Our Comprehensive Hands-On Test • Racket Insight

At just $349 (USD), the PongBot Nova S Pro promises to be the affordable table tennis robot that can replace a human training partner. But can a budget-friendly robot really deliver the consistent practice that players need?

I’ve spent the last month putting this claim to the test, logging over 50 hours of intense practice sessions across every skill level. As both a club player and coach, I’ve experienced the frustration of inconsistent training partners and limited practice time – the exact problems a table tennis robot promises to solve.

Too often though, cheap robots end up sitting in a cupboard collecting dust because they simply donâ€t get close to the quality of training a human partner can provide. Could the Nova S Pro be a good value robot thatâ€s actually useful?

This comprehensive review breaks down everything you need to know before investing in the Nova S Pro. From initial setup to advanced features, real-world performance testing, and comparisons with other robots, I’ll help you decide if this is the training solution you’ve been looking for – or if you should keep looking.

PongBot Nova S Pro REVIEW SUMMARY

After 50+ hours of testing, the PongBot Nova S Pro ($349) proves to be a thoughtfully designed table tennis robot that brings premium features to an accessible price point.

The robot excels with its excellent build quality, sophisticated app control, and flexible placement options that enable realistic training scenarios. Its consistent ball delivery and quick 2-minute setup make it particularly appealing for home and club use.

While the Nova S Pro requires manual adjustment for sidespin variations and lacks a ball recycling system, these compromises feel reasonable given the price point.

Perfect for: Any home and club players who are looking for a great robot without spending thousands of dollars.

Benefits

Excellent value at $349

Advanced app with extensive programming features

Quick 2-minute setup

Flexible placement options on table

Consistent ball delivery

Drawbacks

No ball recycling system

Basic remote control

Unable to adjust trajectory / spin direction during drills

Page Contents (Quick Links)

Toggle

Who Makes The PongBot Nova S Pro?

If youâ€re going to spend a good chunk of your savings on a table tennis robot, you want to trust itâ€s being made by people who know what theyâ€re doing.

The PongBot Nova S Pro is manufactured by a company called “Shanghai Future Mind Co.†based in (you guessed it) China. They started in 2018 and secured funding led by Qualcommâ€s venture arm (the American semiconductor people) that invests in sports technology companies. Having a major tech investor on board suggests there’s serious engineering expertise behind these robots.

Whilst they may not be a major legacy table tennis brand, itâ€s fascinating to see a new tech-focused business entering the table tennis world.

Theyâ€ve already built some of the most advanced table tennis robots in the world including their flagship M-One that actually has a racket on the end of an arm. Itâ€s pretty damn impressive, albeit retails at $15,000 USD so itâ€s (probably) not for at-home use.

So, when the PongBot team reached out and asked if I was willing to test their entry-level robot, it was an offer I couldnâ€t pass up. Full transparency: they sent me the robot free of charge, but I made it clear they would have zero editorial control over my review, just like everything we publish here at Racket Insight.

Robot Specs

• Mobile App?: Yes
• Ball Frequency: 5~120 Balls per Minute
• Spin Settings: Top, Top/Side, Side
• Speed Ranges:2 – 15m/s
• Physical Dimensions:: 46 x 34 x 17.5 cm
• Weight:4 kg (8.8l bs)
• Warranty: 1 Year

Key Features

The most important things you need to know about the Nova S Pro are that itâ€s a fixed-base robot that sits on the table, uses a manual rotational spin system, and doesnâ€t have an re-cycling hopper / net system.

What does that practically mean? Three key things:

1. The robot can be placed anywhere on the table to create drills/shots at any realistic angle, although the balls do arrive quite quickly compared to robots that sit behind the end of the table.
2. Youâ€re limited to the number of balls (around 150) that can fit in the hopper, unless you have a friend running around picking up balls and replenishing as you go.
3. You can create all kinds of spin variations but you need to manually rotate the robotâ€s head to change between top/bottom and side spin variations.

If thatâ€s all you read, you might be wondering what makes this robot so great? Let me tell you, this robot does so many incredible things that those limitations start to feel very small.

Letâ€s dive in.

Basic Functions

This robot does everything you need a robot to do:

Speed Control: Adjustable from 1m/s (very slow) to 15m/s (very fast), allowing everything from gentle beginner-friendly feeds to professional-level practice.

Spin Variation: There are 9 ‘spin types†you can generate by manually rotating the robotâ€s head – no spin, topspin, backspin, left spin, right spin, left-top spin, left-back spin, right-top spin, and right back spin. This is because you can rotate the head at every interval of 45 degrees.

Frequency Adjustment: The Nova S Pro can feed balls at a rate of anywhere between 30 and 90 balls per minute. Iâ€m not sure why it can handle such an incredibly high feed-rate, but it can!

Ball Placement Control: The robot can support both fixed position and oscillation modes, meaning you can place the ball anywhere on the table and place balls in different places during the same exercise. Height adjustment allows for both short and deep ball placement (although this is another manual change).

Advanced Features

Programming Memory: The robot can store up to 30 different custom drills in its internal memory. These remain saved even when powered off, which is incredibly convenient for regular training sessions.

Remote Control: A simple but effective remote control comes included, letting you start/stop drills and adjust speed/frequency from your playing position. This might sound basic, but trust me – walking back and forth to the robot gets old fast.

Smartphone App Integration: The free PongBot app (iOS/Android) connects via Bluetooth and offers a more rich experience that the provided remote, including:

• Real-time control of all robot functions
• Pre-made training programs for different skill levels
• Custom drill creation with visual ball placement
• The ability to share drills with other users
• Training statistics and progress tracking

Custom Drill Creation: This is where things get interesting. You can create complex sequences combining up to 5 different ball placements per drill, with variable speeds and timing within the same sequence. For more advanced exercises, these can even be randomised to make it really tricky.

The ability to save and share custom drills makes the Nova S Pro feel like a much more premium product than its price suggests.

First Impressions & Setup

When the Nova S Pro arrived, I wasnâ€t expecting much based on the packaging. Just a plain cardboard box straight from China. But inside? Impressively well-packaged. Loads of padding, which is always a good sign for delicate equipment like this.

My first impression upon unboxing was very positive. The robot itself looks very futuristic, almost like it belongs in a sci-fi film.

Unlike some budget-friendly robots that feel like flimsy plastic toys, the Nova S Pro has a reassuring solidity to it whilst still remaining lightweight. The construction uses quality materials that inspire confidence the robot isn’t going to fall apart after a few sessions (spoiler: it didnâ€t).

One of the clever design features is how compact the whole unit is. The feeding mechanism and head unit slot neatly into the ball hopper, making it surprisingly portable and easy to store. This is particularly important if you’re planning to use/store it in a home setting where space might be limited.

What’s In The Box

• Nova S Pro robot unit
• Hopper
• Remote control
• Power adapter
• User manual

Notable omissions are a carrying case and collection net system, which you might want to factor into your budget if you’re planning to transport the robot regularly or donâ€t want to spend half your time picking up balls.

First-Time Setup

The robot is incredibly easy to put together. Just slot the hopper on top of the robot unit and insert the power cable in the back. Done in 30 seconds.

The instruction manual is clear and includes helpful diagrams, though I suspect most users won’t need to reference it much beyond the initial setup.

The power cable extends to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), which is workable but Iâ€d prefer it to be a little longer. If you’re planning to have someone play on the robot’s side of the table, you’ll likely need to position your table closer to a power outlet than you’d prefer for optimal movement space.

I hit my first sizable snag when I realized the plug was a rounded 2-pin design (EU-Type) thatâ€s not compatible with Australiaâ€s sockets. A quick dash out to a nearby hardware store solved that problem for me. Depending on your region, PongBot send the robot with either a US-Type, UK-Type, or EU-Type plug so most people wonâ€t have the same problem as me.

Basic Practice Sessions

My first priority was testing how the Nova S Pro handles the fundamentals. After all, if a robot can’t deliver consistent, reliable basic practice, all the fancy features in the world won’t matter.

Single-Position Consistency

I started by testing fixed-position feeds, and I was genuinely impressed.

When set to a single position, the Nova S Pro delivers balls with remarkable consistency – easily matching the reliability of robots twice its price. Over a 100-ball test at medium speed, 95% of balls landed within a 10cm diameter circle. That’s more than accurate enough for focused practice.

I set up a sequence that switched between topspin and backspin shots, a combination that often trips up cheaper robots. The Nova S Pro handled these transitions seamlessly.

Better yet, the robot’s head unit features LED indicators that change color based on the type of spin being delivered, making it easy to anticipate what’s coming next. This small but clever design touch proved incredibly useful during practice sessions.

Multi-Position Training

I moved on to setting up multi-stage drills that included shots from different sides of the table. Yet again the PongBot Nova S Pro handled this with ease.

The robot’s head moves quickly and accurately to deliver balls to multiple positions with impressive reliability. In my testing of a basic two-position drill (alternating between forehand and backhand corners), the placement consistency remained strong with about 90% of balls landing within a 10cm diameter circle at each position.

What really caught my attention was how smoothly the robot transitions between positions. There’s no jerky movement or long pauses – the head unit glides from point to point with a fluid motion that allows for natural timing between shots. This is crucial because it means you can maintain a proper rhythm during practice, something cheaper robots often struggle with.

Basic Drills Performance

The robot really shines with fundamental drills like:

• Forehand loops from the middle
• Backhand drives from the corner
• Push practice with light backspin
• Basic footwork patterns between 2-3 positions

What impressed me most was how natural the ball trajectory feels. Unlike some cheaper robots that shoot balls with an awkward, artificial arc, the Nova S Pro is able to create realistic trajectories that closely mimic human shots.

Hands-On With The Remote

In order to set up any exercises, you need to use either the included remote, or the free PongBot app (available on iOS and Android). Letâ€s start with the remote.

I like the design, with the unit feeling comfortable to hold with 3 different button ‘sectionsâ€:

1. A large central orange button to ‘select†options.
2. A 4-directional ring around the central button for navigation.
3. Two buttons to go ‘forward†or ‘back†on certain screens.

The screen itself is a small, simple black-and-white screen similar to the kind you might see on a Kindle, except without any touch-screen capabilities.

Itâ€s possible to create custom exercises, start/stop the robot, manage frequency and speed, as well as change some core settings. However, the interface itself can be a bit fiddly due to the limited screen size.

With the app providing an easier experience and quicker configuration of exercises, I honestly think the remote is a little redundant.

Giving The Robot A Thorough Test

To fully test the robot, I had to get the mobile app installed and connected. Where they may have compromised on the remote, there arenâ€t any compromises on the app.

Itâ€s one of the most impressive ‘robot†apps Iâ€ve ever used.

One prerequisite to using the app is the creation of an account, which means setting up a username/password and sharing your email address. Whilst I know some people will be annoyed by this, itâ€s a one-time activity and very easy to complete.

The downside is for clubs where many people will be using the robot. Either each person needs to register their own account and connect to the robot when theyâ€re using it, or the club will need to provide a single shared device thatâ€s kept with the robot.

Connecting Your Robot

Simply plug your robot in and open up the app. Youâ€ll see an option to connect via Bluetooth and that allows you access to control the robot. The lights on the front will switch from flashing to a solid blue.

Each robot can be individually named if you want to have multiple PongBot robots around. The same app works for their entire range.

Drill Options

When trying to start a drill, you have 3 main options to choose from:

1. Programmed Drills (Standard)
2. Programmed Drills (Near-Net)
3. Custom Drills

The standard drills assume youâ€ll place the robot either at the end-line, or next to the net in the middle of the table. If you want to run drills from any of the corners, youâ€ll need to use the Custom Drills setting.

Pre-Configured Drills

Both the Standard & Near-Net drill options come with a variety of ‘Basicâ€, ‘Combinedâ€, and ‘Complex†drills pre-programmed in the app so you can get started with drills straight away.

The difference between these is simple:

1. Basic Drills – 1 Shot (e.g. Forehand Push)
2. Combined Drills – 2 Shots (e.g. Backhand Loop, Forehand Drive)
3. Complex Drills – 3 Shots (e.g. Backhand Loop, Backhand Drive, Forehand Drive) or ‘Random†drills.

Letâ€s examine a Combined drill by testing out the ‘Loop(B)-Drive(B)†option. You can see there are lots of different settings you can configure for each exercise. These include:

1. Rotation Type – All pre-programmed drills are set to the Robot head unitâ€s standard ‘Top & Under†state, which canâ€t be changed.
2. Serve Mode – You can set the robot to run for an agreed amount of time, or number of sets.
3. Difficulty Level – I must admit struggling to understand this setting, but the only thing it seemed to affect was the frequency of balls with 3-star difficulty shooting balls out very quickly one after another. This made for a tricky falkenberg drill!
4. Sequence – Iâ€m not sure why youâ€d choose a non-random drill and then select ‘Random†here. I almost always left this as ‘Sequentialâ€.
5. Dominant Hand – When testing this, I didnâ€t notice a huge difference. The ball seems to slightly favor where the dominant hand would expect the user to be positioned.

The ‘Calibration†option allows you to adjust the placement of the ball by running a quick test of the exercises. Through a simple interface, you can adjust all the shots to be shorter/longer or further left/right.

I found ‘Calibration†to be an incredibly handy feature as the app didnâ€t always have the perfect default settings to put the ball in the right place on the table.

Custom Drills

Creating custom drills is probably my favorite feature of the PongBot Nova S Pro.

You start by telling the app where youâ€re placing the robot based on 9 preset positions and an angle. Itâ€s one of the huge advantages of having a robot thatâ€s not fixed to the end of the table.

Once youâ€re in the customization screen, it can be very overwhelming and take a few attempts to get used to the interface. Once I got my head around the interface, I saw it split into 3 different sections:

1. Rotation & Ball Height – Choosing the angle of the robotâ€s head to set the type of spin, and the ball height over the net.
2. Number of Shots – The customizer includes the ability to chain 5 different shots together, each of which is displayed dynamically on a top-down overview of the table as well as a side-view of the ball trajectory.
3. Ball Settings – Set the drop point (how far the ball is expected to land), rotation type, speed, spin, and frequency of each individual shot.

I had so much fun configuring different exercises. The options really are almost unlimited for creating sequential and randomized exercises that are fantastic for training.

The only downside I found was that what happened in the images didnâ€t always match up with real life. Settings that showed the ball landing perfectly on the table ended up being shot over the end and required some further tweaking to get them in the right place.

I also tested pushing the robotâ€s spin capabilities to the extreme. I set a backspin ball up to 10 and watched in horror as the robot spit a ball out directly towards my face at the other end of the table.

No, my face wasnâ€t anywhere near the table level. This ball came out and went straight up due to the heavy backspin.

I donâ€t feel itâ€s a major issue, but always keep in my mind that the robot doesnâ€t have any guardrails to keep balls always on the table. Itâ€s easy to configure shots that nobody would ever want coming at them.

Managing Drills

Once started, the app will show you how far through the exercise you are, and give you the ability to pause or stop the robot at any time.

The stop button has a small 1-2 second delay to the robot which means it can spit a few extra balls out after youâ€ve tried to stop it. Thatâ€s not really a major problem though.

Limitations Of The PongBot Nova S

There are 4 limitations I found throughout my testing. Overall, these limitations don’t necessarily make the Nova S Pro a bad choice – far from it.

However, they do highlight where PongBot has made compromises to achieve its competitive price point. For most recreational players and even club-level competitors, these limitations won’t significantly impact your training.

At this price point, Iâ€d honestly expect many more limitations.

1) Spin and Speed Constraints

The robot’s maximum spin rate of 60 rotations per second, while adequate for 99% of players and exercises youâ€d want to do, falls short of the kind of spin advanced players can generate.

To put this in perspective, professional players can generate significantly more spin, particularly in their loop shots. If you’re training to compete at a professional level, you might find the spin intensity lacking for certain drills.

Both myself and my training partner are ex-regional standard players, neither of us felt like we needed any additional spin for it to feel realistic.

2) Manual Spin Adjustments

One of the more frustrating limitations is the need to manually rotate the robot’s head to change spin types.

While you can create drills combining topspin and underspin, adding sidespin variations requires physically adjusting the robot.

This means you can’t program drills that automatically alternate between different spin types, limiting the complexity of your practice sessions.

3) Fixed Trajectory Per Drill

A significant drawback is the robot’s inability to vary ball trajectory within a single drill.

The head height remains fixed throughout each programmed sequence, which means you can’t combine serves with loops or practice transitioning between different shot heights without creating separate drills.

This is particularly limiting when trying to simulate realistic match scenarios where opponents naturally mix up their shot heights.

4) Control Interface Compromises

While the smartphone app provides an excellent user experience, the included remote control feels like an afterthought.

It’s less responsive and more cumbersome to use than the app, which could be problematic in situations where you don’t have access to a smartphone or tablet.

The remote’s small screen and limited button layout make it challenging to access the robot’s full feature set effectively.

Is The PongBot Nova S Good Value?

At $349 (5% off direct with code RI5OFF), the Nova S Pro sits in an interesting position in the table tennis robot market. It’s priced well below premium options like the Butterfly Amicus series ($1000+) while offering features that often aren’t available until you reach much higher price points.

To put this in perspective, here’s what you’re getting for your money:

• Bluetooth connectivity and sophisticated app control
• Custom drill programming with up to 5 shots per sequence
• Flexible placement options (unlike fixed-position robots)
• Solid build quality from a tech-focused manufacturer
• Consistent ball delivery suitable for club-level players

The value proposition becomes even clearer when you consider what’s typically available in this price range.

Most sub-$500 robots are fixed-position units with basic remote controls and limited programming capabilities. The Nova S Pro’s app integration and customization features alone put it in a different league.

The Real Cost Consideration

If youâ€re looking to buy the Nova S Pro, itâ€s worth considering these additional costs:

• Ball collection net (recommended, $50-100)
• Carrying case if you plan to transport it ($50 as part of their ‘Deluxe†set)
• Extra training balls ($20-40 for a quality set)

Even with these additions, you’re still looking at a total investment under $500 – significantly less than most competitive options with similar features.

Value Verdict

For $349, this thing punches way above its weight. Sure, it has its limits, but if youâ€re looking for serious training without breaking the bank, the Nova S Pro is a no-brainer. Youâ€re getting 80% of a $1000 robot for a third of the price—thatâ€s just a crazy deal.

The compromises it makes (manual spin adjustment, no recycling system) are thoughtfully chosen to maintain core training functionality while hitting an accessible price point.

If you’re a professional player or coach needing maximum spin rates and automatic variation, you’ll want to look at more expensive options. But for everyone else – from beginners to serious club players – the Nova S Pro offers a compelling mix of features and performance at a price that’s hard to beat.

Final Verdict

After spending a month with the PongBot Nova S Pro, I’m convinced itâ€s a fantastic step forward in affordable table tennis robots. While it’s not perfect, it successfully makes features previously reserved for much more expensive machines affordable to more players. Iâ€m a big fan of that.

Who Should Buy It

Intermediate Club Players: Those wanting to develop consistency and specific techniques

Serious Beginners: Players transitioning from basic to intermediate level who need structured practice

Home Users: Anyone with limited space who practices alone frequently

Budget-Conscious Clubs: Anywhere needing a reliable training tool without premium pricing

It’s less suitable for professional players requiring maximum spin variation or large training centers needing continuous operation.

Real-World Performance

In practical use, the Nova S Pro has proved itself remarkably capable.

The initial setup process takes under 2 minutes, making it convenient for players who need to store and reassemble the robot frequently.

During operation, the robot runs quietly enough for home and apartment use without disturbing neighbors. The solid construction and quality materials suggest good long-term durability, while the smart features and app integration make solo practice sessions both engaging and productive.

The main compromises (manual spin adjustment, no ball recycling, limited drill complexity) are thoughtfully chosen to maintain core functionality while hitting an accessible price point.

Final Recommendation

At $349, the Nova S Pro delivers exceptional value for money. It offers roughly 80% of what $1000+ robots provide at one-third of the price. While it won’t replace your regular training partner completely, it’s more than capable of helping players develop from beginner to advanced club level.

Buy it if:

• You want smart features at an accessible price
• You need flexible placement options
• You’re focused on fundamental skill development
• You value build quality and reliability

Look elsewhere if:

• You need professional-level spin intensity
• Automatic ball recycling is essential
• You require complex multi-spin sequences
• You need advanced oscillation features

Honestly, this thing just works. If you want to train properly and donâ€t want to break the bank, Iâ€d get the Nova S Pro in a heartbeat. It’s a capable, well-built robot that punches well above its weight class in terms of features and performance.

David’s been playing Table Tennis since he was 12, earning his first coaching license in 2012. He’s played in national team & individual competitions, although he prefers the more relaxed nature of a local league match! After earning his umpiring qualification in England, David moved to Australia and started Racket Insight to share information about the sport he loves.

Blade: Stiga WRB Offensive Classic | Forehand: Calibra LT | Backhand: Xiom Musa
Playstyle: The All-Rounder

Source link