- Published on
Unitree Teases New 26-DOF Humanoid Robot, Hints at Sub-$10,000 Price
- Authors
- Name
- The Editorial Team
- @humanoidsdaily
Unitree Teases New Humanoid Robot, Potentially Breaking the $10,000 Price Barrier
Unitree Robotics, a company increasingly prominent in the development of both quadruped and bipedal robots, has released a tantalizing teaser for an upcoming humanoid model. In a social media post on May 30, 2025, the Hangzhou-based firm hinted at a new robot with 26 degrees of freedom (DOF) and, most notably, a potential price point suggested by the figure "$?000."
Decoding the Teaser: Specs and Price Hints
The teaser image, a shadowy silhouette of a humanoid robot, offers little visual detail but is accompanied by specific technical information: "26 joint DOF (6*2+2+5*2+2) COMING SOON $?000." The DOF breakdown likely corresponds to:
- Legs: 6 DOF per leg (total 12 DOF), allowing for dynamic walking and balance.
- Arms: 5 DOF per arm (total 10 DOF), suitable for a range of manipulation tasks.
- Torso: 2 DOF, providing additional flexibility and reach.
- Head: 2 DOF, likely for pan and tilt movements.
This 26 DOF configuration positions the new robot as a capable platform for research and interaction, comparable to many contemporary humanoid designs.
Humanoid expert Scott Walter aka Humanoid Botangelist came to the same conclusion, tweeting:
Hot take
From ground up
6*2 => 3-1-2 leg
+2 => 2 DoF waist
5*2 => 3-1-1 arm
+2 => 2 DoF neck
Full analysis soon
Hot take From ground up 6*2 => 3-1-2 leg +2 => 2 DoF waist 5*2 => 3-1-1 arm +2 => 2 DoF neck Full analysis soon
Coming soon, please stay tuned!🥰 #Unitree #AGI #EmbodiedAI #AI #HumanoidRobot #Bipedal #WorldModel
The most striking element of the announcement is the price hint: "$?000." While deliberately ambiguous, this notation is often used to suggest a price point under $10,000. For context, Unitree's current G1 humanoid robot, popular among researchers, is listed at $16,000, while its larger H1 model is priced around $90,000. A humanoid with 26 DOF priced in the four-figure range would represent a significant step in making advanced robotic hardware more accessible.
Enhanced Articulation: A Step Up from the G1
The teased 26 DOF represents an upgrade in articulation compared to Unitree's existing G1 model, which features 23 degrees of freedom (6 DOF per leg, 5 DOF per arm, and 1 DOF in the waist). While both robots appear to share the same configuration for the limbs, the new model offers increased complexity in the torso and head.
The G1 has a single DOF in its waist. In contrast, the new robot's speculated 2 DOF torso (as per the teaser's breakdown) suggests more nuanced upper body movement, potentially allowing for greater flexibility in tasks requiring bending, twisting, or side-to-side leaning. This could improve balance during dynamic motions and expand the robot's workspace for manipulation.
Furthermore, the allocation of a 2 DOF head (likely for pan and tilt) is a notable addition. The G1's 23 DOF configuration doesn't explicitly detail dedicated head articulation in the same manner (with 12 for legs, 10 for arms, and 1 for the waist, leaving 0 for the head unless integrated differently). The new model's dedicated head DOFs (if we are correct in our assumption) will likely provide enhanced capabilities for visual perception, allowing it to look around more freely, track objects more effectively, and potentially engage in more expressive, human-like head gestures. These additional degrees of freedom in the torso and head are key areas where the new model probably offers improved dexterity and interaction capabilities over the G1.
Market Context and Implications
Unitree has established itself by providing relatively affordable and capable platforms like the G1, which has become a common choice for academic and corporate labs working on embodied AI. A new model that further lowers the cost barrier while maintaining or improving capability could accelerate research and development in areas such as human-robot interaction, locomotion, and artificial general intelligence (AGI) – a term Unitree included in its announcement hashtags (#AGI #EmbodiedAI #WorldModel).
The company has a track record of rapid iteration and product releases. This new teaser suggests Unitree is continuing its aggressive push to broaden the availability of humanoid robots. While details remain scarce, the combination of a respectable DOF count and a potentially groundbreaking price point is sure to capture the attention of the robotics community.
Sign up for our newsletter below!