Nova 5 vs RB5-850E
Side-by-side comparison of Nova 5 (Dobot) and RB5-850E (Rainbow Robotics Co., Ltd.) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- Nova 5China
- RB5-850ESouth Korea
Year First Available
- Nova 52019
- RB5-850E2011
Verified Deployments
- Nova 50 Deployments
- RB5-850E0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Nova 5$9,525–$13,790 USD
- RB5-850E$22,000 USD
Availability Status
- Nova 5ACTIVE
- RB5-850EACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Repeatability
- Nova 5±0.05 mm
- RB5-850E±0.05 mm
IP Rating
- Nova 5IP54
- RB5-850EIP66
Reach
- Nova 5850 mm
- RB5-850E927.7 mm
Payload
- Nova 55 kg
- RB5-850E5 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- Nova 56
- RB5-850E6
Max TCP Speed
- Nova 52 m/s
- RB5-850E—
Robot Weight
- Nova 514 kg
- RB5-850E22 kg
Mounting Options
- Nova 5任意角度
- RB5-850E—
Safety
Safety Rating
- Nova 5IP54
- RB5-850EISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066
Force/Torque Sensing
- Nova 5none
- RB5-850Enone
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- Nova 5—
- RB5-850E1 hrs
No-Code Capable
- Nova 5Yes
- RB5-850E—
Offline Programming
- Nova 5No
- RB5-850E—
Programming Interface
- Nova 5drag_and_drop
- RB5-850Eno_code_gui
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- Nova 5—
- RB5-850EM10 12-pin
Software & Connectivity
Fieldbus Protocols
- Nova 5TCP/IP, Modbus TCP
- RB5-850E—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Nova 5$9,525–$13,790 USD
- RB5-850E$22,000 USD
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | China | South Korea |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2019 | 2011 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $9,525–$13,790 USD | $22,000 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Repeatability (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) | ±0.05 mm | ±0.05 mm |
| IP Rating (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | IP54 | IP66 |
| Reach (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | 850 mm | 927.7 mm |
| Payload | 5 kg | 5 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 | 6 |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | 2 m/s | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 14 kg | 22 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | 任意角度 | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | IP54 | ISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066 |
| Force/Torque Sensing | none | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 1 hrs |
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | drag_and_drop | no_code_gui |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | M10 12-pin |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | TCP/IP, Modbus TCP | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $9,525–$13,790 USD | $22,000 USD |
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, Time to Redeploy, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, ROS Compatible, 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 | Nova 5 | RB5-850E |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $11,658 | $22,000 |
| Payback period | 2.8 mo | 5.3 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $238,343 | $228,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +2045% | +1036% |
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 Nova 5 and RB5-850E?
Nova 5 is made by Dobot, based in CN. RB5-850E is made by Rainbow Robotics Co., Ltd., based in KR.
When were Nova 5 and RB5-850E launched?
Nova 5 launched in 2019. RB5-850E launched in 2011.
How do Nova 5 and RB5-850E compare on the Robo Score?
Nova 5 scores 66.4 on the Robo Score. RB5-850E scores 67.0. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
How does the reach of Nova 5 compare to RB5-850E?
Nova 5 has a reach of 850 mm. RB5-850E has a reach of 850 mm.
Are Nova 5 and RB5-850E 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 Nova 5 and RB5-850E?
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
Nova 5 vs RB5-850E 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 Score is calculated.