K1 vs R1: Which Is Better in 2026?
Independent spec-by-spec comparison of the Booster Robotics K1 Education Humanoid and Unitree R1 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 (verified) · Updated 2026-03
K1 is 84% more expensive than R1
Price Comparison
K1
~$5,999–$12,000
Booster inquiry pricing (from $5,999)
R1
$4,900
Unitree official (verified)
✓ Lower priceThe K1 costs 84% more than the R1.
Winner by Category
Full Spec Comparison
| Spec | K1 | R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 20 kg | 29 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 22 | 20-26 |
| Height | 95 cm | 123 cm |
Our Verdict
On price, the R1 comes in 84% 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 for budget-conscious deployments.
Best For
K1
- ✓STEM education
- ✓university teaching labs
- ✓robot soccer
- ✓entry-level humanoid research
R1
- ✓consumer/prosumer
- ✓education
- ✓entertainment
- ✓basic research
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K1 vs R1 — FAQ
Is the K1 or the R1 cheaper?
The R1 is cheaper at $4,900, versus ~$5,999–$12,000 for the K1 — a 84% difference.
Which is better, the K1 or the R1?
The K1 wins on more categories overall (price, payload, precision, speed, and value). Choose the R1 if its specific strengths match your use case — see our verdict above.
Interested in this robot?
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