Kirobo Mini vs Mercury X1
Side-by-side comparison of Kirobo Mini (Toyota) and Mercury X1 (Elephant Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Agriculture buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Kirobo MiniJapan
- Mercury X1China
Year First Available
- Kirobo Mini2016
- Mercury X12023
Verified Deployments
- Kirobo Mini0 Deployments
- Mercury X10 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
- Mercury X1$15,999 USD
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
- Mercury X18 hrs
Availability Status
- Kirobo MiniACTIVE
- Mercury X1ACTIVE
Physical Form Factor
Height
- Kirobo Mini10 cm
- Mercury X1118 mm
Weight
- Kirobo Mini0.2 kg
- Mercury X155 kg
Mobility Type
- Kirobo Ministatic
- Mercury X1bipedal
Humanoid Subtype
- Kirobo Minifull bipedal
- Mercury X1full bipedal
Walking Speed
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X11.2 m/s
Stair Climbing
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1Yes
Terrain
- Kirobo Miniflat indoor
- Mercury X1flat indoor, uneven outdoor
Payload & Dexterity
Payload
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X11 kg
Total DOF
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X119
Arm DOF
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X19.5
Arm Reach
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X145 cm
Manipulation Repeatability
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X1±0.05 mm
Bimanual Coordination
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Compute & AI
Onboard Compute
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X167 TOPS
Compute Platform
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X1Jetson Orin Nano SUPER 8GB
VLM Capable
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Foundation Models
- Kirobo Mini—
- Mercury X1false
Imitation Learning
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Programming
- Kirobo Minidedicated app
- Mercury X1CAN Bus/WIFI/Network port/Bluetooth/USB serial port
Battery & Power
Runtime
- Kirobo Mini2.5 hrs
- Mercury X18 hrs
Battery Swap
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Software
SDK Languages
- Kirobo MiniJapanese
- Mercury X1Python, ROS1, ROS2
ROS Support
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Open API
- Kirobo MiniNo
- Mercury X1No
Reliability
Deployment Maturity
- Kirobo Minicommercial
- Mercury X1commercial
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Kirobo Mini$474 USD
- Mercury X1$15,999 USD
Price Tier
- Kirobo Miniunder_50k
- Mercury X140-80K
Pricing Model
- Kirobo Minioutright purchase
- Mercury X1—
Applications
- Kirobo Minieldercare_assistance, hospitality
- Mercury X1robotics research and development, human-robot interaction research
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Japan | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2016 | 2023 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $474 USD | $15,999 USD |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Agriculture buyers) (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical Form Factor | ||
| Height (values differ) | 10 cm | 118 mm |
| Weight (values differ) | 0.2 kg | 55 kg |
| Mobility Type (values differ) | static | bipedal |
| Humanoid Subtype | full bipedal | full bipedal |
| Walking Speed (values differ) | — | 1.2 m/s |
| Stair Climbing (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Terrain (values differ) | flat indoor | flat indoor, uneven outdoor |
| Payload & Dexterity | ||
| Payload (values differ) | — | 1 kg |
| Total DOF (values differ) | — | 19 |
| Arm DOF (values differ) | — | 9.5 |
| Arm Reach (values differ) | — | 45 cm |
| Manipulation Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.05 mm |
| Bimanual Coordination | No | No |
| Compute & AI | ||
| Onboard Compute (values differ) | — | 67 TOPS |
| Compute Platform (values differ) | — | Jetson Orin Nano SUPER 8GB |
| VLM Capable | No | No |
| Foundation Models (values differ) | — | false |
| Imitation Learning | No | No |
| Programming (values differ) | dedicated app | CAN Bus/WIFI/Network port/Bluetooth/USB serial port |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Runtime (values differ) | 2.5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery Swap | No | No |
| Software | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | Japanese | Python, ROS1, ROS2 |
| ROS Support | No | No |
| Open API | No | No |
| Reliability | ||
| Deployment Maturity | commercial | commercial |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $474 USD | $15,999 USD |
| Price Tier (values differ) | under_50k | 40-80K |
| Pricing Model (values differ) | outright purchase | — |
| Applications (values differ) | eldercare_assistance, hospitality | robotics research and development, human-robot interaction research |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Running Capable, Payload (Peak), Hand DOF, Grip Strength, Tool Use, 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, Warranty, Production Pilots
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
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 | Kirobo Mini | Mercury X1 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $474 | $15,999 |
| Payback period | < 1 mo | 3.8 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $249,526 | $234,001 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +52643% | +1463% |
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 Kirobo Mini and Mercury X1?
Kirobo Mini is made by Toyota, based in JP. Mercury X1 is made by Elephant Robotics, based in CN.
When were Kirobo Mini and Mercury X1 launched?
Kirobo Mini launched in 2016. Mercury X1 launched in 2023.
How much does Kirobo Mini cost compared to Mercury X1?
Kirobo Mini is listed at $474. Mercury X1 is listed at $15,999.
How do Kirobo Mini and Mercury X1 compare on the Robo Index?
Kirobo Mini grades AA on the Robo Index. Mercury X1 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 Kirobo Mini and Mercury X1 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 Kirobo Mini and Mercury X1?
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
Kirobo Mini vs Mercury X1 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.