MBS PickStar vs Nextage
Side-by-side comparison of MBS PickStar (Robotunits) and Nextage (Kawada Industries) — 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
- MBS PickStarAustria
- NextageJapan
Year First Available
- MBS PickStar—
- Nextage2009
Verified Deployments
- MBS PickStar0 Deployments
- Nextage0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- MBS PickStarACTIVE
- NextageACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight
- MBS PickStar18 kg
- Nextage28 kg
Max TCP Speed
- MBS PickStar1.2 m/s
- Nextage—
Payload
- MBS PickStar2.5 kg
- Nextage1.5 kg
Reach
- MBS PickStar1,200 mm
- Nextage1,450 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- MBS PickStar6
- Nextage15
Repeatability
- MBS PickStar±0.1 mm
- Nextage±0.03 mm
Mounting Options
- MBS PickStarfloor, ceiling, wall, inverted
- Nextagefloor
IP Rating
- MBS PickStarIP54
- Nextage—
Safety
Safety Rating
- MBS PickStarCE, ISO/TS 15066
- NextageISO10218
Force/Torque Sensing
- MBS PickStarnone
- Nextagenone
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- MBS PickStar1 hrs
- Nextage—
Programming Interface
- MBS PickStarteach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python
- Nextagecode_ros
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- MBS PickStarYes
- NextageYes
Fieldbus Protocols
- MBS PickStarEtherCAT, Modbus TCP
- Nextage—
Commercial
Warranty
- MBS PickStar2 yrs
- Nextage—
Lead Time
- MBS PickStar4 wks
- Nextage—
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Austria | 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 | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 18 kg | 28 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Home & Household buyers) (values differ) | 1.2 m/s | — |
| Payload (values differ) | 2.5 kg | 1.5 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,200 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | 15 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | ±0.1 mm | ±0.03 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor, ceiling, wall, inverted | floor |
| IP Rating (values differ) | IP54 | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | CE, ISO/TS 15066 | ISO10218 |
| Force/Torque Sensing | none | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | 1 hrs | — |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | teach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python | code_ros |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | EtherCAT, Modbus TCP | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Warranty (values differ) | 2 yrs | — |
| Lead Time (values differ) | 4 wks | — |
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, 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
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 | MBS PickStar | Nextage |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
MBS PickStar, 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 MBS PickStar and Nextage?
MBS PickStar is made by Robotunits, based in AT. Nextage is made by Kawada Industries, based in JP.
How do MBS PickStar and Nextage compare on the Robo Index?
MBS PickStar 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 MBS PickStar compare to Nextage?
MBS PickStar has a reach of 1200 mm. Nextage has a reach of 1450 mm.
Are MBS PickStar 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 MBS PickStar 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
MBS PickStar 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.