Bender, Toothless, K-9, Scooby-Doo, and R2D2.

Pets vs Robots Snark-o-Meter: The Ultimate Nerd Companion of All Time

As a fan of nerd culture, I’ve often wondered where our favorite protagonists would be without their loyal pets and robots. Shaggy without Scooby? Luke without R2-D2? It’s unthinkable.

But what if you had to pick just one of these trusted companions to be your own ride-or-die? Which one would you choose? And how? 

To settle the debate once and for all, we set out to compare some of the most famous pets and robots of nerd culture to decide which one is the ultimate companion. 

Get ready to rate your favorites on the hug-o-meter, loyalty meter, helpfulness meter, and snark-o-meter as we reveal the best nerd companion of all time!

Pikachu

Pikachu is one of the most recognizable pets of nerd culture, known for his cute appearance, electric powers, and love for his trainer, Ash. With his loyal nature and cute looks, Pikachu scores high on the hug-o-meter with a solid 8/10. As for loyalty, Pikachu’s willingness to take on even the toughest opponents for his trainer earns him a solid 9/10. While he’s not the most helpful companion on this list, he’s definitely got some moves that can turn the tide in a tough battle, earning him a respectable 6/10 on the helpfulness meter. And let’s not forget Pikachu’s snarky humor – he might not talk much, but his facial expressions and occasional sarcastic quips definitely earn him a 7/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Pikachu the Pokémon.

Overall score: 7.5

Toothless

Toothless, the Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon, is a dragon with a heart of gold. Known for his loyal and loving nature towards his rider, Hiccup, Toothless scores a perfect 10/10 on the hug-o-meter. His unwavering loyalty towards Hiccup is also evident, earning him a solid 9/10 on the loyalty meter. In terms of helpfulness, Toothless is always ready to put his strength and flying skills to the test to help his friends in need, earning him a well-deserved 9/10. And while he may not be snarky, Toothless has a mischievous side that always keeps things interesting, earning him a respectable 6/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Toothless the dragon.

Overall score: 8.5

Hedwig

Hedwig, the snowy owl from Harry Potter, is a beloved pet of nerd culture known for her intelligence and loyalty towards her owner, Harry. While Hedwig may not be the cuddliest companion, her wise and watchful nature earns her a 7/10 on the hug-o-meter. Her loyalty towards Harry is unwavering, as evidenced by her willingness to deliver messages and protect Harry at all costs, earning her a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. And while she may not be the most helpful in a fight, her intelligence and ability to deliver important messages earns her a respectable 6/10 on the helpfulness meter. Finally, while Hedwig may not be snarky, her ability to deliver messages with a stern look earns her a solid 5/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Hedwig the owl.

Overall score: 7

Gizmo

Gizmo, the Mogwai from Gremlins, is known for his adorable appearance and his love of singing. With his fluffy appearance and cuddly nature, Gizmo scores a solid 7/10 on the hug-o-meter. Gizmo’s loyalty towards his owner, Billy, is unwavering, and he’s always ready to take on the evil gremlins when they attack, earning him a solid 9/10 on the loyalty meter. While he may not be the most helpful in a battle, his ability to avoid bright light, avoid water, and sing catchy tunes earns him a respectable 6/10 on the helpfulness meter. And while he may not be snarky, his tendency to belt out a tune when things get tough earns him a solid 7/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Gizmo the gremlin.

Overall score: 7.25

Scooby Doo

Scooby Doo, the lovable Great Dane from the eponymous TV show and movies, is known for his goofy antics, love of food, and unwavering loyalty towards his friends. With his big, fluffy frame, Scooby scores a solid 8/10 on the hug-o-meter. Scooby’s loyalty towards his gang, especially his best friend Shaggy, is unmatched, earning him a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. In terms of helpfulness, Scooby’s love for food often gets in the way, but he’s always ready to take on the villains and solve the mystery with his sharp senses and goofy antics, earning him a respectable 7/10 on the helpfulness meter. Finally, Scooby’s love of puns and his tendency to crack up his friends with his jokes earns him a solid 6/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Scooby Doo the dog.

Overall score: 7.75

R2-D2

R2-D2, the plucky astromech droid from Star Wars, is known for his bravery, resourcefulness, and loyalty towards his friends. While he may not be the cuddliest companion, R2-D2’s brave and resourceful nature earns him a solid 5/10 on the hug-o-meter. His loyalty towards his friends, especially his longtime companion C-3PO, is unmatched, earning him a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. And when it comes to helpfulness, R2-D2’s numerous gadgets and ability to hack into just about anything make him an invaluable asset to the Rebel Alliance, earning him a solid 8/10 on the helpfulness meter. Finally, R2-D2’s beeps and boops may not be snarky, but his sassy attitude and occasional use of his flamethrower definitely earn him a solid 7/10 on the snark-o-meter.

R2-D2 the droid.

Overall score: 7.5

WALL-E

WALL-E, the lovable trash-compacting robot from the eponymous movie, is known for his curious nature, loyalty towards his friends, and love for the plant he finds. With his small, cute frame, WALL-E scores a solid 9/10 on the hug-o-meter. WALL-E’s loyalty towards his fellow robot and love interest EVE is unwavering, and his willingness to go to great lengths to protect her and their new plant earns him a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. While he may not be the most helpful in a fight, his curiosity and determination to protect his friends make him an invaluable asset, earning him a solid 8/10 on the helpfulness meter. Finally, while WALL-E may not be snarky, his curiosity and innocence often lead to hilarious and heartwarming moments, earning him a solid 6/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Wall-e the robot.

Overall score: 8.25

Bumblebee

Bumblebee, the beloved Autobot from Transformers, is known for his bravery, loyalty, and ability to transform into a cute little yellow Volkswagen Beetle. With his cute and huggable appearance, Bumblebee scores a solid 8/10 on the hug-o-meter. His unwavering loyalty towards his fellow Autobots, especially his friend and leader Optimus Prime, earns him a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. In terms of helpfulness, Bumblebee’s ability to transform into a car and carry his human friends to safety makes him an invaluable asset, earning him a solid 8/10 on the helpfulness meter. And while he may not be the snarkiest of companions, his occasional beeps and boops and his adorable head tilts earn him a solid 6/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Bumblebee the robot alien.

Overall score: 8

K9

K9, the robotic dog from Dr. Who, is known for his intelligence, resourcefulness, and dry wit. With his metal frame and robotic features, K9 may not be the cuddliest companion, but he still scores a solid 5/10 on the hug-o-meter. K9’s loyalty towards his owner, the Doctor, is unwavering, and his numerous gadgets and abilities make him an invaluable asset to the TARDIS team, earning him a perfect 10/10 on the loyalty meter. When it comes to helpfulness, K9’s ability to analyze data and hack into just about anything make him an invaluable asset to the team, earning him a solid 8/10 on the helpfulness meter. And finally, K9’s dry wit and occasional sarcastic comments earn him a solid 7/10 on the snark-o-meter.

K9 the robodog.

Overall score: 7.5

Bender

Bender, the hard-drinking, cigar-smoking robot from Futurama, is known for his irreverent humor, love of mischief, and loyalty towards his best friend, Fry. With his bulky metal frame and slightly menacing appearance, Bender may not be the cuddliest companion, but he still scores a respectable 6/10 on the hug-o-meter. Bender’s loyalty towards Fry is unwavering, even if his motivations can sometimes be self-serving, earning him a solid 9/10 on the loyalty meter. And while Bender may not always be the most helpful companion, his ability to bend metal and his occasional bursts of heroism make him a solid 7/10 on the helpfulness meter. Finally, Bender’s snarky humor and love of mischief earn him a solid 9/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Bender the robot.

Overall score: 7.75

Baymax

Baymax, the lovable healthcare robot from Big Hero 6, is known for his compassionate nature, inflatable body, and incredible medical knowledge. With his soft, huggable exterior, Baymax scores a perfect 10/10 on the hug-o-meter. Baymax’s loyalty towards his friends, especially his creator Tadashi and Tadashi’s younger brother Hiro, is unwavering, earning him a solid 9/10 on the loyalty meter. In terms of helpfulness, Baymax’s healthcare abilities and powerful armor make him an invaluable asset to the Big Hero 6 team, earning him an impressive 9/10 on the helpfulness meter. While he may not seem snarky at first, Baymax’s innocent commentary is often subtle snark at its finest (“I have some concerns”), earning him a respectable 7/10 on the snark-o-meter.

Baymax the robot.

Overall score: 8.75

And the Winner Is …

Disney's Baymax from Big Hero 6.

After careful consideration and a rigorous rating process, the ultimate companion of all time is… Baymax! With an impressive overall score of 8.75/10, Baymax takes the title as the ultimate companion of all time. His unwavering loyalty towards his friends, especially his creator Tadashi and Tadashi’s younger brother Hiro, as well as his healthcare abilities and powerful armor make him a top-notch companion. And let’s not forget his perfect huggability and subtle snark that bring smiles to everyone around him. Congratulations, Baymax – you truly are the ultimate companion of nerd culture!