Apollo vs Iron: which robot wins?
Apptronik's Apollo against XPeng's Iron — price, capability, availability, and a verdict you can act on.
| Apollo | Iron | |
|---|---|---|
| EST. PRICE | Lease only | Not yet priced |
| HEIGHT | 5"-8"- / 173 cm | ~5′8″ / 173 cm |
| WEIGHT | ~73 kg | ~70 kg* |
| PAYLOAD | 25 kg | Factory task class* |
| RUNTIME | ~4 hrs (swappable) | Undisclosed |
| DEXTERITY | Modular, swappable batteries | ~60+ total DOF; humanlike gait* |
| AVAILABILITY | Commercial only | Coming |
| WHICHBOT SCORE | 7.9 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| OUR TAKE | Built like a forklift with hands - swappable batteries, warehouse-first. A workhorse, not a roommate. | China’s answer to Optimus — an EV maker converting its car-factory muscle into humanoids, starting on its own production lines. |
* Prices are estimates from public statements and filings. Availability changes weekly.
Detailed comparison: Apollo vs Iron
Apollo scores 7.9/10 in our independent evaluation; Iron scores 7.5/10. That 0.40000000000000036-point gap reflects real differences in capability or value, but Iron may still win if its strengths match your priorities.
Apollo is best for: Warehouse and manufacturing operators - not home buyers. Iron is best for: Tracking whether the Tesla playbook works twice — this time from Guangzhou.
Our scoring weighs five factors: autonomous capability, independent verification (third-party evidence scores higher than manufacturer claims), commercial deployment scale, price-to-capability ratio, and real-world availability today. Neither robot here is scored on marketing alone. Apollo and Iron are both worth evaluating — the right call depends on which robot's documented strengths match your actual workflow.
CHOOSE THE APOLLO IF…
- Warehouse and manufacturing operators - not home buyers.
- Highest payload of any humanoid in this index (25 kg)
- Hot-swappable batteries = continuous shifts
CHOOSE THE IRON IF…
- Tracking whether the Tesla playbook works twice — this time from Guangzhou.
- EV-manufacturer scale and supply chain behind it
- Notably humanlike gait and hands in public demos