Digit
Agility Robotics · #2 in Humanoid
Warehouse and logistics material handling — tote movement between conveyors, racks, and AMRs
The Unitree G1 is a 1.32 m, $13,500 humanoid from China's Unitree Robotics, and the only major humanoid you can simply buy online today. It has shipped in the thousands — over 5,000 humanoids in 2025 — mostly to researchers, universities, and companies prototyping humanoid applications. Unitree listed on Shanghai's STAR Market in August 2026, with shares closing up more than 460% on debut, cementing its position as the commercial volume leader.
- Shipped more than 5,000 humanoid units in 2025 — the highest volume of any humanoid maker [source]
- Shanghai IPO was oversubscribed and shares closed over 460% up on the August 19, 2026 debut [source]
- The only major humanoid you can actually order online today at a public price [source]
Specifications
| Specification | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height (standing) | 1.32 m | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Weight | 35 kg | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Degrees of freedom | 23 (up to 43 in G1 EDU) DOF | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Arm load capacity | 2 (3 in EDU) kg | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Battery life | 2 h | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Battery | 9000 mAh quick-release smart battery | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Perception | Depth camera + 3D LiDAR | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
| Max knee torque | 90 (120 in EDU) N.m | verified | unitree.com (2026-09-01) |
Every spec is cited to its source with a retrieval date. verified = manufacturer-published · reported = reputable press/analyst. Verify with the manufacturer before purchase decisions.
Change timeline
- milestone Shanghai debut: shares close up more than 460% [source]
- funding IPO priced at about a $9 billion valuation; roughly $900M raise oversubscribed more than 8,000x by retail investors [source]
- milestone STAR Market IPO approved; 4.2 billion yuan raise planned [source]
- launch G1 unveiled at a $16,000 starting price [source]
Our take
The G1 wins on price and availability, not capability: 2 kg arm payload and roughly 2 hours of runtime make it a development platform, not a worker. That is fine — at a tenth the implied cost of Western humanoids, it has become the default lab humanoid worldwide, and Unitree's IPO gives it capital to iterate fast. Buy it to build on; don't expect it to run a warehouse shift.
Best suited for
- Robotics research and university labs
- Developing and testing humanoid AI policies
- Demonstrations, exhibitions, and light service pilots
Compare
Unitree G1: common questions
How much does the Unitree G1 cost?
The base G1 lists at US $13.5K (excluding tax and shipping) on Unitree's own site as of 2026. It launched at $16,000 in May 2024; EDU configurations with dexterous hands cost significantly more and are quoted via sales.
Can you buy a Unitree G1?
Yes. The G1 is one of the few humanoids generally purchasable online — order it directly from unitree.com. That accessibility is a big reason it became the world's best-selling humanoid.
What can the Unitree G1 actually do?
Out of the box it walks, balances, and can be programmed via its SDK; arm payload is about 2 kg and battery life about 2 hours. It is primarily a research and development platform rather than a robot that does useful labor unattended.
Unitree G1 vs Tesla Optimus — which is more real?
The G1 is shipping in the thousands at a public price, while Optimus is not for sale and remains internal to Tesla. Optimus targets far more capable full-size labor; the G1 is the one you can own today.
Is Unitree a public company?
Yes — Unitree listed on Shanghai's STAR Market on August 19, 2026 after pricing its IPO at about a $9 billion valuation; shares closed up more than 460% on the first day.
Sources
- Unitree Robotics — unitree.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- CNBC — cnbc.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- CNBC — cnbc.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- Caixin Global — caixinglobal.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- There's a Robot for That — theresarobotforthat.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
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