Darwin-OP vs Hobbs W1
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Hobbs W1 (Noetix) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Hobbs W1China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Hobbs W12025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Hobbs W10 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Hobbs W1Contact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Hobbs W16 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Hobbs W1ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Hobbs W175 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Hobbs W1170 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Hobbs W1bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Hobbs W1biomorphic
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Hobbs W11.2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hobbs W1No
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Hobbs W1flat indoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Hobbs W12 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Hobbs W154
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Hobbs W15
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Hobbs W16
Arm Reach
- Darwin-OP—
- Hobbs W160 cm
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hobbs W1Yes
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Hobbs W1RK3588 CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hobbs W1No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Hobbs W1false
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hobbs W1No
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Hobbs W1custom SDK
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Hobbs W16 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Hobbs W1No
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Hobbs W1Python, C++
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Hobbs W1No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Hobbs W1Yes
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Hobbs W1commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Hobbs W1Contact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Hobbs W1<10K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Hobbs W1purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Hobbs W12 yrs
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Hobbs W1navigation_guidance, information_service, commercial_service
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2025 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 75 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 170 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | biomorphic |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing | No | No |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 2 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 54 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 5 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 6 |
| Arm Reach (values differ) | — | 60 cm |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | RK3588 CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models | false | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | custom SDK |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Python, C++ |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | <10K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | 2 yrs |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | navigation_guidance, information_service, commercial_service |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), 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 | Darwin-OP | Hobbs W1 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Hobbs W1 has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
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 Darwin-OP and Hobbs W1?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Hobbs W1 is made by Noetix, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Hobbs W1 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Hobbs W1 launched in 2025.
How do Darwin-OP and Hobbs W1 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Hobbs W1 grades A. 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 Darwin-OP and Hobbs W1 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 Darwin-OP and Hobbs W1?
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
Darwin-OP vs Hobbs W1 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.