Darwin-OP vs Xialan S02
Side-by-side comparison of Darwin-OP (ROBOTIS Co., Ltd.) and Xialan S02 (Digit Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Home & Household buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Darwin-OPSouth Korea
- Xialan S02China
Year First Available
- Darwin-OP2010
- Xialan S022024
Verified Deployments
- Darwin-OP0 Deployments
- Xialan S020 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Xialan S02Contact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Xialan S02—
Availability Status
- Darwin-OPACTIVE
- Xialan S02ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Weight
- Darwin-OP9.1 kg
- Xialan S02—
Height
- Darwin-OP45.72 cm
- Xialan S02—
Mobility Type
- Darwin-OPbipedal
- Xialan S02—
Humanoid Subtype
- Darwin-OPfull bipedal
- Xialan S02—
Walking Speed
- Darwin-OP0.2 m/s
- Xialan S02—
Stair Climbing
- Darwin-OPNo
- Xialan S02—
Terrain
- Darwin-OPflat indoor
- Xialan S02—
Payload & Dexterity
Total DOF
- Darwin-OP20
- Xialan S02—
Arm DOF
- Darwin-OP3
- Xialan S02—
Bimanual Coordination
- Darwin-OPNo
- Xialan S02—
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Darwin-OPIntel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core
- Xialan S02—
VLM Capable
- Darwin-OPNo
- Xialan S02—
Foundation Models
- Darwin-OPfalse
- Xialan S02—
Imitation Learning
- Darwin-OPNo
- Xialan S02—
Programming
- Darwin-OPcode_python, code_ros
- Xialan S02—
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Darwin-OP0.5 hrs
- Xialan S02—
Battery Swap
- Darwin-OPNo
- Xialan S02—
Software
SDK Languages
- Darwin-OPC++
- Xialan S02—
ROS Support
- Darwin-OPYes
- Xialan S02—
Open API
- Darwin-OPYes
- Xialan S02—
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Darwin-OPcommercial
- Xialan S02—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Darwin-OP$12,000 USD
- Xialan S02Contact for quote
Price Tier
- Darwin-OP10-20K
- Xialan S02—
Pricing Model
- Darwin-OPpurchase
- Xialan S02—
Warranty
- Darwin-OP1 yrs
- Xialan S02—
Applications
- Darwin-OPeducation, research
- Xialan S02—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | South Korea | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2010 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 0.5 hrs | — |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 9.1 kg | — |
| Height (values differ) | 45.72 cm | — |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | bipedal | — |
| Humanoid Subtype (values differ) | full bipedal | — |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | 0.2 m/s | — |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | — |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | — |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Total DOF (values differ) | 20 | — |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Bimanual Coordination (values differ) | No | — |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | Intel Atom N2600 @1.6 GHz dual core | — |
| 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 | — |
| Battery Swap (values differ) | No | — |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | C++ | — |
| ROS Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Open API (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity (values differ) | commercial | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $12,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Price Tier (values differ) | 10-20K | — |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | purchase | — |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Applications (values differ) | education, research | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload, 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 | Xialan S02 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $12,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 2.9 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +1983% | — |
Xialan S02 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 Xialan S02?
Darwin-OP is made by ROBOTIS Co., Ltd., based in KR. Xialan S02 is made by Digit Robotics, based in CN.
When were Darwin-OP and Xialan S02 launched?
Darwin-OP launched in 2010. Xialan S02 launched in 2024.
How do Darwin-OP and Xialan S02 compare on the Robo Index?
Darwin-OP grades AA on the Robo Index. Xialan S02 grades C. 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 Xialan S02 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 Xialan S02?
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 Xialan S02 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.