HandlyThe right tool, in hand.
Hands-on picks, side-by-side comparisons and news for people who build things. We're starting with robot arms and LeRobot; dev boards and more will follow.
Verdict first, receipts after. Every spec comes with a source and a date. If we haven't tested it, we'll say so.
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Robot arms & LeRobot
Where we started. Low-cost arms and the kits that run LeRobot end to end. First guide: SO-101 vs SO-100.
Dev boards & ESP32
Next up: new board families compared side by side. Nothing written yet; the page says what's planned.
First guide, at a glance: SO-100 vs SO-101
The two low-cost arms most LeRobot tutorials start from. Facts below come from the projects' own pages, read on 2026-11-11. Full notes on the SO-101 vs SO-100 guide.
| Item | SO-100 | SO-101 |
|---|---|---|
| Status in the repo docs | Docs marked deprecated | Described as the next-generation version; "flagship" arm in LeRobot docs |
| Assembly / wiring | Original design | Improved wiring, easier to assemble (no gear removal) |
| Follower servos | Not covered here | 6× STS3215, 1/345 gearing |
| Leader servos | Not covered here | 6× STS3215 in three gear ratios (1/191, 1/345, 1/147) |
| LeRobot support | Older tutorials; check current docs | Current assembly and calibration tutorial |
| Tested by us | Not tested by us | Not tested by us |
Start here
SO-101 vs SO-100: what changed, what to buy, what we haven't tested
Servos, gearing, power-supply notes and a bill-of-materials snapshot, each line sourced and dated.
Why we pick things up first
How we label a claim: sourced, tested, or neither.
What this is, and who it's for
Handly is a comparison and news site for people who build with hardware: makers, students and developers who want a straight answer on which arm, board or kit to pick up, and the links to check it. Robot arms and LeRobot are the first category, not the only one. Dev boards come next, and further along we may look at related gear such as AI voice recorders. We don't sell hardware, and we don't take inquiries.