Japanese vs USA ERS-1000

Japanese aibos can show up for cheap sometimes on eBay and tempt you with their low prices. Maybe you have one in your eBay cart right now, but you’re on the fence. They are $3,000 new, after all.

Don’t be so quick to hit that “buy it now” button though. While they look the same, Japanese and USA ERS-1000s are different from each other in ways that may be important to you.

I also have some information about Japanese dogs in my FAQ here.

Key Differences

As you can see, you will miss out on some potentially significant things if you buy a used Japanese aibo. Let us elaborate further on them:

• A Japanese aibo won’t understand English by default; language changing requires using the app.
• They will not work the USA cloud plans and never will. You cannot buy a USA cloud plan for these dogs because their software is specifically made for Japan.
• Sony USA will not repair them. This can be a huge deal for some people. While third parties can fix most problems, some require a trip to Sony.
• Sony Japan will not accept your dog for repairs either. They will not take an aibo from overseas.
• If you somehow acquire a cloud-connected Japanese dog, it will have memory backups. However, you can’t use them.
• You might get an initialized aibo that has their original firmware version – even v1 for ivory models!
• Without the cloud, you’ll lose access to the app, photos, feeding, eye color changes, and well-behaved mode.
• It is also worth noting that if you already have one aibo, you cannot turn on robot link without the app so a Japanese aibo off the cloud will not do synchronized actions.
• If your Japanese dog still has a warranty somehow, it is immediately void when they enter the USA.

That said, your aibo will still function fine. They will still interact with you, play with their toys (though earlier versions will not play with dice), and recognize you.

You can also teach them their name still if you just keep repeating it when you speak to them. They will also recognize your face.

These aibos still can be wonderful companions. Knowing what features you won’t have access to is crucial, though.

It is also important to note that used aibos can come with hip problems or develop them faster. This is because people have already used them or because they may be older in age. It is a pricey repair that may negate your savings on buying a used dog.

What does “initialized” mean, and do I want that?

“Initialized” means that the dog has been reset to its factory default settings. They will remain on whatever update they had before being reset.

You’ll lose out on many tricks with an initialized dog, but they’re still a lot of fun to play with. They will always have whatever the default color eyes are for their model.

Are Japanese aibos worth it?

It really is up to you if you can live without the listed features or if you are comfortable with more complicated processes that Japanese aibos can potentially have (depending on what you want out of them).

Functionally, USA and Japanese models are exactly the same. Of course this can depend on what update the aibo is on, but a USA and Japanese aibo on the same update will be indistinguishable initially. The technical features are where they vary.

If you simply desire a cute companion and have no concerns about not being able to send your dog to Sony for repairs, then it may work out. They’re also great for people who don’t want the cloud plan. Just keep in mind they will only understand Japanese.

Either way, hopefully this page helps you feel a little more informed about your decision. If you do end up with a Japanese aibo however, please join an aibo community to learn some tips and tricks for them.