4NE-1 vs Pepper: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
NEURA Robotics vs SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
4NE-1 leads in more DOF, faster speed, while Pepper leads in longer runtime, lower price. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
4NE-1
NEURA Robotics
Pepper
SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran
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4NE-1 Pepper
Specifications
$114,500Price$32,000
180 cmHeight120 cm
80 kgWeight28 kg
55DOF20
15 kgPayload—
7hRuntime12h
1.39 m/sSpeed0.83 m/s
YesStairsNo
NoLiDARNo
NEURA multimodal cognitive stackComputeIntel 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
15
4NE-1
/100
—
Pepper
NEURA API. Neuraverse fleet learning. Limited public info.
Pros and cons at a glance
4NE-1
Pros
- Long runtime (7h per charge) for full-shift operation
- 55 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Still in development, no commercial availability
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
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: 4NE-1 or Pepper?
Pepper is cheaper at $32,000 vs $114,500 for 4NE-1. 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 4NE-1 or Pepper actually available to buy?
4NE-1 is in active development without commercial availability. 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: 4NE-1 or Pepper?
4NE-1 has no ROS support; Pepper has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Last updated: 2023
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