Starship vs Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI
Side-by-side comparison of Starship (Starship Technologies) and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI (Zhen Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Hospitality & F&B buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- StarshipUnited States
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIChina
Year First Available
- Starship2015
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI—
Verified Deployments
- Starship0 Deployments
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Starship$5,500 USD
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIContact for quote
Battery / Shift Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI8 hrs
Availability Status
- StarshipACTIVE
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIACTIVE
Physical
Payload
- Starship10 kg
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI10 kg
Robot Weight
- Starship23 kg
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI30 kg
Dimensions
- Starship569x678x554
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI620x660x770
Tray Count
- Starship—
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI1
Compartment Type
- Starshipenclosed locked
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIenclosed locked
IP Rating
- Starship—
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIIP54
Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Starshiplidar slam,vision,hybrid
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIlidar slam,vision,hybrid
Max Speed
- Starship1.7 m/s
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI1.5 m/s
Min Passable Width
- Starship56.9 cm
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI—
Obstacle Detection Range
- Starship61 m
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI—
Power
Battery Runtime
- Starship18 hrs
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI8 hrs
Auto Docking
- StarshipYes
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIYes
Hot-Swap Battery
- Starship—
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MININo
Integration
Elevator API
- Starship—
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIYes
PMS / POS Integration
- Starship—
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MININo
Fleet Management
- Starshipcentralized cloud
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIcentralized cloud
Floor Compatibility
- Starshiphard floor
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIhard floor
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Starship$5,500 USD
- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIContact for quote
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2015 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $5,500 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 18 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Payload (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) | 10 kg | 10 kg |
| Robot Weight (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 23 kg | 30 kg |
| Dimensions (values differ) | 569x678x554 | 620x660x770 |
| Tray Count (values differ) | — | 1 |
| Compartment Type | enclosed locked | enclosed locked |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision,hybrid | lidar slam,vision,hybrid |
| Max Speed (values differ) | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Min Passable Width (values differ) | 56.9 cm | — |
| Obstacle Detection Range (values differ) | 61 m | — |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (priority for Hospitality & F&B buyers) (values differ) | 18 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Auto Docking | Yes | Yes |
| Hot-Swap Battery (values differ) | — | No |
| Integration | ||
| Elevator API (values differ) | — | Yes |
| PMS / POS Integration (values differ) | — | No |
| Fleet Management | centralized cloud | centralized cloud |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor | 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 Capacity, Min Object Detection Height, Charge Time, 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 | Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $5,500 | No price |
| Payback period | 1.3 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $244,500 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +4445% | — |
Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI 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 Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI?
Starship is made by Starship Technologies, based in US. Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI is made by Zhen Robotics, based in CN.
How do Starship and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI compare on the Robo Index?
Starship grades AA on the Robo Index. Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI 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.
What is the payload difference between Starship and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI?
Starship carries up to 10 kg. Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI carries up to 10 kg.
Are Starship and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI 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 Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI?
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 Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI 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.