Starship vs Zena RX
Side-by-side comparison of Starship (Starship Technologies) and Zena RX (Aethon) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Agriculture buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- StarshipUnited States
- Zena RXUnited States
Year First Available
- Starship2015
- Zena RX2024
Verified Deployments
- Starship0 Deployments
- Zena RX0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Starship$5,500 USD
- Zena RXContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zena RX10 hrs
Availability Status
- StarshipACTIVE
- Zena RXACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Starship10 kg
- Zena RX—
Robot Weight
- Starship23 kg
- Zena RX—
Dimensions
- Starship569x678x554
- Zena RX—
Compartment Type
- Starshipenclosed locked
- Zena RX—
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Starshiplidar slam,vision,hybrid
- Zena RX—
Max Speed
- Starship1.7 m/s
- Zena RX—
Min Passable Width
- Starship56.9 cm
- Zena RX—
Obstacle Detection Range
- Starship61 m
- Zena RX—
Power
Battery Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zena RX10 hrs
Charge Time
- Starship—
- Zena RX3.2 hrs
Auto Docking
- StarshipYes
- Zena RX—
Integration
Fleet Management
- Starshipcentralized cloud
- Zena RX—
Floor Compatibility
- Starshiphard floor
- Zena RX—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Starship$5,500 USD
- Zena RXContact for quote
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2015 | 2024 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $5,500 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Agriculture buyers) (values differ) | 18 hrs | 10 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (priority for Agriculture buyers) (values differ) | 10 kg | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 23 kg | — |
| Dimensions (values differ) | 569x678x554 | — |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | enclosed locked | — |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision,hybrid | — |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 1.7 m/s | — |
| Min Passable Width (values differ) | 56.9 cm | — |
| Obstacle Detection Range (values differ) | 61 m | — |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (priority for Agriculture buyers) (values differ) | 18 hrs | 10 hrs |
| Charge Time (values differ) | — | 3.2 hrs |
| Auto Docking (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Integration | ||
| Fleet Management (values differ) | centralized cloud | — |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $5,500 USD | Contact for quote |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Tray Count, Tray Capacity, IP Rating, Min Object Detection Height, Hot-Swap Battery, Elevator API, PMS / POS Integration, Noise Level, Display Size, RaaS / Month, Warranty
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 | Starship | Zena RX |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,500 | No price |
| Payback period | 1.3 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,500 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4445% | — |
Zena RX 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 Starship and Zena RX?
Starship is made by Starship Technologies, based in US. Zena RX is made by Aethon, based in US.
When were Starship and Zena RX launched?
Starship launched in 2015. Zena RX launched in 2024.
How do Starship and Zena RX compare on the Robo Index?
Starship grades AA on the Robo Index. Zena RX grades BB. 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.
What is the payload difference between Starship and Zena RX?
Starship carries up to 10 kg. Zena RX carries up to 45 kg.
Are Starship and Zena RX in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Delivery on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Starship and Zena RX?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures
9 min readDelivery Robots
Last-Mile Delivery Pilots: 90 Days to a Decision
7 min readDelivery Robots
Indoor vs Outdoor Delivery: Why the Cost Gap Is Larger Than It Looks
7 min readDelivery 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
Starship vs Zena RX compares two robots in the delivery 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.