Unitree R1 / G1 humanoids: UK release date and price

Unitree, from Hangzhou, is the main maker of humanoid robots that UK buyers can order today. The R1 was announced in July 2025 at $5,900. It is a 1.2m, roughly 25kg biped with cameras, microphones and a multimodal AI model for voice interaction, and the base version has fixed fists rather than working hands. On 1 November UK retailer Scan listed the R1 Air at £5,599.99 including VAT on pre-order, up from £4,799.99 a week earlier, with education versions from £11,999.99 to £26,399.99 depending on hands, compute and developer access; three of those were in stock. The larger G1 was £17,599.99 and marked low stock, down from £20,999.99 a week earlier and below last year’s £18,999 Black Friday deal. These are real, shippable products, but not home helpers. They walk, balance, dance and can be programmed, but they will not load a dishwasher or fold laundry out of the box. Buyers are mostly universities, schools, labs and companies wanting a demonstrator. For a UK household, the R1 is an expensive gadget. For a small business, it is a research or marketing tool. Factor in VAT, support, spares and any data-security policy on Chinese-connected devices before buying.