The best electronics kits, according to hackers
3 electronics kits were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended electronics kit with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Fun, hands-on, nostalgic childhood favorite
Recommended as a hands-on way to learn programming and robotics, with concepts that transfer to other work. Critics say the line was discontinued without a real successor.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
All 3 electronics kits, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lego Mindstorms | 15 | 6 | 71% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 2 | Beni robot by Microduck | 7 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| 3 | Snap Circuits by Elenco | 5 | 2 | 71% | 3 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same electronics kit in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to electronics kits that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.