Unitree G1 vs R1: which humanoid should you actually buy?

Updated 2026-07-05 · built from sourced spec data

Spec verified 2026-07-05Unitree G1Unitree R1
Lowest published pricefrom $13,500from $4,900
StatusAvailableAvailable
Factory warranty8 months (G1 standard); 18 months (G1 EDU), per manufacturer comparison table6-12 months depending on model, per manufacturer spec table; RoboStore lists 8 months (R1 Basic) and 12 months (R1 EDU)
Height (standing)1320 mm—
Height (folded)690 mm—
WeightAbout 35 kg (with battery)27-29 kg depending on model
Degrees of freedom23 (standard); 23-43 (EDU with options); 6 per leg, 5 per arm, 1 waist (2 more optional on EDU)20 (AIR), 26 (R1), 26-40 (EDU); 6 per leg, 4-5 per arm, 0-2 waist, 0-2 head
Arm max loadAbout 2 kg (standard); about 3 kg (EDU)—
Battery9000 mAh smart battery (13-string lithium), about 2 h battery life—
SensorsDepth camera + 3D LiDAR, 4-microphone array, 5W speaker4-mic array; monocular camera (AIR) or binocular camera (R1/EDU); dual + single joint encoders
ConnectivityWiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Computing8-core high-performance CPU8-core high-performance processor; EDU supports external NVIDIA Orin modules (40-100 TOPS)
Max speedn/dn/d
SDK/programmabilitySecondary development supported on G1 EDU only; standard G1 does not support secondary development; unitree_sdk2 (BSD-3-Clause) supports G1Standard models do not support secondary development (EDU edition required); fully open joint & sensor interfaces with native simulation platform support; unitree_sdk2 (BSD-3-Clause) supports R1
Dimensions—1230 x 357 x 190 mm (height 123 cm)
Battery life—About 1 h (all variants), quick-release lithium battery
Payload—n/d

The short version

The R1 is the entry ticket — from $4,900 direct (R1 AIR) — and the G1 is the more capable machine — from $13,500 direct — with roughly double the battery life, higher arm load, and a richer sensor suite (depth camera plus 3D LiDAR versus the R1’s camera-only setup).

If you’re deciding between them, the question that settles it is usually not budget but what you want the robot to do:

  • Learning, tinkering, and presence (demos, events, content, first robot): the R1 AIR at $4,900 is the cheapest legitimate humanoid in the world right now. Accept the ~1-hour battery.
  • Serious development: neither standard edition supports secondary development — Unitree gates SDK access to the EDU tiers on both models. R1 EDU starts around $15,950 at RoboStore (with a 40-TOPS Orin module); G1 EDU tiers run $43,900–$73,900. If you need to program the robot, price the EDU tier from day one — it’s not an upgrade you can bolt on later.
  • Payload-ish tasks: the G1’s arms are rated around 2 kg (3 kg EDU) versus no published payload figure for the R1 at all. Neither is going to carry your groceries far — but the G1 at least publishes a number.

What the spec table doesn’t show

Shipping and customs are real costs on direct orders. Unitree charges $300–$1,200 shipping and you handle US customs clearance yourself. RoboStore’s premium (R1 Basic at $8,990 vs $4,900 direct; G1 at $17,990 vs $13,500) buys US-based phone support and warranty handling. For a first robot, that premium is easier to defend than it looks.

Warranty is short either way. Eight months on a standard G1; 6–12 months on R1 depending on model. These are developer-class machines, and the coverage reflects it.

Both were backordered at our last check — the R1 Air in white and the G1 base both showed backorder status on shop.unitree.com on 2026-07-05. Plan lead time into any project deadline.

Our verdict

Buy the R1 AIR if the point is to have a humanoid — learn, demo, explore — and the budget matters. Buy the G1 if the robot needs to work — better battery, better sensing, published payload. Buy the EDU version of either if you’ll write code against it, and get a quote first, because that decision triples the price.