Apollo vs Forerunner K2: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2025)
Apptronik vs Kepler Robotics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Apollo leads in higher payload, while Forerunner K2 leads in longer runtime. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
Apollo
Apptronik
Forerunner K2
Kepler Robotics
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Apollo Forerunner K2
Specifications
Target <$50,000 at scalePrice$20,000
173 cmHeight178 cm
72.6 kgWeight85 kg
—DOF52
25 kgPayload15 kg
4hRuntime8h
—Speed—
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARNo
Google DeepMind Gemini integrationCompute100 TOPS
Pros and cons at a glance
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
Forerunner K2
Pros
- Open for preorders
- Long runtime (8h per charge) for full-shift operation
- 52 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
Frequently asked questions
How do Apollo and Forerunner K2 compare on price?
Apollo: Target <$50,000 at scale. Forerunner K2: $20,000. Only one of the two has a public unit price; the other publishes a range or enterprise-only terms.
Which has higher payload: Apollo or Forerunner K2?
Apollo 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 Apollo or Forerunner K2 actually available to buy?
Apollo is in active development without commercial availability. Forerunner K2 is open for preorders. Status reflects the vendor's published commercial position as of the last review and can change between announcement and actual delivery.
Last updated: 2025