Robot Comparison · 2026
Unitree G1 vs Figure 01: Which Humanoid Should You Choose?
A detailed side-by-side comparison of two leading humanoid robots — covering price, specs, AI capabilities, data collection, and real-world use cases.
Quick Verdict: Unitree G1 for Research & Data Collection
For most buyers in 2026, the Unitree G1 is the better choice. At $16,000 with an open SDK, ROS2 native support, and global shipping, it offers unmatched value for research labs, universities, and data collection workflows. The Figure 01 targets enterprise manufacturing pilots with a ~$150,000 price tag — if you have the budget and need maximum dexterity with OpenAI-powered intelligence, it delivers at a different tier entirely.
Side-by-Side Specifications
Key hardware and software specs compared. Blue highlights indicate the winner in each category.
| Specification | Unitree G1 | Figure 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $16,000 Best Value | ~$150,000 (enterprise) |
| Weight | 35 kg | 60 kg |
| Height | 1.32 m | 1.67 m |
| Degrees of Freedom | 23 DoF | 44 DoF Most Capable |
| Software Framework | ROS2 Native, Open SDK | Proprietary (OpenAI partnership) |
| Ecosystem | Open, community-driven | Closed, enterprise-only |
| Availability | Ships globally | Enterprise agreements only |
| AI Integration | Community VLA models | OpenAI LLM/VLM built-in |
| Best For | Research, data collection, labs | Enterprise manufacturing pilots |
Performance Radar
Six key dimensions scored 1–10 based on real-world evaluation and industry benchmarks.
Detailed Breakdown
Price & Availability
Unitree G1
- $16,000 base price — accessible for most research budgets
- Ships globally with standard logistics
- No enterprise agreement required — order online
- Spare parts and servos available separately
Figure 01
- ~$150,000 estimated per unit (enterprise pricing)
- Requires direct sales engagement with Figure AI
- Limited availability — production still scaling
- Support included in enterprise agreements
Hardware & Build
Unitree G1
- Compact 1.32m design — ideal for tabletop and bench tasks
- 35kg lightweight for easy transport between labs
- 23 DoF — sufficient for most manipulation research
- Modular design allows hardware customization
Figure 01
- Human-scale 1.67m — designed for real factory environments
- 60kg with industrial-grade actuators
- 44 DoF — industry-leading dexterity and reach
- Hands designed for complex grasping tasks
Software & AI
Unitree G1
- ROS2 native — plug into the largest robotics software ecosystem
- Open SDK enables custom control policies
- Compatible with community VLA models (OpenVLA, etc.)
- Python/C++ API for direct motor control
Figure 01
- OpenAI partnership enables natural language task commands
- Proprietary software stack — not user-modifiable
- Advanced vision-language reasoning built-in
- Over-the-air updates managed by Figure AI
Data Collection
Unitree G1
- Excellent for teleoperation data collection workflows
- Full ROS2 bag recording and RLDS export
- Open data pipeline — use any format
- Active community sharing datasets
Figure 01
- Data collection possible but within Figure's ecosystem
- Proprietary data formats and tooling
- High-quality demonstrations from 44-DoF platform
- Data stays within enterprise agreement scope
Use Cases
Unitree G1
- University research and robotics courses
- Imitation learning data collection at scale
- Multi-robot coordination experiments
- Community hackathons and open-source projects
Figure 01
- Enterprise manufacturing pilot programs
- Warehouse logistics and assembly tasks
- Corporate R&D with large deployment budgets
- Proof-of-concept for humanoid factory workers
Community & Support
Unitree G1
- Large global developer community
- Active GitHub repositories and forums
- Community-built tutorials and integration guides
- Standard email/ticket support from Unitree
Figure 01
- Dedicated enterprise support team
- On-site installation and training available
- Smaller but growing integrator network
- Direct engineering support for enterprise customers
Who Should Buy Which?
Choose Unitree G1 if you...
- Need affordable access to a humanoid platform for research or education without enterprise procurement cycles
- Prioritize open software — you want ROS2, custom control policies, and the ability to run your own VLA models
- Focus on data collection — you need to capture teleoperation demonstrations at scale with standard, open data formats
Choose Figure 01 if you...
- Have enterprise budget and need a production-grade humanoid for real manufacturing environments
- Want turnkey AI — you prefer OpenAI-powered intelligence built-in rather than building your own stack
- Need maximum dexterity — 44 DoF and human-scale form factor are critical for your deployment scenario
Our Recommendation
For research teams, universities, and anyone building robot learning pipelines, the Unitree G1 at $16,000 delivers extraordinary value. It is the humanoid we recommend most often at SVRC. If you are an enterprise with a manufacturing pilot and budget to match, the Figure 01 represents the cutting edge of humanoid capability — but at nearly 10x the cost. Start with the G1 unless your deployment demands otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unitree G1 better than Figure 01?
It depends on your use case. The Unitree G1 is better for research, data collection, and university labs due to its $16,000 price point, open SDK, and ROS2 native software. Figure 01 is better for enterprise manufacturing pilots where budget is less constrained and you need maximum dexterity with 44 DoF.
How much does the Figure 01 humanoid robot cost?
The Figure 01 is priced at approximately $150,000 and is available only through enterprise agreements. It is not sold directly to individual consumers or small research labs.
Can the Unitree G1 collect training data for robot learning?
Yes. The Unitree G1 is one of the best humanoid platforms for data collection. It supports ROS2 natively, has an open SDK for custom teleoperation setups, and is compatible with RLDS and other standard robot learning data formats.
Does Figure 01 use OpenAI technology?
Yes. Figure AI has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates large language models and vision-language models into the Figure 01 platform, enabling advanced natural language interaction and task planning capabilities.
Which humanoid robot has better community support in 2026?
Unitree G1 has a significantly larger open-source community. Its open SDK, ROS2 compatibility, and accessible price point have attracted a global developer community. Figure 01 has a smaller but growing enterprise integrator network.