What do you think about the CyberBricks retail prices?

MakerWorld CyberBrick
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CyberBricks is an exciting product with many potentials, I can’t wait to get my hands on them and see what is its SDK entails.

The Kickstarter description is a bit vague. I assumed the hardware kit “All the non-printed parts for making any 1 vehicle and 1 remote.” is everything listed in the Magic of Modules, minus the time lapse module. Obviously some items come in multiple quantity like tires, springs and etc.

IMO, these kits’ retail prices are on the expensive side. One can buy the Arduino equivalent of the same modules and parts for way less.

I’m not complaining, I backed the Ultimate Hardware Kit. I’m trying to figure out what is CyberBricks’ strategy and how creators can generate financial incentive while having fun in MakerWorld eco system.

I’m having a hard time believing that people who just want to print and assemble would be willing to spend $50 on modules each time they want to try a new design or spending time disassemble the previous built.

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I agree, but I believe all of these items will be available for purchase individually on Maker’s Supply after the KS campaign has ended. It wouldn’t make sense that you need to buy a full kit every time.

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I couldn’t find any prices on their Kickstarter page. Does anyone have a direct link to an actual cost? All I see is a overcomplicated bingo card of “points” system, not a straight forward price.

So far, two things stand out about their website:

  1. After all was said and done, more was said than done.
  2. Never have so many pixels been sacrificed for so little purpose. Their site makes AliExpress look as clear and concise as a children’s toy label.

I think CyberBricks, once it launches, will be a fad that fades away. Under the hood, there’s no there there. It appears to be marketed toward uneducated consumers who see flashy lights and think, “This is cool!” without understanding what they’re actually buying.

As for pricing, these buyers likely have no idea that an open standard called Qwiic (also known as Stemma QT from Adafruit) exists. This standard is based on the I²C protocol, which has been around for decades. It was designed to daisy-chain sensors and controllers easily—something CyberBricks is simply repackaging with a fancy name.

In other words, CyberBricks is just putting a fresh coat of paint on old tech, and people are falling for it. It’s smoke and mirrors, preying on those who don’t know better.

And on price? You tell me. If they’re charging $50 for a module, then compare CyberBricks’ components to what’s available from these two open-architecture sources:

:link: SparkFun Qwiic
:link: Adafruit Stemma QT

Look at the selection and pricing, then decide for yourself who’s actually getting the better deal.

The moment I saw “Available on MakerWorld,” I knew exactly what this was—just another Bambu Lab scheme to lock people into their ecosystem. No surprises there.

Next thing you know, they’ll be comparing themselves to the LEGOs of the STEM world. :roll_eyes: The chutzpah of these people is unbelievable—though not as ridiculous as the shmucks who actually backed this on Kickstarter.

And really, doesn’t Bambu Lab have enough money to fund this themselves? Why beg the uneducated consumer for cash when they could easily bankroll their own product?

The whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I was an early fan of their printers, but seeing what success has done to them? Disappointing. Do we really want to reward them with more?

The one thing that stands out is their flashy phone app. Yeah… right… just what I need another Chinese piece of software inside my life… I don’t think so.
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And one last thing, doesn’t anyone find this whole “rewards” thing when you buy a product just sketchy as hell? Why obfuscate the fair price of the product, just publish it already.

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So do we when this is going to be available? Is it going to be available in the points shop?

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As one of the creators who were given the opportunity to test out Cyberbrick as I mentioned in my post here and someone who had used and been using Arduinos in projects, let me weigh in on some of your thoughts below.

While I agree with you in terms of the cost of Arduino and the compatible components being cheaper, Cyberbrick’s ease of use make up for the added cost.

Remember that smaller Arduinos like the Micro and Nano do not come with leads and we can’t expect users to be comfortable with soldering wires. If the boards come with leads, they’re usually Dupont pins which are bulky and it’s easy to incorrectly connect wires to the intended pins potentially damaging the board. Cyberbrick components will come with PH1.0 connectors which is smaller and minimizes mistakes in connecting the wires to the board.

As for users configuring the Arduino, you add another level of complexity. It’s overwhelming for users who are first time using Arduinos to install the Arduino IDE, select the correct port, Arduino model, programmer, download the libraries, connect the wire and hope that the PC will detect the board, etc. Cyberbrick takes away all those guess work. Users will just connect to the webserver on the board, upload a json configuration file, follow the hardware connection diagram, update the boards wirelessly, all within the embedded app. No downloading of any IDE nor libraries.

This is what the end-user is paying for.

At the minimum, they would buy another set of kit for the RC model but they can reuse the same controller. The embeded app makes it easy to bind the controller to a different model. So theoretically, you can have 10+ models with only one controller.

The boards come with an ESP32 core and a hat. I’m not sure if BL will sell hats individually or always with the core. If they do, then technically, you can leave the hats in the RC models and you just transfer the core to the RC model and enable the configuration that applies to that model.

This is another benefit that Nanos and Micros cannot offer. Traditionally, one will load the sketch in the Arduino IDE and upload it to the board to enable a different configuration. Using the embedded app, the user will just enable the configuration he/she wants to activate. (Assuming the json configuration file has already been imported to the board.)

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To see what is included in the $50 kit look at the ‘Quantity in Rewards C, D, E’ column in the table directly under the picture you are all sharing, this is for 2x vehicles and 2x controllers.

There is also a $30 kit (see Quantity in Rewards B for what’s included in that one) that is intended for 1x vehicle and 1x controller.

I personally find the pricing to be fairly competitive for the kick starter, they have however confirmed that pricing will be 40-50% higher on Maker Supply after the kickstarter.

They also confirmed that all of the modules will be available as individual components after the kickstarter once they are released on Maker Supply store.

Overall I am happy with the kickstarter, but I will agree the details and communication around it could have been improved, much of the questions/confusion raised here has already been addressed or answered but you have to go searching to find it. I also agree the product description itself is far too long with far too little information on kick starter, again having to find the actual good parts of the info elsewhere.

I think if the price is right once it makes it to Maker Supply it will be around for a good long time to come, the problem with most of those other solutions that are being referenced is you need to have a higher level of technical skills as the entry level. With CyberBricks you can just open the app with a picture of the board and outputs and say that port controls this type of thing.

I have hopes for some good model designs that use these, but really its a time will tell kind of thing.

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Oh, and then there is the benefits for people all around the world, I for example am in Australia, my ability to find electrical components for projects has been hit and miss and often with fluctuating pricing, the sparkfun stuff is newer (at least to me) and might be better, but other companies like Bambu Lab making this availability easy is something I am happy with, again provided the price is right once it hits a proper retail release after the kickstarter ends

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The app is embedded in the board that you connect/access via wi-fi, not something you install on your PC or phone. Of course, while you’re connected to the app, you’re offline from the internet unless you connect your laptop via ethernet cable.

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Oh boy, this only gets better. So let me repeat back what I understand. We have an app that is sitting in firmware on a device of unknown security status that harkens from the PRC? Do I have that right so far? So what I’m also hearing is that this app is sideloaded without the oversite of the Apps store? I’m assuming this can’t be loaded on a non-Jailbroken iPhone then.

What am I missing?

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You outlined why I backed this. I don’t have the skills to DIY with Arduino etc nor have the time either to source all the parts (I don’t live in the US) or build the skills. It’s the same reason who I own a Bambu Labs printer - I want to print, not figure out under the hood how to print. I also want my younger grandkids to do the same - get to the result. If they want to then get under the hood they can. BTW I have been a computer engineer for over 30 years for multiple industry leaders and am technically capable of doing this the “other way” so call me what you want but I just don’t want to do that - I want outcomes. So I will pay to get to that outcome with a Bambu Labs printer & CyberBrick.

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This doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. If you want a product that’s finished… just buy that… if you want to tinker, go buy Adafruit, not some locked-in bambu nonsense with relatively hobbled functionality. What’s next, BambuPolarized™ Magnets that work with no other magnets ? I mean this just kinda feels like a silly scope/mission creep of the company.

Why they’re wasting their time on this junk instead of shipping their next printer is beyond me.

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As I’ve said, once you’re connected to the browser-based app on the board, you’re no longer connected to the internet. No way the app can send out information to PRC while you’re connected to board.

Now, if you’re concerned that the app could leave a malicious code on your phone that will send information out once you’re connected back to the internet, then just use a burner phone that you don’t use with your personal/financial information and don’t connect that to the internet ever. I’m sure you have a spare phone you don’t use everyday. Besides, the browser-based app doesn’t require too much resources that even old phones should work.

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OK, let’s take that at face value. You’re right—I’ve hoarded plenty of old phones over the years for projects, so sure, a throwaway phone would be an option—for me. But not for the average non-computer-savvy person this product is targeting.

So riddle me this: Why use a smart app at all when these tasks could be handled in a server-side browser? The ESP32, which this has been most compared to, does exactly that. I use a number of EPS32 variants as a critter cams with motion detection. My Raspberry Pi Zero runs a web server just fine as well.

The point is, there’s no legitimate reason to require a phone app—unless the real motivation is data collection and security risks. And when dealing with a Chinese company that is legally obligated under PRC law to comply with their intelligence agencies, that’s not speculation—it’s fact. Just look at the recent actions against TikTok for similar concerns.

So why insist on an app when a more secure, open approach exists? Because convenience isn’t the goal—data collection is.

Why This Technology and Company Cannot and Should Not Be Trusted:

  1. They lure customers in with one set of standards, then change the rules post-purchase.
  • Bambu Lab has already demonstrated that once they capture a consumer base, they tighten control and alter the terms of ownership.
  1. We don’t allow tobacco or vape companies to target children with flashy, toy-like packaging. So why is this acceptable here?
  • This product is being marketed specifically for its ease of use, attracting those who may not fully grasp the privacy and security risks involved.
  1. Bambu Lab has already contradicted itself on security, proving they cannot be trusted.
  • They justified their recent changes to Bambu Connector as being about “cybersecurity.” Yet, within 24 hours, those claims were debunked and embarrassingly hacked.
  • Now, they want to push CyberBricks, claiming “it’s so easy a child can use it”—but without any real security measures in place.
  • Does that pass the smell test?
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The $50 kickstarter kit contains 8 modules and about 50 other components.

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Does anyone know exactly what’s in there? My eyes started to hurt trying to decode the graffiti they call a product page. I’d love to see a link to a simple list of parts with specs, but the website goes out of its way to hype and obfuscate the truth. This should be a red flag for any buyer, whether they’re purchasing tech or real estate.

Again, all of this can be summed up in one phrase: “Deceptive Marketing” What’s Bambu got to hide that can’t be listed as simple list and easy to browse to?

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Thank you, you just proved my point. This is exactly what I meant.

Where’s the “simple” list that tells me what it costs and exactly what’s in there? What? I need another decoder to decipher what this garbage means? This is exactly what I’m talking about obfuscating truth.

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A - time lapse kit
B - beginner kit
C, D, E - dual kits

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Are we in any jeopardy of seeing something as complex as a simple price list? You know, that thing with a decimal point, two digits on the right, and at least one digit on the left? Maybe even a comma if you’re in the EU? Apparently, that level of transparency is just too much to ask.

All sarcasm aside, this is deceptive marketing at its finest. I’ve been in tech too long to fall for this, and while people have the right to be fooled, they lose the right to complain when they realize they’ve been ripped off.

But here’s the real issue: This looks like an attempt to buy the market with prices that may be too good to be true. And why not? When a company takes money upfront with no legal obligation to return it, it’s a risk-free cash grab.

This is where the Ponzi scheme comparison comes in. In a Ponzi scheme, early investors see returns because their payouts come from new investors’ money rather than actual profits. This keeps going until the accumulated obligations exceed the money coming in, and the whole thing collapses, leaving later investors with nothing.

While Kickstarter isn’t a literal Ponzi scheme, it shares a key flaw—people hand over their money with no guarantees. Early backers might get their products if everything goes smoothly, but as obligations pile up, later backers are the ones left empty-handed if things go wrong. And when there’s no legal requirement for refunds, guess who takes the loss? Not the company.

Anyone backing a Kickstarter needs to understand one thing: it’s a gamble. There’s no guarantee you’ll get what you paid for, no promise of a refund, and no legal protection if it all goes south. The real question is, how many people will realize this too late?