NEO vs A2: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2024)
1X Technologies vs AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics) — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
NEO leads in more DOF, higher payload, longer runtime, lower price, while A2 leads in faster speed. Overall, NEO has an edge in 4 out of 5 compared categories.
NEO
1X Technologies
A2
AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics)
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NEO A2
Specifications
$20,000Price$100,000
168 cmHeight169 cm
30 kgWeight69 kg
75DOF40
25 kgPayload15 kg
4hRuntime2h
1.4 m/sSpeed3.3 m/s
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
Proprietary (World Model AI onboard)Compute200 TOPS
Task Capabilities
✓Pick up a box from shelf✓
✓Open a door handle✓
✓Pour liquid into cup✓
◔Use a power tool◔
◔Type on keyboard◔
✓Climb stairs with load✓
◔Walk on uneven terrain◔
?Run (>3 m/s)✓
◔Crouch under obstacle◔
✓Navigate in crowd✓
✓Recognize & locate objects✓
✓Respond to voice commands✓
✓Detect humans nearby✓
◔Work 8-hour shift✕
✕Hot-swap battery?
◔Operate 24/7 (with charging)◔
✕Work in rain (IP65+)✕
✕Work below 0°C✕
✕Work in dusty environment✕
✓Work safely alongside humans✓
Ecosystem Openness
10
NEO
/100
60
A2
Proprietary World Model AI. No public SDK.
AimRT framework (ROS2/gRPC/MQTT). Chinese docs primarily.
Pros and cons at a glance
NEO
Pros
- Open for preorders
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- 75 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
A2
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
- 40 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Short runtime (120 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: NEO or A2?
NEO is cheaper at $20,000 vs $100,000 for A2. Note that lower price does not imply lower total cost of ownership — see the TCO calculator on the Explore page for utilisation-adjusted figures.
Which has higher payload: NEO or A2?
NEO rates a higher payload at 25 kg vs 15 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Is NEO or A2 actually available to buy?
NEO is open for preorders. A2 is shipping to customers. Status reflects the vendor's published commercial position as of the last review and can change between announcement and actual delivery.
Which is better for ROS-based development: NEO or A2?
NEO has no ROS support; A2 has ros2. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does NEO or A2 use LiDAR?
A2 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; NEO does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2024