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Comparison · Researched, not tested
Loona vs Vector: which AI robot pet should you buy?
Loona and Vector are the two best-known AI robot pets: Loona is a floor-roaming petbot with a screen face and ears, Vector a palm-sized desk robot with a forklift arm. Both chat, recognise faces and dock themselves. We compared their Australian prices, running costs, size, ages and support. Checked 30 and 31 October 2026.
By Domestic Robot · Editor: Christian Ganaban · Updated 31 October 2026 · We may earn a commission from links on this page. Disclosure
Quick answer
For most Australian families, Loona is the better buy; Vector suits an adult gadget fan with a desk and a credit card for the subscription. Loona Premium was A$620 on sale on KEYi's site (A$ prices) and $860.91 on Amazon AU on 30 October 2026, with free GPT-4o chat for now, a 720p camera you can drive remotely, and KEYi's recommended ages of 6 to 12. Vector 2.0 was US$249.99 on Anki's US store on 31 October 2026, plus shipping, and its voice features need a US$99.99-a-year subscription; we couldn't confirm a new one at an Australian retailer. Over two years, Vector with its subscription costs about the same as Loona, with more risk around shipping, returns and the company behind it.
The short answer
| If you want | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A child aged about 6 to 12 | Loona | Built for play on the floor: fetch, hide-and-seek and block coding |
| An adult who wants a desk companion | Vector | Small, expressive and lives on a desk; best for tinkerers |
| No ongoing fees | Loona | Its AI chat is free for now (KEYi); Vector's voice service is paid |
| Easy returns in Australia | Loona from Amazon AU | Vector ships from the US |
| A toddler | Neither | KEYi says Loona isn't for toddlers; Vector is small and fragile |
Side by side
| Loona Premium | Vector 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A$620 sale at KEYi (regular A$764); $860.91 Amazon AU (30 Oct) | US$249.99 new, US$189.99+ open box, plus shipping and GST (31 Oct) |
| Ongoing cost | None for now (KEYi says AI is free for now) | US$11.99 a month or US$99.99 a year for voice; 28 days free |
| Where it lives | Floor; tracked wheels | Desk or table; treads, cliff sensors |
| AI | GPT-4o voice chat; face, voice and gesture recognition | “Hey Vector” voice service with AI chat on the subscription; face recognition |
| Camera | 720p; drive and view remotely in the app | 2 MP, for face recognition |
| Battery | About 2 hours of play; about 2 hours to charge | 600 mAh, swappable; Anki doesn't state runtime |
| Play and learning | Fetch, follow, hide-and-seek, dance; Blockly coding | Blackjack, timers, questions |
| Ages | 6 to 12 (KEYi) | Best for older children and adults |
| Warranty | 1 year, country of purchase (KEYi) | See Anki's warranty policy; overseas seller |
| Australian retail | Amazon AU | None confirmed new |
Loona prices checked 30 October 2026 (KEYi and Amazon AU); Vector price checked on Anki's store 31 October 2026. Full details in our Loona review and Vector review.
Cost over two years
| Loona | Vector | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | A$620 (KEYi sale) or $860.91 (Amazon AU) | US$249.99 plus shipping and GST |
| Subscription | $0 (for now) | US$199.98 (two yearly plans after the free trial) |
| Total (approximate) | A$620 to A$861 | About US$450 before shipping and GST |
Our calculation from the prices above. We haven't converted US$ to A$ because exchange rates, shipping and GST vary; check the final figure at Anki's checkout. KEYi says Loona's AI is free for now, which could change.
Personality and play
Loona is the more pet-like of the two. TechCrunch's hands-on in 2023 found it charming when left to wander, with tracked wheels and a sturdy shell, but voice commands worked about half the time and it sometimes got stuck on furniture; owners still report patchy voice recognition and short battery life. Its fetch, follow and hide-and-seek games are built for kids, and the Blockly coding mode is a bonus.
Vector is smaller and more of a desk character: it recognises your face, plays games such as blackjack and wanders the table without falling off, thanks to its cliff sensors. Expert Reviews called the original “an expensive, albeit brilliantly clever and entertaining, toy” in 2019. We found no recent independent hands-on review of Vector 2.0 on today's subscription service.
Support and company risk
KEYi sells Loona through its own site and Amazon AU, and says its one-year warranty applies only in the country of purchase, so buying through Amazon AU is the simpler path for Australians. Vector is sold from Anki's US store. The company behind it, Digital Dream Labs (now trading as Anki), was sued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General in 2024 over unfilled orders and refunds, and Vector's cloud service has had outages in the past. Both robots depend on their makers' servers for their AI features.
Privacy
Both have cameras and microphones. Loona can be driven and viewed remotely, so set it up with a parent account and keep the app on a device you control. Vector listens for its wake word and sends voice requests to the cloud. Read each maker's privacy policy, and see our guide to robot cameras and privacy.
Other options
For younger children, an offline toy such as Furby, or a learning robot such as Miko 3, may suit better; our robot pets for kids guide compares them by age. For an older relative, a simple robotic pet like the Joy for All cat needs no app or Wi-Fi. All our picks are in the best companion robots in Australia.
Verdict
Loona wins for families: it's built for kids to play with, has no subscription for now, and you can buy it from Amazon AU with easy returns. Vector is the more charming desk companion for an adult who already knows and wants one, but the subscription, US shipping and the company's record make it the riskier buy. If you choose Loona, buy it on sale; at full Amazon AU price, compare it with a Miko 3.
Common questions
Is Loona or Vector better?
For most families, Loona: it's designed for kids aged 6 to 12, its AI chat is free for now and it's sold on Amazon AU. Vector suits adults who want a desk robot and don't mind a US$99.99-a-year subscription.
Which is cheaper, Loona or Vector?
Vector costs less up front (US$249.99 plus shipping), but its voice subscription adds US$99.99 a year. Loona was A$620 on sale at KEYi on 30 October 2026, with no subscription for now.
Can you buy Vector in Australia?
Not new from an Australian retailer that we could confirm on 31 October 2026. Anki's US store lists Australia in its country menu; check shipping and GST at checkout.
Does Loona need a subscription?
Not at the moment. KEYi says Loona's cloud AI is free for now.
Which is better for kids?
Loona. KEYi recommends it for ages 6 to 12, and it's built for floor play. Neither suits toddlers.
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