Digit vs Pepper: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2022)
Agility Robotics (Amazon) vs SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Digit leads in faster speed, while Pepper leads in more DOF, longer runtime, lower price. Overall, Pepper has an edge in 3 out of 4 compared categories.
Digit
Agility Robotics (Amazon)
Pepper
SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran
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Digit Pepper
Specifications
$250,000Price$32,000
175 cmHeight120 cm
65 kgWeight28 kg
16DOF20
16 kgPayload—
4hRuntime12h
1.5 m/sSpeed0.83 m/s
YesStairsNo
YesLiDARNo
N/AComputeIntel Atom Z530
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
—
Pepper
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)
Pepper
Pros
- Long runtime (12h per charge) for full-shift operation
Cons
- Discontinued by the manufacturer
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: Digit or Pepper?
Pepper is cheaper at $32,000 vs $250,000 for Digit. Note that lower price does not imply lower total cost of ownership — see the TCO calculator on the Explore page for utilisation-adjusted figures.
Is Digit or Pepper actually available to buy?
Digit is shipping to customers. Pepper has been discontinued. 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 Pepper?
Digit has ros2; Pepper has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Digit or Pepper use LiDAR?
Digit ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Pepper does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2022