Unitree Robotics · China · Compact
R1 Air
The cheapest walking humanoid Unitree sells: the 123 cm R1 body with 20 joints and a single camera, driven by remote or app and closed to custom code.
$4,900
Verified this monthPrice and specifications: R1 Air
Delivered to United States: from $6,870 at RobotShop US
What is in the crate
4 included|4 not included
No hands, none offered
The arms (4 joints each, one fewer than the R1) end in fixed, non-actuated hands.
In the crate
Reality check
It saves $1,000 on the R1 by dropping the waist, the moving head and the depth camera, and like the R1 it cannot be programmed: a remarkable demo machine, not a platform.
Can you get one, and what will it cost?
A planning estimate with machine, freight, duty, and tax shown separately.
Configuration: R1 Air
Yes: a seller in the United States lists it, so you buy it without importing it yourself.
US authorization: FCC ID 2A5PE-YUSHU010, granted 22 June 2026: authorized before the 28 July 2026 cutoff for foreign-made robots, so it can still be imported and sold in the US.
Spare batteries and other accessories are excluded. Confirm compatibility and pricing with the seller.
- Machinebase
- $4,900
- Freightboxed air freight
- $525 - $887
- Import duty40%
- $1,960
- Sales tax0%
- 0
- Customs clearancecarrier fee
- $67 - $225
- Import estimate to United States
- $7,452 - $7,971
About 40% on China-origin collected today: the 2.5% MFN base, 25% Section 301 List 1, and the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty effective 24 Jul 2026 with no expiry. It began the same morning the 10% Section 122 surcharge lapsed, so the total rose from about 37.5% rather than falling to 27.5%. Confirm the live rate before ordering. Under review; next checked 2026-10-30.
Converted from euros at 1.1225 USD per euro (ECB reference rate, 2 October 2026): €6,639 - €7,101 in euros.
Estimate, not a quote. Every rate is shown so the maths is auditable.
Lowest delivered price
$6,870
RobotShop US, a seller in the United States
Listed price, before any sales tax. About $582 less than the import estimate, and the seller handles the import. Confirm stock and delivery with the seller.
Import requirements for United StatesConformity, battery shipping, paperwork, and source documents. Review before ordering.
Loading import requirements…
Open the import referenceWhere to buy
Catalog checked 2026-10
Individuals and companies can inquire. Confirm the configuration, stock, and delivery with the seller.
Price notes: Unitree's store: $4,900 before tax and shipping ($300 to $1,200), PayPal only, the buyer pays duties; RMB 29,900 including tax in China. US dealers list it at $6,870 (RobotShop, RobotLAB, SVRC, Global Drone HQ). No EU dealer lists the Air, so in the EU it is a direct import; UK: Scan GBP 4,799.99 including VAT as a pre-order. Against the $5,900 R1 it drops the waist and head joints (20 joints instead of 26), has a monocular camera instead of a depth camera and a 6-month warranty instead of 8.
Links marked commission link are affiliate links: if you buy through one, Unitree and Robots International pay HumanoidStore a share of the sale, at no cost to you. Which sellers we list, their order, and everything we say about a machine are decided without regard to it.
- RobotShop US (opens in a new tab)
United States
R1 Air
Listed by an authorized distributor as a special order; RobotShop's lead-time note for the R1 family says orders ship in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Unitree direct (opens in a new tab)
Commission link
International seller
R1 Air
Orders accepted; confirm dispatch · Checked 2026-10-15
In stock in White and Red (each option's stock flag and the page's structured data, read 15 Oct 2026). Ships within 30 business days, then 20 to 45 business days in transit; shipping $300 to $1,200; no returns after delivery; 6-month warranty.
$4,900
Listed purchase price
How the R1 Air rates
Editorial ratings based on listed specifications and sales availability. They do not measure task performance, autonomy, or reliability.
- Class
- Developer / demo platformA platform for demonstrations or robotics development. SDK access and supported tasks depend on the exact configuration.
- CapabilityHardware specification indicators
- 3/5
- Baseline: any humanoid+1
- Degrees of freedom: 20 DOF+1
- Dexterity: no hands, none offered0
- Scale: 123 cm tall+0.5
Key specifications
Height
123 cm
Width
36 cm
Depth
19 cm
Weight
27 kg
Degrees of freedom
20
Battery
~60 min
Payload
2 kg
Top speed
n/a
Understand before you buy
In-depth guide
Market activity
Full tracker- Unitree puts the R1 Air in stock at $4,900, and the press calls it a price cutAvailability
Size to scale
Drawn next to a 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) person. Every robot on the site uses this same reference, so you can trust the comparison at a glance.
R1 Air: 123 cm / 4 ft 0 in, 27 kg
Footprint: 36 cm wide x 19 cm deep
What it does on day onewith zero programming
Walks, runs, gets up after a fall and performs Unitree's preset motions from the handheld remote or the phone app, with voice and image conversation through the onboard multimodal AI. Without a waist or head joint and with a single camera, it is the least expressive R1, and it runs Unitree's programs only.
Best for: Anyone who wants the lowest-cost agile walking humanoid for demonstrations, events or a first look at the category.
Documented uses
Unitree sells the R1 Air as a demonstration machine: its specification table and its IPO prospectus say the Air is not configured for secondary development and runs walking, running, dancing and interaction programs from standard commands.
The Air cannot be programmed, and it has no waist or head joints and no depth camera. Unitree's manual states an intended use in industrial and commercial settings and about one hour of battery per charge.
Source reviewed 2026-10-15Assessment from published documentation, not an independent performance test. Applies to the configuration described above.
What it takes to developskills, gear, and SDK access
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