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Galbot G1 Review: Household Robot That Actually Works ($87K)

Last updated:
February 24, 2026
By
Dean Fankhauser
Galbot G1 Review: Household Robot That Actually Works ($87K)

Key Takeaways

  • Price: ~$87,000-$97,000 USD (630,000-699,700 yuan) — positioned as a premium household/commercial robot
  • Household Focus: Designed specifically for home tasks like folding clothes, picking up clutter, and pouring drinks
  • 10-Hour Battery: Exceptional runtime for extended operation without recharging
  • Spring Festival Gala Star: Featured on China's biggest broadcast (679 million viewers) performing real household tasks
  • $3 Billion Valuation: Galbot raised $800 million total, signaling serious commercial intent
  • Best For: Early adopters seeking a capable household assistant robot with wheeled mobility

At a time when most humanoid robots are still stumbling through research labs, the Galbot G1 is already operating convenience stores in Beijing and folding laundry on national television. This Chinese-made humanoid from Beijing Galaxy General Robot Co. has captured global attention by focusing on something remarkably practical: household tasks.

From our analysis of the G1's public demonstrations and technical specifications, this robot represents a significant step toward the long-promised dream of a capable home assistant. At approximately $87,000 USD, it's not cheap — but it may be the most household-ready humanoid currently available.

In this comprehensive Galbot G1 review, we'll examine what this robot can actually do, who should consider it, and how it compares to alternatives like the 1X NEO and Unitree G1.

Galbot G1 Specifications

Specification Galbot G1
Price~$87,000–$97,000 USD (630,000–699,700 yuan)
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lbs)
Max Reach240 cm (7 ft 10 in)
Arm Span190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Torso Lift65 cm (25.6 in)
Degrees of Freedom25
Payload Capacity5–15 kg (11–33 lbs)
Max Speed5 km/h (3.1 mph)
Walking Speed3 km/h (1.9 mph)
Battery LifeUp to 10 hours
Mobility360° omnidirectional wheeled chassis
SensorsVisual cameras, tactile sensors, multi-modal perception
Compute8-core CPU + AI processors (NVIDIA Jetson Thor in Premium)
ConnectivityWiFi (2.4/5 GHz), Ethernet, USB, Cloud
Country of OriginChina (Beijing)
Release Year2024
AvailabilityAvailable (JD.com, direct orders)

Galbot G1 Price Analysis

The Galbot G1's pricing positions it in the premium segment of consumer-oriented humanoids. Here's how it breaks down:

  • China domestic price: 630,000–699,700 yuan on JD.com
  • USD equivalent: Approximately $87,000–$97,000
  • Galbot G1 Premium (with Jetson Thor): Higher pricing tier, exact figures TBD

This is significantly more expensive than research platforms like the Unitree G1 at $13,500, but the Galbot G1 is designed for a different purpose: actual household deployment rather than R&D.

How Galbot G1 Price Compares

Robot Price (USD) Primary Use
Galbot G1$87,000–$97,000Household / Commercial
1X NEO$20,000Consumer Home
MagicLab Z1~$25,000Consumer / Entertainment
Unitree G1$13,500Research / Development
Noetix Bumi~$1,400Education / Companion
Noetix E1~$11,000Consumer / Performance

The G1's premium pricing reflects its commercial-grade construction, 10-hour battery life, and real-world deployment readiness. Over 10 pharmacies in Beijing are already using Galbot G1 units for 24-hour operations.

Household Capabilities: What Can Galbot G1 Actually Do?

This is where the Galbot G1 genuinely stands apart. While most humanoid robots demonstrate impressive acrobatics or factory tasks, Galbot has laser-focused on the mundane-but-valuable work of home assistance.

Verified Household Tasks

Based on demonstrations at CES 2026 and the Spring Festival Gala, the Galbot G1 has shown it can:

  • Fold clothes — Including sweaters and other garments with varied textures
  • Hang laundry — Using its dual-arm dexterity to manipulate fabric
  • Pick up clutter — Bending and crouching to retrieve items from the floor
  • Pour drinks — Precise liquid handling for beverages
  • Retrieve objects on command — Voice-activated fetch tasks
  • Hand over items — Water bottles, scripts, everyday objects
  • Roll walnuts in hand — Demonstrating fine motor control
  • Organize and tidy spaces — General household organization

Why Wheeled Mobility Matters for Home Use

Unlike bipedal humanoids that can trip on rugs or struggle with uneven surfaces, the Galbot G1 uses a 360° omnidirectional wheeled chassis. This design choice prioritizes:

  • Stability: No risk of falling while carrying items
  • Speed: Faster movement through home environments
  • Battery efficiency: Wheels consume less power than walking
  • Reliability: Fewer mechanical failure points

The torso can lift 65 cm vertically, allowing it to reach high shelves (up to 240 cm / 7'10") and bend down for floor-level tasks — covering the full range of household needs.

Spring Festival Gala 2026: Prime Time Debut

On February 16, 2026, the Galbot G1 appeared before an estimated 679 million viewers on China Media Group's Spring Festival Gala — the world's most-watched television broadcast. The robot starred in a holiday short film called "The Night I Remember Most" alongside famous actors Shen Teng and Ma Li.

What made this appearance significant was the focus on practical tasks rather than spectacle:

  • Speaking with a Beijing accent (natural voice interaction)
  • Rolling walnuts in its hand (fine manipulation)
  • Handing over water bottles and scripts
  • Folding clothes on camera

This wasn't just marketing — it was proof of concept. While Unitree's G1 wowed audiences with martial arts and backflips, Galbot showed what a robot might actually do in your living room.

The gala appearance reportedly generated massive order backlogs, with Galbot robots on JD.com selling out within minutes of the broadcast.

AI & Software: The Embodied Intelligence Brain

Galbot distinguishes itself through what it calls its "embodied AI brain" — a technology stack that includes:

  • NavFoM navigation foundation model: Proprietary navigation AI
  • Multi-modal perception: Combining visual and tactile inputs
  • Real-time decision making: Powered by 8-core CPU + AI processors
  • Voice command recognition: Natural language understanding
  • Adaptive learning: Improves performance over time
  • Cloud connectivity: OTA updates and remote monitoring

The G1 Premium version runs on NVIDIA Jetson Thor, providing significantly more compute power for complex autonomous operations. Galbot claims this version operates with "100% autonomy without teleoperation" — a bold claim, but backed by public demonstrations.

Design & Build Quality

The Galbot G1's design philosophy centers on human-environment compatibility. According to product director Zhu Hui: "We believe that making robots in human form can better integrate them into human society, because most work scenarios in society are tailored to the human physiological structure."

Physical Design Highlights

  • Human-scale height: 173 cm (5'8") — fits through doorways, reaches standard shelves
  • Humanoid torso: Enables natural interaction with human-designed spaces
  • Robust wheeled base: Industrial-grade construction for continuous operation
  • Dual-arm dexterity: Hands engineered for varied textures and shapes
  • Foldable legs: Provides height adjustment and stability

Durability Considerations

The 85 kg (187 lb) weight indicates substantial construction materials. Units deployed in Beijing pharmacies operate 24 hours daily, suggesting commercial-grade reliability. However, long-term consumer durability data remains limited given the recent 2024 release.

Real-World Deployments

Beyond demonstrations, Galbot G1 has actual commercial deployments:

  • Pharmacy operations: 10+ Beijing pharmacies using G1 for 24/7 service
  • Retail stores: World's first humanoid-operated convenience store in Beijing
  • Manufacturing: Automotive and electronics production lines
  • Logistics: Warehouse picking and sorting

This commercial track record sets Galbot apart from robotics companies still in prototype stage. If you're exploring humanoid robots for sale, Galbot's real-world deployment history matters.

Galbot G1 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • 10-hour battery life — Best-in-class for humanoids
  • Purpose-built for household tasks — Not a research project
  • Wheeled stability — Won't fall while carrying items
  • Proven commercial deployments — 24/7 pharmacy operations
  • Advanced manipulation — Dual-arm dexterity for varied tasks
  • Strong company backing — $800M funding, $3B valuation
  • NVIDIA partnership — Jetson Thor in Premium model

❌ Cons

  • Premium price — $87K+ puts it beyond most consumers
  • Wheeled, not walking — Can't climb stairs
  • Limited international availability — Primarily China market
  • New product — Limited long-term reliability data
  • Language support — Chinese-focused voice recognition
  • Heavy — 85 kg may limit some home scenarios

Galbot G1 vs. Competitors

Feature Galbot G1 1X NEO Unitree G1
Price~$87,000$20,000$13,500
Height173 cm165 cm127 cm
MobilityWheeledBipedalBipedal
Battery Life10 hours4 hours2 hours
Primary FocusHousehold / CommercialConsumer HomeResearch / R&D
Commercial DeploymentYes (pharmacies, retail)Not yet (2026 delivery)Limited
Can Climb StairsNoYesYes

Galbot G1 is best for buyers who prioritize proven household capabilities and don't need stair-climbing. The wheeled design provides superior stability and runtime.

1X NEO offers a more accessible entry point at $20,000, with bipedal walking for stairs, but isn't shipping until late 2026 in the US.

Unitree G1 is the value champion at $13,500 but is designed for research and development rather than household deployment.

For a comprehensive overview of options, see our best humanoid robots guide.

Galbot Company Background

Understanding Galbot as a company helps contextualize the G1's positioning:

  • Founded: May 2023 (Beijing)
  • Full Name: Beijing Galaxy General Robot Co., Ltd. (银河通用机器人)
  • Founder: He Wang (Peking University Professor)
  • Total Funding: $800 million
  • Valuation: $3 billion (December 2025)
  • Investors: CATL, GGV Capital, CICC Capital, CMG Media Fund
  • IPO Plans: Preparing for Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing

This isn't a scrappy startup operating on seed funding — Galbot has serious institutional backing and is actively preparing for public markets. The company's strategy of targeting high-labor-cost markets internationally, using Hong Kong as a strategic hub, suggests ambitions beyond China.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Galbot G1 cost?

The Galbot G1 is priced at approximately 630,000–699,700 yuan in China, which translates to roughly $87,000–$97,000 USD. This positions it as a premium household/commercial robot, significantly more expensive than research platforms like the Unitree G1 ($13,500) but targeting a different use case of actual home and business deployment.

Can the Galbot G1 climb stairs?

No, the Galbot G1 uses a wheeled chassis rather than legs, so it cannot climb stairs. This design tradeoff provides benefits in stability, battery life (10 hours vs 2-4 for bipedal robots), and reliability for home environments. Homes with multiple floors would need elevators or ramps for the G1 to access different levels.

Is the Galbot G1 available to buy in the US?

Currently, the Galbot G1 is primarily available in China through JD.com and direct sales. Galbot has announced plans to enter international markets with high labor costs, using Hong Kong as a strategic hub. US availability is expected to follow their Hong Kong IPO, potentially in 2026-2027.

What household tasks can the Galbot G1 perform?

The Galbot G1 has demonstrated capabilities including: folding clothes, hanging laundry, picking up clutter from floors, pouring drinks, retrieving objects on voice command, organizing spaces, and general tidying tasks. These were publicly demonstrated at CES 2026 and on China's Spring Festival Gala broadcast.

How does Galbot G1 compare to 1X NEO?

The 1X NEO is priced at $20,000 (vs $87,000 for Galbot G1), offers bipedal walking for stairs, but has shorter battery life (4 hours vs 10 hours) and isn't shipping until late 2026. Galbot G1 is already deployed commercially in pharmacies and retail stores, while NEO is still in pre-order. Choose G1 for proven deployment now, NEO for a more affordable bipedal option later.

How long does the Galbot G1 battery last?

The Galbot G1 features industry-leading battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge. This is significantly longer than bipedal competitors like the Unitree G1 (2 hours) or 1X NEO (4 hours). The wheeled design contributes to this efficiency, making the G1 suitable for 24/7 commercial operations like the Beijing pharmacies currently using it.

Is Galbot G1 safe for home use?

The Galbot G1 is designed for safe human-robot interaction, featuring multi-modal perception (visual and tactile sensors) to detect and avoid people. Its wheeled base provides stable movement without the risk of falling. However, at 85 kg (187 lbs), it's a substantial machine that requires appropriate space. Commercial deployments in public-facing retail settings demonstrate its safety credentials.

Verdict: Should You Buy the Galbot G1?

The Galbot G1 represents something rare in the humanoid robot market: a machine actually designed for household tasks, with commercial deployments proving it works.

Consider the Galbot G1 if you:

  • Run a business needing 24/7 autonomous service (retail, pharmacy, logistics)
  • Are an early adopter willing to invest $87K+ in cutting-edge home automation
  • Live in a single-story home or have elevator access
  • Can source through Chinese channels or wait for international availability
  • Value proven capability over futuristic features like stair-climbing

Look elsewhere if you:

  • Need a sub-$30K price point — consider 1X NEO ($20,000)
  • Require stair-climbing capability
  • Want immediate US purchase/support
  • Prefer a research platform — the Unitree G1 offers better value

The Galbot G1's appearance on China's Spring Festival Gala wasn't just marketing — it was a statement that household robots have arrived. At $87,000, it's not for everyone. But for businesses or wealthy early adopters seeking a capable household assistant today, not in some promised future, the Galbot G1 delivers.

Explore more options in our humanoid robot category or browse humanoid robots for sale on Robozaps.


Last updated: February 2026

Sources: Galbot official website, CES 2026 presentations, CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2026, South China Morning Post, TechNode, Interesting Engineering, Reuters

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