M4 XBots vs Nextage
Side-by-side comparison of M4 XBots (Planar Motor) and Nextage (Kawada Industries) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- M4 XBotsCanada
- NextageJapan
Year First Available
- M4 XBots—
- Nextage2009
Verified Deployments
- M4 XBots0 Deployments
- Nextage0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- M4 XBotsACTIVE
- NextageACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- M4 XBots40 kg
- Nextage1.5 kg
Max TCP Speed
- M4 XBots3 m/s
- Nextage—
Reach
- M4 XBots—
- Nextage1,450 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- M4 XBots—
- Nextage15
Repeatability
- M4 XBots±0.01 mm
- Nextage±0.03 mm
Robot Weight
- M4 XBots1.8 kg
- Nextage28 kg
Mounting Options
- M4 XBotsmagnetic
- Nextagefloor
IP Rating
- M4 XBotsIP69K
- Nextage—
Safety
Safety Rating
- M4 XBotsIP69K
- NextageISO10218
Force/Torque Sensing
- M4 XBots—
- Nextagenone
Ease of Use
Programming Interface
- M4 XBots—
- Nextagecode_ros
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- M4 XBots—
- NextageYes
Fieldbus Protocols
- M4 XBotsall common fieldbus systems
- Nextage—
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Canada | Japan |
| Year First Available (values differ) | — | 2009 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Payload (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 40 kg | 1.5 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 3 m/s | — |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 1,450 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 15 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | ±0.01 mm | ±0.03 mm |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 1.8 kg | 28 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | magnetic | floor |
| IP Rating (values differ) | IP69K | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | IP69K | ISO10218 |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | — | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Programming Interface (values differ) | — | code_ros |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | all common fieldbus systems | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, 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, Price (USD), 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 | M4 XBots | Nextage |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
M4 XBots, Nextage have 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 M4 XBots and Nextage?
M4 XBots is made by Planar Motor, based in CA. Nextage is made by Kawada Industries, based in JP.
How do M4 XBots and Nextage compare on the Robo Index?
M4 XBots grades BBB 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.
Are M4 XBots 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 M4 XBots 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
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
M4 XBots 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.