Darwin-OP vs Optimus Gen 3
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Optimus Gen 3 (Tesla) — 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
- Optimus Gen 3United States
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Optimus Gen 32025
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Optimus Gen 30 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Optimus Gen 3$30,000 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Optimus Gen 38 hrs
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Optimus Gen 3ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Optimus Gen 362 kg
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Optimus Gen 3173 mm
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Optimus Gen 3bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Optimus Gen 3full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Optimus Gen 33.3 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Optimus Gen 3—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Optimus Gen 3flat, uneven
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Darwin-OP—
- Optimus Gen 340 kg
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Optimus Gen 311
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Optimus Gen 37
Hand DOF
- Darwin-OP—
- Optimus Gen 322
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Optimus Gen 3—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Optimus Gen 3Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Optimus Gen 3No
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Optimus Gen 3—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Optimus Gen 3Yes
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Optimus Gen 3Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD)
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Optimus Gen 38 hrs
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Optimus Gen 3—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Optimus Gen 3Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD)
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Optimus Gen 3No
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Optimus Gen 3No
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Optimus Gen 3prototype
IP Rating
- Darwin-OP—
- Optimus Gen 3IP68
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Optimus Gen 3$30,000 USD
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Optimus Gen 320-40K
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Optimus Gen 3purchase
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Optimus Gen 3—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Optimus Gen 3warehouse_transport, assembly
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2025 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $30,000 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | 62 kg |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | 173 mm |
| Mobility Type | bipedal | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | 3.3 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat, uneven |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 40 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | 11 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | 7 |
| Hand DOF (values differ) | — | 22 |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | false | — |
| Imitation Learning (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming (values differ) | code_python, code_ros | Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | prototype |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP68 |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | $30,000 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | 20-40K |
| Pricing Model | purchase | purchase |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | warehouse_transport, assembly |
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, 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 | Optimus Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | $30,000 |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | 7.2 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | $220,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | +733% |
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 Optimus Gen 3?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Optimus Gen 3 is made by Tesla, based in US.
When were Darwin-OP and Optimus Gen 3 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Optimus Gen 3 launched in 2025.
How much does Darwin-OP cost compared to Optimus Gen 3?
Darwin-OP is listed at $12,000. Optimus Gen 3 is listed at $30,000.
How do Darwin-OP and Optimus Gen 3 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Optimus Gen 3 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 Optimus Gen 3 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 Optimus Gen 3?
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 Optimus Gen 3 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.