Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Sphero’s new SPRK+ robotic orb features improved Bluetooth and a more robust shell

The Sphero SPRK, the orbicular glowing robot that jumps and spins on command, is a nifty little thing. Pair it to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, then download the companion software, and a few simple taps will have you revving its motors and cycling its multicolor LEDs through a rainbow of patterns.

It’s far from perfect, though: the remote-controlled orb can’t pair to multiple devices, for instance, and sports a polycarbonate shell that’s prone to nicks and cracks. But Sphero is rectifying those and other issues with a new model, the Sphero SPRK+, which is due out in the coming weeks.

Recommended Videos

The Sphero SPRK+ is more a refinement than a redesign. The new sphere is focused specifically on tech education — that is to say, teaching kids and teens to code — and to that end packs an updated version of Bluetooth that supports pairing with multiple devices (think a classroom environment). It’s also got a scratch-resistant translucent skin that should be less susceptible to any bruises budding programmers might inflict than its predecessor was. But the hardware is otherwise identical to the first-generation Spark, which is largely a good thing: it’s compatible with the wall charger of the last-generation Sphero SPRK and accessories made for older Sphero devices, a well as the more than 25 third-party apps on Android and iOS that support it.

The Sphero SPRK+ also works with Sphero’s long-in-development learning tool Lighning Lab. It’s an app that lets beginning users automate the bot with OVAL, a visual program language that involves dragging and dropping commands around a timeline. OVAL is designed specifically to accommodate developers of all skill levels. Newbies can quickly whip up a routine that’ll have the SPRK+ traveling between two points and changing colors, while advanced programmers can use code to tap into Sphero’s gyroscope, motor, processor, and other hardware.

In an update shipping alongside the Spark+, the Lightning Lab is gaining sound effects that intrepid young developers can add to their programs, plus a news feed that’ll keep users abreast of upcoming enhancements. And it now highlights both Sphero-supplied and community-made activities — guided experiences that help teach the basics of the SPRK+. Some, like navigating through a virtual maze and completing a boat enclosure, are relatively straightforward, while others, like making art and simulating planetary motion, require a tad more forethought. And still others are designed to supplement science, technology, and math curriculum in K-12 classrooms.

The SPRK+ will retail for $130 when it hits store shelves later this year — the same price as its predecessor.

The SPRK has come a long way since 2011, when the spherical robot was derided by some as an “overpriced cat toy.” Spherolaunched the Ollie, an RC device “engineered for high performance” and speeds of up to 14 miles per hour, at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2014. The current-gen SPRK, meanwhile, is in use in 1,000 schools, and a Star Wars-themed variant, the BB-8, was recently released to blockbuster success: last year on launch day, the company sold more than 2,000 of the $150 models “every hour.”

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Cadillac offers first glimpse of upcoming Optiq-V performance EV
cadillac optiq v teaser ev

Cadillac has released the first official teaser images of the 2026 Optiq-V, offering a preview of the brand’s second all-electric model to join the performance-focused V-Series lineup. The images, which highlight subtle styling upgrades, mark the first confirmation of the new variant ahead of its full reveal later this year.
The Optiq-V builds on the foundation of the standard Optiq, Cadillac’s compact electric SUV introduced for the 2025 model year. According to the automaker, this V-Series version will feature a more dynamic driving experience, with enhancements to steering, suspension, and overall agility. While technical details remain limited, Cadillac’s press release emphasizes that the Optiq-V was engineered for “precision” and an “exhilarating” feel behind the wheel.
Reports from CarScoops suggest the Optiq-V could produce up to 515 horsepower through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, significantly surpassing the 300 horsepower of the base model. Teaser images reveal a diamond-pattern mesh grille, V-Series badging, and a rear spoiler — all nods to its performance orientation. Photos also hint at additional visual updates, such as redesigned bumpers, 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes.
The base Optiq, reviewed recently by Digital Trends, is positioned as Cadillac’s entry-level EV and shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Despite that connection, the Optiq features premium materials, a curved 33-inch display, Google built-in tech, and standard dual-motor all-wheel drive. While the review noted some drawbacks in steering feel and performance tuning, it praised the vehicle's cabin quality and overall comfort.
The Optiq-V is expected to retain the standard model’s 85-kWh battery and roughly 300-mile range, though final figures have yet to be announced. Cadillac says more details on specs and pricing will be available closer to the model’s official launch.
With the addition of the Optiq-V, Cadillac continues expanding its electric lineup while reinforcing its V-Series as a key part of its identity — now in the EV era.

Read more
Nissan delays price increases until June amid U.S. tariffs
nissan rogue hybrid 2025 2024

Nissan buyers, take note: if you're eyeing a new ride, you might want to make your move before summer. The automaker has announced it won’t raise prices on imported vehicles until at least June 2, giving car shoppers a brief reprieve from the impact of the new 25% U.S. import tariffs.
According to a memo sent to U.S. dealers and reported by Automotive News, Nissan is able to hold prices steady thanks to a stockpile of tariff-free vehicles—enough to last nearly three months. But once that inventory runs dry? Prices are likely heading north. Nissan’s U.S. sales chief Vinay Shahani assured dealers that the company is working to "minimize the impact" of tariffs on customers, but he was also frank: “There will be an impact.”
To soften the blow, Nissan is ramping up production at its U.S. plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi. Those factories were only running at about half capacity last year, so there’s plenty of room to grow. The Rogue—Nissan’s best-seller—will get a second shift on its assembly line, increasing production by about 60,000 vehicles. Other models like the Pathfinder, Frontier, and Murano will also see higher domestic output.
The goal? Build more cars stateside and dodge the tariff altogether.
Nissan’s move puts it in line with other automakers holding the line on prices—at least for now. Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda have made similar pledges, while rivals like Ford and Stellantis are rolling out temporary discounts to ease the pain.
As Digital Trends noted, Nissan’s decision comes as it rethinks its production and pricing strategy in the face of shifting trade policies and a nervous market. With high-volume imports like the Sentra and Ariya still coming from Mexico and Japan, this pricing grace period might not last long.

Read more
Buick, Audi, and Nissan score top marks in latest IIHS safety ratings
2025 Audi Q6 e-tron front quarter view.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has added four more vehicles to its coveted 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ lists. If you appreciate knowing your vehicle is built with safety in mind, this update is worth noting.

Among the standout performers: the Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Armada—each earning the institute’s highest honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The GMC Acadia also made the grade, picking up a Top Safety Pick award. For Buick and GMC, these honors mark a significant return to form, as neither brand had received IIHS awards in several years. In fact, it’s the first time since 2013 that the Enclave has been recognized.
So, how does IIHS hand out these awards? Picture a battery of tests that simulate real-world crashes—everything from small overlap front impacts to updated side crashes. To make the list, vehicles must ace (i.e., earn a “good” rating in) key crashworthiness tests, show competence in pedestrian crash prevention, and offer headlights that don’t blind oncoming drivers. For the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+, there's an extra hurdle: a “good” rating in the updated moderate front overlap test, which now factors in rear-seat passenger protection.
Improvements to the Enclave and Acadia’s headlights, introduced after January 2025, helped push them over the finish line. Unfortunately, not all models in this testing round were so lucky. The Cadillac Lyriq, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, and several Nissan models—including the Kicks, Rogue, and Sentra—fell short. Common issues? Poor headlight performance or incomplete testing.
The IIHS notes that these evaluations are ongoing. Not every vehicle released for 2025 has been fully assessed, and late-year updates can still improve a model’s score. For the full list of safety awards, you can check out the IIHS website.

Read more