In brief. If you need to write your own code you need an EDU version: the G1 Air does not support secondary development. For locomotion and control research, the U1 or the U2 is enough. Hands (U3–U10) are only needed if the project involves grasping. If the task is manipulating objects on a bench, look at the G1-D, which has no legs.
On our price list there are more than twenty G1 configurations. The price difference between the cheapest version and the versions with tactile hands exceeds €40,000. This page is here to help you understand which one you actually need before asking for a quote. All versions are collected in the G1 range page. The prices are those from the public price list: in euros, excluding VAT. Shipping and insurance are quoted in the offer, and import VAT and duty are described on the country page.
What all G1 versions have in common
From the official Unitree spec sheet: 1320 mm tall when standing, 690 mm when folded, about 35 kg, 6 degrees of freedom per leg, a 9000 mAh battery for about 2 hours of autonomy, an 8-core CPU, a depth camera and 3D LiDAR. The lower part of the robot is the same. Three things change: whether it can be programmed, the degrees of freedom of the torso and arms, and the hands.
G1 Air and G1 EDU compared (Unitree data)
| Item | G1 (Air) | G1 EDU |
|---|---|---|
| Degrees of freedom | 23 | 23–43 |
| Waist | 1 degree of freedom | 1, with 2 optional additional |
| Max knee torque | 90 N·m | 120 N·m |
| Max payload per arm | about 2 kg | about 3 kg |
| Battery and autonomy | 9000 mAh, about 2 hours | 9000 mAh, about 2 hours |
| Secondary development | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 8 months | 18 months |
Source: G1 parameter table on unitree.com. Unitree notes that arm payload varies a lot with posture.
G1 Air: the demo robot
The G1 Air (23 degrees of freedom) costs €18,155.69. It walks, gets up and runs the motions from the Unitree app. In the official table its Secondary Development entry is empty: it is not designed to run your own code. Compared with the EDU version it also has lower knee torque (90 N·m vs 120 N·m), about 2 kg of arm payload versus 3 kg, and an 8-month warranty instead of 18.
It makes sense for trade shows, showrooms, events and communication. For a lab or an R&D project it is almost always the wrong choice. G1 Air page
G1 EDU U1 and U2: the foundation for research
The EDU versions unlock secondary development: SDK2 in C++ and Python, a DDS interface compatible with ROS 2, and access to the motors in debug mode. How this works in practice is explained in the G1 programming guide.
- G1 EDU U1, 23 degrees of freedom, with an additional computing dock: €36,826.28. This is the starting point for anyone studying locomotion, reinforcement learning or sim-to-real. U1 page
- G1 EDU U2, 29 degrees of freedom: a 3-axis waist and 7-axis arms on each side. €46,808.68. It is needed when the torso and arms have to reach positions that the 5-axis one does not cover, for example teleoperation or collecting demonstrations. U2 page
G1 EDU U3–U10: when you need hands
The Ultimate versions add hands. There are three families: the Dex3-1 from Unitree (three fingers, force control), the five-finger Inspire RH56 hands and the BrainCo Revo 2. Some have tactile sensors, others do not.
| Version | Hands | Tactile | Degrees of freedom | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U10 | Revo 2 Basic | No | 35 | €49,743.39 |
| U9 | Dex3-1 | No | 37 | €52,678.11 |
| U7 | Revo 2 Basic | No | 37 | €58,547.53 |
| U3 | Dex3-1 | No | 43 | €61,482.25 |
| U4 | Dex3-1 | Yes | 43 | €64,416.96 |
| U5 | Inspire RH56DFQ | No | n.d. | €64,416.96 |
| U8 | Revo 2 Touch | Yes | n.d. | €67,435.97 |
| U6 | Inspire RH56DFTP | Yes | n.d. | €70,286.38 |
Two criteria for choosing. First: if your group does not already have a grasping project, the hands will sit idle and you still pay for them. Better a U2 today and an upgrade later. Second: tactile sensing matters if you measure or control contact (fragile or deformable objects, blind grasping). For picking up a rigid box it is not needed.
The price list also has special configurations (G1 Pro, G1 E, Comp, Boxing, Professional series). Their pages are in the Unitree catalogue; for these it is best to ask us for the exact configuration before deciding.
G1-D: if you need to manipulate, not walk
The G1-D is a different machine. It has no legs: it is a G1 torso with two 7-axis arms, a binocular camera on the head and cameras on the wrists; the Orin NX computing module is optional (Unitree G1-D spec sheet). The Standard sits on a fixed, height-adjustable stand, from €38,005. The Flagship sits on a wheeled mobile base with LiDAR, from €51,944.
Without legs the risk of falling disappears and the robot can work for hours in the same position. For picking and placing parts on a bench, collecting data to train manipulation policies or running a PoC in a cell, it is closer to the real need than a biped. G1-D Standard page · G1-D Flagship page
Which one to choose if…
- You are a university or a lab and the topic is locomotion, control or RL: G1 EDU U1. If you also do arm manipulation: U2.
- You are a corporate R&D group evaluating humanoids for grasping: U2 if you are just starting out, a version with hands if the project is already defined. The U9 (Dex3-1) and U10 (Revo 2) are the cheapest with hands.
- You need it for demos, trade shows, marketing: G1 Air. Keep in mind that you will not be able to develop your own applications.
- You are running an industrial PoC on pick and place or light assembly: G1-D Standard. Flagship if the robot must move between stations. If the task is repetitive and high cadence, also consider a cobot: we cover this in humanoids or cobots.
Common mistakes
- Buying the Air for a research project. It costs less, but your own code cannot run. Switching to an EDU later means buying a second robot.
- Buying hands "just in case". The difference between the U2 and the U6 is nearly €22,000.
- Choosing the biped for a bench job. For manipulating while standing still, the G1-D is more stable and costs less than the biped versions with hands.
- Forgetting the second battery. With about 2 hours of autonomy, a day of testing stops halfway. The additional battery costs €925.83.
- Underestimating the computing. To run vision or policy models on board there are docks with Jetson AGX Orin (€9,366.11) and Jetson Thor (€18,732.21). They are decided together with the robot.
Frequently asked questions
Can the G1 Air be programmed?
Not for secondary development. In the Unitree table the entry is absent for the base G1 and present for the G1 EDU. For SDK and ROS 2 you need an EDU version.
How much does the G1 cost?
Air €18,155.69, EDU U1 €36,826.28, EDU U2 €46,808.68. The versions with hands range from €49,743.39 to €70,286.38. In euros, excluding VAT; shipping and insurance are quoted in the offer, and import VAT and duty are described on the country page.
What is the difference between the G1 and the G1-D?
The G1 walks on two legs. The G1-D is a two-arm torso on a stand or a wheeled base, designed for manipulation and data collection.
How long does the battery last?
About 2 hours according to Unitree, with the 9000 mAh battery.
What warranty does it have?
8 months for the base G1, 18 months for the G1 EDU, according to the official Unitree table.
Can it be financed?
Depending on the project and its requirements, it can qualify for UK capital allowances, R&D tax relief or regional adoption programmes. We can provide the quote and technical documentation for your claim, but we do not give tax or funding advice: see the incentives section for details.
For a comparison with the H2 and the R1 there is the humanoid comparison 2026. After purchase, the G1 operating guide explains power-on, remote control and networking. The full range is on the humanoids page. Abra Robotics also supplies the Unitree range to the United Kingdom, Ireland and international customers, with support in English.