NAO vs Unitree R1
Compare NAO (Aldebaran / SoftBank Robotics) and Unitree R1 (Unitree Robotics) side by side: degrees of freedom, weight, payload, battery life, actuators, and status.
| Spec | NAO | Unitree R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Aldebaran / SoftBank Robotics | Unitree Robotics |
| Category | Humanoid | Humanoid |
| Country | Japan | China |
| Degrees of freedom | 25 | 26 |
| Weight (kg) | 5.4 | 29 |
| Battery life (h) | 1.5 | 1 |
| Payload | 0.5 kg | |
| Max speed | 0.4 m/s | |
| Actuators | Modular joint motors | |
| Primary sensor | ||
| Function | Education & research | Research & development |
| Released | 2008 | 2025 |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verdict
NAO leads on 2 of the 3 weighted dimensions both makers disclose.
NAO leads on price ($8,000 vs From $4,900 USD (R1 AIR); $5,900 USD (R1); tax and shipping excluded) and battery life (1.5 h vs 1 h).
Unitree R1 leads on degrees of freedom (26 vs 25).
Left out because at least one manufacturer does not publish a figure: payload and max speed.
NAO
A programmable humanoid robot widely used in education and research. NAO features a rich sensor suite and runs the NAOqi framework, making it a standard platform for robotics labs and STEM programs worldwide.
Unitree R1
Unitree's lightweight consumer-priced humanoid, at about 29 kg and up to 123 cm tall. Three variants: R1 AIR ($4,900), R1 ($5,900) and R1 EDU. Unitree lists about one hour of battery life.