Buying a humanoid robot: the 2026 guide

2026 is the first year in which humanoid robots are shipping in significant numbers. According to Omdia, around 13,000 humanoids were shipped worldwide in 2025, most of them by Chinese manufacturers such as AgiBot, Unitree and UBTECH.

Three ways to buy

1. European retailer: higher price, but with CE marking, a local warranty and German-language support.
2. Direct import: cheaper, but with customs duties, import VAT, shipping costs for batteries and a more difficult warranty process.
3. Pre-order or early access: often the only option for new models – with a waiting period and delivery risk.

The key criteria

• Purpose: research, education, entertainment, industry or household?
• Hands: Are dexterous hands included or only optional?
• Autonomy: Which tasks does the robot really perform on its own, and which only via teleoperation?
• Software: Is there an open SDK, ROS 2 support and simulation models?
• Runtime and battery: How long does a charge last, and are there swappable batteries?
• Safety and data privacy: What data does the robot send to which servers? Are security vulnerabilities known and patched?

Base or EDU version?

Many manufacturers offer base versions and developer versions. The EDU variants usually have more computing power, open interfaces and optional hands – and cost many times more. If you want to program the robot, you'll hardly be able to avoid the EDU version.

Our recommendation

Use the comparison to filter models by the status “Available” and compare the spec sheets side by side. Ask the retailer about delivery times, warranty coverage and spare parts.