It costs 5 iPhones, jumps, throws punches, but still doesn’t wash dishes. R1, the Chinese robot that’s taking the internet by storm.

In the increasingly crowded landscape of humanoid robots, the new Unitree R1 has made headlines not only for its acrobatic capabilities, but above all for its unconventional price: around $5,900 (about €5,500). A surprising price when you consider that previous models—like Unitree’s own G1—ranged up to nearly 99,000 yuan (over €12,000).

But what can the R1 really do? And can we really imagine it as a home assistant?

Technology and Features

R1 is approximately 1.21 meters tall, weighs 25 kg, and has 26 degrees of freedom, allowing for complex and fluid movements: somersaults, punches, spinning kicks, even handstands. All thanks to a combination of high-torque motors, advanced joints, and an artificial intelligence module capable of recognizing voice, images, and responding to commands.

Integrates:

• Binocular camera for 3D vision
• Microphones and stereo speakers
• Connectivity Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
• Removable battery that guarantees about 1 hour of battery life

And what about housework?

Here comes the (partial) disappointment:

• The basic version of the R1 does not have working hands; It can move its arms, but not grasp or manipulate objects.
• The limited autonomy and the need for scripts or manual commands make it difficult to imagine a robot that washes dishes or vacuums.

Those who really want to try turning it into a household helper should look at the EDU version, which features tactile hands and a more powerful computing module, but at a higher price.

What is it really useful for today?

The R1 is not (yet) the robot butler we dream of, but it has enormous potential:

• Educational robotics and research
• Experimentation of AI and perception and movement algorithms
• Demonstrations and events (imagine a robot doing live parkour)
• Application development Custom for companies or universities

Why it’s important

The real selling point of the R1 is the price: less than $6,000 means that startups, researchers, and makers can finally get their hands on a programmable humanoid, without having to invest six figures.

Furthermore, Unitree has demonstrated that it is possible to design complex robots at relatively affordable costs, accelerating a race that could profoundly transform markets such as:

• technical and university training
• live and digital entertainment
• industry and collaborative robotics

Conclusion

The Unitree R1 today is more of a stage performer than a domestic one. But if we look at the speed with which the Chinese company is improving its design and prices, we can imagine a not-too-distant future in which having a humanoid robot at home will no longer be science fiction, but an affordable reality.

For now, anyone who wants to try cooking or cleaning will have to arm themselves with patience, a lot of code… and probably some hardware upgrades.

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The editorial staff of Red Hot Cyber is composed of IT and cybersecurity professionals, supported by a network of qualified sources who also operate confidentially. The team works daily to analyze, verify, and publish news, insights, and reports on cybersecurity, technology, and digital threats, with a particular focus on the accuracy of information and the protection of sources. The information published is derived from direct research, field experience, and exclusive contributions from national and international operational contexts.