top of page
Search

SPIKE Prime Replacement: SPIKE, CS & AI, or FIRST's New Platform? What to Buy Now

Writer: theteamfusionusa
theteamfusionusa
4 days ago
4 min read

If you're shopping for a robotics kit right now, here's the short answer: for a new LEGO purchase that should last several years, the LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kit is the safest choice, because SPIKE Prime stopped selling on June 30, 2026 and FIRST hasn't named the hardware for its new K–8 programs yet. If your family already owns SPIKE Prime or SPIKE Essential, keep using it. It still works, the app is supported until 2031, and it stays competition-legal for a few more seasons. And if your child simply wants to learn to build and code, a non-LEGO robot like mBot2 or micro:bit is a great, lower-stakes place to start.

Below is what changed, what each option is good for, and a quick decision guide.

What changed in 2026

A lot of parents are confused, and that's fair. Three things happened at once:

  • SPIKE is retired. LEGO Education stopped selling SPIKE Prime, SPIKE Essential, hubs and batteries on June 30, 2026. No new features are coming, but the SPIKE App gets bug fixes and OS updates until June 30, 2031, and spare parts are stocked for about two years after the last sale.

  • FIRST LEGO League is ending. The 2026–27 BIOGLOW season is the final FIRST LEGO League season.

  • Two new paths start in 2027–28. LEGO Education launches its own LEGO League (ages 5–16) in August 2027, built on the Computer Science & AI kits, with SPIKE still allowed in 2027–28. FIRST launches its own next-generation K–8 programs on its own platform and says it will stay compatible with SPIKE Prime and Essential through the 2028–29 season.

For the full background, see our guide to LEGO League vs FIRST's new K–8 program.

Option 1: Keep using SPIKE Prime or SPIKE Essential

If SPIKE is already on your shelf, there is no reason to rush out and replace it. It's still one of the best ways to learn real robotics: motors, sensors, gyro driving and Python.

  • Good for: families who already own a set, teams finishing this season, and kids learning Python on LEGO hardware.

  • Watch out for: new sets are no longer sold by LEGO Education, so buying used means checking the hub and battery carefully. Replacement parts will get harder to find after about 2028.

  • Competition window: allowed in LEGO League in 2027–28 and supported by FIRST's new programs through 2028–29.

Our SPIKE Prime Python course and SPIKE Essential course for grades 1–5 still teach skills that carry over to any robot.

Option 2: The LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kit

This is LEGO Education's new classroom robotics line and the hardware for its LEGO League starting in 2027. We already teach with it in our weekend sessions, and an online course for it is coming soon. It comes in grade-band versions: K–2 (45520), the core set (45521) and grades 6–8 (45522).

  • Good for: a new purchase meant to last, schools and homeschool families, and kids who want to stay on the LEGO competition path.

  • Watch out for: it's newer, so there are fewer community tutorials than SPIKE has today. It is sold through LEGO Education, not Amazon.

Want a closer look? Read our coach's first look at the Computer Science & AI kit.

Option 3: Wait for FIRST's new platform

FIRST has said its new K–8 programs will use its own technology, but as of today it has not announced which hardware. If your child's goal is specifically FIRST's new program, avoid buying anything just for it until FIRST publishes the details. In the meantime, SPIKE compatibility through 2028–29 means existing kits won't go to waste.

Option 4: Skip LEGO for now

Not every child needs a competition kit. If the goal is learning to code and build, these are excellent, affordable choices:

  • mBot2: a ready-to-drive robot with sensors that grows from blocks to Python. See our mBot2 course.

  • micro:bit: a tiny programmable board that's perfect for first projects. Try Robotics Explorers.

  • Arduino: for older kids ready for real electronics. Start with Arduino Basics.

A quick decision guide

  • You already own SPIKE: keep it and keep learning. No need to replace it yet.

  • Buying new, want LEGO: choose the Computer Science & AI kit.

  • Aiming for FIRST's new K–8 program: wait for FIRST's hardware announcement.

  • Just getting started at home: mBot2 or micro:bit, plus a free online course.

  • Not sure yet: try a free weekend session first and let a coach see what your child enjoys.

Common questions

Is SPIKE Prime still worth buying used? It can be, if the price is fair and the hub and battery work. Just know new parts get harder to find after about 2028.

Will my child's SPIKE skills transfer? Yes. Sensors, motors, loops, Python and debugging carry over to the Computer Science & AI kit, mBot2 and beyond.

Do kids need their own kit to get started? No. Many online courses start with free tools like Scratch, and you can try a free weekend session before buying anything.

Ready to start?

Online, your child can begin with our free self-paced courses, unlock everything with All-Access for $39/month with a 7-day free trial, or get Remote 1-on-1 live lessons for $149/month (text (619) 786-5731).

In San Diego, our weekend group sessions in Scripps Ranch run 1.5 hours a week for ages 6–18, with at most 10 kids and every child on their own project. The first session is free. Text (619) 786-5731 to book.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page