NAO V6 vs Pepper: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2018)
Aldebaran (Maxvision) vs SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
NAO V6 leads in more DOF, lower price, while Pepper leads in longer runtime, faster speed. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
NAO V6
Aldebaran (Maxvision)
Pepper
SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran
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NAO V6 Pepper
Specifications
$16,990Price$32,000
58 cmHeight120 cm
5.6 kgWeight28 kg
25DOF20
—Payload—
1hRuntime12h
0.5 m/sSpeed0.83 m/s
NoStairsNo
NoLiDARNo
Intel Atom (upgraded in V6)ComputeIntel Atom Z530
Ecosystem Openness
70
NAO V6
/100
—
Pepper
NAOqi + Choregraphe. Massive academic community. Future uncertain post-bankruptcy.
Pros and cons at a glance
NAO V6
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Affordable at $16,990 — accessible to research labs and SMEs
Cons
- Short runtime (75 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
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: NAO V6 or Pepper?
NAO V6 is cheaper at $16,990 vs $32,000 for Pepper. 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 NAO V6 or Pepper actually available to buy?
NAO V6 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.
Last updated: 2018