Unitree launches cheapest full‑size humanoid robot at just US$5,900

Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics has launched the R1, a full-size humanoid robot priced at approximately US$5,900 (39,999 yuan), making it the cheapest in its class. The R1 features 26 joints and demonstrates impressive agility, including running downhill, cartwheeling, and quickly recovering from falls—capabilities typically found in far more expensive robots. Targeted at individual developers and early-stage research teams rather than hobbyists, the R1 offers a highly capable platform below the low five-figure price range, significantly undercutting Unitree’s previous models such as the G1 (US$13,800) and H1 (US$90,800), which are already deployed in industrial settings like electric vehicle manufacturing. Unitree’s aggressive pricing intensifies competition with American and European humanoid robot makers, whose products generally cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. For example, Tesla’s Optimus is projected to cost under US$20,000 only at