JAKA Zu 12 vs Nextage
Side-by-side comparison of JAKA Zu 12 (Jaka) and Nextage (Kawada Industries) — 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
- JAKA Zu 12China
- NextageJapan
Year First Available
- JAKA Zu 12—
- Nextage2009
Verified Deployments
- JAKA Zu 120 Deployments
- Nextage0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- JAKA Zu 12$23,560–$41,200 USD
- NextageContact for quote
Availability Status
- JAKA Zu 12ACTIVE
- NextageACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Reach
- JAKA Zu 121,327 mm
- Nextage1,450 mm
Repeatability
- JAKA Zu 12±0.03 mm
- Nextage±0.03 mm
Payload
- JAKA Zu 1212 kg
- Nextage1.5 kg
IP Rating
- JAKA Zu 12IP54
- Nextage—
Degrees of Freedom
- JAKA Zu 126
- Nextage15
Max TCP Speed
- JAKA Zu 123 m/s
- Nextage—
Robot Weight
- JAKA Zu 1241 kg
- Nextage28 kg
Mounting Options
- JAKA Zu 12Installation at any angle
- Nextagefloor
Safety
Safety Rating
- JAKA Zu 12CR, CE, ISO/TS 15066
- NextageISO10218
Force/Torque Sensing
- JAKA Zu 12none
- Nextagenone
Ease of Use
Programming Interface
- JAKA Zu 12proprietary_app
- Nextagecode_ros
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- JAKA Zu 12—
- NextageYes
Fieldbus Protocols
- JAKA Zu 12TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, Profinet
- Nextage—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- JAKA Zu 12$23,560–$41,200 USD
- NextageContact for quote
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | China | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | — | 2009 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $23,560–$41,200 USD | Contact for quote |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Reach (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 1,327 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Repeatability (priority for Manufacturing buyers) | ±0.03 mm | ±0.03 mm |
| Payload (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | 12 kg | 1.5 kg |
| IP Rating (priority for Manufacturing buyers) (values differ) | IP54 | — |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | 15 |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | 3 m/s | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 41 kg | 28 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | Installation at any angle | floor |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | CR, CE, ISO/TS 15066 | ISO10218 |
| Force/Torque Sensing | none | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Programming Interface (values differ) | proprietary_app | code_ros |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, Profinet | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $23,560–$41,200 USD | Contact for quote |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, No-Code Capable, Offline Programming, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, Warranty, Lead Time
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 | JAKA Zu 12 | Nextage |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $32,380 | No price |
| Payback period | 7.8 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $217,620 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +672% | — |
Nextage 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 JAKA Zu 12 and Nextage?
JAKA Zu 12 is made by Jaka, based in CN. Nextage is made by Kawada Industries, based in JP.
How do JAKA Zu 12 and Nextage compare on the Robo Index?
JAKA Zu 12 grades A on the Robo Index. Nextage grades AA. 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.
How does the reach of JAKA Zu 12 compare to Nextage?
JAKA Zu 12 has a reach of 1327 mm. Nextage has a reach of 1450 mm.
Are JAKA Zu 12 and Nextage in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Cobot on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Cobot robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Cobot TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between JAKA Zu 12 and Nextage?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings
6 min readCollaborative Robots
Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Running a Cobot Pilot in a Manual Production Line
9 min readCollaborative 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
JAKA Zu 12 vs Nextage compares two robots in the cobot 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.