1X NEO Beta vs Darwin-OP
Side-by-side comparison of 1X NEO Beta (1X Technologies AS) and Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Last-Mile Delivery buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- 1X NEO BetaUnited States
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
Year First Available
- 1X NEO Beta2024
- Darwin-OP2010
Verified Deployments
- 1X NEO Beta0 Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- 1X NEO Beta$20,000 USD
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- 1X NEO Beta3 hrs
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
Availability Status
- 1X NEO BetaACTIVE
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- 1X NEO Beta1676 mm
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
Weight
- 1X NEO Beta29.9 kg
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
Mobility Type
- 1X NEO Betabipedal
- Darwin-OPbipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- 1X NEO Betafull bipedal
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
Walking Speed
- 1X NEO Beta3.4 m/s
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPNo
Terrain
- 1X NEO Betahome
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- 1X NEO Beta25 kg
- Darwin-OP—
Total DOF
- 1X NEO Beta22
- Darwin-OP20
Arm DOF
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OP3
Hand DOF
- 1X NEO Beta22
- Darwin-OP—
Bimanual Coordination
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- 1X NEO BetaNVIDIA Robotics Platform
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
VLM Capable
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPNo
Foundation Models
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPfalse
Imitation Learning
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPNo
Programming
- 1X NEO BetaNVIDIA Robotics Platform
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
Battery & Power
Runtime
- 1X NEO Beta3 hrs
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
Battery Swap
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPNo
Software
SDK Languages
- 1X NEO BetaNVIDIA Robotics Platform
- Darwin-OPC++
ROS Support
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPYes
Open API
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OPYes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- 1X NEO Betaresearch
- Darwin-OPcommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- 1X NEO Beta$20,000 USD
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
Price Tier
- 1X NEO Beta20-40K
- Darwin-OP10-20K
Pricing Model
- 1X NEO Betapurchase
- Darwin-OPpurchase
Warranty
- 1X NEO Beta—
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
Applications
- 1X NEO Betaeldercare_assistance, hospitality, research
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | South Korea |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2024 | 2010 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $20,000 USD | $12,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 3 hrs | 0.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 1676 mm | 45.72 cm |
| Weight (values differ) | 29.9 kg | 9.1 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 3.4 m/s | 0.2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | — | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | home | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 25 kg | — |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 22 | 20 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | — | 3 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | 22 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | — | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | NVIDIA Robotics Platform | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | — | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | — | false |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | — | No |
| Programming (values differ) | NVIDIA Robotics Platform | code_python, code_ros |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 3 hrs | 0.5 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | — | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | NVIDIA Robotics Platform | C++ |
| ROS Support (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Open API (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | research | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $20,000 USD | $12,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 20-40K | 10-20K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 1 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | eldercare_assistance, hospitality, research | education, research |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Compute Platform, Teleoperation, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, Charging Method, Avg Power Consumption, Force-Limited Arms, Fall Recovery, Fall Detection Response, Emergency Stops, Human Detection Method, Safe Speed Near Humans, Simulation Platforms, Air-Gap Capable, MTBF, Task Success Rate, IP Rating, Noise Level, RaaS / Month, Developer Unit Price, Delivery Lead Time, Production Pilots
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | 1X NEO Beta | Darwin-OP |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $20,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback period | 4.8 mo | 2.9 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $230,000 | $238,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1150% | +1983% |
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes 1X NEO Beta and Darwin-OP?
1X NEO Beta is made by 1X Technologies AS, based in US. Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR.
When were 1X NEO Beta and Darwin-OP launched?
1X NEO Beta launched in 2024. Darwin-OP launched in 2010.
How much does 1X NEO Beta cost compared to Darwin-OP?
1X NEO Beta is listed at $20,000. Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000.
How do 1X NEO Beta and Darwin-OP compare on the Robo Index?
1X NEO Beta grades A on the Robo Index. Darwin-OP grades AA. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are 1X NEO Beta and Darwin-OP in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Humanoid on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Humanoid robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Humanoid TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between 1X NEO Beta and Darwin-OP?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Humanoid TCO: Hardware, Cloud Subscriptions, and the Cost of Teleop Time
8 min readHumanoid Robots
Vendor Selection for Humanoids: The 10 Questions You Must Ask
10 min readHumanoid Robots
Running a Humanoid Pilot: Scope, Success Criteria, and Exit Options
9 min readHumanoid Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
1X NEO Beta vs Darwin-OP compares two robots in the humanoid category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.