Photo: Signe BrewsterOur pickLego Boost

The Boost kit is a joy to put together and the easiest to program, and because its based on Lego, the possibilities for creative expansion are almost limitless. Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $160.

The Lego Boost robotics kit offers the best overall experience for those with no programming experience who want to start building robots. The 847-piece kit consists of Lego pieces, so its the most fun and the easiest to build among kits of its size, thanks to Legos familiarity and versatility. The instructions for building and programming the robot come in a simple tablet app that even non-readers can follow. Its programmable sensors can detect movement, distance, and color. And the fact that the kit is Lego-based and any Lego block can work in a project means you have a massive opportunity for expansion right out of the box. In contrast, you can extend Legos own Mindstorms kits using Legos Technics simple machine parts, but doing so is a lot more complex and expensive.

To test the building experience, we put together a humanoid robot called Vernie, which took just under two hoursright at the sweet spot for the most enjoyable amount of build time.

The Lego Boost app is compatible with a wide range of devices; you can find a full lineup on the Lego website. The app lays out building and programming instructions in an integrated curriculum. On the main screen, you begin by tapping an image of the robot you wish to build. Five suggested buildsVernie the humanoid, a cat, a rover, a building machine, and a guitarare included. These five amount to more than eight hours of guided building, which is on the higher end of the kits we tested; youre less likely to get bored with this kit than with others that include fewer projects.

We found the Boost kits instructions for building the robot the easiest to follow of the kits we tested. The app walked us through the steps to build Vernie piece by piece, which minimized the chances of our skipping steps and making mistakes. The standard Lego pieces are easy to work with and tough enough to withstand repeated useother kits we tested were difficult to snap together, and some had pieces that seemed flimsy. As with standard Lego sets, the Boost pieces come grouped in numbered bags, making them especially easy to find at the right time. However, if you want to preserve this system for subsequent builds, you have to place the pieces back in the right bag every time you take a build apart.

One drawback of piece-by-piece instructions is that they dont build a deep understanding of how the robot works mechanically. Instead, the focus of the Boost set is to make it easy to customize any of the five suggested builds. After we completed Vernie, the app offered us different options for add-on builds plus related programming challenges. The number and creativity of the add-ons were unmatched among the other kits we tried, which for the most part had only enough pieces to construct the guided robot builds. Legos more-expensive Mindstorms kit does offer add-ons, but not as many, while Vexs robot comes with some extra functional sensors.

The Lego Boost app combines building with programming for an easy-to-follow curriculum.

The Lego Boost app combines building with programming for an easy-to-follow curriculum.

The Lego Boost app combines building with programming for an easy-to-follow curriculum.

The Lego Boost app combines building with programming for an easy-to-follow curriculum.

We made Vernie a bow tie and microphone, which unlocked programming options to make the robot sing and dance. More advanced builds, such as the cat and the guitar, unlock more sophisticated abilities for the kits sensors. For example, you can build a mobile robot that avoids obstacles, or one that senses the location of fingers to make a Lego guitar playable. If you care more about building than programming a robot, the Boost kit might be for youits the best at packing a lot of satisfying projects into one kit.

As we progressed through the Boost apps building instructions and our robot came together, the app interjected short programming challenges for teaching the basics of controlling Vernie. Beginning to program the robot before it is completely built is an effective way to learn the function of each part of the robot, and which commands control what. Other robotics kits wait to introduce programming until after youve built the robot, an approach that doesnt always illustrate what commands are connected to which motors, sensors, or other robot parts.

Legos programming language is completely graphical, which means that each command is represented by a symbol. From the main library of symbols, you can drag and drop each to create a sequence. Lego states that Boost is appropriate for ages 7 to 12, a range thats on the younger side of the kits we tested. Although the Boost app doesnt offer the fine-tuned programming options of more advanced software, you can still make the robot roll across the floor, dance, and sing. Its enough to provide hours of fun for anyone who is just looking to play with a robot.

Lego makes a similar robotics kit, the Droid Commander kit, that works a lot like the Boost set and would be a great option for kids who are big Star Wars fans. Its more expensive than the Boost kit and doesnt have instructions for as many models to build, but it does come with more pieces and the option to build an R2-D2. We havent tested the Droid Commander kit, but we have tested enough robotics kits to know that it should be a fun programmable addition to Legos huge array of Star Warsthemed building sets.

Read more:

The Best Robotics Kits for Beginners for 2020 | Reviews by ...