Darwin-OP vs Kuavo-5
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Kuavo-5 (Leju Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Manufacturing buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Kuavo-5China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Kuavo-52025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Kuavo-50 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Kuavo-5$38,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Kuavo-57 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Kuavo-5ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Kuavo-5175 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Kuavo-560 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Kuavo-5bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Kuavo-5full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Kuavo-51.1 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Kuavo-5—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Kuavo-5education, research, manufacturing, logistics, retail, general purpose
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Kuavo-510 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Kuavo-540
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Kuavo-5—
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Kuavo-510
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Kuavo-5—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Kuavo-5Assumed mid-range robotics compute platform
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Kuavo-5—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Kuavo-5—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Kuavo-5—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Kuavo-5—
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Kuavo-57 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Kuavo-5—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Kuavo-5—
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Kuavo-5—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Kuavo-5—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Kuavo-5commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Kuavo-5$38,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Kuavo-550k_150k
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Kuavo-5outright purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Kuavo-5—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Kuavo-5home assistance, industrial automation, logistics, research
| | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $38,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 7 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 175 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 60 kg |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 1.1 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | education, research, manufacturing, logistics, retail, general purpose |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 10 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 40 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 10 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Assumed mid-range robotics compute platform |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | — |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 7 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | — |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $38,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 50k_150k |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | outright purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | home assistance, industrial automation, logistics, 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 | Darwin-OP | Kuavo-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $38,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 9.1 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $212,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +558% |
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 Kuavo-5?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Kuavo-5 is made by Leju Robotics, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Kuavo-5 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Kuavo-5 launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Kuavo-5?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Kuavo-5 is listed at $38,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Kuavo-5 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Kuavo-5 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 Kuavo-5 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 Kuavo-5?
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 Kuavo-5 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.