Darwin-OP vs NEO Beta
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and NEO Beta (1X Technologies AS) — 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
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- NEO BetaUnited States
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- NEO Beta2023
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- NEO Beta0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- NEO Beta$20,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- NEO Beta3 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- NEO BetaACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- NEO Beta165 mm
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- NEO Beta30 kg
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- NEO Betabipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- NEO Betafull bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- NEO Beta1.1 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- NEO Beta—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- NEO Betadomestic, research, service
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- NEO Beta20 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- NEO Beta32
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- NEO Beta—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- NEO Beta—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- NEO Beta1X VLA Model
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- NEO Beta—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- NEO Beta—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- NEO BetaYes
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- NEO Betateleoperated
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- NEO Beta2 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- NEO Beta—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- NEO Betateleoperated
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- NEO Beta—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- NEO Beta—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- NEO Betaprototype
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- NEO Beta$20,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- NEO Beta20-40K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- NEO Betapurchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- NEO Beta—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- NEO Betaeldercare_assistance, cleaning, logistics, manufacturing
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2023 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $20,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Last-Mile Delivery buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 165 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 30 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 | domestic, research, service |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 20 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 32 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | 1X VLA Model |
| VLM Capable (values differ) | No | — |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | teleoperated |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | teleoperated |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $20,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 20-40K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | eldercare_assistance, cleaning, logistics, manufacturing |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Hand DOF, 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 | NEO Beta |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 4.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $230,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +1150% |
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 NEO Beta?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. NEO Beta is made by 1X Technologies AS, based in US.
When were Darwin-OP and NEO Beta launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. NEO Beta launched in 2023.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to NEO Beta?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. NEO Beta is listed at $20,000.
How do Darwin-OP and NEO Beta compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. NEO Beta grades BBB. 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 NEO Beta 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 NEO Beta?
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
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About this comparison
Darwin-OP vs NEO Beta 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.