Head to head · updated 2026-10-09

Luna vs R1: which robot wins?

LimX Dynamics's Luna against Unitree's R1 — price, capability, availability, and a verdict you can act on.

	Luna	R1
EST. PRICE	About $41,000	$5,900*
HEIGHT	5 ft 3 in / 160 cm	~4′3″ / 121 cm
WEIGHT	54 kg	~25 kg
PAYLOAD	3 kg per arm (reported)	Light objects*
RUNTIME	Up to 4 hrs, or mains power for 24/7	~1–2 hrs*
DEXTERITY	27 DOF, excluding end effectors	26 joint motors*
AVAILABILITY	Pre-order	For sale
WHICHBOT SCORE	7 / 10	7.4 / 10
OUR TAKE	The first full-size humanoid built to be looked at rather than put to work. Fabric-wrapped, 27 degrees of freedom, and a motion stack that does runway walks and full splits. It will not do a single chore.	The price earthquake. A real, walking, flipping humanoid for the cost of a used car — aimed at developers, educators, and early adopters.

* Prices are estimates from public statements and filings. Availability changes weekly.

Detailed comparison: Luna vs R1

Luna scores 7/10 in our independent evaluation; R1 scores 7.4/10. That 0.40000000000000036-point gap is real but not decisive — Luna may still be the right fit depending on your use case.

Luna is best for: Malls, theme parks, trade shows and brand activations that need a crowd to stop walking. R1 is best for: Developers, schools, and enthusiasts who want hands-on humanoid access at hobbyist prices.

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. Luna and R1 are both worth evaluating — the right call depends on which robot's documented strengths match your actual workflow.

WHICHBOT VERDICT

For most buyers we give the nod to R1 thanks to a lower estimated price and the fact you can actually get it today. But it's closer than the score suggests: Luna wins if your priority is malls, theme parks, trade shows and brand activations that need a crowd to stop walking.

CHOOSE THE LUNA IF…

Malls, theme parks, trade shows and brand activations that need a crowd to stop walking.
Cheapest full-size humanoid from a serious manufacturer
Motion quality is the point, and it shows

CHOOSE THE R1 IF…

Developers, schools, and enthusiasts who want hands-on humanoid access at hobbyist prices.
By far the cheapest credible humanoid on the market
Light and safe enough for classrooms and homes

Frequently asked

Which is better, the Luna or the R1?

It depends on your goal. Malls, theme parks, trade shows and brand activations that need a crowd to stop walking. By contrast: Developers, schools, and enthusiasts who want hands-on humanoid access at hobbyist prices. Our scores: Luna 7/10, R1 7.4/10.

How do the prices compare: Luna vs R1?

Luna: About $41,000. R1: $5,900. Figures compiled from public sources as of July 2026; service and lease pricing is quoted per project.

Can I get either of them today?

Luna: Pre-order — Unveiled 26 March 2026, launched with global pre-orders on 26 May 2026. China pricing published; other markets to follow. R1: For sale — Orderable now — the price breakthrough that put a real humanoid under $6k and reset the entire market’s expectations.

Full reviews

Luna full review → R1 full review →

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