The Unitree G1 is a compact humanoid robot standing 1.32 meters tall with 23 to 43 degrees of freedom, built by Unitree Robotics and first unveiled in May 2024. The G1 starts at roughly $17,990 for the base model and scales to $73,900 for the fully loaded EDU Ultimate. It is the most widely deployed research humanoid robot in the world, with over 5,500 humanoid units shipped by Unitree in 2025 alone, and it has become the default platform for university robotics labs from MIT to Tsinghua.
Price Range
Unitree sells the G1 in 16 different configurations spanning base consumer units through fully equipped research platforms. Direct-from-manufacturer pricing starts lower than reseller pricing, but resellers often bundle US warehousing, local support, and institutional purchasing terms (NET-30).
| Model | Price (Low) | Price (Average) | Price (High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 Base | $13,500 | $17,990 | $21,600 |
| G1 EDU (40 TOPS) | $35,000 | $42,000 | $50,000 |
| G1 EDU+ / Ultimate (100 TOPS) | $50,000 | $60,000 | $73,900 |
Based on publicly listed prices across Unitree's official store, BotInfo.ai, RoboStore, Top3DShop, and Roboworks as of April 2026. Shipping and customs duties are additional.
Full Specifications
The G1 shares a common bipedal platform across all variants. The primary differences between models are degrees of freedom, hand type, computing power, and whether the unit supports secondary development.
Chassis and Build
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 1,320 mm (52 in / 4 ft 4 in) |
| Weight (with battery) | ~35 kg (77 lbs) |
| Frame material | Aluminum alloy + high-strength engineering plastic |
| Degrees of freedom | 23 (Base) / 29 (Standard) / 43 (EDU Ultimate) |
| Max joint torque | 120 N·m (largest motor) |
| Joint motor type | Low-inertia high-speed internal rotor PMSM |
Performance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Walking speed | Up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph / 7.2 km/h) |
| Standing long jump | 1.4 m (world record for humanoid robots) |
| Standing payload | Up to 12 kg (verified by Shanghai AI Lab) |
| Arm payload | 3 kg per arm |
| Notable feats | First humanoid side flip, first humanoid kip-up, robot boxing competitions |
Battery and Electrical
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery type | 48V smart lithium-ion, quick-release |
| Battery capacity | 9,000 mAh |
| Runtime | ~2 hours |
| Expected battery lifespan | ~5 years / 500–1,000 charge cycles |
Sensors and Perception
| Sensor | G1 Base | G1 EDU / EDU+ |
|---|---|---|
| 3D LiDAR | LIVOX MID-360 | LIVOX MID-360 |
| Depth camera | Intel RealSense D435i | Intel RealSense D435i |
| IMU | Yes | Yes |
| Dual encoders per joint | Yes | Yes |
| Foot force sensors | — | Available on EDU |
| Dexterous hands | — | Dex3-1 three-finger (optional), with optional tactile sensor arrays |
Computing and Software
| Feature | G1 Base | G1 EDU | G1 EDU+ (Ultimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main CPU | 8-core high-performance | 8-core high-performance | 8-core high-performance |
| High-compute module | — | NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano 8 GB (40 TOPS) | NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16 GB (100 TOPS) |
| Secondary development | No | Yes (Python, C++, ROS2) | Yes (Python, C++, ROS2) |
| VR teleoperation kit | — | Optional | Optional |
| Simulation support | — | Yes (Unitree SDK, third-party platforms) | Yes (Unitree SDK, third-party platforms) |
| OTA updates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hand Options (EDU Models)
The G1 EDU can be optioned with Unitree's Dex3-1 three-finger dexterous hands. Each thumb has 3 active degrees of freedom, and each index and middle finger has 2 active degrees of freedom, giving 7 DOF per hand. Tactile sensor arrays are an additional option for force-feedback manipulation research.
Model-by-Model Breakdown: Which G1 Should You Buy?
G1 Base — Best for Demonstrations and Budget Buyers
The Base model walks, gestures, and self-rights out of the box using a handheld controller. It does not support secondary development, has no NVIDIA computing module, and has limited arm mobility. Think of it as a showcase robot — impressive to watch, but you cannot write custom software for it.
G1 EDU (40 TOPS) — Best for University Labs and STEM Programs
The EDU adds the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano with 40 TOPS of AI compute, full Python/C++/ROS2 SDK access, and support for reinforcement learning and imitation learning experiments. This is the model most university robotics programs purchase. It supports custom locomotion policies, SLAM navigation, and bimanual manipulation research.
G1 EDU+ / Ultimate (100 TOPS) — Best for Advanced R&D
The Ultimate configuration maxes out at 43 degrees of freedom, NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX with 100 TOPS, Dex3-1 dexterous hands with optional tactile sensors, and VR teleoperation support. This is the platform researchers at Carnegie Mellon, UC San Diego, and Shanghai AI Lab use for cutting-edge work including remote medical procedures (90% accuracy in bag-valve mask ventilation) and athletic motion replication.
Buyer's Guide: What to Know Before Buying a Unitree G1
Whether you're a university lab manager writing a grant proposal or a robotics startup evaluating development platforms, here's what you should understand before purchasing.
Base models cannot be programmed. The G1 Base does not support secondary development. It operates via a handheld controller with pre-loaded behaviors. If your plan involves writing any custom software — locomotion algorithms, perception pipelines, ROS2 nodes — you must buy a G1 EDU or EDU+ model. There is no upgrade path from Base to EDU after purchase.
The hand options matter a lot. The Dex3-1 dexterous hands are only available on EDU models and add significant cost. If manipulation research is part of your roadmap, configure the hands at purchase time. Tactile sensor arrays are an additional add-on for force-feedback experiments.
Battery life is solid but finite. The 9,000 mAh quick-release battery delivers roughly 2 hours of mixed walking and standing. For extended lab sessions, keep spare batteries on hand — quick-swap design makes this painless.
It's compact enough to work indoors. At 132 cm and 35 kg, the G1 fits through standard doorways, doesn't require reinforced flooring, and can be carried by a single person. Collision kinetic energy at full speed (~70 J) is manageable, making it safer for shared lab spaces than full-size humanoids.
Firmware improves over time. Unitree pushes OTA updates that improve walking stability, gait transitions, and AI capabilities. The latest firmware (v3.2+) introduced preliminary LLM integration on the EDU model for natural language task commands.
Shipping and procurement. Direct from Unitree ships from China with 2–4 week lead time. US-based resellers like BotInfo.ai, RoboStore, and Top3DShop offer domestic warehousing with faster shipping and institutional purchase order terms (NET-30). Prices from resellers are typically $2,000–$5,000 higher than direct pricing.
Warranty is 12 months on all G1 models. Does not cover damage from modifications, unauthorized disassembly, falls, or misuse. The robot is not waterproof.
Unitree G1 vs Similar Robots
- Unitree G1 vs Unitree R1: The R1 is 70% cheaper ($4,900 vs $13,500+), lighter (25–29 kg vs 35 kg), and slightly shorter (123 cm vs 132 cm). But the G1 offers up to 43 DOF (vs 26), 2× battery life (2 hours vs 1 hour), heavier payload, and is already shipping with a proven track record. The G1 is the research platform; the R1 is the entry point.
- Unitree G1 vs Unitree H1: The H1 is a full-size humanoid (180 cm) at ~$90,000. It has world-record running speed (3.3 m/s) and 360 N·m leg torque, but only 4 DOF per arm in the base model. The G1 offers far better manipulation capability at one-seventh the price. Buy the H1 for locomotion research; buy the G1 for manipulation research.
- Unitree G1 vs Unitree H2: The H2 is full-size (182 cm, 31 DOF) at $29,900. It prioritizes human-scale interaction and dexterity over the G1's compact research flexibility. The G1 has more DOF (up to 43 vs 31) and a more mature ecosystem, but the H2 has human-scale reach.
- Unitree G1 vs Boston Dynamics Atlas: Atlas is not commercially available for general purchase. The G1 is the most capable humanoid you can actually buy and deploy in a research lab today at a price point 10–30× lower than enterprise humanoids.
- Unitree G1 vs Tesla Optimus: Tesla's Optimus is not available for public purchase as of April 2026. The G1 is shipping now.
