A2 vs Sophia: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2024)
AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics) vs Hanson Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
A2 leads in higher payload, while Sophia leads in more DOF. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
A2
AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics)
Sophia
Hanson Robotics
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A2 Sophia
Specifications
$100,000PriceContact (R&D version available)
169 cmHeight167 cm
69 kgWeight20 kg
40DOF83
15 kgPayload1.2 kg
2hRuntime—
3.3 m/sSpeed—
YesStairsNo
YesLiDARNo
200 TOPSComputeIntel Core i7, 32 GB RAM
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
60
A2
/100
40
Sophia
AimRT framework (ROS2/gRPC/MQTT). Chinese docs primarily.
Hanson AI SDK + OpenCog. Ubuntu. Partial ROS. Niche community.
Pros and cons at a glance
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
Sophia
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- 83 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Low rated payload (1.2 kg) — research or light-handling tasks only
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
Frequently asked questions
How do A2 and Sophia compare on price?
A2: $100,000. Sophia: Contact (R&D version available). Only one of the two has a public unit price; the other publishes a range or enterprise-only terms.
Which has higher payload: A2 or Sophia?
A2 rates a higher payload at 15 kg vs 1.2 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Are both A2 and Sophia shipping to customers?
Yes. Both are commercially available as of the last review. Delivery timelines and customer geographies vary per vendor — check the manufacturer page for each.
Which is better for ROS-based development: A2 or Sophia?
A2 has ros2; Sophia has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does A2 or Sophia use LiDAR?
A2 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Sophia does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2024