R1 vs Iron: which robot wins?
Unitree's R1 against XPeng's Iron — price, capability, availability, and a verdict you can act on.
| R1 | Iron | |
|---|---|---|
| EST. PRICE | $5,900* | Not yet priced |
| HEIGHT | ~4′3″ / 121 cm | ~5′8″ / 173 cm |
| WEIGHT | ~25 kg | ~70 kg* |
| PAYLOAD | Light objects* | Factory task class* |
| RUNTIME | ~1–2 hrs* | Undisclosed |
| DEXTERITY | 26 joint motors* | ~60+ total DOF; humanlike gait* |
| AVAILABILITY | For sale | Coming |
| WHICHBOT SCORE | 7.4 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| OUR TAKE | The price earthquake. A real, walking, flipping humanoid for the cost of a used car — aimed at developers, educators, and early adopters. | 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: R1 vs Iron
R1 scores 7.4/10 in our independent evaluation; Iron scores 7.5/10. That 0.09999999999999964-point gap is real but not decisive — R1 may still be the right fit depending on your use case.
R1 is best for: Developers, schools, and enthusiasts who want hands-on humanoid access at hobbyist prices. 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. R1 and Iron are both worth evaluating — the right call depends on which robot's documented strengths match your actual workflow.
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
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