China Unveils ‘World’s Cheapest’ Humanoid Robot Standing 3.1 Feet Tall

Beijing-based startup Noetix Robotics has made waves in the robotics industry with the launch of Bumi, a compact humanoid robot priced at just ¥9,998 ($1,370), a breakthrough that could dramatically expand the affordability and accessibility of humanoid technology.

Reported by TechNode and Global Times, Bumi marks a major step in shifting humanoid robotics from industrial and research environments to consumer and educational use.

At only 3.1 feet (94 cm) tall and weighing 26.5 pounds (12 kg), Bumi isn’t competing with large, full-scale humanoids like Unitree or UBTECH. Instead, it defines a new category a small, light, and affordable humanoid tailored for education, home use, and personal learning environments. Despite its compact design, early tests show that Bumi can walk, balance, and dance with impressive precision for its price class.

According to Global Times, Noetix calls Bumi the “industry’s first consumer-grade humanoid robot priced under ¥10,000.” The company sees this as a turning point for robotics commercialization, transforming humanoids from lab experiments into accessible, everyday companions.

The robot’s affordability is made possible through lightweight composite materials, an in-house motion control system, and a simplified modular architecture focused on interactivity rather than heavy-duty industrial performance.

Noetix’s previous model, the N2 humanoid, reportedly secured over 2,500 orders and even competed in a humanoid half-marathon, boosting the startup’s reputation as one of China’s fastest-emerging robotics innovators.

In July, Unitree launched the world’s most affordable full-sized humanoid for around $6,000, but Bumi pushes that threshold even lower. Powered by a 48V battery with 3.5Ah capacity, it operates for 1–2 hours per charge. According to Robotics and Automation News, it supports drag-and-drop visual programming, voice interaction, and AI-assisted learning, allowing users particularly students to program and interact with it intuitively.

Preorders are scheduled between China’s Double 11 (Nov. 11) and Double 12 (Dec. 12) shopping festivals, positioning Bumi to capitalize on the nation’s peak consumer season.

Founded in September 2023 by a team of researchers from Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University, Noetix has transitioned from developing research-grade robots to mass-market bipedal systems in under two years.

While most humanoids capable of dynamic walking cost tens of thousands of dollars, Bumi’s $1,370 price tag puts it within reach of consumers comparable to a flagship smartphone or high-end drone.

This sets it apart from Western competitors like Tesla’s Optimus, Figure’s humanoids, and Apptronik’s Apollo, all priced several times higher, and far below elite systems like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, which can cost millions.

A video shared by RoboHub shows Bumi walking and dancing with smooth motion and strong balance control.

Bumi’s release comes amid a boom in China’s humanoid robotics landscape. Just a day earlier, Unitree unveiled the H2, a 1.8-meter humanoid with 31 degrees of freedom, while UBTECH and the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center jointly revealed the Tiangong Walker, aimed at academic and research applications.