanying app will allow you to set a sequence of moves for the robot.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Lei Jun, Xiaomi CEO, announced the Toy Block on Friday on his Weibo account, adding that it will go on sale for 499 yuan ($73) on China's big Singles' Day online sale on Nov. 11.

Some commenters complained that the price is set too high, while others pointed out that the robot's building blocks look a lot like Lego pieces.

Compared with other modular coding toys on the market, however, Xiaomi's robot is priced pretty competitively. Fischer Price's Code-a-Pillar, for example, retails for $49.99 for a considerably simpler hardware setup. The Dash robot from Wonder Workshop starts at $149.99.

The coding toy market has been heating up as of late. In June, Google threw its hat in the ring with Project Bloks, a set of electronic blocks meant to teach kids the fundamentals of programming. It isn't available commercially yet.

BONUS: Google is teaching kids how to code

Topics Xiaomi

• Deals
• Entertainment
• Social Good
• Tech
• Games
• Life
• Science
• Digital Culture

• Useful or Little Known Android Features
• Netherlands vs. South Africa 2024 livestream: Watch T20 World Cup for free
• Indonesian government wary of Temu’s entry, citing threats to local sellers · TechNode
• 'Doctor Who' just bested 'Bridgerton' in queer romance
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: $40 off at Amazon
• How to watch Axiom space mission depart from ISS
• Huawei leapfrogs Apple as HarmonyOS surpasses iOS market share in China · TechNode
• SpaceX increases prices for Starlink service and dish hardware
• Amazon Book Sale: Shop early deals now
• NASA's James Webb telescope saw its first clear star

• A tiny Shetland pony had a munch on Prince Harry's hand
• Relentless COVID fears bring hygiene theater to our cars
• 'Plogging' is a Swedish fitness trend that combines running with picking up litter
• Gabby Petito's disappearance shouldn't be an internet true crime thriller
• How to build the classroom of the future
• Chevy Bolt recall: Park 50 feet from other cars due to fires
• Mike Pence *may* have just bought his wife a Valentine's Day gift at CVS
• Let us remember how very bad presidential portraits were until the Obamas
• The new iPad mini looks great, but it's lost one feature: The headphone jack
• Olympic Austrian skier dramatically crashes into cameraman

• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for April 17, 2025
• US weighs further limits on China's access to advanced AI chip technology · TechNode
• Ant Group poured nearly $3 billion into technology research in 2023, including AI · TechNode
• Xiaomi may release its first flip phone, the MIX Flip, next month · TechNode
• NYT Strands hints, answers for May 2
• 'Doctor Who's Easter eggs for 'Rogue,' far beyond 'Bridgerton'
• Ant Group poured nearly $3 billion into technology research in 2023, including AI · TechNode
• Ant Group poured nearly $3 billion into technology research in 2023, including AI · TechNode
• Best Max streaming deal: Save 20% on annual subscriptions
• Ant Group poured nearly $3 billion into technology research in 2023, including AI · TechNode

• Put Me In, Coach!
• Netherlands vs. South Africa 2024 livestream: Watch T20 World Cup for free
• 'Recall' will now be opt
• Save 31% on the Shokz OpenRun Pro at Amazon
• Skype is finally shutting down
• Private astronaut brings Columbia Space Shuttle relic to space station
• NASA spots dry ice and gullies in a Martian crater
• Fire TV sale: Get up to 32% off INSIGNIA, TCL, and more Fire TVs
• Best portable power station deal: Save $179.01 on the EcoFlow River 2 Max
• NASA Mars rover spots dusty weather blowing across the Martian desert