The Unitree R1 is a small bipedal humanoid, about 1.2 m tall, from Unitree Robotics of Hangzhou, China. Announced in July 2025 from RMB 39,999 (about $5,900), it was one of the cheapest humanoids on the market and targets developers, universities, research teams and enthusiasts.
History and launch
Unitree announced the R1 on July 25, 2025. Promo videos show it doing cartwheels, running downhill, flipping onto its hands and springing up from the ground; Unitree marketed it as born for sport.
It undercut Unitree's earlier humanoids by a wide margin: the G1 launched at RMB 99,000 and the full-size H1 at around $90,000.
Design and hardware
The R1 walks on legs; it is not a wheeled robot. Unitree's spec sheet lists 123 × 35.7 × 19 cm and about 27 kg with battery for the AIR version, about 29 kg for the R1 and R1 EDU. Launch coverage cited about 25 kg and 121 cm.
The AIR has 20 joints (6 per leg, 4 per arm). The standard R1 has 26: 6 per leg, 5 per arm, 2 in the waist and 2 in the head. The EDU version has 26 to 40, depending on optional dexterous hands. Each arm handles about 2 kg.
Joints use low-inertia, high-speed internal-rotor PMSMs with crossed roller bearings and local air cooling. A quick-release battery gives about one hour. There is an 8-core processor, a 4-mic array, a speaker, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and a stereo camera (mono on the AIR).
Software and AI
A large multimodal model handles voice and image understanding, and the software updates over the air. The EDU version opens full joint and sensor control, supports mainstream simulators and can take an extra compute module such as an NVIDIA Orin (40 to 100 TOPS).
Use cases
Unitree aims the R1 at individual developers and early-stage research teams, education, demos and entertainment, presenting it as a modular training platform that might later do light work. The company warns buyers that humanoids are at an early stage and that they should understand the limitations.
Company
Unitree Robotics (Hangzhou Yushu Technology) is one of China's largest makers of quadrupeds and humanoids, including the Go2, B2, G1, H1 and H2. In 2025 it filed with Chinese regulators ahead of a planned stock listing.
Price and availability
Unitree lists the R1 AIR at $4,900 and the R1 at $5,900 (excluding tax and shipping); R1 EDU pricing comes from sales. Warranties are 6, 8 and 12 months respectively.
Timeline
- 2025-07 R1 announced from RMB 39,999
- 2026 Three versions offered: R1 AIR, R1 and R1 EDU
Sources
- Unitree R1 product page and parameters, Unitree Robotics (2026-10)
- China's Unitree launches full-size humanoid at just $5,900, shocks robot market, Interesting Engineering (2025-07-25)
- Unitree Robotics introduces new athletic robot option, Mugglehead (2025-07-29)
Updated: 2026-10-10
Verification and limitations
This entry requires an up-to-date manufacturer specification check.
MERA field measurement report: not published. Demonstration footage and manufacturer specifications are not a MERA test under event conditions.
Data and provenance for AI agents ↗Compared with the catalogue
- At 123 cm the Unitree R1 is taller than 3% of the humanoids in the catalogue (median: 170 cm).
- It has 20 degrees of freedom against a catalogue median of 28; more degrees of freedom usually means finer arm and hand movement.
- Its weight of 27 kg (catalogue median: 65 kg) matters for transport and for working around people.
- It is one of 8 Unitree models in the catalogue and one of 128 humanoids from China.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Unitree R1 cost?
From $4,900 for the R1 AIR; the standard R1 is $5,900 and the EDU is priced by sales.
How tall and heavy is the Unitree R1?
About 123 cm and 27 to 29 kg with battery, depending on version.
What is the R1's battery life?
About one hour, with a quick-release battery.
Is the Unitree R1 wheeled?
No. It is a bipedal humanoid that walks, runs and does acrobatics.
How is the R1 different from the G1?
It is smaller, lighter and much cheaper; the G1 launched at RMB 99,000.
How much does the Unitree R1 cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Unitree R1. The Unitree R1 is available in the merarobots.com shop, and MERA Robotics checks every robot before handover. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Unitree R1 available to buy?
Status: Preorder: orders are open as a pre-order, delivery as announced by the manufacturer.
How tall and heavy is the Unitree R1?
Height: 123 cm, weight: 27 kg, degrees of freedom: 20.
How do I buy the Unitree R1 through MERA Robotics?
Click “I want to buy” or fill in the form on this page. MERA Robotics will reply whether and on what terms the model is available and can help deploy it with the MERA OS conversation system.
Data: Unitree. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
