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Toyota began taking nationwide dealer orders for its palm-sized Kirobo Mini companion robot in Japan on November 22, 2017. Toyota listed the robot at ¥42,984 including tax, plus ¥350 per month including tax for its dedicated app. The “$400” in the original title is a rounded conversion, not a price Toyota quoted in US dollars.
What was Toyota’s Kirobo Mini?
Toyota described Kirobo Mini as a miniature “communication partner” intended to provide companionship. It was a small seated robot designed to turn toward a speaker, gesture with its head and hands, and converse in Japanese. Those are Toyota’s announced features, not independently verified measures of conversational ability. Toyota’s October 2016 announcement framed the project as an effort to create a distinctly humanlike interaction between people and machines in a format different from automobiles.
The robot relied on a smartphone connection: Toyota said it linked to a phone over Bluetooth using a dedicated app. A built-in camera was designed to recognize facial expressions and try to infer emotion, which could inform its tone and gestures. Toyota also said Kirobo Mini could remember preferences and past events and adapt its conversation over time; the launch material does not establish how reliably those capabilities worked in everyday use.
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Toyota announced nationwide dealer orders in Japan beginning November 22, 2017. Presales at designated dealers in Tokyo and Aichi Prefecture had started in May 2017. Toyota’s announcement describes a Japanese launch and does not establish that the robot launched in the United States or elsewhere. Toyota specified standard Japanese for the interactions described in its releases.
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- Explore Every Corner: Manually drive your ROLA Mini mobile robot camera through different rooms to check every spot. Find where your pets are hiding or say hello to your family—all from your phone
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How much did the Kirobo Mini cost?
| Item | Toyota’s listed 2017 price |
|---|---|
| Kirobo Mini robot | ¥39,800 before tax; ¥42,984 including tax |
| Dedicated app | ¥350 per month including tax |
| Optional carry case with chair | ¥5,950 before tax; ¥6,426 including tax; robot not included |
These were Toyota’s listed Japanese prices at the November 2017 launch, not current quotes. The 2016 announcement had given preliminary estimates of ¥39,800 before tax for the robot and about ¥300 per month for the app; the later 2017 prices are the final listed figures for the nationwide rollout. Toyota’s launch materials do not establish whether the robot, app, accounts, connected services, or carry case remain available or operational today, so prospective buyers and existing owners should confirm current status with Toyota or the relevant service provider.
How small was it, and how long could it operate?
Toyota’s 2016 published specifications put Kirobo Mini at 10 cm tall when seated and 183 g. Toyota estimated approximately 2.5 hours of continuous communication and approximately 3 hours to charge. These are manufacturer-published figures, not independent test results. Toyota’s 2016 announcement names VAIO Corporation as the production plant; Toyota UK’s contemporaneous release also reports the specifications and says conversation was exclusively in Japanese.
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- EVERY INTERACTION BRINGS A NEW SURPRISE – Touch Eilik and discover playful reactions that bring your little robot friend to life. Whether you’re giving Eilik a gentle touch, picking Eilik up, or playing together, Eilik responds with expressive animations, charming expressions, and playful reactions. Every interaction reveals more of Eilik’s personality and makes your little companion feel even more special.
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What connected features did it offer?
Toyota added car- and home-based conversation features alongside the 2017 nationwide rollout. These depended on specific Toyota equipment and services rather than working with any car or smart home.
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- Home integration: required a Toyota Home smart house with HEMS installed and the TSC-HEMS service.
Toyota said information from those connected settings could inform conversation. Its launch announcement does not establish how consistently the integrations worked in practice.
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- Smart Appearance: Robot is mini sized 85mm that you can hold it in hands
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- Repeat Mode: pocket robot can record your voice and repeat to you with robotic sound effect, not noisy
- Conversation Mode: just talk to him, cute robot could recognize voice and reply to you, a good companion when alone.
- Entertainment Mode: Robot can slide, sing and dance, tell stories, etc. Easy to Carry: through a belt hole on the head, or just put it in your pocket, the small robot can be taken anywhere.
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- Remote Companion & Care: Be there even when you are away. Move EBO Mini from your phone to share warm, real-time moments with family and pets, making it the perfect long-distance bond
- Whole-Home Mobility for Peace of Mind: Drive EBO Mini mobile pet camera robot to find where your furry friends are hiding. Explore from room to room for complete full-home visibility
- 2K HD Video & Night Vision: Tap the app to see what your pets are up to anytime anywhere. From daytime check-ins to midnight games in dark spaces, see your pets clearly in crisp 2K video
- Two-Way Talk for Real-Time Connection: Hear and speak to your loved ones from anywhere. Interact with your family or soothe pet separation anxiety whenever you are away
- Auto-Recharge, Always Ready: Never worry about a dead battery. When power runs low, EBO Mini automatically returns to its dock to recharge, ensuring it is always powered up for your next check-ins
What should a buyer or owner keep in mind?
- The robot’s described conversation was in standard Japanese, so it was not presented as an English-speaking companion.
- Its operation depended on a smartphone, Bluetooth, and the dedicated app, which Toyota listed with a recurring monthly fee in 2017.
- The car and home features applied only to the specified Toyota setups and contracts.
- The manufacturer’s dimensions, battery-use estimate, and charging estimate are published specifications, not independent performance findings.
- Launch-era information does not confirm present-day product, app, account, or service availability; check current status before buying or relying on a used unit.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
