{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://botinfo.ai/articles/unitree-r1-humanoid-robot#article", "headline": "Unitree R1 Humanoid Robot: Complete Buying Guide for Education & Research", "description": "Comprehensive guide to all 7 Unitree R1 variants from $4,900-$35,000. Compare specs, pricing, EDU vs Basic differences, dealer options, and get free procurement assistance for universities and research institutions.", "image": "https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/663e2d5c1f3e68f94da70063/6977fcecdc453d0f7d2d2b9c_Thumbnails-for-IE-articles-R1-unitree-cheap-Humanoid-robot.jpg", "datePublished": "2025-07-30", "dateModified": "2026-02-06", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "BotInfo.ai", "url": "https://botinfo.ai" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "BotInfo.ai", "url": "https://botinfo.ai", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://botinfo.ai/logo.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://botinfo.ai/articles/unitree-r1-humanoid-robot" }, "about": { "@type": "Product", "name": "Unitree R1 Humanoid Robot", "brand": { "@type": "Brand", "name": "Unitree Robotics" } }, "keywords": "Unitree R1, humanoid robot, R1 price, R1 EDU, R1 Basic, ROS 2 robot, research robot, educational robot, bipedal robot" }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://botinfo.ai/articles/unitree-r1-humanoid-robot#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does the Unitree R1 cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Unitree R1 ranges from $4,900 to $35,000 depending on configuration. R1 Air costs $4,900, R1 Basic costs $5,900, R1 EDU Standard is $10,000-$12,000, R1 EDU Smart is $15,000-$19,000, and R1 EDU Pro variants with dexterous hands range from $20,000-$35,000. Consumer models (Air/Basic) do not support programming. EDU variants include full SDK and ROS 2 support." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When will the Unitree R1 ship?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "As of February 2026, no R1 units have shipped yet. Delivery timelines confirmed by dealers: Unitree direct and K-Robotics say April 2026, ToborLife estimates March-April 2026, and RobotShop lists Q2 2026. ToborLife expects showroom demo units in April/May 2026. All current purchases are pre-orders or deposits." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I program the Unitree R1 Basic?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The R1 Basic ($5,900) and R1 Air ($4,900) are consumer models with remote control operation only. They do NOT support secondary development, ROS 2, Python, or C++ programming. For research, education, or custom development, you must purchase an R1 EDU variant ($10,000+) which includes full SDK access." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the Unitree R1 support ROS 2?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Only EDU variants support ROS 2. All R1 EDU models (Standard, Smart, Pro A/B/C/D) include full ROS 2 integration, Python and C++ programming interfaces, and run on NVIDIA Jetson Orin computing (40-100 TOPS). The R1 Basic and Air do not support ROS 2." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between R1 EDU Standard and R1 EDU Smart?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "R1 EDU Standard ($10,000-$12,000) has 24 DOF, 40 TOPS computing, and fixed hands. R1 EDU Smart ($15,000-$19,000) has 26 DOF, 100 TOPS computing (2.5x more AI power), and a 2-DOF articulated head for active perception. The Smart variant is recommended for AI/ML research and human-robot interaction studies." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the Unitree R1 compare to the G1?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "R1 is 58-74% cheaper ($15-19K vs $44-74K for EDU), has more computing power (100 TOPS vs 40 TOPS), and is lighter (25-29kg vs 35-47kg). However, G1 has longer battery life (~2 hours vs ~1 hour) and is available now while R1 ships April 2026. Choose R1 for budget efficiency; choose G1 for immediate availability and longer runtime." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the R1 battery life?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The R1 operates for approximately 1 hour on a single battery charge. The battery is hot-swappable, meaning you can replace it without powering down. Spare batteries cost approximately $500-600 each." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which R1 variant should I choose for research?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For most university robotics programs, the R1 EDU Smart ($15,000-$19,000) offers the best balance of computing power (100 TOPS), perception capabilities (2-DOF head), and affordability. For manipulation research, choose R1 EDU Pro B ($22,000-$28,000) with 3-finger tactile hands. For advanced human-like grasping, choose R1 EDU Pro D ($28,000-$35,000) with 5-finger tactile hands." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the price for R1 EDU Pro C?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Unitree R1 EDU Pro C is estimated at $25,000-$32,000 USD through authorized dealers. Pro C features 38 DOF with 5-finger BrainCo Revo 2 hands without tactile sensors. Compare to Pro D ($28,000-$35,000) which adds tactile sensing, or Pro A/B ($20,000-$28,000) with 3-finger hands. For exact Pro C pricing, request a quote from ToborLife or K-Robotics dealers." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Tesla Optimus available to purchase?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. As of January 2026, Tesla Optimus is not available for public purchase. Tesla has deployed Optimus internally at factories but has not announced commercial availability. The R1 is currently the only sub-$50K humanoid with ROS 2 support actually available for purchase by researchers and educators." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What warranty does the R1 include?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "R1 Basic and Air include an 8-month warranty. R1 EDU variants include a 12-month warranty. Warranties cover manufacturing defects and component failures but exclude user damage, modifications, and accidents." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can universities get help with R1 procurement?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BotInfo.ai offers a free institutional procurement service for universities and research labs. The service includes personalized variant recommendations, current dealer pricing comparisons, grant and PO documentation templates, and direct dealer introductions. Response time is within 24 hours. Request a free R1 Procurement Brief at botinfo.ai." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the Unitree R1 price?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Unitree R1 price ranges from $4,900 USD (R1 Air) to $35,000 USD (R1 EDU Pro D). Consumer models: R1 Air $4,900, R1 Basic $5,900. EDU models with full SDK: EDU Standard $10,000-$12,000, EDU Smart $15,000-$19,000, EDU Pro A $20,000-$25,000, EDU Pro B $22,000-$28,000, EDU Pro C $25,000-$32,000, EDU Pro D $28,000-$35,000. Prices verified February 2026." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the Unitree R1 available for immediate shipping?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No, the R1 is currently pre-order only. As of February 2026, no R1 units have shipped from any dealer. Expected shipping begins April 2026 (Unitree direct, K-Robotics) or March-April 2026 (ToborLife). All purchases are deposits or pre-orders with delivery expected Q2 2026." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What technical support does BotInfo provide for the R1?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BotInfo.ai provides comprehensive procurement support for R1 buyers including: setup guidance for lab environments, integration consultation for ROS 2 workflows, personalized variant selection based on research goals, grant and purchase order documentation templates, and dealer introductions. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. 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