The consumer humanoid robot market has entered its democratisation phase. Four models dominate the offering (Unitree G1, Figure 02, Tesla Optimus Gen 2, 1X NEO) and each has its own philosophy. Before you buy or lease, ask yourself these six questions.
1. What's the primary use case?
That's the structural criterion. A domestic robot (1X NEO) has nothing to do with an industrial robot (Figure 02). List your top 3 most frequent uses first: cleaning, handling, R&D, event demos…
2. Buy or lease?
Purchase (£12,000 to £18,000) ties up capital but protects your long-term investment. Leasing (£340 to £1,500/month depending on model) keeps your cash flow flexible and lets you switch model when the next generation drops. For personal use without long-term certainty, leasing is the #1 option.
3. What's the minimum battery life?
2 h for Unitree G1, 8 h for Tesla Optimus Gen 2 (announced). If you want all-day continuous use (warehouse, surveillance), aim for at least 5 h. For short sessions (demos, R&D), 2 h is plenty. Caveat: manufacturer numbers are for walking, not heavy manipulation.
4. Payload: 3 kg or 20 kg?
Unitree G1 caps at 3 kg payload. Figure 02 and Tesla Optimus Gen 2 reach 20 kg. If you plan any serious handling (boxes, tools), the G1 is out. If you just want a walking demo robot, 3 kg is fine.
5. The software ecosystem
Unitree ships an open SDK (its strength for R&D and education). Tesla and Figure lock down their ecosystem (no public SDK to date). 1X promises a native conversational API for everyday use. If you want to program your own tasks, SDK openness is non-negotiable.
6. Service and warranty
Buying a humanoid robot is like buying a car: you need a support network. Unitree ships from China (customs delays and costly returns). Figure and 1X are structuring their EU service. Tesla has its existing network. Ask the explicit question: "Where's my SLA when it breaks?"
Our methodology
The Botoide comparator synthesises these 6 criteria into a single Botoide Score, weighted by your declared use case. Coming soon.