Unitree’s newest humanoid robot, the R1, is set to become the most affordable option on the market, priced at $5,900.
Standing at four feet tall and weighing around 55 pounds, the Unitree R1 is equipped with a Large Multimodal Model designed to handle complex tasks. A demo video showed off its agility, performing handstands, cartwheels, roundhouse kicks, boxing moves, and even running. However, Unitree hasn’t yet provided concrete examples of practical applications.
The robot features an ultra-wide field of vision and a four-microphone array for voice and image recognition. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, making it easy to integrate into smart home setups. While it could potentially be programmed as a robot butler for household chores, Unitree has also promoted a unique fighting tournament, suggesting the R1 could be used for entertainment.
The R1 is a significant step down in price from Unitree’s previous model, the G1, which starts at $16,000 and had a rocky debut at CES 2025. At under $6,000, the R1 is far cheaper than competitors like Tesla’s Optimus, which is expected to cost at least $20,000.
Preorders are now open on Unitree Robotics’ official website, though it remains to be seen whether the Unitree R1 will find a place in homes or just become a high-tech toy.