Digit vs Phoenix: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Agility Robotics (Amazon) vs Sanctuary AI — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Digit leads in faster speed, while Phoenix leads in more DOF, higher payload. Overall, Phoenix has an edge in 2 out of 3 compared categories.
Digit
Agility Robotics (Amazon)
Phoenix
Sanctuary AI
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Digit Phoenix
Specifications
$250,000PriceContact (enterprise)
175 cmHeight170 cm
65 kgWeight70 kg
16DOF41
16 kgPayload25 kg
4hRuntime—
1.5 m/sSpeed0.83 m/s
YesStairsYes
YesLiDARNo
N/AComputeCarbon AI system (Microsoft Azure)
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
8
Phoenix
ROS2 compatible, Python SDK. Closed source. Limited public docs.
Carbon AI fully proprietary. Microsoft Azure backend.
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)
Phoenix
Pros
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- 41 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
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 Phoenix compare on price?
Digit: $250,000. Phoenix: Contact (enterprise). 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 Phoenix?
Phoenix 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 Phoenix actually available to buy?
Digit is shipping to customers. Phoenix 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 Phoenix?
Digit has ros2; Phoenix has no ROS support. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Digit or Phoenix use LiDAR?
Digit ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Phoenix does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023