K1 vs R1-D: Which Is Better in 2026?
Independent spec-by-spec comparison of the Booster Robotics K1 Education Humanoid and Unitree R1-D Humanoid Robot. Real pricing, verified specs, no affiliate bias.
Booster Robotics
Booster inquiry pricing (from $5,999) · Updated 2026-07
Booster advertises the K1 from $5,999 through an inquiry route rather than a checkout. That is the Geek edition floor; the Edu and Pro editions add compute and sensing and cost more. The K1 sold out within hours of its CES 2026 unveiling, so lead times matter as much as price — confirm both in writing.
Unitree
Unitree official store (verified) · Updated 2026-07
$4,290 is Unitree's own store listing, $610 below the standard R1. As with the rest of the R1 line, shipping, duties, and any hand or SDK options are extra — budget those before comparing against the R1 or a Booster K1.
K1 is 110% more expensive than R1-D
Price Comparison
K1
~$5,999–$12,000
Booster inquiry pricing (from $5,999)
R1-D
$4,290
Unitree official store (verified)
✓ Lower priceThe K1 costs 110% more than the R1-D.
Winner by Category
Full Spec Comparison
| Spec | K1 | R1-D |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 20 kg | 29 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 22 | 20-26 |
| Height | 95 cm | 123 cm |
Our Verdict
On price, the R1-D comes in 110% cheaper than the K1 — a meaningful gap if budget is the primary constraint.
This is a close match.
Choose the K1 for higher payload applications.
Choose the R1-D for budget-conscious deployments.
Best For
K1
- ✓STEM education
- ✓university teaching labs
- ✓robot soccer
- ✓entry-level humanoid research
R1-D
- ✓education
- ✓entry-level research
- ✓entertainment
- ✓developer experimentation
Related Comparisons
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K1 vs R1-D — FAQ
Is the K1 or the R1-D cheaper?
The R1-D is cheaper at $4,290, versus ~$5,999–$12,000 for the K1 — a 110% difference.
Which is better, the K1 or the R1-D?
The K1 wins on more categories overall (price, payload, precision, speed, and value). Choose the R1-D if its specific strengths match your use case — see our verdict above.
Interested in this robot?
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