Digit vs Apollo: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Agility Robotics (Amazon) vs Apptronik — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Apollo leads in higher payload. Overall, Apollo has an edge in 1 out of 1 compared categories.
Digit
Agility Robotics (Amazon)
Apollo
Apptronik
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Digit Apollo
Specifications
$250,000PriceTarget <$50,000 at scale
175 cmHeight173 cm
65 kgWeight72.6 kg
16DOF—
16 kgPayload25 kg
4hRuntime4h
1.5 m/sSpeed—
YesStairsYes
YesLiDARNo
N/AComputeGoogle DeepMind Gemini integration
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
55
Digit
/100
—
Apollo
ROS2 compatible, Python SDK. Closed source. Limited public docs.
Pros and cons at a glance
Digit
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Premium pricing at $250,000 — enterprise budgets only
- Limited articulation (16 DOF)
Apollo
Pros
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
Cons
- Still in development, no commercial availability
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
Frequently asked questions
How do Digit and Apollo compare on price?
Digit: $250,000. Apollo: Target <$50,000 at scale. Only one of the two has a public unit price; the other publishes a range or enterprise-only terms.
Which has higher payload: Digit or Apollo?
Apollo rates a higher payload at 25 kg vs 16 kg. Payload ratings are vendor claims and do not always include a duty cycle — peak vs sustained payload can differ significantly.
Is Digit or Apollo actually available to buy?
Digit is shipping to customers. Apollo is in active development without commercial availability. 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: Digit or Apollo?
Digit has ros2; Apollo has no ROS support. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Digit or Apollo use LiDAR?
Digit ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Apollo does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023