Unitree G1
Unitree Robotics · #1 in Humanoid
Research, development, and light service tasks — the entry point for labs and companies building on a humanoid platform
Optimus is Tesla's general-purpose humanoid, announced in 2021 and still pre-commercial as of September 2026. A few hundred prototypes work inside Tesla facilities; the mass-production V3 design was slated for Fremont in summer 2026 but slipped to 'later this year' in Tesla's Q2 update. Tesla's ambition is unmatched — production lines sized for 1 million units a year and a target price of $20,000-$30,000 — but no Optimus has ever been sold.
- Fremont production lines designed for 1 million units per year, with a 10-million-unit line planned at Gigafactory Texas for 2027 [source]
- 2025 output was a few hundred units against a 5,000-unit target [source]
Specifications
| Specification | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.73 m | reported | en.wikipedia.org (2026-09-01) |
| Weight | 57 kg | reported | en.wikipedia.org (2026-09-01) |
| Carrying capacity | 20 kg | reported | en.wikipedia.org (2026-09-01) |
| Hand degrees of freedom (Gen 3 hand) | 22 DOF | reported | en.wikipedia.org (2026-09-01) |
Every spec is cited to its source with a retrieval date. verified = manufacturer-published · reported = reputable press/analyst. Verify with the manufacturer before purchase decisions.
Change timeline
- milestone Production lines installed at Fremont on the former Model S/X line; V3 reveal pushed to later in the year [source]
- milestone 2025 production lands at a few hundred units versus the 5,000-unit target, amid program leadership changes [source]
- price Musk floats ~$30,000 eventual price at the 'We, Robot' event [source]
- announcement Optimus announced at Tesla AI Day [source]
Our take
Optimus is simultaneously the most hyped and least verifiable robot on this list: Tesla publishes no spec sheet, missed its 2025 volume target by over 90%, and lost its program lead in mid-2025. Yet no competitor matches Tesla's manufacturing scale, actuator vertical integration, or AI compute. If V3 ships at even a fraction of planned volume, the economics reset the industry. Treat every timeline as aspirational until units leave Tesla's own factories.
Best suited for
- Internal Tesla factory tasks (current)
- General industrial labor (planned)
- Consumer household robot (long-term stated goal)
Compare
Optimus: common questions
How much will Tesla Optimus cost?
There is no actual price — none have been sold. Musk has said Optimus would eventually cost around $30,000 (October 2024) and in early 2026 floated an under-$20,000 consumer target at mass scale.
Can you buy a Tesla Optimus in 2026?
No. All existing units are prototypes used inside Tesla facilities. V3 production was expected to start at Fremont in late 2026, initially for internal use, with external sales later.
Why is Optimus delayed?
Tesla's Q2 2026 update moved the production start from summer to 'later this year.' Reported causes include underdeveloped hand and forearm hardware, the complexity of an all-new 10,000-part production line, and 2025 leadership turnover in the program.
How many Optimus robots exist?
Tesla built roughly a few hundred units by mid-2025 against a 5,000-unit target. Exact current numbers are not disclosed.
Optimus vs Figure 03?
Figure 03 is in series production (1,000+ built by July 2026) while Optimus V3 has not started volume production. Tesla's planned scale and price target are far more aggressive; Figure's execution is currently ahead.
Sources
- Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org, retrieved 2026-09-01
- Electrek — electrek.co, retrieved 2026-09-01
- Yahoo Finance — finance.yahoo.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- TipRanks — tipranks.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- Not a Tesla App — notateslaapp.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
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