Athlete vs Kirobo Mini
Side-by-side comparison of Athlete (Noetix Robotics) and Kirobo Mini (Toyota) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Prices in
View savedOptimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- AthleteChina
- Kirobo MiniJapan
Year First Available
- Athlete2025
- Kirobo Mini2016
Verified Deployments
- Athlete0 Deployments
- Kirobo Mini0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Athlete$5,500 USD
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Athlete2 hrs
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
Availability Status
- AthleteACTIVE
- Kirobo MiniACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Athlete118 mm
- Kirobo Mini10 cm
Weight
- Athlete30 kg
- Kirobo Mini0.2 kg
Mobility Type
- Athletebipedal
- Kirobo Ministatic
Humanoid Subtype
- Athletefull bipedal
- Kirobo Minifull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Athlete1.2 m/s
- Kirobo Mini—
Running Capable
- Athleterun capable
- Kirobo Mini—
Stair Climbing
- Athlete—
- Kirobo MiniNo
Terrain
- Athleteflat indoor
- Kirobo Miniflat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Athlete5 kg
- Kirobo Mini—
Total DOF
- Athlete18
- Kirobo Mini—
Arm DOF
- Athlete4
- Kirobo Mini—
Bimanual Coordination
- Athlete—
- Kirobo MiniNo
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Athlete6 TOPS
- Kirobo Mini—
Compute Platform
- AthleteNVIDIA Jetson Orin
- Kirobo Mini—
VLM Capable
- Athlete—
- Kirobo MiniNo
Imitation Learning
- AthleteYes
- Kirobo MiniNo
Programming
- Athletevisual_block, teleoperation
- Kirobo Minidedicated app
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Athlete1 hrs
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
Charging Method
- Athletemanual swap
- Kirobo Mini—
Battery Swap
- AthleteYes
- Kirobo MiniNo
Avg Power Consumption
- Athlete15 W
- Kirobo Mini—
Software
SDK Languages
- AthletePython, C++
- Kirobo MiniJapanese
ROS Support
- Athleteros2 community
- Kirobo MiniNo
Open API
- AthleteYes
- Kirobo MiniNo
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Athleteproduction pilot
- Kirobo Minicommercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Athlete$5,500 USD
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
Price Tier
- Athlete10-20K
- Kirobo Miniunder_50k
Pricing Model
- Athletepurchase
- Kirobo Minioutright purchase
Applications
- Athleteentertainment, research, companionship
- Kirobo Minieldercare_assistance, hospitality
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | China | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2025 | 2016 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $5,500 USD | $474 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 2 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 118 mm | 10 cm |
| Weight (values differ) | 30 kg | 0.2 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | static |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 1.2 m/s | — |
| Running Capable (values differ) | run capable | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | — | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 5 kg | — |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 18 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 4 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | — | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | 6 TOPS | — |
| Compute Platform (values differ) | NVIDIA Jetson Orin | — |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | — | No |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Programming (values differ) | visual_block, teleoperation | dedicated app |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 1 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
| Charging Method (values differ) | manual swap | — |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Avg Power Consumption (values differ) | 15 W | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | Python, C++ | Japanese |
| ROS Support (values differ) | ros2 community | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | production pilot | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $5,500 USD | $474 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | under_50k |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | outright purchase |
| Applications (values differ) | entertainment, research, companionship | eldercare_assistance, hospitality |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Payload (Peak), Hand DOF, Arm Reach, Grip Strength, Manipulation Repeatability, Tool Use, Foundation Models, Teleoperation, Battery Capacity, Charging Time, 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, Warranty, Production Pilots
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
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 | Athlete | Kirobo Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,500 | $474 |
| Payback period | 1.3 mo | < 1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,500 | $249,526 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4445% | +52643% |
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 Athlete and Kirobo Mini?
Athlete is made by Noetix Robotics, based in CN. Kirobo Mini is made by Toyota, based in JP.
When were Athlete and Kirobo Mini launched?
Athlete launched in 2025. Kirobo Mini launched in 2016.
How much does Athlete cost compared to Kirobo Mini?
Athlete is listed at $5,500. Kirobo Mini is listed at $474.
How do Athlete and Kirobo Mini compare on the Robo Index?
Athlete grades A on the Robo Index. Kirobo Mini 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 Athlete and Kirobo Mini 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 Athlete and Kirobo Mini?
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.
About this comparison
Athlete vs Kirobo Mini 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.