Head to head · updated 2026-07-04
Optimus Gen 3 vs G1: which robot wins?
Tesla's Optimus Gen 3 against Unitree's G1 — price, capability, availability, and a verdict you can act on.
| Optimus Gen 3 | G1 | |
|---|---|---|
| EST. PRICE | $25,000* | $16,000 |
| HEIGHT | 5′8″ / 173 cm | 4′3″ / 130 cm |
| WEIGHT | ~57 kg | ~35 kg |
| PAYLOAD | 20 kg | 3 kg |
| RUNTIME | ~8 hrs | ~2 hrs |
| DEXTERITY | 28+ DOF (11 per hand) | 23–43 DOF depending on config |
| AVAILABILITY | Waitlist | Buy today |
| WHICHBOT SCORE | 8.1 / 10 | 7.2 / 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. | The cheapest way to own a real humanoid right now. Smaller and more of a developer platform than a housekeeper — but it ships. |
* Prices are estimates from public statements and filings. Availability changes weekly.
WHICHBOT VERDICT
For most buyers we give the nod to Optimus Gen 3. But it's closer than the score suggests: G1 wins if your priority is tinkerers, developers, and early adopters who want hardware in hand now.
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 G1 IF…
- Tinkerers, developers, and early adopters who want hardware in hand now.
- You can actually buy it, today
- Lowest price of any real humanoid
Frequently asked
Which is better, the Optimus Gen 3 or the G1?
It depends on your goal. Buyers who want to bet on the biggest ecosystem and can wait for a consumer launch. By contrast: Tinkerers, developers, and early adopters who want hardware in hand now. Our scores: Optimus Gen 3 8.1/10, G1 7.2/10.
How do the prices compare: Optimus Gen 3 vs G1?
Optimus Gen 3: $25,000. G1: $16,000. 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. G1: Buy today — Orderable today. Unitree also became the first humanoid-robot IPO in 2026, signalling scale-up ahead.