Tesla Optimus Gen 2 vs Figure 02 vs Unitree G1 2026 – Which Humanoid Robot Wins? (Price, Speed, Dexterity & Real-World Use)

The humanoid robot race is heating up fast in 2026. Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus is no longer just a prototype — it’s moving toward external sales, while Figure AI and Unitree are shipping real units to customers.

Here’s the most up-to-date head-to-head comparison based on latest demos, Musk updates, Figure/Unitree announcements, and early deployment data as of January 2026.

1. Current Status & Availability

Tesla Optimus Gen 2 → Internal factory use started late 2025; limited external sales expected mid-2026 (~5,000–10,000 units rumored).

Figure 02 → Already deployed in small numbers (BMW factory pilot 2025); commercial deliveries ramping Q1–Q2 2026.

Unitree G1 → Available for purchase now (China + international shipping); hundreds of units sold to developers/research labs.

Winner so far: Figure 02 (earliest real customer deployments).

2. Price & Affordability

Tesla Optimus → Musk repeatedly targets $20,000–$30,000 long-term (Gen 2 likely $35,000–$50,000 at launch).

Figure 02 → Estimated $30,000–$60,000 range (BMW pilot pricing not public).

Unitree G1 → $16,000–$25,000 (cheapest option, especially in developer edition).

Winner: Unitree G1 (lowest entry price today).

3. Speed & Dexterity

Tesla Optimus Gen 2 → Walking speed ~8 km/h, improved hand dexterity (22 DoF hands), can catch objects mid-air, fold shirts.

Figure 02 → Walking ~5–7 km/h, very fluid human-like motion, strong object manipulation (coffee making, package handling demos).

Unitree G1 → Walking ~7 km/h, excellent balance & flips, but less fine hand dexterity than Optimus/Figure.

Winner: Tesla Optimus Gen 2 (best hand dexterity + speed combo).

4. Real-World Use & Autonomy

Tesla Optimus → Designed for home/factory tasks; end-to-end neural net training (FSD tech transfer), low supervision needed.

Figure 02 → Focused on commercial labor (warehouses, manufacturing); strong multi-modal reasoning via Helix model.

Unitree G1 → Mostly research/developer platform; less autonomous out-of-box, more teleop/remote control.

Winner: Tesla Optimus (closest to general-purpose home + factory robot).

Verdict – Who Wins in Early 2026?

Right now → Unitree G1 is the easiest/cheapest to buy and experiment with.

Mid-2026 → If Tesla hits its price target and autonomy goals, Optimus Gen 2 will likely dominate for general-purpose use.

Figure 02 is the current leader in real commercial deployments.

Which humanoid robot are you most excited about in 2026 — Optimus, Figure, Unitree, or someone else? Drop your thoughts below!

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