Head to head · updated 2026-07-04
Optimus Gen 3 vs Apollo: which robot wins?
Tesla's Optimus Gen 3 against Apptronik's Apollo — price, capability, availability, and a verdict you can act on.
| Optimus Gen 3 | Apollo | |
|---|---|---|
| EST. PRICE | $25,000* | Lease only |
| HEIGHT | 5′8″ / 173 cm | 5′8″ / 173 cm |
| WEIGHT | ~57 kg | ~73 kg |
| PAYLOAD | 20 kg | 25 kg |
| RUNTIME | ~8 hrs | ~4 hrs (swappable) |
| DEXTERITY | 28+ DOF (11 per hand) | Modular, swappable batteries |
| AVAILABILITY | Waitlist | Commercial only |
| WHICHBOT SCORE | 8.1 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 |
| OUR TAKE | The volume play. Tesla is converting car production lines to build it — if any robot hits mass-market pricing first, it's this one. | Built like a forklift with hands — swappable batteries, warehouse-first. A workhorse, not a roommate. |
* Prices are estimates from public statements and filings. Availability changes weekly.
WHICHBOT VERDICT
If you're a consumer, this one decides itself: Optimus Gen 3 is the only one of the two you can realistically get — Apollo is commercial-only. Apollo may score higher on raw capability, but a robot you can't buy scores zero in your living room.
CHOOSE THE OPTIMUS GEN 3 IF…
- Buyers who want to bet on the biggest ecosystem and can wait for a consumer launch.
- Manufacturing scale nobody else can match
- Tesla's AI/data flywheel from its vehicle fleet
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
Frequently asked
Which is better, the Optimus Gen 3 or the Apollo?
It depends on your goal. Buyers who want to bet on the biggest ecosystem and can wait for a consumer launch. By contrast: Warehouse and manufacturing operators — not home buyers. Our scores: Optimus Gen 3 8.1/10, Apollo 7.9/10.
How do the prices compare: Optimus Gen 3 vs Apollo?
Optimus Gen 3: $25,000. Apollo: Lease only. Figures compiled from public sources as of July 2026; service and lease pricing is quoted per project.
Can I get either of them today?
Optimus Gen 3: Waitlist — Tesla has converted Model S/X production lines to build Optimus. No confirmed consumer ship date; industrial/internal deployments first. Apollo: Commercial only — Commercial deployments in warehousing and manufacturing, including work with major logistics partners.